Copenhagen, Denmark
To paraphrase one of Carlsberg's taglines, Copenhagen is ‘probably
the best city in the world’. As a short-break there are more than
enough attractions to fill your time or, stay for a week if you want to
really experience the city. It’s a great, compact, little city, ideal for
exploration on foot or two wheels. The city is built for bicycles, they
are everywhere. Apparently, 50% of all citizens commute by bike
every day and there are more bikes than inhabitants.
Copenhagen is rich and varied in architecture with plenty of castles
and palaces as a result of its 1000 years of royal history. There are
many historic streets, monuments, museums, art galleries and plenty of gardens in which to wander and laze. It is
famous for its design and it even has a Design museum.
My favourite place was the picturesque Nyhavn with its mix of colourful houses and constant movement of boats
and people – a great place to sit and watch the world go by!
Of course, food and drink are a joy. Copenhagen is home to Scand-
inavia’s largest collection of Michelin stars including the famous
Noma two Michelin star restaurant and this has certainly had an
influence on raising the quality of food in many restaurants.
Denmark is renowned for the high standards of living and Copenha-
gen is no exception. It is clean, beautiful, full of culture, has excellent
shopping, transport links and accommodation and the people are
very friendly. However, it is a little on the expensive side. Denmark is
in the EU but it's not in Euroland. It still uses the kronor currency. According to surveys, Denmark is home to the
happiest people in the world.
Canal Tour
From the water is one of the best ways to see the city. Our boat from
Nyhavn harbour passed the Little Mermaid, beautiful canals of the
alternative community Christianshavn, the 17th-century dock area
with its pastel-coloured merchants' houses, the Royal Danish Play-
house and the Opera House and Christiansborg Palace, home to the
Danish Parliament, Prime Minister's Office and Supreme Court.
Nyhavn harbour
The picturesque, interesting canal area is very popular and packed with restaurants, cafés, boats and people – it’s
very relaxing to stroll or just sit in a café and watch the people and activity. (Note that
drinks in the cafes are expensive)
Little Mermaid
The statue of the Little Mermaid has become one of the most famous of Copenha-
gen’s attractions and one of the most photographed ladies in the World! The bronze
sculpture by Edvard Eriksen, unveiled in August 1913, is based on the mermaid of the
Hans Christian Andersen story. It was smaller than I expected but maybe I should
have guessed by the name!
Rosenborg Palace
The Palace is situated at the end of the popular King's Garden. Built in 1606-1634 by King Christian IV as a royal
pleasure retreat outside of the closed city, it’s now a museum with objects related to the Danish monarchs during
the last 400 years. In the basement there’s a display of the Royal Regalia and state jewellery belonging to the
present Queen.
The Round Tower
The Round Tower was built as an observatory in 1642 under Christian IV.
The 209-metre-long winding passage leads to the platform and the Obser-
vatory at the top of the tower, from which there are magnificent views over
the old town, house roofs and church towers.
Church of Our Lady Cathedral
The Church of Our Lady was built in 1829. During the last 800 years a church has been situated on this spot and
several royal couples have been married here, Crown-Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik being the latest
ones in May 2004.
Marble Church
The neo-baroque Marble Church, consecrated in 1894 has a copper green dome which measures more than 30m in
diameter. It was modelled on the dome of St Peter's in Rome.
Gardens
Copenhagen has many public parks and gardens that are wonderful places
to relax, go for a stroll, have a picnic or simply, watch the wildlife, as I did.
This photo was taken in Orstedsparken Park.
Carlsberg
Founded in 1647 by J. C. Jacobsen it was named after his son, Carl
and the hill on which it was built.
Carl Jacobsen started his own brewery alongside his father’s in 1991
and named it The New Carlsberg but the two breweries merged in
1906. Carl provided a couple of other landmarks - he commissioned
the Little Mermaid statue and founded the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek,
one of Denmark's
museums.
