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Copenhagen Shore Excursions - Private Driving Tour and Canal Cruise
Copenhagen Driving Tour and Canal Cruise
 

This private Copenhagen shore excursion combines a driver-guided city tour with stops at Tivoli Gardens, Nyhavn, Amalienborg Castle and the Little Mermaid, followed by a canal cruise through the historic waterways. At the end of your tour you are returned to your cruise ship or hotel.

4 hours
private excursion
Driver Guide
English Speaking Local
all group sizes
sedan to full size coach
››
Family friendly
All ages - we adapt the pace
  • Pick up from Port or your Hotel in Copenhagen
  • Private English Speaking Driver Guide
  • Round Trip Transportation in Private Vehicle
  • Canal Cruise
Read Full Tour Description





Tour Number: DCOPE-02


Group Size (Prices in USD)*: 		2 People - $496 Per Person
3 People - $350 Per Person
4 People - $272 Per Person
5 People - $224 Per Person
6 People - $194 Per Person



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TOUR DESCRIPTION
 

Copenhagen Shore Excursion / 4 Hours

This 4-hour private Copenhagen shore excursion is our most popular tour in Denmark, combining a guided driving tour with photo stops and a canal cruise through the heart of the city. Your private English-speaking driver guide meets you at the pier at Langelinie, Oceankaj, or your hotel and remains with you for the entire tour.

Copenhagen is Denmark's capital and one of the most historic cities in the Baltic region. On this introduction to the city you will explore close to 850 years of history from the comfort of your private vehicle, with your driver guide providing commentary at each stop before giving you free time to explore on your own.

Your tour begins with a drive past City Hall Square and the famous Stroget, the mile-long pedestrian street connecting City Hall Square with the King's New Square. On the other side of City Hall you will see the world-famous Tivoli Gardens, founded in 1843 and still one of the great amusement parks of Europe, offering flowers, restaurants, entertainment and rides.
Continuing through the city you pass the Glyptotek Art Museum before reaching the colorful canal district of Nyhavn, with its brightly painted houses lining the waterfront. Along the way your driver guide points out the Tycho Brahe Planetarium, the Royal Theater, the Gefion Fountain and Christiansborg Palace, home of the Danish Parliament. You will also see the site of the former Old Stock Exchange, which was destroyed by fire in 2024, and your driver guide will share the story of this tragic loss to Danish cultural heritage.

Your tour continues to Amalienborg Castle, the royal winter residence of the Danish royal family. Here you have free time to take in the castle courtyard, the Royal Opera House and the magnificent Frederiks Church, known locally as the Marble Church, before returning to your vehicle. There is also a photo stop at the iconic Little Mermaid statue, inspired by the fairy tale of Hans Christian Andersen.

After the driving portion of your tour is complete, you board a boat for a guided canal cruise through the Canal District. Your onboard guide narrates throughout as you pass beautiful churches, historic castles, centuries-old listed houses and more, seeing Copenhagen from the water in a way that is impossible from the street.

At the conclusion of your Copenhagen canal cruise you are returned to your pier or hotel.

This Copenhagen shore excursion is private, meaning your group travels exclusively without other passengers joining you. The tour accommodates groups of 2 to 6 people in a private vehicle. Larger groups can be accommodated in a mid-size or full-size coach. Please contact us for a customized quote.
If this tour does not match your interests, our Copenhagen shore excursions and Copenhagen tours from cruise ship can be customized to meet your specific needs.

What's Included

Included

  • Pick up from Port or your Hotel in Copenhagen
  • Private English Speaking Driver Guide
  • Round Trip Transportation in Private Vehicle
  • Canal Cruise

Not Included

  • Meals and beverages
  • Gratuities (optional, at your discretion)
  • Personal shopping

Tour Timing

All times are approximate and will vary based on your group's pace and interests.

