Families are welcome at all of Copenhagen's top attractions. Access with buggies is good, restaurants offer kid-friendly menus and activities and exhibitions are designed to be of interest to all ages, with plenty of digital wizardry sure to impress even those nonchalant teens.
If the weather isn't playing fair (which isn't uncommon in Denmark), why not check out one of Copenhagen's two biggest museums? Statens Museum for Kunst and the Nationalmuseet. In addition to being free, the lack of crowds, at least compared to equivalents in other cities, should pleasantly surprise. Both offer plenty of facilities for kids without neglecting to offer something interesting for the grown-ups too.
Tivoli Gardens is the kind of place kids don't want to leave — Photo courtesy of Tuala Hjarno/Copenhagen Media Centre
During season (April to early September, a short Halloween season in mid-late October and the Christmas season in November and December), you can't really round off a family vacation to Copenhagen without treating the kids to a day out in Tivoli, a 170-year-old, inner city amusement park. It offers rides, shows and a general wonderland atmosphere that manages to entertain, thrill and continue to evolve while still retaining its historic heritage - a challenge few fun parks have managed to live up to.
Tivoli can be an expensive visit however, so check the Gardens' website first so you know what to expect as well as which tickets best suit your own family.
Denmark's brand new aquarium, The Blue Planet, opened in spring 2013 near the airport in the Øresund district and has had visitors streaming in from day one. The vast, modern building has been shaped like a watery whirlwind. Inside Northern Europe's largest aquarium, 53 tanks allow its guests to traverse through the Amazonas, a coral reef and north to the Faroe Islands. The ocean tank boasts a 52-foot-long glass tunnel where you can view the sharks (still youngsters themselves, but guaranteed to grow large and ferocious).
The stunning architecture of Denmark's Aquarium 'The Blue Planet' is inspired by whirlwinds in water — Photo courtesy of Adam Mork/Copenhagen Media Centre
Princesses in training will no doubt enjoy the magic and elegance of Rosenborg Slot, with its Renaissance spires and crown jewels which are on display in the royal museum's basement. As a bonus (particularly if little brother is starting to get antsy), there's a great playground onsite, and the popular Kongens Have
Park is excellent for picnics. There's even a welcoming sandwich bar, Lotte's, found just across the road.
Given the right weather and time of year, capital city Copenhagen also allows you to hit the beach in the space of a short Metro journey. Amager Strandpark is a little landscaped for those with a preference for natural beaches. There are often puppet shows during July and amenities include cafes and restrooms, while it's also possible to windsurf and rent kayaks. The beach park covers a vast area, so it never feels crowded.
