VisitNyhavn
EN
The short version
- All year: the quay itself, a harbour dip at Havnegade two minutes away, free art at Kunsthal Charlottenborg on Wednesday evenings, playgrounds and a free public toilet.
- Right now: the Christmas market on Nytorv and Gammeltorv is free to walk around, and so are its ice rink and skate loan, until 21 December.
- December: free entry to the new bathhouse KAI on 5 December, a winter swimming guest day on 6 December and the Lucia kayak parade on 13 December.
- Late winter: Copenhagen Light Festival, 29 January to 21 February 2027, with no tickets.
Free all year
- The quay itself. Walk both sides of the canal and read the houses with our house-by-house guide, including where Hans Christian Andersen lived (see H.C. Andersen in Nyhavn).
- A dip in the harbour. The Havnegade bathing zone, two minutes from Nyhavn, needs no ticket and is open 06:00–22:00 all year. See harbour swimming near Nyhavn, and for saunas, sauna and winter swimming.
- Art on Wednesday evenings. Kunsthal Charlottenborg at the end of the quay (Nyhavn 2) is free on Wednesdays after 17:00, and always free for children up to 15.
- Playgrounds. Sankt Annæ Plads (3 minutes) for the little ones, and trampolines along the harbour in Havnegade (2 minutes). See Nyhavn with kids.
- A free public toilet with an attendant at Nyhavn 1F (underground), 09:00–22:30.
- Walks from Nyhavn to the view of the Opera, Christianshavn and the Little Mermaid: see walks around Nyhavn.
Free this winter, November 2026 to spring 2027
In date order, starting with what's on right now. Dates and times are the organisers' own for winter 2026/27.
| When | What's free | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Now until 21 December 2026 (opened 6 November) | The Christmas market on Nytorv and Gammeltorv: free to walk around, and the ice rink and skate loan are free too. Tivoli's Christmas season opens 13 November, but Tivoli charges entry | Nytorv and Gammeltorv. See Christmas markets |
| Saturday 5 December 2026, 12:00–18:00 | KAI opening day: the city's new swimming and bathing house on Paper Island, free entry | Papirøen 47, 10 min. See KAI |
| Sunday 6 December 2026, 13:00–16:00 | Winter swimming guest day at the club Vinterbad Bryggen, no sign-up. For anyone aged 18 or over | Islands Brygge, 25 min |
| Sunday 13 December 2026, 17:15 | Santa Lucia kayak parade: lit-up kayaks on the canal. It's watched from public quays and bridges, so you don't need a ticket | Nyhavn. See the Lucia kayak parade |
| 31 December 2026 | New Year's Eve on the quay: the quay is public, so seeing in the new year there costs nothing. We can't promise fireworks over the harbour | The quay. See New Year in Nyhavn |
| 29 January to 21 February 2027 | Copenhagen Light Festival: light art around the harbour, with no ticket sales | Around the harbour. In 2026 there were works at Nyhavnspidsen, in Havnegade and on Ofelia Plads. See the festival |
| Sundays 7 February, 7 March and 4 April 2027, 13:00–16:00 | More winter swimming guest days at Vinterbad Bryggen, same rules: no sign-up, 18 or over | Islands Brygge, 25 min |
Two tips. For the Lucia parade, come early: the organiser expects several thousand spectators along the water. And the guest days are the first Sunday of November, December, February, March and April, so November's has already been.
What costs a little
If you want one paid thing, make it the water. Netto-Bådene's canal tour from Nyhavn costs 80 DKK for adults and 40 DKK for children aged 3–14, and it sails all winter in covered, heated boats, as long as the harbour is free of ice. See canal cruises. The harbour bus takes any ordinary ticket valid in zone 1 (24 DKK for a 2-zone single in 2026), and up to two children under 12 ride free. Still deciding whether to come at all? Read is Nyhavn worth visiting.
How we checked
Everything listed is free without a membership and within about half an hour's walk of Nyhavn. One thing has an age limit: the winter swimming guest days are for adults. Facts, dates and times come from the organisers' and the City of Copenhagen's own websites, checked 7 November 2026. Walking times are our own route measurements. Nobody pays to be listed.
Is Nyhavn free to visit?
Yes. The quay is public, and walking along it costs nothing.
Is there a free toilet in Nyhavn?
Yes. The city's free toilet with an attendant is at Nyhavn 1F, underground, open 09:00–22:30.
Can you swim for free near Nyhavn?
Yes. The Havnegade bathing zone, two minutes away, needs no ticket and is open 06:00–22:00 all year. Adults can also try the winter swimming club Vinterbad Bryggen for free on its guest days. The next one is Sunday 6 December 2026, 13:00–16:00.
Is there a free museum near Nyhavn?
Kunsthal Charlottenborg at Nyhavn 2 is free on Wednesdays after 17:00, and always free for children up to 15.
Do you need a ticket to watch the Lucia kayak parade?
No. The parade is on Sunday 13 December 2026 and reaches Nyhavn at 17:15. It's watched from public quays and bridges, so there's no ticket. Come early, because the organiser expects several thousand spectators.
Are the Christmas markets free?
The Christmas market on Nytorv and Gammeltorv is free, including the ice rink and the skate loan, until 21 December 2026. Tivoli charges entry: 210–230 DKK from age 8, depending on the day.
Is Copenhagen Light Festival free?
Yes. It runs from 29 January to 21 February 2027, and there are no ticket sales.