Hi, all! We're planning a trip to Denmark next May and want to spend 16 days exploring this beautiful country. I've put together an itinerary and I'd love some feedback. Do you think this is doable? Should we rent a car, at least for Days 7-12? Is Ribe worth visiting? Is there someplace we should be spending more time, or is there someplace else we shouldn't miss? We have a few extra days in Copenhagen at the end, so we could go someplace else, or extend our stay in one of the places on the list. Thanks for your help!
Day 1 – Arrival in Copenhagen
Arrive, settle in, gentle walk around Nyhavn & Kongens Nytorv.
Evening: Tivoli Gardens (if open).
Day 2 – Copenhagen Highlights
Rosenborg Castle, Amalienborg Palace (changing of the guard).
Christiansborg Palace, National Museum.
Evening: Stroll Strøget shopping street.
Day 3 – Copenhagen More + Canal Tour
Explore Freetown Christiania, Church of Our Saviour.
Canal tour from Nyhavn.
Visit Designmuseum Denmark or Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (north of city, if desired).
Day 4 – Day Trip: Frederiksborg Castle & Helsingør
Morning: Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød.
Afternoon: Kronborg Castle (Hamlet’s Castle) in Helsingør.
Return to Copenhagen.
Day 5 – Day Trip: Roskilde
Roskilde Cathedral (UNESCO site, Danish monarch burials).
Viking Ship Museum.
Return to Copenhagen for dinner.
Day 6 – To Odense (Hans Christian Andersen’s City)
Train ~1.5–2 hrs.
Explore Hans Christian Andersen Museum & childhood home.
St. Canute’s Cathedral.
Stay overnight in Odense.
Day 7 – Odense → Ærø (Island Life)
Train + ferry to Ærøskøbing.
Explore cobbled streets, colorful houses, marina.
Rent bikes or just relax by the sea. Overnight on Ærø.
Day 8 – Ærø → Odense → Aarhus
Morning ferry back, connect by train to Aarhus (~3 hrs).
Evening walk through the Latin Quarter, dinner at Aarhus Street Food.
Day 9 – Aarhus
ARoS Art Museum (with rainbow panorama).
Den Gamle By (Old Town open-air museum).
Marselisborg Palace grounds.
Day 10 – Aarhus → Ribe
Train to Ribe (~2 hrs).
Explore Ribe Cathedral, Viking Center, cobbled medieval streets.
Overnight Ribe (atmospheric evenings here).
Day 11 – Ribe & Wadden Sea National Park
Day trip to the Wadden Sea (UNESCO), possible seal safari or mudflat walk.
Evening: Ribe restaurants and night watchman’s tour.
Day 12 – Ribe → Copenhagen
Train back to Copenhagen (~3.5–4 hrs).
Evening free (relax after travel).
Day 13 – Malmö, Sweden Day Trip
Cross Øresund Bridge by train (~40 min).
Malmö Castle, Lilla Torg square, Turning Torso, modern waterfront.
Return to Copenhagen.
Day 14 – Copenhagen (Museums & Neighborhoods)
Glyptoteket or National Gallery (SMK).
Explore Nørrebro or Vesterbro neighborhoods for culture, cafés, street art.
Day 15 – Copenhagen Free Day
Flex day: revisit favorite spots, shopping, food tours, or day trip to Møns Klint (white cliffs) if you want nature.
Day 16 – Departure
Depending on flight time, relaxed breakfast, final stroll.