Copenhagen Canal Tour: The Fun Boat Tour No One Should Miss!

Copenhagen Canal Tour

Copenhagen is the beautiful capital of Denmark which is full of historic buildings and landmarks. One of the best ways to see and learn all about the city is by jumping on a boat for a Copenhagen Canal Tour! Starting from the famous Nyhavn Harbor, you will float past the city’s most beautiful attractions. Here are some great tips as well as what to expect on this fun tour of Copenhagen!

Buying Copenhagen Canal Tour Tickets

You can buy your tickets online for the Canal Tour of Copenhagen. However, if you plan to explore the city you might want to consider the Copenhagen bus & hop on hop off combo ticket. This pass comes with the open-air boat that we took!

There is also a second company that runs a similar tour. The difference between the two is this one has a roof that slides up and down depending on the weather. It’s also just as easy to get tickets in the Nyhavn Canal from the main stand. Just beware if you don’t get there early you may have to wait in a long line.

The afternoon (especially on the weekends and in the summer months) is the most popular time to take this Copenhagen tour. Even when it’s crowded there’s nothing to worry about though! Every seat is a good one and if you take the same boat that we did you won’t have a roof to worry about. 

Another tip for visiting the city is to consider the Copenhagen Pass. This includes another Copenhagen boat tour from a different location as well as other great museums and attractions around the city. 

Copenhagen Canal Tickets

Showing Up to the Nyhavn Harbor Early

If you have a sunny day in the summer, most likely your boat will be crowded if not completely full. We arrived about 20 minutes before taking off at 11am and were one of the first travelers to get on. That meant we had our pick of where to sit! Obviously, we chose a seat on the outside so we would be right on the water’s edge.

If we took the tour again we would probably try to grab the seat in the first row to have an unobstructed view, or all the way to the last row. Still, like we mentioned before, there really is no bad seat. Everyone is sitting on the same level with the colorful buildings and sites going by as you float down the canals. 

One thing that we learned is that you are allowed to bring drinks on board. At 11am it was coffee for us, but we were surprised when other groups pulled some cold beers out of their bags. We have to say that cruising down this famous canal with a beer in hand must beat a bar any day!

Best Copenhagen Canal Tour

What to Expect on the Copenhagen Canal Tour

Taking off down the Nyhavn Canal, our guide introduced himself and started the tour. This popular activity takes you under bridges, down multiple canals, and shows off the city’s remarkable architecture.

Between all the historic landmarks you’ll actually get to see how many bridges there are in Copenhagen. That’s because every once and a while the boat narrowly slides between them!

How unique is that?? Floating right through the heart of the capital of Denmark was so amazing. In addition, it’s the perfect introduction to the city and a glimpse into what to do in Copenhagen. 

Tour Copenhagen Canal

Copenhagen Canal Tour Bridges

What You’ll See on the Copenhagen Boat Tour

Opera House: National Opera House of Denmark and known as the most modern of its kind in the world. 

Navy ships: Cold War era navy ships including the first in the world to have both diesel engines and gas turbines.

Reffen Market: Popular street food market with both international and local specialties.

Little Mermaid: Statue commemorating the famous fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen.

Amalienborg Palace: The current home of the Danish Royal family. 

Frederik’s Church: Marble religious building topped with Scandanavia’s biggest church dome.

Copenhagen Boat Tour

Canal Tour of Copenhagen Route

After seeing many of the city’s greatest landmarks, we cruised down another smaller canal on the Copenhagen Canal Tour. Here we would find many many beautiful boats, residential buildings, and a quieter side to the capital.

One of Copenhagen’s most iconic buildings sprang up seemingly out of nowhere at one point in the Church of our Savior. It was built in 1695 and is famous for its winding staircase that goes around the exterior. 

Unfortunately, the Copenhagen Canal Tour passed quickly and before we knew it we were docking and getting off the boat. Still, the hour we spent cruising along the water was the perfect introduction to this amazing city!

Right next to the ticket booth be sure to try one of the delicious hot dogs Copenhagen is known for. They are actually all over this city but we grabbed one here for a quick lunch after the tour!

Copenhagen Canal

Have any questions about our Copenhagen Boat Tour or want to share your own memories from the Nyhavn Canal? Leave us a comment below!

Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake

 Where in the world are we? Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @nothingfamiliar

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Copenhagen Canal

Denmark Travel Planning 

 Flights: We always find our cheap flight deals using Skyscanner. That’s how we flew from Norway to Poland for under $20 USD, and Thailand to Vietnam for less than $50! 

 Accommodation: Compare multiple sites to get the best deal such as Booking.com and Agoda! Also,  Hostelworld can be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget. 

Rental Car: We use Discover Cars for renting vehicles. Make sure to search for a discounted weekly rate rather than booking 2-3 days.

Tours: Check out Get Your Guide for thousands of activities around the world. From food tours to skip-the-line entry passes! 

 Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without being covered. We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.

 Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including our electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials

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Brigitte & Jake

We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!

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