Why You Should Visit Nyhavn: Fall in Love with Copenhagen

Why should you visit Nyhavn?

Do you love cute, colourful homes lining a small harbour? Then Nyhavn is probably going to be your jam. Nyhavn is the iconic destination that put Copenhagen, Denmark on the map. It is probably the most talked-about and instagrammed location of Copenhagen save for Tivoli Gardens. 

This shows the view of Nyhavn houses in a row from the bridge for the article Visit Nyhavn.
Morning light in Nyhavn.

What you will find here

Here you’ll find my personal experience visiting Nyhavn during September. We visited during the morning of a weekday to make the most of the location and to avoid the crowds. I hope this helps you make the decision if visiting Nyhavn is for you! Planning a trip to Copenhagen soon? I have a handful of guides to make your life a little easier.

What Is there to do at Nyhavn?

Walk over Nyhavnsbroen

Nyhavnsbroen is the bridge at Nyhavn, and it is the best spot to take photos of the boats and the colourful homes.

Nyhavn homes
Nyhavnsbroen in the morning.

Take a photo outside Nyhavn 17

Nyhavn 17 is a colourful restaurant with a big sign out front saying ‘Nyhavn’, so I recommend taking a photo here because it is iconic!

Nyhavn 17
Nyhavn restaurants.

Take a Pissoir

So the public toilets here are known as being really good. That is weird, right? You would expect at such a busy, touristy area that they would be rancid. But I went and checked them out and they’re actually nice! Also, they’re called the pissoir. So it is funny.

Pissoir
Need to use the bathroom? This might be the spot.

Debate about which apartment you’d like

Personally, I like the yellow one, but my partner preferred the baby blue. Honestly, I could probably talk myself into any of them.

Nyhavn homes in morning light.
I choose the yellow one!

When is the best time to visit Nyhavn?

We woke up early to wander Nyhavn and it was so nice having it all to ourselves! I highly recommend grabbing a coffee and a croissant and sitting down by the docks to enjoy the morning sun and watch the locals ride their bikes through this gorgeous spot on the way to work. Divine.

Looking at Nyhavn colourful rows of houses
Morning in Nyhavn is quiet and enjoyable.

What are the best vegan eats near Nyhavn?

Just around the corner from Nyhavn on the fancy Sankt Annæ Plads, you will find Bistro Verde, a gorgeous cafe serving all plant-based vegan food. You can find all my vegan recommendations for Copenhagen in my guide.

Bistro Verde
Vegan danishes at Bistro Verde.

Where do find Bistro Verde

Website

Sankt Annæ Pl. 22, 1250 København, Denmark

You can see many boats lining the harbour in the morning.

How do you get to Nyhavn?

The best way to get to Nyhavn imho is to walk or bike. Copenhagen is extremely pedestrian-friendly and easy to get around. Otherwise, the metro station Kongens Nytorv is only a few minutes away or you could take the waterbus to Nyhavn (Københavns Havn).

Restaurant vibes in Nyhavn.

What are the best hotels to stay in when visiting Nyhavn?

If you want to stay right in Nyhavn harbour then Hotel Bethel is right on the water with views of the colourful homes. If you’re looking for something a little quieter, the beautiful boutique hotel Hotel SKT. Annæ ApS is just around the corner by the aesthetic cafes. Otherwise, Copenhagen Admiral Hotel is right on the harbour but a few steps away from busy Nyhavn.

Best places to book your trip

Did you love this post? By booking through these links, you can support me at no additional cost for you. Your support helps me write honest guides and helpful posts!

🖤 Book a hotel with Booking.com (this is my favourite website to book hotels)

🖤 Get an e-sim for your trip with Airalo

🖤 Book experiences with Viator.com

🖤 Book experiences with GetYourGuide.com

🖤 Book a car with Rentalcars.com

🖤 Book lounge access for your airport with Priority Pass (I’m an airport lounge girlie)

🖤 Find somewhere to leave your storage with Radical Storage

VERDICT

Is Nyhavn Worth A Visit?

I think that if you’re visiting Copenhagen for the first time then you should definitely check out Nyhavn. I recommend visiting early to avoid the crowds if you prefer to stay away from busy areas!

Thanks for reading!

I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’re on Instagram, you can find me over here: @apicturesquelife or youtube: @apicturesquelife and I’d be happy to connect!
xoxo,

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