Coolcation Cities: A 9-Day Copenhagen & Stockholm with Kids Itinerary

We landed in Copenhagen and checked into Hotel Skt. Annæ, a charming boutique hotel that felt both elegant and kid-friendly. After a short rest, we headed to Nyhavn for ice cream and a sunset stroll. The kids loved watching the boats; we loved the golden light hitting the colorful facades. It’s the perfect way to ease into the city’s rhythms.

We started the day at the Resistance Museum, where our 10-year-old was absorbed by the interactive exhibits. After lunch, we walked to Tivoli Gardens—a highlight of the trip. We arrived around 4 pm and stayed until the lights came on. Between flower gardens, nostalgic rides, and evening jazz, it was pure summer magic.

We climbed the Round Tower in the morning—a surprisingly fun spiral walk with sweeping views of the city. Afterward, we explored the design-forward boutiques downtown and took a short metro ride just for fun (the sleek design of the stations was a hit with our 8-year-old). Our favorite shop? Hay House, where we picked up a few Scandinavian souvenirs. In the late afternoon, we boarded a covered canal tour that looped us around Copenhagen’s harbors and neighborhoods—relaxing, scenic, and a great way to rest tired feet while learning about the city’s architecture and history.

We took the train to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, a lovely, comfortable trip 45 minutes from Copenhagen. The train ride and museum admission were both covered by the Copenhagen Card, making this a no-brainer day trip. The museum is a masterpiece of modern Danish design—indoor-outdoor spaces flow seamlessly into one another, and every view seems carefully curated. The kids’ wing spans four levels of hands-on art studios with options like paper mâché, glue guns, dress-up, clay, charcoal, and watercolors. After lunch in the café, we walked the serene path around the lake and explored the sculpture park dotted with works by Henry Moore and Alexander Calder. We ended the day in the museum shop, which might be the best-designed gift shop we’ve ever seen—full of playful and stylish Danish treasures.

We boarded the high-speed train to Stockholm in the morning—a smooth and scenic ride that doubled as downtime. After checking into Villa Dagmar, a boutique hotel nestled in Stockholm’s Östermalm district, we took a moment to enjoy the serene courtyard and Scandinavian elegance of our suite. Villa Dagmar offers a perfect blend of style and comfort for families—from the excellent in-house bakery to the thoughtful service and access to the wellness area. It's also just a short stroll from shopping, playgrounds, and the best museums. Then we surprised the kids with a reservation at ICEBAR. Bundled in parkas, sipping juice from ice glasses, it was a wild, subzero way to kick off our Stockholm stay.

We spent the morning exploring Gamla Stan’s cobbled streets and tiny toy shops, then walked to the Vasa Museum. This enormous 17th-century warship is astonishing in both scale and storytelling. Our son loved the cannon exhibit; we all loved the storytelling video (yes, subtitles!). We ended the day with a ride on the Djurgården ferry.

This was our high-energy Stockholm day. We started at Skansen, the open-air history museum with costumed interpreters and old-fashioned candy shops. After lunch, we crossed the street to Gröna Lund for old-school amusement park fun. Think proto-Disney plus Wonder Wharf vibes. It was a day full of giggles, sugar highs, and family memories.

We kept things light with a half-day of shopping at NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) and Polarn O. Pyret. NK is more than a department store—it’s a design destination in its own right. The building is stunning inside and out, and the food hall is a perfect stop for lunch or fika, with everything from sushi to Swedish classics and fresh-baked pastries. We loved browsing the NK house brand, which features sustainably made home goods and accessories that are as beautiful as they are practical. And yes, the canvas totes give serious Goyard vibes—for a tenth of the price. We picked up patterned backpacks, striped pajamas, and some very chic dish towels. Afterward, we packed and played cards in our hotel room.

We had one last Swedish breakfast and walked to a nearby playground before heading to the airport. Stockholm Arlanda is incredibly family-friendly, with play zones and gluten-free snacks aplenty. A peaceful end to an unforgettable adventure.