Copenhagen City Guide

The picturesque city of Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and the biggest city in Scandinavia. This city is situated on the entrance to the Baltic Sea and is located partially on Denmark's largest island, Zealand, and partially on Amager, another island located in the Øresund, a busy channel of water that separates Denmark from Sweden.

Copenhagen, originated as a fishing village and went on to become a major port of trade after it was fortified in 1167. The city then went on to become a royal city when Frederik III declared himself as an ‘absolute monarch’.

Owing to its strategic location, Copenhagen has always been a commercial epicenter, which has been home to industries like machinery and shipping. However in recent years, this city has grown to become an important regional hub for culture, business, media and science, which is home to industries like Life Science, information technology, shipping, design and research and development. The city’s prominent business profile thus attracts numerous business travelers to its shores.

Aside from industry and commerce, this city is considered to be in the ranks of cities that offer the best quality of life. It has much to offer for vacationing tourists as well in the form of incredible architecture, excellent restaurants and shopping and exciting nightlife and cultural options. It is no wonder then that more than 2 million tourists, book a vacation to Copenhagen annually to enjoy its many diverse attractions.

This area is traversed by a central canal and hosts 18th century buildings. It was once the domain of sailors and tattoo parlors. Today however Nyhavn is a trendy section of the city that plays host to a wide range of hotels that range from mid-range hotel properties to discount hotels and budget accommodations.

Most of Copenhagen’s luxury hotels are located in the area around the city’s Town Hall Square( Rådhuspladsen) ,Tivoli Gardens and the Central Railway Station. This area is a highly coveted destination in the city as it is close to all public transportation and various attractions.

This area is located behind the railway station and used to be known for nefarious activities in the 1970s. However the area has undergone much gentrification in recent years and offers a wide array of well priced hotels which are definitely worth considering for the convenience that the area affords.

The harborfront of Copenhagen is currently being actively developed. The area today hosts many luxury and business hotels and is becoming exceedingly popular as an accommodation option for visitors to the city as it is close to attractions like the Little Mermaid and various shopping options.

Tivoli Gardens is one of the world's oldest amusement parks, which dates back to 1843. Copenhagen’s showpiece summer attraction attracts hordes of visitors annually. The park is equipped with theaters, band stands, restaurants, bloom-filled gardens and old world rides including an ancient wooden roller coaster called Rutsjebanen, which is still operational until today. This enchanting and magical park is also home to the world's tallest carousel and hosts various other attractions in the form of open-air stages and a concert hall where free music concerts are held often during the five months of the year when the park is open.

Five streets in the heart of the city have been merged to provide the world's longest pedestrian mall, running between Rådhuspladsen and Kongens Nytorv, which are packed with historic gabled buildings, dynamic department stores, stunning shops, restaurants, pavement cafes, theatres, and world-class museums and galleries.

The Danes are known the world over for their avant-garde design sensibilities. You can view many examples of their renowned style at the Danish Design center, located on Hans Christian Andersens Boulevard bang opposite the Tivoli Gardens. The design center is housed in a building that has been designed by world famous Danish architect Henning Larsen and it showcases exhibits of famous Danish designers, including the god father of Danish style – Arne Johnson. The center exhibits include displays by fashion forward Danish companies like Bang and Olufsen, Bodum and Lego, which are renowned for their clean lines and simple but elegant style. The Danish center also has a café and a store where you can buy a stylish souvenir to take home with you. The Danish Design Center is definitely a must-do attraction for all design enthusiasts on a visit or vacation to Copenhagen.

The Little Mermaid which sits on a rock in the Lanelinie Harbor is Copenhagen’s most famous attraction. This sculpture, which was installed in 1913, was designed by sculptor, Edvard Eriksen, who used the image of ballerina Ellen Price to model the mermaid’s head. It is estimated that the mermaid is visited by nearly a million people every year.

This palace, which is known for its Rocco design, was built as the winter retreat of the Danish royal family in 1784. The palace is actually made up of four individual mansions, which each face a cobblestone courtyard. The mansions have identical facades but distinct interiors. The palace offers 12 rooms for public viewings and tours.

