10 Of The Best Things To Do In Køge, Denmark 2026

Just 30 minutes from Copenhagen, Køge is the small Danish town with big charm – think cobblestone streets, medieval half-timbered houses, and a laid-back harbour feel.

Whether you’re into history, browsing local markets, sipping craft beers or just craving an escape into nature, Køge makes the perfect day trip. Which is why in this blog, I’m sharing my 10 favourite tried and tested things to do and see for the best experience.

Read from the top for all the details or use the options below to jump to the sections you’re most interested in. Let’s dive in!

1. Wander the pretty cobbled streets of the old town
2. Canoe on Køge River
3. Explore Køge Harbour
4. Relax on Køge beach or go for a dip
5. Sip locally brewed beer at Braunstein Micro Brewery & Distillery
6. Get inspired at KØS Museum of Art in Public Spaces
7. Hike in Køge Ås National Forest
8. Wander through Rhododendronparken
9. Shop at Køge’s historic weekly market
10. Stroll the grounds of Vallø Castle
11. How to get to Køge

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Køge at a glance:

• Best coastal hotels in Køge
• Easiest Danish eSIMs
• Quickest train ticket booking
• Stress-free car rental

1. Wander the pretty cobbled streets of the old town

First things first, no trip to Køge is complete without a visit to the oldest part of the town. Luckily, this area is super close to the train station so it makes the perfect first stop on your day trip. The main street to head to is Kirkestræde. Take a stroll down this main road to admire some of the oldest buildings, snap some great photos and look out for two key sights…

Køge Church: As this name of the road suggests, Kirkestræde is the road that leads to the town’s church. As you’ll come to see, most of the churches in Denmark are beautifully designed and this one is no different. Dedicated to St. Nicholas, the oldest part of the church (the tower) dates back to 1324, while the rest of the church has been preserved since the 1600s. On your visit, of course you can admire this historic spot from the outside, but you can also head inside to see the Late Renaissance details and impressive organs.

Det Gamle Hus: Just around the corner from the church, you’ll find the oldest house in the town. This super sweet little half-timbered house dates back to 1527 and is actually not only the oldest in the town but one of the oldest surviving examples in Denmark. Incredibly, inside the original staircase is still in tact and so is the house’s huge cellar which has been used by its range of owners from lieutenants and diplomats to fur traders and at one point, his 10 children! Today, it’s managed and maintained by the local library who use the space to host events and help teach local history.

Unfortunately the building isn’t open on weekends but if you are visiting in the week – the old house is open from 10am to 2pm every day. But even if you can’t go inside, it’s worth stopping by to admire this beautiful little house from the outside!

2. Canoe on Køge River

If you’re craving something a little more adventurous, Køge is a great place to take to the water. Pretty Køge River winds through the countryside surrounding the town before emptying into the sound and has perfect conditions for canoeing.

You can use the town’s self-service canoe rental scheme to enjoy the use of a canoe and lifejackets for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Just enough time to paddle upstream to the beautiful manor house, Gammel Køgegaard or downstream to the entrance to Køge Harbour (or both if you’re feeling ambitious!).

Just note, canoe rental is only available in summer. You can find all the information, prices and booking details here.

3. Explore Køge Harbour

Another must-see spot is Køge Harbour. As the town was founded because of its favourable position on the coast and deeper waters, you’ll get a different feel for Køge’s history here. Unlike some of Copenhagen’s harbours, this is still a working dock with much of the islands cargo and goods entering through this port.

So take some time to wander around, stop for a drink or snack at one of the harbourside eateries or head out to Køge breakwater for some great views across the area.

4. Relax on Køge beach or go for a dip

Just along from the harbour, you’ll come to another favourite spot – Køge’s small but perfectly formed beach. This little stretch of golden sand is perfect for lounging on sunny days or heading into the water for a swim. You could even pack a little picnic to enjoy here!

Just note, there are no public changing, washing or toilet facilities on the beach, just a members-only swim club so bear that in mind if you do want to head in for a dip!

5. Sip locally brewed beer at Braunstein Micro Brewery & Distillery

As you explore the harbour, you’ll probably stumble across my favourite place in the town. This is architectural gem, Braunstein Taproom perched right on the water for the best views and the best beers. This stunning light and airy space was recently developed by brewer, Braunstein as the perfect location to sip their locally made beers.

