Discover things to do in Copenhagen in autumn

Autumn is the perfect time to visit Copenhagen and discover its rich culture and history. The summer crowds have gone back home and the fall season is peak time for hygge. The season still has plenty of sunny days to enjoy outside and for those wet or windy days the city offers some great indoor attractions. Here are some of our top tips for visiting Copenhagen in autumn.

Enjoy Hygge in Copenhagen

A few years ago, the Danish concept of hygge (pronounced 'hoo-gah') took the world by storm. There is no one-word English translation that properly fits all the connotations of the Danish word. So what is hygge and why does it fit the colder months so perfectly? Some would translate the term with cosiness but it is so much more than that.

Hygge is an atmosphere, a feeling, a sense. Think of a moment when you were warm and happy and sharing that moment with your favourite people. Or the warm glow of a candle or a fire place.

Hygge is about surrounding yourself with the things that make life good, such as friends and laughter, warmth, light, and seasonal food. Read on to discover great places and events to experience hygge during autumn in Copenhagen.

See deer in Dyrehaven

Being outside surrounded by nature and the wonderful colours of autumn definitely falls under the concept of hygge. If the city parks aren't quite what you are looking for, we suggest catching a train to Klamenborg Station, just north of Copenhagen and walking into Dyrehaven (Deer Park). With over 2000 free-range deer roaming the park, you're certain to come across a few of them.

Dyrehaven is a great place to take a walk in the woods or take a tour in a majestic horse-drawn carriage, and enjoy the lush colours of autumn, small lakes and open meadows. In 2015, Dyrehaven was named a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park was once used for hunting by the Danish royal family, who hunted on horseback following a pack of hounds. The Hermitage, the king's hunting lodge, is located in the heart of the park.

If you want to make it a longer day trip, you can combine your visit to Dyrehaven with a visit to Kronborg Castle. Here you can imagine yourself in Shakespeare's play Hamlet, as he used this castle as inspiration for Elsinore. Or head into the crypts to visit Holger the Dane, a Danish folk hero.

Visit the sights of Frederiksberg

Frederiksberg is a city that once sat besides Copenhagen, today the capital city has completely surrounded it. There are exclusive clothing and design shops, as well as cosy cafes and speciality food stores to explore. It is also a very green municipality, though in autumn it turns golden, especially the southern side with the Frederiksberg Gardens, Søndermarken and the Copenhagen ZOO.

Copenhagen ZOO is one of the oldest in Europe and one of Denmark's most visited attractions. It sits in the southwest corner of Frederiksberg Gardens, and turns just as golden in the autumn months. Here you can get close to incredible animals from around the world, including tigers, rhinos, elephants and many others.

On the border of Frederiksberg and Copenhagen's Vesterbro district sits the Home of Carlsberg, the original brewery of Denmark's most famous beer brand. Here you can discover the history, present and future of one of the best beers in the world. Your visit will include a free drink, as well as a visit to see the horses and vintage cars that were once part of the company's distribution efforts.

A night of culture in Copenhagen

Since 1993, Culture Night (Kulturnatten) has been one of the city's most popular cultural events. When the autumn school holidays start all the cultural institutions of the city work together to organise a fun, festive evening for all to enjoy. More than 200 museums, theatres, libraries, churches, ministries and parks throughout the city welcome the public during Copenhagen's biggest annual one-night event.

THE TUBE Copenhagen will open with a musical twist, Copenhagen ZOO opens after hours, allowing you to see the animals night time behaviour. Even Christiansborg Palace opens its doors, giving people the chance to see inside the Folketing and meet the political parties. All you need to visit any one of the Culture Night's events is a Culture Pass, which you can buy at all the 7-Eleven shops in the city. The Pass also offers access to free public transport for the evening.

Celebrate Halloween at Tivoli

Though the Tivoli Gardens are always a good place to go when you are in Copenhagen, it’s even better in autumn. From 10 October to 3 November, the Tivoli Gardens amusement park pulls out all the stops for Halloween with special events for the little ones and the bigger ones who are still kids at heart, as well as some spooky snacks.

And in the heart of the Tivoli Gardens you’ll find Kilden I Haven, where they combine a love for green and sustainable cooking with the changing seasons. All ingredients come from Danish coasts and fields, making the menu a tribute to Denmark and the seasons. It is the perfect spot to experience hygge in the city for yourself.

Discover Danish art

The Danish capital is home to several amazing art museums which are home to beautiful local art. There is SMK, Statens Museum for Kunst, Denmark's largest art gallery, and just around the corner you can find the Hirschsprung Collection with 19th and 20th century Danish paintings and sculptures. If you are more interested in modern art, a visit to MACA Museum near Nyhavn should be on your Copenhagen itinerary.

All-in, Copenhagen is home to over 50 museums, with topics ranging from art to history and from science to fairy tales. They make for the perfect attraction for some of the colder, rainy days that Copenhagen sees in autumn. We’ve selected a few not to miss museums in Copenhagen if you want to buy tickets.

Explore the unexpected

Central Station's aren't often a place you look to to have a good time, but in Copenhagen you'll find a unique attraction inside the station. THE TUBE Copenhagen runs above several shops inside the station on the Bernstorffsgade side. Here you'll find 17 different rooms, each with its own experience and fun photo op.

You can challenge your sense of direction in the Vortex tunnel, jump into a massive ball pit and try to escape a constantly repeating room. Take incredible photos in the lightroom, crawl through the belly of a snake, and have fun with a colourful kaleidoscope. You can let your imagination run wild at this unexpected attraction inside Copenhagen Central Station.