Copenhagen’s oldest and original food tour (Est. 2011).

Copenhagen’s original food tour turns the city center into one long lunch table. In four hours, you taste Arla Unika cheese made with Michelin-starred chefs, a warm Danish pastry, smørrebrød, craft beer, an organic hot dog, chocolate licorice, royal court candy, and a Summerbird flødebolle.

I like the mix of food and sightseeing, especially the walk through the Botanical Garden, Latin Quarter, and past the Round Tower. I also like the generous portions. Several stops serve close to a full serving, so the $141 price can make sense when you add the food, drinks, and four-hour guide.

The main drawback is simple: this is a lot of food. Some people found the four-hour length a little long, and the alcohol stops arrive fairly close together. You should also plan for rain, cobblestones, and plenty of time on your feet.

Quick points about this Copenhagen food walk

• Eight substantial tastings cover cheese, pastry, smørrebrød, beer or cider, a hot dog, licorice, handmade candy, and chocolate.
• Arla Unika cheese is exclusive to this tour, with an apple wine tasting included at the stop.
• Café & Ølhalle 1892 offers unusual atmosphere, since it is Denmark’s oldest preserved workers’ restaurant.
• Guides such as Simon, Marie, Peter, and Camilla add city history, food background, and practical restaurant tips.
• The meeting point is easy to reach, just outside Un Mercato by the metro stairs at Torvehallerne’s Hall 2 entrance.
• Come hungry but not starving, and tell the company about dietary restrictions before you arrive.

Starting beside Torvehallerne

The tour begins at Frederiksborggade 19, outside the Italian restaurant Un Mercato, beside the metro stairs near Torvehallerne, Hall 2. This is a useful starting point because Nørreport Station is Copenhagen’s central transport hub, and the meeting spot is only about a minute from the station.

Your guide leads you into the food market area and starts with Arla Unika cheese. This is not an ordinary supermarket sample. Arla Unika developed its cheeses with Michelin-starred chefs, and this particular tasting is offered exclusively through the tour.

You also get apple wine at Arla Unika. The opening stop sets the tone well: Danish food is not only about old-fashioned dishes. It includes careful cheesemaking, modern partnerships, and producers interested in flavor and technique.

The tour is conducted in English. Guides have included Simon, Marie, Peter, Camilla, Cassandra, Miguel, Mino, and others. The strongest part of the guiding is the way food stories are mixed with city details. Peter, for example, was praised for keeping a group of 14 involved, while Simon was especially good at adding restaurant suggestions for the rest of your stay.

A hot pastry and Copenhagen’s old center

From the market, you walk to Riviera Bakery for a fresh Danish pastry. It is served warm and flaky, which makes this more satisfying than a quick bite from a standard chain bakery.

This stop also gives you a useful lesson in Danish baking. The pastry is one of the lighter items early in the walk, but it can be easy to underestimate how much food is still ahead. I would avoid a large breakfast. One person’s practical advice was to have only a light breakfast, and that is sound.

The route continues through the Botanical Garden and the Latin Quarter. You are not being moved from restaurant to restaurant by bus. The walking connects the food to Copenhagen’s streets, public spaces, and older buildings.

The pace is generally comfortable, with stops long enough to eat and listen. You should still wear proper walking shoes. The experience runs in rain or shine, so a waterproof layer matters more than stylish footwear.

Smørrebrød at a historic lunch stop

The main meal is Danish smørrebrød, the open-faced sandwich that is one of the country’s best-known lunch traditions. Depending on the day and operating hours, lunch is served at RØRT or Café & Ølhalle 1892.

RØRT gives the dish a more modern setting. Café & Ølhalle 1892 offers a more atmospheric stop, since it is the oldest preserved workers’ restaurant in Denmark. Access to that venue is described as exclusive to this tour, which gives the lunch a stronger sense of place.

You receive smørrebrød with a beer or soft drink. This is one of the most valuable parts of the tour because it is not just a bite-sized sample. Several people found the portions generous, and the lunch feels like an actual meal rather than a decorative taste.

If you want to understand Danish food culture, this is the key stop. Smørrebrød shows how a simple base of bread can become a carefully arranged meal. Your guide can explain the food and the surrounding buildings, so the lunch carries more context than it would if you simply ordered one in a café.

Beer at SKAAL and a useful pacing warning

At Kultorvet, the route reaches SKAAL, a beer bar where you have a glass of Danish craft beer or crisp apple wine. The drink gives you a chance to pause, talk with the group, and hear more about Copenhagen’s current food and drink scene.

The drink portions are described as decent, and soft drinks are available for people who do not drink alcohol. Keep in mind that the tour also includes alcohol with the smørrebrød, depending on your selection. One practical complaint was that the beer stops can feel close together, with lunch followed by another drink before the hot dog.

That is not a serious problem for most people, but it is worth knowing. If you do not drink, the tour still works because nonalcoholic choices are offered. If you do drink, you may want to pace yourself, since the food is substantial and the walk continues for several hours.

The Round Tower and an organic Danish hot dog

The next major landmark is the Round Tower, one of Copenhagen’s best-known central sights. Near it, you stop at DØP, also called Den Økologiske Pølsemand, for an organic hot dog served from a repurposed oak barrel.

You can choose pork, beef, or a vegetarian option. This is a useful contrast with the refined cheese and chocolate stops. The hot dog is casual Danish street food, but the organic ingredients and choice of fillings give it more care than a basic fast-food snack.

