True Crime Walking Tours in Copenhagen — Solve a Murder on Foot
In historic Copenhagen — among the canals of Nyhavn, the royal chambers of Amalienborg and the medieval spiral passage of Rundetårn — several operators are offering walking experiences in 2026 that place you at the centre of a crime mystery inspired by real cases and the grim street life of the nineteenth century.
These tours are not traditional sightseeing excursions. They cast you in the role of investigator, equipped with clues, witness statements and a map — and leave you to work out for yourself what happened.
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What are your options?
Self-guided murder mystery near Amalienborg
One of the most accessible experiences begins at Maria's Kiosk on Holbergsgade 9 (open Monday–Sunday, 6am–6pm, including public holidays), where you collect a physical mystery pack. From there, a self-guided tour sets off with both its starting point and finishing point at Sankt Annæ Plads, close to Amalienborg Palace.
The story is inspired by a woman who was allegedly murdered on the street near the palace square in the nineteenth century. The route takes you through neighbourhoods that at the time were home to both the aristocracy and the city's poorest residents — a contrast that remains visible in the architecture today. Prices start from $29.51 USD. You can browse the selection of crime tours and book through Viator.
Guided murder mystery walking tour (2 hours)
If you prefer a guide to lead you through the story, a two-hour guided tour offers a deeper narrative built around a fictional murder case set in nineteenth-century Copenhagen. The route covers Nyhavn, Amalienborg Palace and Marmorkirken — three of the city's most photographed landmarks, now layered with a darker dimension.
Along the way you encounter virtual suspects and historical clues that demand your active involvement. Details on pricing and departure point are provided by the operator — see more at happytovisit.com.
Murder mystery hunt at Rundetårn
A third option takes you on a two-hour self-guided hunt starting at Rundetårn — the seventeenth-century astronomical tower built by Christian IV in 1642 — and continuing through Gråbrødretorv, Købmagergade, Strøget, Vor Frue Kirke and Gammeltorv before finishing at Vor Frue Plads.
The story centres on a disappearance case from 1899, with GPS technology or physical clues guiding you from point to point. Prices start from $62.73 USD. The tour can be booked through GetYourGuide.
App-based tour with myCityHunt
For the tech-inclined, there is a GPS-guided experience via the myCityHunt app that takes you to Nyhavn and Amalienborg in pursuit of a killer who allegedly murdered a prominent businessman. The app holds a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 46 reviews, and prices start from €12.99.
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The history of the locations
Amalienborg Palace has served as the Danish royal family's winter residence since 1794. In the nineteenth century, the neighbourhood surrounding the palace square was characterised by a mixture of wealthy citizens and the working-class communities of the harbour — a social tension that provides a credible backdrop for the criminality of the era.
Nyhavn, constructed between 1671 and 1673 on the orders of Christian V, was for centuries a notorious district of sailors, brothels and criminals. H.C. Andersen lived in the neighbourhood on three separate occasions, but the streets concealed far darker stories than fairy tales.
Rundetårn, dating from 1642, has over its long life witnessed Copenhagen's transformation from a plague-ridden medieval town into a modern metropolis — and cases of the kind these tours recreate from 1899 were far from rare in a city where the police force was still a young institution.
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Practical information
| | | |---|---| | Departure point | Varies — Maria's Kiosk, Rundetårn or by arrangement | | Duration | 2 hours (guided tour and Rundetårn variant) | | Price | From €12.99 / $29.51 USD depending on tour type | | Language | English (confirm Danish availability with the operator) | | Availability | Active in 2026 |
All tours are well suited to couples, groups of friends and anyone with a fondness for crime fiction and the streets of Copenhagen. Neither rain nor the flat grey light of a winter's day does any damage to the atmosphere — if anything, it only adds to it.
