Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen
When thinking about our visit to Copenhagen, what I remember most is the amount of people we saw on bikes. Being one of the most bike friendly city in the world, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised, but the number of commuters on bikes was impressive. There were even ones with baskets for carrying children in them, and bikers have their own lanes and stoplights. But Copenhagen is also home to some beautiful palaces, historic buildings, great food, and was very easy to get to everything with walking. We spent 3 days in Copenhagen and were able to visit the main attractions in the city, but did not make it to further away ones like Kronborg Castle. The currency used is the Danish Krone, but credit card is also accepted most places.
How to get to Copenhagen
From the airport, the easiest way we found to get in to the city center was by train. It leaves from terminal 3, and the ride only takes about 15 minutes. Once at the station, you can walk basically anywhere or, of course, rent a bike. There are also taxis available. For visiting the attractions further outside of the city center, there are trains that you can easily take, or you can take a bus tour with a company.
Things to do
Little Mermaid Statue
The Little Mermaid
One of Copenhagen’s most famous attractions, the Little Mermaid, is a must see while on your visit. Now over 100 years old, the bronze statue is of a mermaid sitting on a rock off the shore. You will not need much time to visit, as it is quite small. But if you want a good picture it is best to go early to avoid the crowds of people.
If you are walking to the Little Mermaid statue from the city center like we did, you will pass through a nice park. There is a beautiful fountain called Gefion Fountain that is worth a stop to rest your legs. The Little Mermaid is also only about a 10 minute walk along the waterfront to Amalienborg Palace.
Gefion Fountain
Amalienborg palace
King Frederick V Statue
Amalienborg Palace still has residences today for the royal family and guests. It has 4 identical palace buildings with an open center in the middle called the palace square. The square has a large statue of King Frederick V, Amalienborg’s founder, and is open to anyone.
If you can, try to time your visit to see the changing of the guards which happens at 12pm daily. While the palace is not open to the public, there is a museum in one of the buildings, Christian VIII’s Palace, that you can visit for a fee. Fun fact: A raised flag at Christian IX’s Palace means the queen is in residence.
Guards outside the Palace
Amalienborg Palace
Changing of the Guards
Nyhavn
Nyhaven is a beautiful waterfront area of Copenhagen known for its brightly colored houses. There are many bars and restaurants lining the street, and it is a great place to have a snack or drink and do some people watching. We stopped on our walk back to the hotel from Amalienborg Palace. There are various canal tours that leave from the area also.
Nyhavn
Carlsberg Brewery
Being Carlsberg beer fans already, taking a trip to the brewery was a must do for us. There are 2 beers included in the entry fee, and they have a guided tour available that will give you some history of the company and tour the brewery buildings. While the guided tour was already fully booked when we arrived, we were still able to do the self-guided tour, visit the museum and shop, and drink some beer. I’d obviously recommend booking your tour ahead of time so you don’t miss out like we did.
Carlsberg Brewery Entrance
Inside the Brewery
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace contains the Danish Parliament, Supreme Court, and Ministry of State. It is the only building in the world that represents all three branches of government in the same place. Parts of the palace are still used by the royal family for events such as evening parties and banquets. During the tour, you can visit the royal reception rooms, stables, and chapel amongst other things. The palace is easy to get to, located on an island right in the middle of the city.
Christiansborg Palace
Rosenborg Castle
Over 400 years old, Rosenborg Castle is conveniently located near the center of the city. It is surrounded by a park with beautiful gardens and many benches to relax. Some of the highlights of our visit were the coronation thrones, life sized lion statues, dining hall, and chambers. It also houses the Danish crown jewels, but they are locked in an underground chamber and not on display for visitors.
Rosenborg Castle
Round Tower
Also called the Rundetaarn, it is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. It was originally built as an astronomical observatory, and offers a beautiful view of the city once you reach the top. In order to do so, you have to climb up the over 200 meter spiral walkway. Don’t worry, the climb isn’t as bad as it sounds!
Climbing up
View from the Top of the Round Tower
Strøget
A car free street, Strøget is full of shops, restaurants and street performers. It is one of Europe’s longest pedestrian streets and stretches over 1 kilometer. You will most definitely end up here at some point walking between Copenhagen’s many attractions.
Strøget
Tivoli Gardens
The second oldest theme park in the world, Tivoli Gardens is worth a stop if you have time or if you have kids. There is an entrance fee to get into the park and a separate price if you want to go on any of the rides. However, even if you don’t like rides, there are games, gardens, lights and other entertainment to keep you busy
What to Eat
Smørrebrød
An open-faced sandwich, Smørrebrød comes with a variety of toppings. Some popular ones we saw are salmon with hard boiled eggs and roast beef with horse radish.
Pølsevogn
Pølsevogn
Organic hot dogs, called Pølsevogn, are sold at stands all over the city. They usually came topped with pickles, onions, ketchup, and mustard. We stopped a few times during our walks to have one of these tasty sausages.
