Nyhavn - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Nyhavn
NeighborhoodsHistoric Walking AreasPiers & Boardwalks
About
Copenhagen's Nyhaven, or "New Harbor," is actually steeped in a long heritage. Colorful buildings line the canal and hint at a history of small-vessel traffic. Like many ports, this strip has a salty history, rich with sailors, drinking and literary exploits. Danish author Hans Christian Andersen made his home in Nyhavn as well. It's cleaned up now and is a lovely place for a stroll.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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The area
Neighborhood: Indre By (Inner City)
This is the heart of old town Copenhagen, with its blend of charming old buildings and bold new architecture, broad avenues and tiny streets as well as picturesque canals and a modern harbor. The inner city is home to the Royal Danish Theatre, which consists of three buildings, two of which are new and situated on the harbor front. The streets, squares and venues of the inner city and its surrounding neighborhoods, are alive all year round with everything from jazz festivals to outdoor ice skating rinks and parachuting at the lakes right in the center of the city. This compact area boasts beautiful old castles, tranquil parks, and bustling squares where you can always find a bench to stretch out your legs whenever you need a break.
How to get there
  • Kongens Nytorv • 4 min walk
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See what travelers are saying
  • a d
    Chatham-Kent, Canada35 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    great people watching, drinking, eating and just chilling
    very busy little canal with restaurants and bars. we did not find a place that any open spots as it was filled with people. we found another restayrant outside tge area. it was clean we felt safe walking around. ideally getting there earlier in the day the shops woukd also be open.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 6, 2023
  • Joasi23
    South Yorkshire, United Kingdom1,665 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Despite the hype it doesn’t disappoint
    We knew what to expect from the many photos we had seen but got to say it still impressed ! Difficult to get in the cafes as they were always full but we did like the locals and sat with the drinks we had brought with us at the side of the canal . Great atmosphere,. Veer right at that end over the bridge with the cycle lanes and walk into area which is perfect for street food and drinks , music playing and more beautiful views
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 27, 2023
  • WorldTravelerSoCal
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin283 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nyhavn a madhouse on Sunday Afternoons
    We visited Nyhavn this afternoon on a SUnday when the sun was out for awhile. It was a madhouse of people. A lot of them wanted to go on the boat tours. Each boat was filled with people. The activities are eating, milking a beer, and walking the streets taking pictures along with boat tours. It's nice but be prepared to get slammed with a Lot of other people who want to go also.
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 28, 2023
  • Ann H
    York, United Kingdom2,396 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth a visit
    This bustling part of the city is a must see with its colourful buildings, many lovely looking cafes and restaurants with stalls selling lots of different things. The canal that runs alongside this is the hub for canal tourist boat trips to go and see the other great sights Copenhagen has to offer. Lovely place
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 30, 2023
  • Gary W
    Richmond, Australia871 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Eat Drink Repeat
    A street full of courtyard restaurants of similar size with similar menus and prices. Pick any one and you should be ok. Smoking ban is wonderful when compared to other European cities. Views of the canal and surrounding buildings are wonderful. An area of Copenhagen not to be missed.
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 5, 2023
  • Eddie T
    Calgary, Canada94 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Quintessential Copenhagen
    Nyhavn is the quintessential, postcard-perfect Copenhagen neighbourhood for good reason. Such colourful buildings and beautiful setting just by the water! So many beautiful cafes and restaurants! A must-visit in Copenhagen, if only for a short time
    Visited May 2023
    Written June 9, 2023
  • nara501
    Boston, Massachusetts359 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Vibrant, touristy
    This is the definition of a tourist place. There are some nice spots with lovely views that you will have to seek out to enjoy the scene. Hub for all sorts of boat rides, including the water bus that is part of the public transport system.
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 24, 2023
  • ChaiTea
    Maumelle, Arkansas101 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely Historical Area Well Worth Visit but Packed with Tourists in July
    Beautiful very busy area of Copenhagen well worth a visit. Be selective of where you eat as we went to two restaurants here and one was an awful tourist trap and the second was amazing. Reminded me of Amsterdam! Be sure to pack a raincoat as we have not experienced one day in Copenhagen that didn’t have a period of a downpour!
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 3, 2023
  • Xamot Tomax
    Fort Wayne, Indiana6,812 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Picturesque
    This area is lovely and picturesque. The colorful buildings along canals are a must see for us when we visit this city. Pronounced Nee-Houn (New Harbor) is loaded with great restaurants and pubs. It’s great for a leisurely stroll during the day or evening. A nearby local attraction is the Royal Danish Theatre.
    Visited December 2022
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 4, 2023
  • doctorfoxtrot
    Taguig City, Philippines12,758 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Heart and soul of the city
    This is arguably the heart and soul of Copenhagen. The convergence point of locals and tourists. Colorful houses adorn the certain stretch of this body of water. But in it are docking points of boats, multiple restaurants and bars. Feel the ambiance, albeit chaotic. Relaxed eating , drinking or even people watching. Postcard ready pics await the adventurous photographers .
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written July 14, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles29,873 reviews
Excellent
16,686
Very good
10,487
Average
2,336
Poor
263
Terrible
101

