Danish Easter starts with scissors and paper. Kids cut lacy gækkebreve, riddle letters signed only with dots, and if you can't guess the sender, you owe them a chocolate egg. Then spring opens the city back up: Tivoli and Bakken start their seasons, and cherry trees bloom along Langelinie. Here's what we checked, from Easter at Tivoli to the King's birthday at Amalienborg.
Denmark's national natural history museum sits in a corner of the Botanical Garden. Until the move, the building at Øster Voldgade holds the historic Mineral Hall and changing special exhibitions.
The new museum brings the whole collection under one roof in eight exhibitions, from Universe and Earth to the Arctic and an Ocean Hall, in galleries built underground beneath the garden.
Family Culture Night is the children's own edition of Culture Night, which launched in 1993 and is Denmark's biggest one-day cultural event. Culture and arts institutions across Copenhagen and Frederiksberg open their doors with events for young visitors.
It suits families who like to roam: pick a handful of events, then hop between them and see what the city's culture houses put on for kids.
Botanisk Have is a historic garden of about 10,000 plant species, run by the Natural History Museum Denmark. Paths wind past a lake with a deck, a rock garden and Observatory Hill, with a view of the city's spires.
The Victorian cast-iron Palm House holds giant bamboo, mangroves and carnivorous plants, and its Butterfly House has colorful butterflies among passion flowers and pineapple plants.
Tivoli's gardeners dress the Gardens for spring: more than 120,000 flower bulbs, fragrant hyacinths and colorful Easter eggs.
The Danish tradition to try is the gækkebrev, a cut-paper Easter letter with a teasing, anonymous rhyme. It suits kids who like crafts and riddles, and a slow wander among the flowers.
Frilandsmuseet is one of Europe's oldest open-air museums, open since 1901. Farms, houses and mills from across Denmark, Skåne and the Faroe Islands were taken down and rebuilt here among historic gardens and heritage breeds: horses, goats, sheep and rabbits kids can pet.
The Freddy Frogface Village is the play zone, based on Ole Lund Kirkegaard's books, with a labyrinth, soapbox cars, apple trees to climb and a reading cave.
Tivoli Gardens, the amusement park in the middle of Copenhagen, runs its summer season with thrill rides, big flower displays, ice cream and plenty of places to eat.
Teens tend to head for the bigger rides and the Friday Rock concerts. Toddlers and younger kids have kid-friendly rides of their own, so it works for siblings years apart.
Bakken is the world's oldest amusement park, set inside the Dyrehaven forest north of Copenhagen. Opening day is when the rides, game stalls and open-air stage start up again for the new season.
Small kids stick to the carousels and gentle rides, while older ones head for roller coasters, drop towers, bumper cars and water slides. It suits families who like to wander, snack and pick a handful of rides.
Copenhagen Sakura Festival brings Japanese traditions, performances, music and food to the cherry trees of Langelinie Park, near the harbor, for one weekend each spring.
It suits families who like to wander: kids can watch a show, try Japanese snacks and browse the craft stalls, then move on. Children curious about Japan or Japanese food will get the most out of it.
The CPH Mini Marathon is the kids' race of Copenhagen Marathon weekend: a short run on a closed, staffed course through Fælledparken, with entertainment and games around the start and finish. Kids can sprint the whole way or walk part of it.
It suits first-time racers who like the idea of a real start line, and parents who want to run beside them.
A Danish tradition: on the King's birthday, everyone is invited to the palace square at Amalienborg to celebrate King Frederik X. The royal family steps out onto the balcony while the Royal Life Guards band plays below.
For kids it is a live royal show: guards marching in formation, a cheering crowd and a military band. It suits kids who can stand in a crowd and watch.
BørnefestiBAL calls itself Børnenes Roskilde Festival: a day of music, play and dancing in Lindevangsparken, made on kids' terms. Kids can dance wildly, laugh out loud and catch some of their very first live concerts, while parents get a break from the busy week.
It suits families with toddlers and young school kids who want a festival day together, scaled to a child's size.
