Copenhagen in Pictures: 44 Free Photos and a Short City Guide
Copenhagen in 44 free photos: the coloured houses and old ships of Nyhavn, the Royal Guard in bearskins, the Marble Church, Tivoli’s gate, City Hall and a city that moves by bicycle.
Copenhagen at a glance
- The city: capital of Denmark, on the island of Zealand and partly on Amager, facing the Øresund strait and Sweden. Its Danish name, København, comes from Købmandshavn, “merchants’ harbour”.
- Getting there and around: the metro runs from the airport to the centre in about 15 minutes. The centre is compact and the city is built for bikes; harbour buses run along the water.
- When to go: May to September for long days and harbour life; Tivoli also opens for Halloween and Christmas.
How to download: click a photo to see it large, then use Download. The originals are about 1200 × 800 pixels: right for blog posts, slides, social media, school projects and video call backgrounds.
Nyhavn and the harbour
Nyhavn, the 17th-century canal lined with coloured townhouses and old wooden ships, is the city’s best-known view. Along the harbour are tall ships, an old lightship and modern buildings such as the Black Diamond, the extension of the Royal Library.
The Royal Guard and Amalienborg
The Royal Life Guards in bearskins and blue uniforms guard Amalienborg, the royal residence; the changing of the guard takes place there at noon. Behind the palace rises the green dome of the Marble Church.
Bikes, rickshaws and street life
Most people in Copenhagen get around by bike. Add bike taxis, street musicians and pavement cafes.
City Hall, Tivoli and old Copenhagen
City Hall Square, the entrance to Tivoli Gardens (opened in 1843 and one of the oldest amusement parks in the world), the dragon-tail spire of the old Stock Exchange and the spiral tower of the Church of Our Saviour.
Tips for a first visit
- Rent a city bike or take a harbour boat tour: the city is best seen from the water and the bike lanes.
- Be at Amalienborg at noon for the changing of the guard, then walk to the Little Mermaid statue along the waterfront.
- Climb the outside spiral of the Church of Our Saviour for the view over the old town and the harbour.
- Malmö in Sweden is about 35 minutes away by train over the Øresund Bridge.
More free photos
- Top tourist attractions in Denmark
- Amsterdam pictures
- London pictures
- Berlin pictures
- Free bicycle pictures
- Free bus and tram pictures
- Europe pictures
Questions about these Copenhagen photos
Can I use these Copenhagen pictures for free?
Yes, for personal and commercial projects. All we ask is a link back to BigFoto.com; the box at the top of the page has a credit link you can copy.
Where are the coloured houses in Copenhagen?
In Nyhavn, the old harbour canal near Kongens Nytorv. The oldest house there dates from 1661, and Hans Christian Andersen lived in three of them.
