Originally constructed as townhouses for Danish nobility in the mid-18th century, the Amalienborg Palace has been home to the Danish royal family since their original residence (Christianborg Palace) burned down in 1794. The four identical residences built around an octagonal square are some of the finest examples of Rococo architecture in the country and two of the palaces, Christian VII and Christian VIII are open to the public from July through September. Aim to visit at midday, when the Danish Royal Life Guard march through the streets of Copenhagen to perform the changing of the guard at the center of the square. Other highlights of the palace include the Jean Delange–designed gardens of Amalienhaven, set between the palace and the harbor, which overlooks the impressive Copenhagen Opera House.

A stop at this museum is practically required for design aficionados while in Copenhagen. Visitors will (re)discover the central tenets of Danish design—formal simplicity, functionality and artisanal meticulousness—through the creations of Kaare Klint, Hans J. Wegner, Arne Jacobsen and Verner Panton. International influences from ancient Chinese ceramics to 19th-century European decorative arts are also on display. The museum is housed in a lovely Rococo building and can easily be toured in an hour.

Opened in 2009 and adding a dramatic new shape to the city’s skyline, the DR Concert Hall was designed by Pritzker Prize–winning, French architect Jean Nouvel. Part of the ambitious DR Town, a multi-use complex, the concert hall now serves as the home of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. An innovative structure, the building is complete with serious technology—the exterior is clad in huge blue screens that can be used to project visual content.

Nouvel has said about this ground-breaking structure: “The idea after was to create a kind of question, ‘What is this building?’ When you see the building during the day you have a kind of feeling for what is behind the screen, but not really, and it changes a lot with the light. When the sun is lower you see the skyline of the building inside and the framing of the glass facade behind the screen. It is a paradox between a very simple building, and you feel that inside, but you don’t really know what is there, only that it is complex. So it is this relationship between simplicity and complexity that is the base of the design.”

Yes, it’s a touristy thing to do but seeing the city on a canal tour is well worth doing. You’ll pass the palace, the new opera house, go down canals and under bridges and get a sense of what a role the sea has played in Danish history and culture. We can arrange a boat tour to last anywhere from one hour to a full day, and our preferred vessels come stocked with rosé and beer in summer and mulled wine and hot chocolate (and blankets) in winter.

A great way to see Copenhagen is to get around the way many locals do: by bike. On this tour, you will pedal along the canals, into beautiful gardens and past palaces, all while learning about the city's past, present and future.

First opened in 1968, the original Legoland, which now has outposts all over the world, remains a top destination for visitors with young kids. At the heart of the park sits Miniland, constructed from over twenty million lego blocks with replications of famous sights and buildings in miniature. Across the other seven zones, there are roller coasters, water rides, Lego studios (including a 3D cinema), shops, a hotel and seven restaurants. Events are held here from clown days to cheerleading championships, until the season ends with a big fireworks display in late October, re-opening in March.

If you have time for a day trip, this modern art museum, which holds one of Europe's most prominent modern art collections, is well worth the journey. The museum’s permanent collection includes more than 3,000 works (all post-1945) and includes pieces—both indoors and in the outside sculpture park and gardens—by such artists as Picasso, Giacometti, Yves Klein, Rauschenberg, Henry Moore, Louise Bourgeois, Jorn, Baselitz, Sigmar Polke and Anselm Kiefer. On pretty days, save time to admire the ground's gorgeous views of the surrounding area, including the Oresund (the strait that separates Denmark and Sweden). From central Copenhagen, it’s about a 40-minute drive or train ride to the museum. Closed Monday.

Copenhagen’s Opera House opened in 2005 and is among the most modern and expensive opera houses in the world. Located on the island of Holmen, the Opera is located opposite of the Amalienborg Palace on the harbor. The main stage is connected to five others and has an orchestra pit that seats 110 musicians. Guided tours can be arranged of both the auditorium and backstage areas.

The Viking Museum is focused on ships, seafaring and the boatbuilding culture of the ancient and medieval times. On display in the large main hall are the five Viking ships found in the nearby waterway of Skuldelev as well as special temporary exhibitions. The museum is a fun experience for children and those interested in the ancient Viking cultures of Scandinavia.