This stop is also a reminder that Copenhagen’s food culture does not fit into one category. The city can offer Michelin-linked cheese, old workers’ restaurants, craft beer, and a hot dog from a street stand within the same afternoon.

The Round Tower section is also good for sightseeing. Your guide points out details about nearby buildings and the city’s past while you eat. Several guides, including Mino, Simon, and Camilla, have been praised for adding history without turning the tour into a lecture.

Licorice, handmade candy, and Danish sweet traditions

The sweet part of the tour begins with Lakrids A by Johan Bülow. You try chocolate-coated licorice, a Danish product that has become known well beyond Denmark.

Licorice divides people. If you already know you dislike it, this is the one tasting you may approach cautiously. The chocolate coating makes it more approachable for some people, but the flavor combination is still distinctive. One participant liked almost everything but did not understand the appeal of chocolate and licorice, so do not expect this to be universally popular.

At Sømods Bolcher, you see handmade rock candy being produced. The business has made sweets since 1891 and is an official supplier to the Royal Danish Court. The point here is not only the candy itself. You get a glimpse of a small production tradition that has continued for generations.

This is one of the more interesting stops for families and anyone who enjoys food craftsmanship. It gives the tour a physical process to watch, rather than another sample placed in front of you.

The final treat comes from Summerbird, described as Denmark’s premier organic chocolatier. You receive a handcrafted flødebolle, a chocolate-covered Danish confection with a soft center. After the salty cheese, bread, meat, beer, and licorice, it is a fitting finish.

Four hours, full portions, and the real value

The listed price is $141 per person. That is a high price for a walking tour, but the comparison should be made against a meal, several drinks, eight tastings, and a local guide rather than against a standard sightseeing walk.

The included food can cover breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dessert in one outing. You receive cheese, pastry, smørrebrød, a hot dog, licorice, handmade sweets, chocolate, and drinks. Several stops offer full or near-full portions, and many people finish the tour completely full.

I see the value most clearly if you are visiting Copenhagen for a short stay or want help choosing where to eat. The guide introduces places you might not find on your own and often gives restaurant suggestions for later days. Starting early in your visit is smart because you can return to the bakery, beer bar, or restaurants after learning what you like.

The value is less clear if you eat lightly, dislike group tours, or want only a few small samples. Four hours is a serious time commitment, and some people may find the later tastings difficult after the lunch and hot dog.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this for first-time visitors who want to understand Copenhagen through its food and central streets. It is also a good fit for couples, families with older children, and solo visitors who like meeting a small group while walking.

The guides have handled both large groups and very small ones. A group of only three people still had a lively experience because the guide kept the conversation moving and answered questions. A larger group of 14 also worked well when the guide made sure everyone could hear.

Food allergies and dietary restrictions should be communicated in advance. One person with a gluten allergy received gluten-free alternatives, including a cinnamon roll and beer, but you should not assume every request can be handled automatically.

The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. It also requires comfortable shoes and weather-ready clothing. Children under three are free, and child tickets cover ages three through 12.

The small drawbacks to keep in mind

The route is concentrated in central Copenhagen, so this is not a broad tour of the entire city. You will see the Round Tower, Botanical Garden, Latin Quarter, Torvehallerne, and nearby streets, but not every major Copenhagen landmark.

The experience can also feel food-heavy. The pastry, lunch, drinks, hot dog, licorice, candy, and chocolate arrive in a steady stream. That is the appeal for hungry people, but it can be too much if you have a small appetite.

Some details can change because of holidays, closing hours, or other operating issues. Lunch may be at RØRT or Café & Ølhalle 1892, and the exact order of stops can vary. The core idea remains the same: local food, central sightseeing, and a full meal served over four hours.

Should you book CphFoodTours?

Book it if you want a filling introduction to Danish food, prefer walking to sitting in one restaurant, and value a guide who can explain both dishes and city history. The exclusive Arla Unika tasting, historic workers’ restaurant, Round Tower stop, and royal court candy give the route more substance than a basic market crawl.

I would especially book it for the first or second day of a Copenhagen visit. You will get restaurant ideas, learn the local food terms, and finish with a better sense of where to eat next.

Skip it if you dislike long tastings, cannot walk comfortably for four hours, or want a quiet private meal. For most people who arrive hungry and wear good shoes, the combination of generous food, drinks, and central Copenhagen sights makes the $141 cost reasonable.

FAQ

How long does the Copenhagen food tour last?

The tour lasts four hours.

Where does the tour begin?

Meet at Frederiksborggade 19, outside Un Mercato, beside the metro stairs near the Hall 2 entrance of Torvehallerne.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour returns to the starting point at Frederiksborggade 19.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

How many tastings are included?

The experience includes eight authentic tastings, along with drinks and a full meal’s worth of food.

What food is included?

You taste Arla Unika cheese, a fresh Danish pastry, smørrebrød, chocolate-coated licorice, an organic hot dog, handmade rock candy, and a Summerbird chocolate treat. Drinks are also included.

Are drinks included?

Yes. The tour includes a glass of Danish craft beer or cider at SKAAL, apple wine at Arla Unika, and beer or a soft drink with the smørrebrød.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

You should communicate dietary restrictions in advance. Specific alternatives may depend on the request and the food available that day.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes and clothing suited to the weather. The tour operates rain or shine.

Are children allowed?

Yes. Children under three are free, and child tickets apply to ages three through 12.