rh2473
Carrickfergus, UK325 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
Honestly the only part of Copenhagen that looks like this.
You get the impression before you leave that the whole city has this look. It is charming however this area is overpriced. Bars and restaurants wanting tourists who can’t be bothered to look elsewhere to drink and eat in over priced establishments.
Worth a quick photo.
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Olivia H
Leeds, UK71 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
My haven is beautiful in its colour, architecture and history. A spectacular sight to see! It’s an iconic piece of Copenhagen which is definitely photograph worthy and worth a look.

As with any city icons, this place was very busy with tourists and also everyone seemed to be doing a photoshops ready to post online. This was slightly annoying when trying to walk along the opposite side of the river! If visiting again I would definitely go early in the morning to avoid the influencer crowds!
Written May 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bluenosejock1
Dunfermline, UK465 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Couples
Standard, busy tourist area that is very pretty. Lots of boat tours from here and close to the city centre. Not much time to spend here unless you are looking for fresh, but expensive dining experiences as hundreds of tourists shuffle past.

Great for a phpto though.
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

simply-peregrinating
Waddington, UK2,733 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
Quite a pretty row of old buildings by the waters edge and pleasant on the eye. It is very popular especially with people who don't go off and explore the city but just visit the main landmarks. Consequently it is very busy and packed out with people. Restaurants spill out onto the pavements, making little room for walking. Personally I thought it was worth a look as we were passing but I would not make a bee line for it.
Written August 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lauren T
Washington DC, DC29 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
If you're in Copenhagen for a short trip, Nyhavn is definitely one of the top places to visit. The colorful buildings, old boats, and canals make it the perfect place to stop for some pictures and enjoy the scenery. Even on a cloudy or rainy day, it's a great place to see. The area is also full of restaurants and cafes, making it a great place to try some smørrebrød or grab a coffee (although prices are a bit higher since it's a prime stop for tourists, hence the 4/5 rating).
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jan T
Leidschendam, The Netherlands1,411 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
There are many terraces to choose from. Saturday evening, with very nice weather in June, it did take some time till we did find an empty table for diner.
Most terraces did close at 10:00PM. Only several terraces near the bridge did stay open much longer. On Sunday evening, with average (but dry) weather, it did quickly calmed down.
I did not look at the bills to avoid spoiling the experience so I don’t know if it was expensive or not. Out Dutch debit cards did work everywhere with contactless payments.
Later in the evening all terraces will be in the shadow of the buildings.

We did stay in Hotel Bethel, opposite the canal.
Written September 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

839beritb
Copenhagen, Denmark14 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Nyhavn always is a beautiful place to visit. Situated in between our National Theaters, and between the queens castle "Amalienborg" and the walking street "Strøget" the old houses, all the colours and the originality fits in so beautiful. In the summertime people will be all over drinking beer, eating or just sitting along the canal enjoying sailing ships, music and each other. From here you can enjoy the Canal Tours too. At Christmas, decoratings through all Nyhavn are so beautiful, and most restaurants will still offer outdoor tables.
Written February 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

okeedoke
washington state1,817 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019
We stayed in a hotel close to the Nyhavn district and absolutely loved it! The colors, ambiance, sights and sound...as well as a variety of tastes make it well worth it. You can rent a canal boat ride or just sit at a street-side cafe and people watch. Highly, highly recommend!
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

William S
Clinton, NJ393 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
We walked from our Marriott Hotel about 30 minutes or so to Nyhavn, a beautiful and colorful canal street with scores of restaurants and shops. A fantastic photo op. We would recommend going at a time when you can see it in the late afternoon sun, and experience it when it lights up after dark. Be careful as many of the restaurants are very touristy, but it is splendid for a drink or late afternoon espresso or snack.
Written January 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Passports and Us
United Kingdom120 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022 • Couples
It’s iconic but it can get very busy along the main street. You’ll definitely want to stop by at least once but we wouldn’t recommend hanging around for too long. Nyhavn is very picturesque and it’s the main starting point for a couple of the cities boat tours, we really enjoyed our trip with Netto. We wouldn’t recommend eating here as prices tend to be on higher side.
Written January 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Nyhavn - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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