The Carlsberg Breweries and Visitor Centre are a short bus ride away
from the centre. Upon arrival you see the imposing Elephant Gate
comprising four life size elephants which was inspired by Bernini’s
obelisk-carrying elephant in the Minerva Square in Rome. The ele-
phant is a symbol of loyalty and strength and characterises Carl
Jacobsen’s Latin motto "Laboremus pro patria" - We work for our
country.
Within the breweries is a museum that contains the world’s largest unopened beer bottle collection totalling16,384
bottles. You can see beer being made in the Jacobson Brewhouse and the treat at the end is to sample some of the
brewer's famous beers.
Our Hotel
We stayed in Copenhagen’s historic Admiral Hotel, a converted
grain-drying warehouse, originally built in 1787. It is full of character
with a maritime atmosphere within the massive wooden beams and
brick arches. It is centrally located with Nyhavn, Amalienborg Palace
and The Little Mermaid all within easy walking distance.
Tips
Getting Downtown - Copenhagen Airport is 8km (5 miles) southeast of Copenhagen city centre. The driverless train
or metro, taking less than 15 minutes, is the quickest and easiest way to get Downtown. The metro is the fastest
way of getting to Copenhagen City or Frederiksberg. However, if you want to go to Copenhagen Central Station or
the western part of Copenhagen City, you are better off taking the train.
If you want to go to a few museums or galleries and use the public transport, buy a 24-hour or 72-hour CPHCard. It
gives you free entry to 60 museums, free transport on the bus, train or metro and discounts on many other
attractions.
Copenhagen is just half an hour from the Swedish city of Malmo, and the journey there is stunning. For a day out
take a train, hire a car or join a tour and head across the huge Oresund Bridge that joins Denmark and Sweden. At
7,845 metres, it’s one of the longest bridges in Europe.
On my List for my Next Trip
•
Bus tour or Hop On Hop Off bus – always a good way to see a city and its best attractions.
•
Amalienborg Palace – The Royal’s winter residence in the city centre
•
The Guinness World Records Museum illustrates some of the world records, with a statue of the world’s
tallest man at the doorway to welcome you in.
•
National Museum
•
National Gallery
•
Skuespilhuset theatre
•
Tivoli Gardens – Amusement park in the heart of Copenhagen (not a lover but interested to see it at night).
•
Stroget – One of Europe’s longest pedestrian streets for shoppers at 1km, with a variety of shops, many
‘squares’ and open spaces, canal side bars and restaurants. Shopping is never on the top of list!
•
Kronborg Castle in Elsinore, north of Copenhagen. One of northern Europe’s most important Renaissance
castles, known from Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
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Copenhagen, Denmark
To
paraphrase
one
of
Carlsberg's
taglines,
Copenhagen
is
‘probably
the
best
city
in
the
world’.
As
a
short-break
there
are
more
than
enough
attrac
-
tions
to
fill
your
time
or,
stay
for
a
week
if
you
want
to
really
experience
the
city.
It’s
a
great,
com
-
pact,
little
city,
ideal
for
exploration
on
foot
or
two
wheels.
The
city
is
built
for
bicycles,
they
are
everywhere.
Apparently,
50%
of
all
citizens
commute by bike every day and there are more bikes than inhabitants.
Copenhagen
is
rich
and
varied
in
architecture
with
plenty
of
castles
and
palaces
as
a
result
of
its
1000
years
of
royal
history.
There
are
many
historic
streets,
monuments,
museums,
art
galleries
and
plenty
of
gardens
in
which
to
wander
and
laze.
It
is
famous
for
its
design
and
it even has a Design museum.
My
favourite
place
was
the
picturesque
Nyhavn
with
its
mix
of
colour
-
ful
houses
and
constant
movement
of
boats
and
people
–
a
great
place
to sit and watch the world go by!
O
f
course,
food
and
drink
are
a
joy.