The brewery itself is just down the road and you can book tours of the facilities to learn more about how their beer (and whisky!) is made. But if you’re just after a great pint and spot to relax, the taproom is perfect – order a flight of beer to taste more of their brews. If you’re hungry for more, order one of their wood-fired pizzas to complete the experience. Needless to say, I’ll definitely be back again soon!

6. Get inspired at KØS Museum of Art in Public Spaces

For a dose of inspiration, head to MAPS (the Museum of Art in Public Spaces). It houses more than 18,000 sketches, sculptures and photos that help explain the role art plays in public places. From urban environments and city instillations to rural artworks and sculptures in surprising places, it’s a fun and engaging museum that’s worth stopping by,

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Entrance costs 90DKK (around £10) per adult.

7. Hike in Køge Ås National Forest & visit author, Gruntvig’s grave

For an escape into nature, take a walk in Køge Ås National Forest. In Danish ås translates to hill and this natural area just outside the town was formed by melting glaciers 25,000 years ago. But remember this is still Denmark – in such a flat country, just 24m high is enough to qualify this as a noteworthy hill!

But even without the elevation, this wooded area is beautiful and perfect for exploring and there’s a few other sights to look out for.

Gammel Køgegård: This is a pretty manor house surrounded by nature and close to the river. It is privately owned so not possible to enter but you can explore the grounds and admire this beautiful residence from the outside. There’s also an on-site café that’s perfect for a little coffee stop or ice cream on hot days.

Gruntvig’s Grave: Another interesting site is an area called Clara’s Cemetery. It’s a burial ground that was originally created for the family living in Gammel Køgegård and named after owner Hans Rasmussen Carlsen’s wife, Clara Sophie. Clara had always wanted to be buried on the hill surrounded by nature and looking out to sea and so she was the first to be laid to rest there. In the following years, more members of the same family were buried there as well as family friends like famous Danish author, NFS Gruntvig. Again, as this is a private burial ground, you can’t enter the crypts but it’s worth stopping by to admire this tranquil resting place from the gates.

8. Wander through Rhododendronparken

If you’re visiting during spring, another beautiful spot is Rhododendronparken. This is a garden dedicated to these giant flowers and is said to be not only the largest collection in Denmark but possibly in Scandinavia too. The park is open to the public on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm to 6pm.

9. Shop at Køge’s historic weekly market

If you’re visiting on a Wednesday or Saturday, don’t miss Køge’s market that’s been held in the centre of town for over 700 years. Sellers from across the area convene to offer the best locally made cheese, sausages and honey as well as the freshest fish, vegetables, olives and more. Plus, there’s also stalls of flowers, jewellery and gift items so there’s something for everyone.

Just be sure to arrive at the market square between 8am and 3pm to snag the best finds!

10. Stroll the grounds of Vallø Castle

Last but by no means least, just a short hop south of Køge, you’ll find striking Vallø Castle built in the 18th century. While the castle is privately owned, the 15 hectares of grounds surrounding the building are free to explore and beautifully designed in English garden style.

The owners took great care to collect rare trees, protect large areas of perfectly manicured lawns and create pretty paths to explore the grounds. So if you have the time, I’d recommend a visit here to see another side of the area and another little slice of history. To get there, you’ll just need to hop back on the train at Køge Station for one stop (a 6 minute journey) to Vallø Station and then walk about 15 minutes to the castle. The grounds are open every day from 8am until sunset.

How to get to Køge

As you can see from the map below, Køge is just a short journey south of the capital tucked in the bay overlooking the sound. As it is so close to Copenhagen, getting to Køge is not only quick but super easy too. Here’s how…

By train:

By far the easiest way to get to Køge from Copenhagen is by train. Direct trains run from Copenhagen Central Station (København H) to Køge Station super regularly and the journey takes less than 30 minutes. Buy your tickets using the DBS website or app for under £10.

By car:

If you’re renting a car for your time in Copenhagen (not necessary at all but I understand some travellers prefer to have their own wheels), then driving to Køge is of course also an option. Just bear in mind, it may actually take you longer than the train as sometimes it takes a while to get out of the city. But once you’re heading south, the drive is a breeze following the coast.

Find the easiest rental cars for the best prices in Copenhagen here.

That’s a wrap! Those are my top ten things to do and see when visiting the historic town of Køge. I hope you enjoy your time here as much as I did and if you have any questions, feedback or tips of your own to add, please let me know in the comments box below. Happy travelling!

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