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7 Most Instagrammable Spots in Copenhagen, Denmark's Harbour Capital
Built around a 17th-century canal harbour that King Christian IV commissioned to draw merchant trade into the city, Copenhagen pairs candy-coloured townhouses with Nordic design landmarks that photograph as cleanly as they were built to look.
Sep 23, 2026 · BigTravel.in
Copenhagen's waterfront character dates to 1670-73, when King Christian V's predecessor Christian IV had the Nyhavn canal dug to connect the harbour directly to the city's market square, lined from the start with merchant houses and taverns. That canal remains the city's most photographed street, but Copenhagen's newer architecture, from an opera house to a power plant with a ski slope on its roof, has given it just as many contemporary spots. Here are seven, each with a direct map link.
1. Nyhavn Canal
The 17th-century harbour canal's row of narrow, brightly painted townhouses, reflected in the water and lined with moored wooden boats, is Copenhagen's signature image, especially in the low light of early morning or early evening before the canal-side restaurants fill up.
2. The Little Mermaid statue
Unveiled in 1913 and inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, this small bronze statue perched on a harbourside rock at Langelinie has become disproportionately famous relative to its modest size, and remains one of the most visited single sights in Denmark.
3. Rundetaarn (Round Tower)
Built in 1642 as an astronomical observatory, the Round Tower is climbed via a spiralling internal ramp rather than stairs, and its rooftop platform gives one of central Copenhagen's best views over the old town's spires and coloured rooftops.
4. Amalienborg Palace Square
The winter residence of the Danish royal family, Amalienborg's four identical rococo palace buildings sit around an octagonal cobbled square centred on an equestrian statue of Frederick V, with a daily changing-of-the-guard ceremony when the monarch is in residence.
5. CopenHill (Amager Bakke)
A working waste-to-energy power plant designed by architect Bjarke Ingels, completed in 2019 with an artificial ski and hiking slope built directly onto its sloped roof, an unusual pairing of industrial infrastructure and recreational skyline landmark.
6. Copenhagen Opera House waterfront
Opened in 2005 on the harbour island of Holmen, the Opera House's cantilevered glass facade and long harbourside promenade face directly across the water to Amalienborg, giving one of the city's cleanest modern-architecture waterfront views.
7. Tivoli Gardens
Opened in 1843 and among the oldest operating amusement parks in the world, Tivoli's illuminated pagodas, fountains and flower gardens are particularly photogenic after dark, when its thousands of lights come on against the Copenhagen skyline.
Traveller tips
- Copenhagen Airport connects directly to the city centre by metro in around 15 minutes, one of Europe's most straightforward airport transfers.
- The city is largely flat and highly cyclable; renting a bike is often faster than public transport between these spots.
- Nyhavn gets crowded with tour groups by mid-morning; visiting at breakfast time gives clearer views of the canal houses.
- Summer offers the longest daylight for photography, but spring and autumn bring far fewer crowds at the major sights.
Where this is
Copenhagen, Denmark