In 2018, the Danish summer was exceptional – unusually warm, the sunny, and very little rain. The lack of rain wasn’t great for the farms, and we could have used more of it, but the constant sunshine and warmth led to incredible long days of swimming, biking, picnicking, and just enjoying the city (and beyond, in a second post). Here’s my long list of great ways we basked in the Copenhagen summer this year.
Exploring the Canals
In Copenhagen you can rent a small boat and drive through the canals for a few hours. You can bring a picnic and drinks, games, swimsuits, whatever. Its a terrific way to see the city from the water, at your own pace. Two companies are GoBoats and Friendships. We’ve always used Friendships.
Exploring the Beaches
There are plenty of places to swim on sunny days in Copenhagen. We live near the Svanemøllen Strand, so we swim there a lot. Other great spots: Harbour Bath, Islands Brygge, Amager Beach Park/Kastrup Sea Bath (Kastrup Søbad), Bellevue beach, and Charlottenlund Beach Park.
Seeing Copenhagen From Above: Vor Frelsers Kirke
If you want to get a great view of Copenhagen (on a clear day, that is) and fancy a climb on the outside of a church tower, you should check out Vor Frelsers Kirke in Christianshavn. The climb becomes more narrow as you ascend, and I don’t recommend it on a windy day, but it is a pretty unique experience and a wonderful way to see the city.
Castles & Palaces
In the heart of Copenhagen you can visit more than one castle. Rosenborg Slot is great because, in the summer, people gather here in the gardens to picnic and relax, and the kids play. Inside Rosenborg you can also see the crown jewels.
We also toured Amelienborg Palace on a gorgeously bright and sunny day.
In my next post, A Very Danish Summer: Out and Around Copenhagen, we’ll cover Kronborg Slot and Frederiksborg Slot. 
Copenhagen Pride
In August, Copenhagen holds Pride Week and the Pride Parade. We cheered on the parade and had a fabulous time.
Beer Tours
Since we like beer, and most people in Copenhagen do, you can see a few beer shrines. Both Carlsberg and Tuborg began here, and both are still very popular. Head to Carlsberg Byen to tour the brewery, or head to our neck of the woods and see the old Tuborg brewery and a great big Tuborg bottle.
Dyrehaven
If you take the train just north of Copenhagen you reach Klampenborg, where the old royal hunting grounds are located, Dyrehaven. Dyrehaven is no longer for hunting, and is now just a deer park, where you can take a walk through the woods, or a bike ride, or a horse drawn carriage ride. You can also see the Hermitage, the old royal hunting lodge. To go inside, you need to show up on a Saturday at 3:00, and buy tickets in advance. 
Jazz Fest
Jazz is big in Denmark, and Copenhagen’s Jazz Fest is too. Started in 1979, Jazz Fest lasts a week and a half, and acts can be seen throughout the city, both jazz and other types of music.
Kastellet and the Gefion Fountain
Taking a run through the Kastellet, and sightseeing at the Gefion Fountain are, for me, staples of a Copenhagen summer.
The Little Mermaid, and the GMO Version
Of course you can go see the Little Mermaid statue. And she’s so cute, I love her, go say hi. But why not mix things up and also stop by the Genetically Modified Little Mermaid? And the Dahlerups Pakhus (the “Genetically Modified Paradise”) overall, by Danish professor Bjørn Nørgaard.
Amusement Parks
There are two great amusement parks in Copenhagen, Tivoli, in the heart of the city, and Bakken, in Dyrehaven. Bakken, opened in 1583, is the world’s oldest operating amusement park, and Tivoli comes second (or third, according to this list). At Bakken admission is free and you buy tickets for the rides, whereas in Tivoli you pay to enter and the fee varies depending on if you want to go on the rides, and how many. At Tivoli there are live performances throughout the summer, many free, and restaurants and shopping also.
Refshaleøen
During the summer there are tons of spots to sit outside, grab a snack and a drink, and enjoy the sun. But my favorite are the various spots in Refshaleøen, where people take a drink, then take off their clothes and dive into the water. So relaxed.
Ice Cream
I figured this post should end with the thing that Danes absolutely do the most in the summer (and really, any time of the year) – ice cream. Ice cream is huge here. I’ve never seen so much ice cream eaten in my life. A couple spots we like:
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