  • 1
    2.5 Hours
    City Driving tour with photo stops
  • 2
    50 Minutes
    Canal Cruise
  • 3
    30-40 Minutes
    Return to pier or hotel

Good to Know

Mobility
Folding wheelchairs are welcome, though some areas on this tour may not be fully accessible. Please let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly.
Walking
This tour includes a walking portion. Comfortable, supportive shoes are strongly recommended.
Customizable
This tour can be adjusted to fit your group’s pace and interests. If you’d like to spend more time at a particular site or add a stop, contact us when you inquire.
Larger Groups
For groups that need a minibus or full coach, contact us for a custom quote. We accommodate groups of any size.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we get out of the vehicle to walk around, or is it all driving?
This is primarily a driving tour with photo stops, built for travelers who want an efficient overview in just 4 hours. The canal cruise at the end gets you out on the water for a different perspective, including Nyhavn's colorful waterfront.
How old is Tivoli Gardens?
It opened in 1843, making it one of the oldest amusement parks still operating anywhere in the world, and it's said to have inspired Walt Disney when he later designed Disneyland.
What will we actually see from the canal cruise?
The cruise covers Copenhagen's Canal District from the water, including the colorful houses along Nyhavn, giving you views of the city you simply can't get from a vehicle.
Is 4 hours really enough to get a feel for a city with 850 years of history?
It's an introduction, not a deep dive: you'll pass City Hall Square, the mile-long Stroget pedestrian street, King's New Square, and Tivoli Gardens by vehicle, then finish on the water. If you want more depth in any one area, let your guide know.
Is this a private tour?
Yes, private throughout, with your own English-speaking driver-guide and vehicle for the full 4 hours plus the canal cruise.

Also Available in Denmark

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Average Rating: Average Rating: 5 of 5 5 of 5 Total Reviews: 28 Write a review »

  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Copenhagen June 11, 2026
Reviewer: Robert N from Huntington Station, New York  
Our guides were all - the best was michel (spelling may be off) in DEnmark. he was knowledgeable, personable, friendly - all you would want in a guide. i highly recommend.  Copenhagen, London, Dover and Portland were all amazing - a must to visit we were a group of 8 - cousins and spouses - 4 couples.

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  7 of 7 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Copenhagen April 12, 2026
Reviewer: Bridgette G from Aurora Canada  
I have been meaning to get in touch and letting you know that all private tours were right on time even though after reconfirming from the hotel in Copenhagen my German phone never worked, so I was a bit concerned how it would work out but they were all there, were professional and helpful and with the three boys it was the best decision I made about the whole trip to have the private tours. I knew this cruise would not be the perfect itinerary for teen age boys but I think the guides we had made it work, adjusted the programs tour over the city rather than the city tour as it would have given the boys a thrill and me the kind of overview of the city one could not get from a car. I dont mean it complaining, it is more hindsight on my part. I would recommend Private tours to anyone with a small group, as the flexibility and advantage of passing all the long long line ups for all the larger groups and sneaking in ahead of them was worth alone the extra cost. On top of it the flexibility was just priceless for the boys. I have less good things to say about the cruise line, found the ship not well organized and not at all helpful for anyone not wanting their tours and giving the rest of us wrong information about landing procedures at least 12 the time. Well, I have learned a lot and even though I will never be a total cruise fan, the baltic itinerary is really very informative if one prepares oneself as there was little or no advanced information on the destination ports given to us from the ship itself. So, thanks for your helpful service, I would recommend booking private tours to anyone!! You are welcome to quote my recommendation if needed.

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  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Copenhagen April 5, 2026
Reviewer: David G from Dix Hills, NY  
We had an excellent tour and will recommend it to others.

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  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Copenhagen March 12, 2026
Reviewer: Nancy K from San Antonio TX  
We enjoyed our excursions with your company very much. The drivers and guides were professional, punctual, friendly and well-informed. The vehicles were comfortable, clean and generally of a superior quality. You and your staff were very helpful and responsive to our inquiries and requests and your reservation information was complete, professional, and helpful. We will be sure to work with you in our future trips to Europe and abroad.

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  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Copenhagen February 5, 2026
Reviewer: Denise A and William P from Roslyn, WA  
We want to thank you for the great job you did on planning and organizing our trip to Europe. The eight of us had a great time as well as being pleasantly surprised at how well the trip was organized, how gracious our drivers and guides were how pertinent your suggestions were. We will be having friends go in the spring and will be referring them to you.

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