Published by Jeremy. Last Updated on May 2, 2025.
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Oh, Copenhagen. What’s not to love!
This city is one of our favorites in Europe, and is the kind of place we could exist in for as much time as we are able just because we want to.
But, when visiting, broader Denmark (and Sweden!) calls, and if you’re like us and stop in Copenhagen before connecting onward, you may be thinking about a day trip or two to see more of the region.
We took three day trips from Copenhagen during our first visit, and wanted to share more about each in this one!
Kronborg Castle in Helsingor
We’ve been to many castles when traveling, and Kronborg Castle in Helsingor, a little over an hour north of Copenhagen, has been one of our favorites. This stronghold is quite the imposing place and has a roughly 500-year history with so many interesting stories to learn about during a visit!
Shakespeare fans may also recognize that Kronborg Castle is used as the set of Hamlet, and many guests make their way north for this element alone.
Although we have to admit that the castle doesn’t actually have a lot in the way of Hamlet references on the grounds (apart from a photo opp spot and in the gift shop, insofar as we could tell at least), it is still rather neat to see the castle all the same.
We don’t want to spoil the historical secrets you’ll learn when visiting here, but suffice it to say, if you’re looking for a great day trip from Copenhagen, don’t overlook this one!
Kronborg Castle is located in Helsingor, Denmark about 75 minutes north of Copenhagen.
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Louisiana Museum in Humlebæk
The Louisiana Museum in Humlebæk is not only one of the best modern art museums in Denmark, it is one of the best modern art museums we’ve been to anywhere in the world- full stop.
Part of this is because it houses some incredible art. The Louisiana Museum is almost exclusively full of rotating exhibitions (about six to ten every year) and one permanent exhibit- a stunning Yayoi Kusama infinity room (be sure to wait in the line for this one!). However, another reason is that the museum is situated in a stunning Danish architectural house that was converted into a museum in 1958.
Did we like the grounds and property as much as the art inside? Yes, yes we did. So much so that if we ever won the lottery, we’d just make a copy for ourselves.
This one is easily reached on a day trip in about an hour from central Copenhagen, taking the same train line you’d take heading to Kronborg Castle a little further north.
Could you make a big day of it and combine these two on a single trip? Absolutely! It would be a very busy day, with about five to seven hours exploring the two attractions needed (plus travel time), but it is doable insofar as you don’t overlap on a day that either is closed. The only reason we couldn’t make this one work was that we had early dinner reservations in Copenhagen, so as not to rush we split it into two separate day trips.
Worth the effort even for an extra day on the same train!
Notes: The Louisiana Museum sells tickets online in advance and at the door pending capacity. We did not purchase our tickets online and saw a massive line to get in right when the museum opened for the day. As it turns out, they had two entry lines, one for advanced ticket holders and one to buy on site. While we may have got lucky that particular day, our line to buy tickets was much, much shorter and got us in faster than if we had purchased in advance! While we may not recommend taking this risk because of attendance limitations, it was an interesting observation all the same- just be aware that two lines exist, and you may not see the signs until you get closer to the door if there is a line.
The Louisiana Museum is located in Humlebæk, Denmark about 60 minutes north of Copenhagen.
Malmö, Sweden
Did you know you can take a train to Sweden directly from Copenhagen? It’s true!
The bridge that connects the two countries also has a frequently running train line that stops in downtown Copenhagen, the international airport, and more, and can have you off and exploring Malmö in about 45 minutes!
Malmö is a cozy college town in western Sweden with incredible bakeries and coffee shops (get a cinnamon bun and/or cardamom bun at St. Jakobs Stenugnsbageri), beautiful parks, the aptly named Disgusting Foods Museum (showcasing off-putting and sometimes dangerous foods), and more.
Whether you’ve never been to Sweden and simply say you went to one more country, or you just want a change of scenery for something new, a day trip to Malmö is easy and fun!
Note: Be sure to take your passport when crossing the border. Although customs typically doesn’t check due to the open borders between countries, they reserve the right to and make an announcement when crossing the border all the same.
Malmo, Sweden, is located about 40 minutes east of Copenhagen.
Do you have a favorite day trip from Copenhagen? Comment to share! Next time we make our way to Denmark we’ll update with more day trip ideas!
About Jeremy
About the Author: Jeremy is a full-time travel writer based in Pittsburgh and primary author of this site. He has been to 70+ countries on five continents and seeks out new food, adventure activities, and off-the-beaten-path experiences wherever he travels.