Yes - You Can Do Copenhagen in One Day - Here is How We Did It!
For some, the idea of flying to another country and back in a single day sounds like a total nightmare. But if you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll know we’re always up for an adventure – and this one was just for us adults, without the kids in tow…
My mum and I actually booked this trip as a Christmas present to each other – we much prefer ‘experiences’ over ‘things’ so we thought it would be the perfect way to spend some time together and do something totally different!
Flights and First Impressions
We booked the 07:20am flight from Manchester to Copenhagen, and at just 90 minutes, it’s a quick journey into a whole new country. For an extreme day trip like this to work, an early flight out is essential! Since we were only going for the day, we skipped checked luggage, saving both time and money. Our return flights, booked around 8 months in advance, were around just £70 per person – a bargain for a day filled with adventure.
Easy Metro Into the City
One of the best things about arriving in Copenhagen is how effortless it is to get into the city centre. We hopped on the M2 (Yellow Line), which took us straight to Kongens Nytorv (and a short walk from Nyhavn) in about 13 minutes. The metro is clean, fast and easy to navigate – even for first timers. We bought our tickets in the airport and the ticket cost around £3-4 each way.
A Perfect Morning Start
Once we arrived in the centre, we headed straight to Buka Bakery for pastries and coffee. Be prepared to queue – but the freshly baked goods are absolutely worth the wait.
Our next stop was Christiansborg Palace Tower, the highest point in the city. It was free entry and all for panoramic views across Copenhagen – a must for first-time visitors. If you have the time, why not go for a wander round the Palace itself too? You will need to buy tickets to do this (can be bought on the day) but there is a lot to see!
Wandering Nyhavn
From there, we strolled into Nyhavn, Copenhagen’s colourful and iconic harbour, lined with 17th-century houses. Yes – it is as picturesque as it looks on the post-cards!
For lunch, we chose Hyttefadet, a cosy fish restaurant right on the harbourfront. Fresh seafood, crisp wine, and people watching made it the perfect midday break. It was grey and dull back in the UK so we fully embraced the sunshine here!
Afterwards, we wandered through cobbled streets, admiring historic buildings, stylish boutiques, and bicycles propped against colourful walls.
Rooftop Drinks to End the Day
Before heading back, we treated ourselves to rooftop drinks at Illum Rooftop. With more sweeping city views, it was the ideal finale to our whirlwind day. If time, have a wander through the impressive store which occupies 5 floors of the building!
Back to the Airport
The return to the airport was smooth and efficient (we used the metro again) and with its modern shops, wine bars and stylish restaurants, even the final leg of our journy felt like part of the adventure. Our flight home was at 19:30pm – 12 hours later than when our adventure began that very same day!
This extreme day trip worked thanks to the short flight, easy transfers and Copenhagen’s walkable layout. Sure, a longer stay would have been wonderful, but squeezing it all into a single day gave us an unforgettable adventure (and it meant I could get back to the little ones that same night!)
I wasn’t sure how tiring the whole experience would be but to be honest, it was no more tiring than a day with the kids and my mum and I actually managed to chat, uninterrupted, all day – something we hadn’t done in years!
It was worth it – and it won’t be our last extreme day trip – that’s for sure!
Have you ever done an extreme day trip abroad? Would you try it? Send me a DM and let me know and don’t forget to follow along on Instagram @little_family_diaries_ for more adventures and travel inspiration!