Best Canal Tours in Copenhagen

Among the best things to do in Copenhagen are the canal tours. This kind of tours offer you a different perspective of the city and also help you to relax. You will be able to see many tourist attractions and appreciate the city from another point of view.

Tours vary depending on the experience you want to have. Some include a walking or bus tour and then take a boat. Others are done by kayak or in a jacuzzi with sail. Would you like to live any of these experiences? Here I tell you all the options!

Among the first things you should do when traveling to the Danish capital is to book a walking tour of Copenhagen. But to make this experience as complete as possible, I recommend a tour of Copenhagen that includes a boat ride on Nyhavn, the city's most famous canal.

To start with this tour, you should meet your guide at a pre-arranged point. After the group is full, you can start.

During the tour you will pass by Amalienborg Palace, the Royal Opera House, Christiansborg Palace, Paper Island, the Circular Bridge, Kongens Nytorv Square and Christiansborg Castle.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 300 €.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Means of transport: walking tour and then by boat.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to make the most of your time and get to know a large part of the city.
• Disadvantages of this option: food and beverages are not included.

If you don't feel like walking too much and have several sites in mind that you want to see, I recommend a bus tour of Copenhagen with free stops and including a boat tour on the Nyhavn Canal.

During the tour you will see the city from a different perspective and cultural attractions such as The Little Mermaid or The Little Mermaid. It is important to note that at any time you can take the boat tour and explore the Nyhavn canal.

If you visit Copenhagen for two days or more, buying a ticket to this bus will be a very good idea. And I recommend taking the boat tour at sunset so you can enjoy the colors of the sky merging with the water.

Interesting details

• Price: around 40 €.
• Duration: the boat ride lasts less than 1 hour and the bus tour can last as long as you prefer.
• Means of transport: tourist bus and boat.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to get to the sites you want quickly and still use the bus ticket for two days.
• Disadvantages of this option: you will not have a local guide during the tour.

The Frederiksholms Kanal is a canal located in the center of the capital of Denmark. Although it is not the most popular in the city, it is worth taking a tour along this canal.

In this type of tour you will be able to see historic buildings that are located right in front of the canal. These include the Prince's Mansion, where the National Museum of Denmark is located, the Christiansborg Riding Grounds and the House of the stable boy.

Tours on this canal are shorter than others because the route is shorter. However, your guide will make it a good experience, as he will tell you details of what you see. Also, I recommend you to complement this route with a tour to the best museums in Copenhagen.

Details of interest

• Price: about 20 €.
• Duration: about 1 hour.
• Means of transport: boat.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know a part of the city that is hardly explored.
• Disadvantages of this option: the trip is short.

A different and fun way to tour the canals of Copenhagen is to kayak. I recommend you to do it on a guided tour where your guide will explain you where to go.

Keep in mind that to do this tour you need to listen to all the tips for a kayaking adventure that your guide will surely give you. If you already have experience, another option is to rent the kayak and navigate on your own.

However, if you prefer something more relaxed that allows you to tour the different canals of the capital, I recommend booking a Copenhagen canal cruise.

Interesting details

• Price: about 60 € for the kayak and 20 € for the cruise.
• Duration: about 2 hours by kayak and 1 hour by cruise.
• Means of transportation: kayak or cruise.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to do some exercise while sightseeing in a new city or visit the main canals in a relaxed way.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you do not know how to kayak, the experience may be a little complicated.

Booking a Copenhagen canal cruise is relaxing, but do you want to take that relaxation to another level? Then I recommend you try the sailing hot tubs. These amazing and original vehicles allow you to sail as comfortable as possible.

I recommend you to take this tour during the afternoon to watch the sunset if you want to give a romantic touch to your adventure and bring your own swimsuit, as well as sunscreen if you take it in the morning or the most intense hours of the day.

At the end of the tour, you can dry off and change your clothes to continue enjoying Copenhagen, the happiest city in the world. The tour organizers are in charge of taking care of your belongings and returning them to you at the end. You will also be offered fresh towels, so there is no need to bring your own.

Details of interest

• Price: around 300 €.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Means of transport: sailing jacuzzi.
• Advantages of this option: it is one of the most original tours you can do in Copenhagen.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is one of the most expensive tours.

The duration of a canal tour in Copenhagen can vary depending on the type of tour you choose. Keep in mind that the average is two hours, although some are shorter and with one hour you will be done with the tour. Others can last up to three hours, but these usually include more activities.

Another factor to take into account is the season in which you visit Denmark. If, for example, you travel in July to Copenhagen or plan to go to the Danish capital at Christmas, you will find many people wanting to take the tour. In that case, you will have to add the waiting time to the water ride time.

Before booking any of the available options, be sure to ask the organizers whether or not the tour includes extra stops. Depending on this the tour time will be longer. In such cases the experience can be more complete, as you will be able to see more interesting sites of the Danish capital.

• Keep in mind that the best time of the year in Copenhagen to take a canal tour is summer or spring. On those days you will not feel cold, the days will be sunny and you will be able to enjoy the scenery much more.
• It is recommended that you book in advance, especially in high season.
• Check the weatherforecast for that day, as most of the trips are done on open boats.
• Be attentive to the stories told by your guide.
• Follow all the instructions given by your guide to make your stay on the boat more pleasant and safe.
• If you tend to get seasick easily, I recommend that you take motion sickness pills. Although the trips are quite smooth, some people are sensitive to the movement of the water.

Booking a Copenhagen canal cruise as well as any other Copenhagen canal tour allows you to appreciate the best panoramic views of the city, some of the best palaces of the capital, the famous statue of The Little Mermaid, multiple historical buildings and picturesque bridges.

No doubt Copenhagen is a city of fairy tales, so doing this kind of tours should be on your list of things to do in Denmark. Your guide will tell you in more detail and if you like history, you will love this part of the tour!

On the other hand, these are different and relaxed tours. You will travel sitting down watching the scenery without having to walk or take public transportation. It really is a unique way to get to know the city.