Copenhagen, Denmark, seemingly has numerous distinct images, each accurately capturing a facet of the city. Copenhagen is an old merchants' town overlooking the entrance to the Baltic Sea; a progressive city tolerant of a wide range of social behavior; a metropolis that manages to run efficiently yet feel relaxed; and a city with so many architectural treasures that it's known as the "City of Beautiful Spires." Put together, these images, which enhance Copenhagen tourism, make a truly memorable picture for Copenhagen visitors. And given the Danes' highly tuned environmental awareness, Copenhagen sightseeing can be enjoyed on foot or on a bicycle.
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Sights—Amalienborg Palace and its lovely square; Tivoli Gardens; the
Little Mermaid; panoramic views from Rundetaarn (Round Tower); Nyhavn and its nautical atmosphere; Christiansborg Castle and the medieval ruins in the cellars.
Museums—The sculptures and impressionist works at Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek; the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art and its outdoor sculpture park; paintings from the Danish Golden Age at the Hirschsprung Collection; Viking and ancient Danish artifacts at the National Museum; neoclassical sculpture at Thorvaldsens Museum.
Memorable Meals—Danish smorrebrod at Ida Davidsen; traditional herring at Krogs Fiskerestaurant; fine dining at The Paul in Tivoli Gardens; Nordic cuisine at noma.
Late Night—The fireworks at Tivoli Gardens; jazz at Copenhagen Jazzhouse; clubbing with VIPs at NASA; a concert at Vega.
Walks—Taking in the small island of Christianshavn; walking through Dyrehaven to see herds of deer, its castle and beach; walking from Nyhavn to Amalienborg Palace; strolling along Stroget, where the stores show off the best in Danish design.
Especially for Kids—Tivoli Gardens; Copenhagen Zoo; the Experimentarium; the changing of the guard at Amalienborg Palace; an excursion to Roskilde Viking Ship Museum.
Copenhagen is a compact city. The old town is bordered on the west by Radhuspladsen (Town Hall Square), Tivoli Gardens and the Central Railroad Station; on the north by Orsteds Park and the Norreport Train Station; on the east by Kongens Have (Rosenborg Garden) and Kongens Nytorv; and on the south by Christianshavn.
Stroget, the lifeline stretching out from Radhuspladsen to Kongens Nytorv, is the main pedestrian shopping street. To the east of Kongens Nytorv is the old harbor area, called Nyhavn, with picturesque taverns, quaint restaurants and restored warehouses that now function as hotels lining an old canal. Beyond Nyhavn is Amalienborg Palace, home of Denmark's royal family. South of Copenhagen is the large island of Amager, once the kitchen garden of the city, where Dutch farmers taught Danes how to grow flowers and vegetables. It's now the site of Copenhagen Airport and the picturesque town of Dragor.
The old town is surrounded by four colorful residential neighborhoods. Vesterbro stretches southwest from Radhuspladsen along Vesterbrogade. Farther north along Gammel Kongevej is the independent municipality Frederiksberg, which is bordered on the north by Norrebro. Finally, Osterbro stretches north of the old town along Osterbrogade. Beyond these neighborhoods are Copenhagen's suburbs and most of its parks and recreational areas.
Founded in the 11th century as a fishing village in what was then a remote corner of Denmark, Copenhagen gradually became the country's uncontested political, economic and cultural center. Bishop Absalon was the first to recognize the importance of its location on the Baltic Sea. In the 12th century, the Viking warrior-cleric built the first fortress to defend the area against pirates and planned a compact city behind its ramparts. By the time of his death, the city was a vital military post and a thriving trade center.
In the 15th century, the city's position as Denmark's powerhouse was solidified when the royal family made its permanent home there and the University of Copenhagen was founded. During Christian IV's 60-year rule in the 17th century, the city began to acquire its current shape, with the construction of many spectacular buildings—some of which still stand, including the Round Tower built in 1642.
After a series of disasters—both natural (fires and the plague) and man-made (wars with Sweden)—Copenhagen emerged in the middle of the 19th century as a modern city. It also became the capital of Denmark, which ratified its first constitution in 1849. The city's busy harbor and rapid industrialization fueled growth outside the old city walls.
About the same time, Copenhagen's artisans began making a name for themselves with silver and porcelain. A distinctly Danish sense of style that fuses aesthetics and function reached its fullest expression in the 20th century. The clean, elegantly modern lines of Danish design have since captured the world's attention and have spread from home furnishings (Fritz Hansen) to electronics (Bang & Olufsen) to toys (Lego building blocks) to architectural and interior design. This modern style is evident in recent projects around the city, such as the harbor-area development, the Oresund Fixed Link Bridge between Copenhagen and Malmo (Sweden), the new Opera House and the new high-tech metro. Yet Copenhagen retains a distinct old-world charm with its combination of attractive buildings, relaxing canals and busy streets.
Copenhagen was not Denmark's first capital; that was Roskilde, which is located about 19 mi/30 km west of Copenhagen and is the traditional burial site of Danish kings and queens.
Denmark is the oldest continuous monarchy in Europe. Queen Margrethe II, the current monarch, can trace her lineage directly to Gorm the Old, who ruled the Danes in the 900s.
The Radisson SAS Royal Hotel was designed in the 1950s by Arne Jacobsen, known as the father of Danish Modernism. He designed the original building and all its furnishings—including the iconic Egg chairs in the lobby. The guest rooms have since been redecorated, but one—room 606—has been preserved with all of its original furnishings and may be booked for overnight stays.
Many of the museums in Copenhagen and the greater Copenhagen area offer free admission for children and students up to age 18.
When Hans Christian Andersen came to Copenhagen from his childhood home, Odense, he lived in the Nyhavn district of the city. He originally intended to become a ballet dancer, and so he spent a great deal of time at the Royal Theatre on Kongens Nytorv.
Free City Bikes are located on racks all over the city from spring through fall. Insert a coin in the rack to release the bike. When you take the bike back to any City Bike rack, your coin is returned.