Danish Easter starts with scissors and paper. Kids cut lacy gækkebreve, riddle letters signed only with dots, and if you can't guess the sender, you owe them a chocolate egg. Then spring opens the city back up: Tivoli and Bakken start their seasons, and cherry trees bloom along Langelinie. Here's what we checked, from Easter at Tivoli to the King's birthday at Amalienborg.
Denmark's national natural history museum sits in a corner of the Botanical Garden. Until the move, the building at Øster Voldgade holds the historic Mineral Hall and changing special exhibitions.
The new museum brings the whole collection under one roof in eight exhibitions, from Universe and Earth to the Arctic and an Ocean Hall, in galleries built underground beneath the garden.
Family Culture Night is the children's own edition of Culture Night, which launched in 1993 and is Denmark's biggest one-day cultural event. Culture and arts institutions across Copenhagen and Frederiksberg open their doors with events for young visitors.
It suits families who like to roam: pick a handful of events, then hop between them and see what the city's culture houses put on for kids.
Botanisk Have is a historic garden of about 10,000 plant species, run by the Natural History Museum Denmark. Paths wind past a lake with a deck, a rock garden and Observatory Hill, with a view of the city's spires.
The Victorian cast-iron Palm House holds giant bamboo, mangroves and carnivorous plants, and its Butterfly House has colorful butterflies among passion flowers and pineapple plants.
Tivoli's gardeners dress the Gardens for spring: more than 120,000 flower bulbs, fragrant hyacinths and colorful Easter eggs.
The Danish tradition to try is the gækkebrev, a cut-paper Easter letter with a teasing, anonymous rhyme. It suits kids who like crafts and riddles, and a slow wander among the flowers.
Frilandsmuseet is one of Europe's oldest open-air museums, open since 1901. Farms, houses and mills from across Denmark, Skåne and the Faroe Islands were taken down and rebuilt here among historic gardens and heritage breeds: horses, goats, sheep and rabbits kids can pet.
The Freddy Frogface Village is the play zone, based on Ole Lund Kirkegaard's books, with a labyrinth, soapbox cars, apple trees to climb and a reading cave.
Tivoli Gardens, the amusement park in the middle of Copenhagen, runs its summer season with thrill rides, big flower displays, ice cream and plenty of places to eat.
Teens tend to head for the bigger rides and the Friday Rock concerts. Toddlers and younger kids have kid-friendly rides of their own, so it works for siblings years apart.
Bakken is the world's oldest amusement park, set inside the Dyrehaven forest north of Copenhagen. Opening day is when the rides, game stalls and open-air stage start up again for the new season.
Small kids stick to the carousels and gentle rides, while older ones head for roller coasters, drop towers, bumper cars and water slides. It suits families who like to wander, snack and pick a handful of rides.
Copenhagen Sakura Festival brings Japanese traditions, performances, music and food to the cherry trees of Langelinie Park, near the harbor, for one weekend each spring.
It suits families who like to wander: kids can watch a show, try Japanese snacks and browse the craft stalls, then move on. Children curious about Japan or Japanese food will get the most out of it.
The CPH Mini Marathon is the kids' race of Copenhagen Marathon weekend: a short run on a closed, staffed course through Fælledparken, with entertainment and games around the start and finish. Kids can sprint the whole way or walk part of it.
It suits first-time racers who like the idea of a real start line, and parents who want to run beside them.
A Danish tradition: on the King's birthday, everyone is invited to the palace square at Amalienborg to celebrate King Frederik X. The royal family steps out onto the balcony while the Royal Life Guards band plays below.
For kids it is a live royal show: guards marching in formation, a cheering crowd and a military band. It suits kids who can stand in a crowd and watch.
BørnefestiBAL calls itself Børnenes Roskilde Festival: a day of music, play and dancing in Lindevangsparken, made on kids' terms. Kids can dance wildly, laugh out loud and catch some of their very first live concerts, while parents get a break from the busy week.
It suits families with toddlers and young school kids who want a festival day together, scaled to a child's size.
