Street Photography in Copenhagen

Strøget is a chain of pedestrian streets running over a kilometer from City Hall Square to Kongens Nytorv. Forrest Walker starts and finishes most days here, because there is always activity, and he rates it as better for street work than Nyhavn. Amagertorv, with its stork fountain, is the busiest square along it. Buskers draw rings of people, which gives you faces lit by shop windows. Walk it in the morning and again at dusk to see how the crowd changes. Stand by the fountain and let people cross your frame. Watch for pickpockets.

Nyhavn is the postcard: 17th and 18th century houses painted in strong colors along a canal of wooden boats. Forrest Walker calls it all for the tourists, but still worth walking for the backgrounds. Danny Maiorca, who lives in the city, suggests early morning for the architecture and summer evenings for street shots, when the quay is packed with people drinking by the water. I'd shoot the people on the quay edge with the colored houses behind them. Try the side streets for fewer crowds. Restaurants are expensive here.

This bridge crosses the Lakes between the center and Nørrebro, and Danny Maiorca calls it a microcosm of life in Copenhagen. It is one of the world's busiest bike routes. At rush hour a stream of cyclists passes, from parents with cargo bikes to commuters in suits. On summer evenings locals line the bridge with cans of beer. At the morning or evening rush, stand at the rail and pan with a rider. Stay out of the bike lane. Cyclists here are fast and don't expect people to step in.

Nørrebro is an old working district that is now young and multicultural, with kebab shops and graffiti. Forrest Walker thinks it may be the most interesting district in the city for street photography, away from most tourists. Assistens Cemetery, where Hans Christian Andersen is buried, is used by locals as a park. Jægersborggade next to it has small cafes where people sit on the curb. The From My Lens guide also points to the striped lines of Superkilen Park nearby. Walk it in the afternoon. It is less polished than the center, so read the mood.

Christiania began in 1971 when squatters took over old military barracks. It is now a car free neighborhood with murals and handmade houses. It is open to the public and interesting to walk. Photography has long been a touchy subject here. Residents banned photos around Pusher Street, the cannabis market, which authorities and residents moved to close in 2024. Treat the rule as still in force. Photograph the architecture and art freely, and ask before including people. Late afternoon is best. Respect any signs.

Nyboder is a district of long rows of former naval houses, painted yellow and orange. Forrest Walker found it can feel like a ghost town, but the color gives you strong backgrounds for single figures. It is quiet and residential. That quiet is useful. Pick a long straight row with the sun raking along it and wait for a walker or cyclist to come through. Late afternoon light makes the orange glow. People live here, so keep it low key and avoid shooting into windows.

Christianshavn has canals lined with Dutch style houses and houseboats. Danny Maiorca argues the canal is as photogenic as Nyhavn with far fewer tourists. The quays fill with people on warm evenings, feet over the water, and cyclists cross the small bridges all day. Walk a full loop. Shoot from a bridge down the canal and wait for a boat or a rower to pass. Evening light is soft here. The quay edges have no railing in many places, so watch your step when framing.

Gråbrødretorv is a small square off the shopping streets, lined with colored buildings and cafe tables. Danny Maiorca calls it the city's most beautiful square, and says harsh light makes it hard to photograph, so go early or in the late afternoon. For street work, the terraces give you people in conversation against bright walls. Sit at a table and shoot from there. You'll look like just another guest. Nearby Magstræde dates back to the 16th century and is good for a figure walking on cobbles. It is quiet in the morning.