We are a family of four (kids ages 13 and 15) traveling to Copenhagen in early August.
Questions:
1. Are there any major attractions that must be pre-booked or any that have timed-entry/should be pre-booked to avoid lines? If yes, how far in advance? I'm seeing Rosenborg, anything else? We were in England in April 2023 and needed advance tickets for things in London and missed out on things in Oxford because I didn't realize we needed to pre-book months in advance there as well.
2. If we buy the Copenhagen Card, will we end up standing in entry lines anywhere?
3. For Rosenborg, with the Copenhagen Card you cannot pre-book - if we arrive first thing in the morning, will we get in right away or is it more likely they would give us a timed entry later in the day?
Thank you all in advance. Travel with timed entry and pre-booking has definitely made things more complicated in recent years!
Posted by
Chicago
1009 posts
I was in Copenhagen last June - July 2023. We had a few last minute extra days as our return plane to the US was cancelled. I had hoped to show my travel companion the Rosenborg Castle, but it was fully booked when I checked two days before we would have gone. I don't know that this is always the case (I've traveled other times of year with no problems for entry), but being high season, I would definitely monitor the website and purchase for your preferred date as availability wains.
I don't know how the Copenhagen Card works with Rosenborg. We used the card primarily for the included public transport and journeys out of town - Roskilde, Helsingborg, Kronborg, Frilandsmeet.
We used the card for Tivoli - no long line in mid-June last year, but when we returned in July we walked past lines that were blocks long. I'm not sure how the Copenhagen Card people were handled.
The art museums, National Museum, and Danish Resistance Museum were no problem getting in even with July crowds in Copenhagen. We also visited Amalienborg and Christiansborg during our unscheduled SAS necessitated "bonus days" . We didn't have a problem entering soon after arrival.
If it was me (and it isn't), I would probably pre-book any must-sees even if that means loosing value on the Copenhagen Card. Last year was the first time I had been in Copenhagen during high tourist season (July for me) - I was surprised by the number of people based on previous trips. However, still highly enjoyable!!!!
Posted by
OP
11 posts
ORDtraveler, this is very helpful, thank you. Your suggestion to book in advance and pay for must-sees like Rosenborg and Tivoli even if we have the Copenhagen Card is something I was considering.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
1665 posts
Rosenborg Castle and Amalienborg Palace are very popular sites. At Rosenborg Castle, the admissions desk will look at your Copenhagen Card and give you a timed-entry ticket. It’s best to arrive at opening time (9am from June 1- September 29; 10am the rest of the year) or as soon as possible after opening time so you can get an admission time soon after arriving at the palace.
Amalienborg Palace gives free admission to a section of the Palace with the Copenhagen Card.
At Tivoli Gardens, skip the line of visitors buying their admission ticket on site and walk forward to the turnstile entrance gates. No reservation is needed for a timed entrance at Tivoli.
The Round Tower is another site that seemed to have more visitors than space to accommodate them and there may be a wait before being admitted.