Copenhagen
is
home
to
Scandinavia’s
largest
collection
of
Mich
-
elin
stars
including
the
famous
Noma
two
Mich
-
elin
star
restaurant
and
this
has
certainly
had
an
influence
on
raising
the
quality
of
food
in
many
restaurants.
Denmark
is
renowned
for
the
high
standards
of
living
and
Copenhagen
is
no
exception.
It
is
clean,
beautiful,
full
of
culture,
has
excellent
shop
-
ping,
transport
links
and
accommodation
and
the
people
are
very
friendly.
However,
it
is
a
little
on
the
expensive
side.
Denmark
is
in
the
EU
but
it's
not
in
Euroland.
It
still
uses
the
kronor
currency.
According
to surveys, Denmark is home to the happiest people in the world.
Canal Tour
From
the
water
is
one
of
the
best
ways
to
see
the
city.
Our
boat
from
Nyhavn
harbour
passed
the
Little
Mermaid,
beau
-
tiful
canals
of
the
altern
-
ative
community
Christianshavn,
the
17th-
century
dock
area
with
its
pastel-coloured
merchants'
houses,
the
Royal
Danish
Playhouse
and
the
Opera
House
and
Christiansborg
Palace,
home
to
the
Danish
Parliament, Prime Minister's Office and Supreme Court.
Nyhavn harbour
The
picturesque,
interesting
canal
area
is
very
popular
and
packed
with
restaurants,
cafés,
boats
and
people
–
it’s
very
relaxing
to
stroll
or
just
sit
in
a
café
and
watch
the
people
and
activity.
(Note
that
drinks
in
the
cafes are expensive)
Little Mermaid
The
statue
of
the
Little
Mermaid
has
be
-
come
one
of
the
most
famous
of
Copen
-
hagen’s
attractions
and
one
of
the
most
photographed
ladies
in
the
World!
The
bronze
sculpture
by
Edvard
Eriksen,
un
-
veiled
in
August
1913,
is
based
on
the
mermaid
of
the
Hans
Christian
Andersen
story.
It
was
smaller
than
I
expected
but
maybe
I
should
have
guessed
by
the
name!
Rosenborg Palace
The
Palace
is
situated
at
the
end
of
the
popular
King's
Garden.
Built
in
1606-1634
by
King
Christian
IV
as
a
royal
pleasure
retreat
outside
of
the
closed
city,
it’s
now
a
museum
with
objects
related
to
the
Danish
monarchs
during
the
last
400
years.
In
the
basement
there’s
a
display
of
the
Royal
Regalia
and
state
jewellery
belonging
to
the
present
Queen.
The Round Tower
The
Round
Tower
was
built
as
an
observatory
in
1642
under
Christian
IV.
The
209-metre-long
winding
passage
leads
to
the
plat
-
form
and
the
Observatory
at
the
top
of
the
tower,
from
which
there
are
mag
-
nificent views over the old town, house roofs and church towers.
Church of Our Lady Cathedral
The
Church
of
Our
Lady
was
built
in
1829.
During
the
last
800
years
a
church
has
been
situated
on
this
spot
and
several
royal
couples
have
been
married
here,
Crown-Princess
Mary
and
Crown
Prince
Frederik
being the latest ones in May 2004.
Marble Church
The
neo-baroque
Marble
Church,
consecrated
in
1894
has
a
copper
green
dome
which
measures
more
than
30m
in
diameter.
It
was
mod
-
elled on the dome of St Peter's in Rome.
Gardens
Copenhagen
has
many
public
parks
and
gardens
that
are
wonderful
places
to
relax,
go
for
a
stroll,
have
a
picnic
or
simply,
watch
the
wildlife,
as
I
did.
This
photo
was
taken
in
Orstedsparken Park.
Carlsberg
Founded
in
1647
by
J.
C.
Jacobsen
it
was
named
after
his
son,
Carl
and
the
hill on which it was built.
