Travel bucket list idea:

Boat tours of Copenhagen’s canals

Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark

Canal boat filled with tourists travelling along Copenhagen's canals

Credit Shutterstock.com/Arndale

Last updated: 28 April, 2024

The historic centre of Copenhagen, including both the mainland side and the island of Amager, is diced and diced with some rather picturesque canals. The canals link many of the major city sights, including Nyhavn, The Little Mermaid, Amalienborg Castle, Holmen, The Opera, The Royal Library (The Black Diamond), Christiansborg, The Stock Exchange, Langelinie, and Christianshavn Canal.

That makes a kanalrundfart (canal tour) a must in Copenhagen – it’s an enjoyable, lazy way to tick off the key sights, get orientated, and gain an understanding of the city’s rich history – there are fascinating facts and insightful commentary along the way. It’s the perfect way to start a first-time visit.

Logistics

Price from: £10

Minimum age: 0

Age suitable: 4+

When: All year around

Duration: 1+ hours

Getting there & doing it

Tours leave from Nyhavn and Gammel Strand (doesn’t matter which), departing at least every half hour. There are multiple variations, routes and languages, so check before you board.

Various tour options exist, but the most common is a one-hour guided tour that completes a basic loop. A more flexible option is hop-on hop-off electric harbour buses, which stop at nine designated stops on both sides of the water from Sluseholmen to Refshaleoen. Visit The Royal Library, Islands Brygge and Nyhavn for the price of a bus ticket.

When to do it

Tours run all year round, seven days a week.

Who to go with: organised tours

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Social Sailing - Copenhagen Canal Tour - Exploring Hidden Gems

Copenhagen

Viator

At Hey Captain we do Social Sailing, where you meet new people and explore Copenhagen harbor. We started as friends on a boat and this is the atmosphere we want to deliver to our guests. It's a talk and a dialogue more than your standard classical tour. During the tour your captain will show you our favorite sights in the harbor. There is plenty of time to ask questions and we hope you want to engage in a conversation about life in Copenhagen. Our ambition is to give you a sense of the city more than an overload of historical facts. The route is not 100% standardized as we want to try to accommodate specific wishes of the group and special events in the harbor. The 2-hour Hidden Gems Tour will take you off the beaten track from the standard canal tour routes in the inner town, exploring the upcoming residential areas of either the South or North harbor. We hope to see you on board and that you will embrace our concept of Social Sailing. The Hey Captain Team

Price DKK 436

Min age 0

Rating 4.83 / 5 [1346 ratings]

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