Copenhagen with kids: zoo, playgrounds and museums

Short answer

Build a day in Copenhagen with children around one main experience: animals at the zoo, a playground or an indoor visit to Experimentarium. Choose according to your child's interests and include a break before considering another stop.

There is an important change: the Children's Museum at the National Museum is temporarily closed. Its official page says a new version opens in summer 2027. This was checked on 11 November 2026. Old descriptions of its playrooms should therefore not form the basis of a visit now.

Which animals are at Copenhagen Zoo?

The zoo's official animal directory includes Asian elephants, polar bears, hippopotamuses, Amur tigers and Humboldt penguins. These are examples of species, not a promise that every animal will be visible on a particular day. Check the zoo's directory and daily programme before choosing your route.

The zoo is at Roskildevej 32 in Frederiksberg. Let children choose a few animals that matter most to them, then use the map to connect them. If an animal is out of sight, move on and return if everyone still has the energy.

Make the visit more than a checklist. Ask what an animal is doing, how it moves or what looks different from a picture in a book. Even a short observation can become a memorable part of the day.

Playgrounds can be the main activity

Copenhagen Municipality lists its staffed playgrounds. Options include Skydebanehaven in Vesterbro, Tårnlegepladsen in Østerbro and the nature playground in Valbyparken.

The municipality says activities at staffed playgrounds are free. Listed hours refer to staff, activities and access to the building. Some toilets may be locked outside staffed hours. These details were checked on 11 November 2026.

Choose a playground close to your other plans. A child who has spent time sitting during travel or a museum visit may enjoy unstructured play more than another attraction. Check the individual playground if a particular activity is the reason for your visit.

Experimentarium for curious children

Experimentarium is in Hellerup, north of central Copenhagen, and focuses on exploring science through activities. Its Miniverset area is aimed at children aged 1 to 5 and their adults, according to the venue's description checked on 11 November 2026.

Choose a few areas and let children repeat activities they enjoy. Trying the same exhibit again is useful if a child is working out how it behaves.

Allow for the journey. This is a separate outing rather than a quick stop between two central-city appointments. The official address is Tuborg Havnevej 7, 2900 Hellerup.

Museums: choose the content, not the size

The National Museum still has a family activities page, despite the rebuilding closure of the Children's Museum. Look at the current offers and choose from those. The closure of the children's section does not mean the entire National Museum is closed.

SMK is an option for children interested in pictures and stories. Its programme has included family tours combining art and reading aloud. That is an example of the format, not a standing activity on every visiting day. Find the current event and date in the museum's own programme.

You can also give an ordinary museum visit a simple purpose: find a particular colour, an unfamiliar object or something that makes you ask a question. Follow the museum's instructions about what may be touched.

Make a dry-weather plan and a rainy-day plan

For a dry day, choose the zoo as the main experience and leave the rest flexible. For a shorter outing, a playground and a brief city walk can be enough.

For rain, choose Experimentarium or a museum whose current content suits your family. Check admission, opening and any reservation before leaving. Two major indoor visits need not be compulsory; staying longer at the first place can work better.

Pack spare dry clothes if useful, and plan meals and breaks from the start. A day is easier to shorten when its most important activity comes first.

Read also

• Lalandia in Denmark: locations and packing list
• Denmark with kids: things to do by region

Official sources

Checked 11 November 2026.

Copenhagen Zoo: animals

Copenhagen Municipality: staffed playgrounds

Experimentarium: Miniverset

Experimentarium: plan your visit

Experimentarium: address

National Museum: Children's Museum

National Museum: families

SMK: example family tour in 2026