Carl
Jacobsen
started
his
own
brewery
alongside
his
father’s
in
1991
and
named
it
The
New
Carls
-
berg
but
the
two
breweries
merged
in
1906.
Carl
provided
a
couple
of
other
landmarks
-
he
commissioned
the
Little
Mermaid
statue
and
founded the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, one of Denmark's museums.
T
he
Carlsberg
Breweries
and
Visitor
Centre
are
a
short
bus
ride
away
from
the
centre.
Upon
arrival
you
see
the
imposing
Ele
-
phant
Gate
comprising
four
life
size
elephants
which
was
inspired
by
Bernini’s
obelisk-carrying
elephant
in
the
Minerva
Square
in
Rome.
The
elephant
is
a
symbol
of
loyalty
and
strength
and
characterises
Carl
Jacobsen’s
Latin
motto
"Laboremus
pro
patria"
-
We
work for our country.
Within
the
breweries
is
a
museum
that
contains
the
world’s
largest
unopened
beer
bottle
collection
totalling16,384
bottles.
You
can
see
beer
being
made
in
the
Jacobson
Brewhouse
and
the
treat
at
the
end
is
to sample some of the brewer's famous beers.
Our Hotel
We
stayed
in
Copenha
-
gen’s
historic
Admiral
Hotel,
a
converted
grain-
drying
warehouse,
origin
-
ally
built
in
1787.
It
is
full
of
character
with
a
mari
-
time
atmosphere
within
the
massive
wooden
beams
and
brick
arches.
It
is
centrally
located
with
Nyhavn,
Amalienborg
Palace
and
The
Little
Mermaid all within easy walking distance.
Tips
Getting
Downtown
-
Copenhagen
Airport
is
8km
(5
miles)
southeast
of
Copenhagen
city
centre.
The
driverless
train
or
metro,
taking
less
than
15
minutes,
is
the
quickest
and
easiest
way
to
get
Downtown.
The
metro
is
the
fastest
way
of
getting
to
Copenhagen
City
or
Frederiks
-
berg.
However,
if
you
want
to
go
to
Copenhagen
Central
Station
or
the
western part of Copenhagen City, you are better off taking the train.
If
you
want
to
go
to
a
few
museums
or
galleries
and
use
the
public
transport,
buy
a
24-hour
or
72-hour
CPHCard.
It
gives
you
free
entry
to
60
museums,
free
transport
on
the
bus,
train
or
metro
and
discounts
on many other attractions.
Copenhagen
is
just
half
an
hour
from
the
Swedish
city
of
Malmo,
and
the
journey
there
is
stunning.
For
a
day
out
take
a
train,
hire
a
car
or
join
a
tour
and
head
across
the
huge
Oresund
Bridge
that
joins
Den
-
mark
and
Sweden.
At
7,845
metres,
it’s
one
of
the
longest
bridges
in
Europe.
On my List for my Next Trip
•
Bus tour or Hop On Hop Off bus – always a good way to see a city
and its best attractions.
•
Amalienborg
Palace
–
The
Royal’s
winter
residence
in
the
city
centre
•
The
Guinness
World
Records
Museum
illustrates
some
of
the
world
records,
with
a
statue
of
the
world’s
tallest
man
at
the
doorway to welcome you in.
•
National Museum
•
National Gallery
•
Skuespilhuset theatre
•
Tivoli
Gardens
–
Amusement
park
in
the
heart
of
Copenhagen
(not a lover but interested to see it at night).
•
Stroget
–
One
of
Europe’s
longest
pedestrian
streets
for
shoppers
at
1km,
with
a
variety
of
shops,
many
‘squares’
and
open
spaces,
canal
side
bars
and
restaurants.
Shopping
is
never
on
the
top
of
list!
•
Kronborg
Castle
in
Elsinore,
north
of
Copenhagen.
One
of
north
-
ern
Europe’s
most
important
Renaissance
castles,
known
from
Shakespeare’s Hamlet
.
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