Relaxing in one of the many parks in Copenhagen is one of my favorite things to do! The city has a surprising number of pretty big parks, and they’re a great place to escape the noise of the center city. Plus, they’re budget friendly! You can read a book in a quiet corner under a tree or pack a picnic with some friends (and you can even pack some beers- public drinking is legal!). There are lots of parks downtown to relax in, and from castles to cemeteries, these are my favorite five free parks in Copenhagen! 🙂
The Lakes
The Lakes is one of my favorite spots in all of Copenhagen! It is made up of three consecutive lakes, and it’s a popular spot for locals to go for a run or hang out. The buildings along the lake are beautiful and so colorful, so it’s a really pretty spot to relax! There are some benches along the lakes, or you can get a grassy spot under the trees. The Lakes may seem outside of the city center, but it’s just a few minutes walk from Nørreport Station.
You can grab a beer from one of the many 7-11s near Nørreport or bring a picnic!
Ørstedsparken
Ørstedsparken might be the most secluded park because it isn’t as well known as the others, and it’s off to the side behind an unassuming gate. But it’s just a block away from Nørreport Station! It has a large pond (which actually used to be part of a moat) with lots of statues throughout the park, and there are many trees so you can hang out under the shade on the sloping hills. It’s the perfect spot to relax and hang out with some locals.
Rosenborg Castle
Can anything beat hanging out at a park with a castle? You can visit Rosenborg Castle for 110 krone and you get to see the crown jewels- the only crown jewels that are actually still used and worn in Europe. Or if you just want to admire the castle from outside for free, you can hang out in the park! It’s so beautiful, and it’s such a relaxing area with open spaces, little flower gardens, and manicured trees along the path.
Botanical Gardens
Right across the street from Rosenborg Castle are the Botanical Gardens. It’s a large park with ponds, trees, and little flower gardens, and you can visit the greenhouses! It was much too hot to go inside the greenhouses the day I went most recently, but it’s still cool to peek in and see all the different plants. The Botanical Gardens have always been quiet and peaceful every time I’ve been, and it’s easy to find a secluded spot off of one of the many paths.
Assistens Cemetery
Want a different type of park? You can actually hang out at a Assistens Cemetery! I know, it sounds weird and I was very confused when I first heard about it, but it’s the norm in Copenhagen and one of my Danish professors told me that people even have birthday parties there. I’ve seen people sunbathing and jogging there, so people really do use it for everything. You should obviously be respectful of the gravestones and be aware that funerals still occur there, but you can just hang out in a cemetery if you want. Assistens Cemetery is where Neils Bohr, H.C. Andersen, and Søren Kierkegaard are buried if you want to see their graves.
Søren Kierkegaard’s grave
Hans Christian Andersen’s grave
You may have seen photos of the trees lining the path through the cemetery, it’s a pretty famous image
Neils Bohr’s grave
So if you’re looking for unique or free parks in Copenhagen, I definitely recommend these five! Even though they’re in the center of Copenhagen, they’re so quiet and peaceful, and they’re great spots to relax in away from crowds 🙂
Your creativity for all those pictures are AMAZING. I love all the green and all the history that comes with the buildings. That picture you have of all the trees leading up to that older building, was my favorite! Can’t wait to see more of what you have!
Thank you so much! 🙂
I’m so glad I finally got round to reading this post. I love it when cities have big green spaces and parks to escape the bustle 🙂 The Lakes and the surrounding area is just so beautiful, I can only imagine all the amazing sunsets reflecting on the water and how peaceful it must feel. I’d also want to see the Botanical Gardens – I visit them whenever I go to a new city and they have some!
Julia x
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Yes parks are my favorite escape! I wish I had seen some sunsets there but the sun would just set so late haha!
Such stunning photos! I’m itching to visit that castle. It reminds me so much of Hampton Court in the UK
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Thank you! 🙂 I haven’t been to Hampton Court yet so I’ll add it to my list!
Those parks are so unique and beautiful..Loved all the pics. So eager to visit.
Thank you! 🙂
Wow, the Botanical Garden looks impressive! I love exploring parks in cities – they can be such grey and urban spaces (duh), but there are always those beautiful green pockets to discover. Thanks for sharing!
Yes, they’re like a little oasis in the middle of cities!
Julia, I love your photos here and on Instagram! My husband and I are looking to visit Cophenhagen next spring (if we can nab a reservation at Noma!), and we love strolling through parks during our travels.
Thank you! 🙂 Spring is the perfect time to visit Copenhagen!
These look just lovely, I wished I’d known about more of them before visiting Copenhagen. Your photographs of the beautiful Danish townhouses reflected on the water are just divine – I’m now fighting an urge to head right back there immediately!
Thank you! 🙂 I hope you can go back! It’s my favorite city to revisit!
Love your gorgeous pictures!! Makes me want to visit Copenhagen again with your blog post handy.
Thank you! 🙂 I hope you can go back!
Such beautiful photos! It’s also so curious to me that folks just hang out in Assistens Cemetery. I definitely would not be comfortable having a party there but it seems like a serene and contemplative place to wander around. Thank you for sharing this list, I would love to make it Copenhagen at some point and when I do go, I know I’ll be enjoying its lovely parks!
Thank you! 🙂 Yeah I don’t think I would want to have my birthday party there either!
I really love the reflections on the water you were able to capture throughout.
Thank you! 🙂 Reflections are my favorite!
Great info here!
Thank you!
The parks in Copenhagen look amazing!
They’re even better in person! 🙂