Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen

A Guide to Visiting Copenhagen and Surrounds

Copenhagen:

The Danish capital of cool, fashion, design, and home to many personalities.

This proud city represents the heart of Danish culture and is truly worth visiting, whether for a long or short stay.

The Danes are an interesting bunch: reserved, somewhat entitled, honest, and free. Having lived and worked in Copenhagen, and visited many times, it is clear that the locals, like the city itself, are very comfortable with who they are.

The Sights:

Nyhavn Canal should be your first port of call. Colourful former sailors' homes line this historical stretch of water, along with numerous cafés, restaurants, and bars. Famous author Hans Christian Andersen was a former resident of this street. Just down the road lies the immaculate Amalienborg Palace, home to the Danish Royal family. The changing of the guard can be witnessed daily from 11:30 AM.

The pedestrian street in the heart of the city (Strøget) is a wonderful place to spend many hours exploring. Discover locally renowned buildings such as the Round Tower, people-watch, and simply wander. This is also the place to be if you feel like indulging in high-quality Danish clothing, jewellery, or furniture.

The Free City of Christiania may now be a smaller-scale version of its former self — a free and happy hippie community that governed itself — but it remains a fascinating area to explore day and night, relax by the lake, and experience its unique atmosphere. It's important to keep an open mind while visiting this part of Christianshavn. Fortunately, you can also cycle along Christianshavn’s canals when visiting Christiania.

If you have time and a group of people with you, consider hiring a ‘Go Boat’ to discover Copenhagen via the canal route. This alternative way of exploring the capital is relaxing and, in my opinion, even more scenic than exploring the city area on foot or by bike. The views around Christianshavn and København K (the city centre) offer another level of appreciation for the area. Relaxing with friends while taking in some of Copenhagen's most well-known sights is a pleasure, and you don’t need a boat license.

Be sure to rent a bike when exploring beyond the centre of Copenhagen — the city is impeccably designed for cyclists. Whether renting, buying, or borrowing a bike, be sure to abide by local cycling rules: use your bell when overtaking (on the left), use hand signals when turning and stopping, obey traffic lights, and never ride on the left-hand side of the bike lane unless overtaking.

Inner Copenhagen is relatively compact and easily explored by bike. Take in the different styles of buildings in the inner suburbs, from leafy, affluent Frederiksberg and hipster Vesterbro to family-oriented Østerbro and vibrant, ethnic Nørrebro.

Spending time with friends or locals by the canal at Islands Brygge is a perfect way to enjoy a warm Copenhagen summer afternoon. Bring a beverage and be open to jumping into the canal. The atmosphere on a warm summer afternoon here is hard to match for relaxation and healthy vibes anywhere on the continent.

Frederiksberg is home to Frederiksberg Gardens — a large green parkland with small lakes, Frederiksberg Palace, quaint bridges, manicured gardens, a Chinese tea house, and, oddly enough, a Pacifier Tree. Copenhagen Zoo is also located here, with a viewing area in the gardens where you can observe the elephants in their daily life.

Søndermarken, a park on the border of Valby and Frederiksberg, is also worth a visit. Within this park is Cisternerne — a unique art museum located in a former underground water reservoir.

Other sights in inner Copenhagen that you will likely want to visit include Tivoli Gardens, the Carlsberg Museum, Louisiana Museum, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, and the famed statue of The Little Mermaid. Remember not to have great expectations when visiting her.

Beyond the Capital:

Møns Klint:

A wonderful place to visit for a day trip from Copenhagen. Easily accessible by car and well worth the trip. Møns Klint is a six-kilometre stretch of chalk cliffs located on the east coast of the island of Møn. It will take approximately two hours by car to reach from Copenhagen.

The North Sea/Skagen:

This area in the North of Denmark is famous as the meeting place of two seas — the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. Interestingly, though, the two seas never actually mix.

Aarhus and Odense:

Two other famous cities with charm in Denmark are Aarhus and Odense. Aarhus is known as a university city, and the Old Town and ARoS Museum are must-see destinations. Odense is located on the island of Funen and is the birthplace of the most famous Dane of all time — storyteller Hans Christian Andersen. If you visit, be sure to visit his house for a trip back in time

Want more?

Helsingør is only a forty-five-minute trip north of Copenhagen and is well worth the visit — there are numerous museums, such as the Viking Museum. If you have time, the option to join fishermen on a boat for the day is a memorable experience.

Also, Roskilde, the former capital of Denmark, is home to one of the largest music festivals in Europe, the Roskilde Festival. If you’re a music lover, be sure to book your tickets early. Roskilde also hosts the annual Viking Festival and numerous important museums and castles.

Enjoy this beautiful country and all it has to offer, and remember, as the Danes like to say: 'There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad choice of clothing.'