Classic, contemporary and counterculture can all be seen in this art and design trip to Copenhagen. Explore Danish works across the ages, the masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance and glorious architecture in this capital of culture.
Copenhagen - Art & Design School Trip
- 4 days
- +1 hrs (UTC)
- Denmark
- Approx. 2hrs
- Rosenborg Castle Gardens
- The Danish Design Museum
- Torvehallerne
- The National Gallery of Denmark (SMK)
- The Arken Museum of Modern Art
- Refshaleøen
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Sample itinerary
- Day
Day 1 - Introduction to Danish Art and Design
Arrive in Copenhagen and take the public transport into the city. Head straight to Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. The museum houses an extensive collection of ancient and modern art, including works by Rodin, Degas, and Gauguin. Students can study various art forms, deep dive on the French Impressionists or the Danish Golden Age, and explore different techniques to enrich their understanding of art history and its evolution.
Stretch your legs with a short walk to Strøget, Copenhagen’s largest shopping area. Grab a coffee and people watch, reflecting on commercial aesthetics. The Strøget, is one of Europe’s longest pedestrian streets and is also an excellent place to look at urban design
Wind down this evening to either Rosenborg Castle Gardens or Amalienborg to take in the royal gardens as dusk falls. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through these historic gardens, offering a mix of classical sculpture and modern installations, perfect for sketching and photographing.
Experience local cuisine at Torvehallerne, a popular food market, which also features art and design elements in its modern architecture. Known for its high quality, sustainable and organic foods, you can sample food from around the world.
Day 2 - Modern Design and Architecture
This morning, head to the Danish Design Museum. Delve into Denmark's renowned design heritage with exhibits showcasing furniture, fashion, and industrial design. Students can learn about the evolution of Danish design and its global impact. Its exhibits on modern and contemporary design innovations will inspire students to think creatively and develop their design concepts.
From here, head out into Copenhagen for a walking tour of its architecture. Highlights include the Copenhagen Opera House, The Black Diamond (Royal Library) and the Marble Church.
Also known as Frederik’s church, this is the city’s most impressive church, with views over the city from the top of its copper green dome. Make a final stop at the Little Mermaid, one of Copenhagen’s most iconic tourist attractions. The sculpture was unveiled in August 1913 as a gift to the city of Copenhagen from Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen. It was inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen novel of the same name.
After lunch, it’s time to visit The National Gallery of Denmark (SMK). As Denmark's largest art museum, it offers collections spanning 700 years of art history, featuring works by both Danish and international artists. Its rich and varied art includes Renaissance classics as well as modern and contemporary art.
This evening, grab dinner in the Nyhavn District. This vibrant district is a favourite spot for artists and designers with its colourful buildings and historic boats.
Day 3 - Interactive and Contemporary Art
This morning, take a short trip to Ishøj to visit the Arken Museum of Modern Art. Conceived by Queen Margrete, Arken holds works by over 400 Danish, Scandinavian and International post-war artists. A diverse range of mediums are showcased, including painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, photography, architecture, design, film, and media and performance art.
Journey back and go to Superkilen Park. The concept behind this space was to create an outdoor world exhibition, with objects from around the world designed to bring communities together. The park has three main zones: Red Square with its modern, urban styling complete with café, music and sports; The Black Market is the classic square with fountain and benches. Last, Green Park is a space for leisurely picnics. It’s the only place where you can find fountains from Morocco, swings from Iraq, benches from Brazil and a black octopus slide from Japan all in the same space. Located in the Nørrebro district, It’s a great spot for photographing and discussing public space design.
Jump on the harbour bus and head out to Refshaleøen. Once an industrial district, it is now one of Copenhagen’s hippest areas. Its contemporary art spaces showcase installation art from famous artists and emerging talents alike. In its new theatre stage EUROPA in a huge Chipperfield Circus tent you can see Mute Comp. Physical Theatre- a world class physical theatre show.
On your last night, pay a visit to the Tivoli Gardens. Not only a historic amusement park, the Gardens are also a cultural hub that has inspired artists and designers for generations, including Walt Disney.
Day 4 - Danish Canon and Alternative Denmark
No art and design trip to Copenhagen would be complete without exploring the alternative art scene in Christiania. The self-proclaimed autonomous neighbourhood is known for its vibrant street art and alternative culture. See eclectic art, colourful murals and experience the distinct countercultural vibe. This area offers a stark contrast to the more traditional parts of Copenhagen.
Depart home with incredible memories of a great Art and Design school trip to Copenhagen.
Return flights, 1 piece of hold luggage per person, airport taxes and security charges and ATOL Protection Contribution
Airport transfers upon arrival and departure. We can also arrange your UK airport transfers if you wish
Experienced local TCBC guide in Copenhagen for your included walking tours
Hostel or hotel accommodation, with multi rooms for students and single rooms for teachers
Breakfasts and dinners daily at hostel, but we can arrange meals in local restaurants if preferred
Architecture walking tour, visits of museums of your choice
There will be no hidden costs on tour, everything will be clearly explained before departure
24 hour emergency contact details of TCBC's office and your local guide's mobile number
The normal free staff place ratio is 1:10 but this is flexible and we'll work to whichever ratio you require
Please check with your school to ensure you are covered by an adequate travel insurance policy which we will need to see a copy of. We can help you source cover if you need
We generally don't include lunches unless requested. We prefer to let the students explore the local options and choose for themselves
If you feel you have received excellent service, then our local guides and drivers will appreciate being tipped. Guidelines will be outlined in your quote
Event availability isn't usually known at the time of booking. We will inform you of options and ticket prices closer to departure
We will advise you on the best public transportation ticket options, which you can buy on the spot
Reasons to travel with us
We honestly believe we are the best in what we do. We'd love the opportunity to show you.
Safety & reliability
The safety of all our travellers is our number 1 priority. We have a robust Safety Management System in place to ensure that our tours are run to the high levels you expect.
Experience & expertise
We have years of experience in planning school tours. Our expertise lies in our organisational skills, attention to detail and an understanding of what you need to make your trip a success.
TCBC local guides
Our guides are our greatest assets and consistently lauded. Highly experienced, knowledgeable and trustworthy, most are hand-picked and have worked with us for years.
Complete peace of mind
Our accreditations (ATOL, ABTA, STF, LOtC) provide you with the reliability, assurance and financial security expected from a specialist tour operator.
Customer
service
Our dedicated team is on hand to offer help and advice at every stage. We are positive you will be impressed with the high level of service you receive from us.
Flexibility & customisation
We customise every trip to suit your needs and offer maximum flexibility in planning your itinerary. We won’t rest until we get it right!
The personal touch
Getting to know our clients is very important to us. It’s very likely therefore that you’ll meet one or several of us at some point, either at school before departure or on the tour itself.
Total transparency
We include as much as possible in our quotes and are very transparent about what is and what is not included. There will be no hidden or surprise costs.
Pre-departure support
We understand how much work goes into planning a school trip. You will be dealing with the same people throughout the pre-departure process allowing us to respond quickly and accurately.
Repeat business
99.9% of teachers are so happy with our tours and our service that there is no need to travel with anyone else. We are confident you will feel the same way.
TCBC helps you create a bespoke programme that mixes experience from their previous tours with the requirements of your own school.