The Dutch Renaissance style Rosenborg Castle, which is surrounded by stately gardens was designed by King Christian IV and was his residence until he passed on in 1648. Today the castle is a museum, which chronicles the history of Denmark’s royal family and hosts the Crown Jewels and other royal artifacts that are housed in its cellars and can be viewed by the public.

Copenhagen is renowned as a city that has a rich heritage of art and design. It accordingly hosts numerous museums and galleries, which offer countless exhibits that illustrate this rich heritage. Some of the best museums in Copenhagen include the Museum of Decorative Arts (this museum chronicles the history of Danish design), the Louisiana Museum of Modern art, the National Gallery (whose permanent collection offers 8000 artworks that hail from all corners of the globe and depict every period and style) and the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (which offers displays of antiques, French impressionist art and contemporary Danish art).

Copenhagen experiences four distinct seasons and its weather pattern is affected by the Atlantic low pressure systems which introduce a touch of unpredictability to the city’s weather. Summers in Copenhagen are characterized by temperatures that average approximately 68F (20C) while in the winter months the city generally experiences temperatures that hover just above or below zero.

A summer vacation to Copenhagen is recommended for those tourists who want to enjoy the many delights of the Tivoli Gardens, the city’s famed amusement park; though a vacation to Copenhagen can also be magical in the winter months, when the snow covered city hosts its fantastic Christmas market at the Tivoli Gardens.

The city of Copenhagen is served by its Copenhagen International Airport (Kastrup), which is situated five miles south east of the Copenhagen city center. The Copenhagen airport is served by a wide range of legacy and low cost carriers, which make getting to Copenhagen relatively easy. In fact we at Fare Buzz often announce tempting flight deals for Copenhagen. If you are looking for cheap air tickets for a Copenhagen vacation, you would do well as to check back with Fare Buzz often to snag cheap air flights for your holiday.

The Copenhagen International airport is linked via an Air-rail train link to the Central Railway Station that is located in the heart of Copenhagen. The airport is also served by buses and taxis, which provide convenient connections to the city center. Copenhagen is in fact served by an excellent and inexpensive public transport system that is made up of the metro, buses, communal bikes and cycle taxis.

Most of the city’s main tourist attractions are situated with one square of the city center and these are easily navigable on foot. Visitors to Copenhagen don’t usually rent a car when they are on vacation in the city. Moreover the city center is quite congested and parking in the city is complicated and expensive.

Copenhagen is well known shopping destination in Europe. Copenahagen is especially renowned for its silver, porcelain and furniture creations. Strøget the famous pedestrian street of Copenhagen is its most famous shopping haunt. Five streets located in the heart of the city converge to form Strøget, which is the world’s longest pedestrian mall that extends from Rådhuspladsen to Kongens Nytorv. This pedestrianised area is packed with historic buildings, department stores, stores, restaurants, theaters, al fresco cafes and museums and galleries.

Copenhagen offers a wide variety of restaurants and in fact the city is currently home to the ‘best restaurant in the world’- Noma, which is known for its delicious innovative creations crafted out of local produce. If you don’t manage to get reservations for Noma on your Copenhagen vacation, you could try your luck at one of the many other excellent restaurants the city has to offer like Era Ora, Søren K, Lenore Christine and Gødt.

Most guidebooks on Copenhagen mention the restaurant, Ida Davidsen as a place to go to try the famous Danish open sandwiches known as 'Smørrebrød'. This little basement restaurant which is located a couple of blocks from Amalienborg, makes tons of these open sandwiches every day. A Smørrebrød consists of a simple slice of buttered Rye bread that is piled high with a variety of meats, fish, vegetables and cheeses.

Aside from Ida Davidsen’s , you could try these authentic Smorrebrods at any of the many Smørrebrød take away places located around Copenhagen like Danish Lunch and Rådhus Smørrebrød, which are located in various neighborhoods of Copenhagen.

Copenhagen has an extremely lively nightlife scene bars, dance clubs, jazz clubs, traditional beer houses, and wine cellar abound in the Danish capital, which often ‘rocks’ late into the night. The areas of Strøget and Nyhaven (which was home to Copenhagen’s famous son Hans Christian Anderson) are the main party areas in the city where revelers especially during the summer months congregate for a night out on the town.