Copenhagen, a city by the water
Copenhagen is beautifully situated on the Øresund, the estuary that connects the Baltic Sea to the North Sea via the Kattegat. Life here is inextricably linked to the water, and when the weather is nice, young and old alike gather along the city's many quays and canals. The most famous spots are Nyhavn and Christianshavn, but we also explored further on a social sailing trip with Hey Captain.
Nyhavn
Originally, Nyhavn was a trading port where ships from all over the world docked. Sailors would come ashore after a long journey and visit the merchants' houses and taverns along the busy quay. The colorful houses from the 17th and 18th centuries still stand. The sailors of yesteryear have been replaced by tourists and the merchant ships by pleasure boats. When the weather is nice, the terraces are packed, and tourists and Danes enjoy a drink and a snack together by the water. It's called hygge, the Danish way of enjoying life, and Nyhavn is a place where you can experience it for yourself.
This lively part of town was once home to Hans Christian Andersen. He lived in the houses numbered 18, 20 and 67 and walked daily along the quay of the Nyhavn canal. It was here that he wrote some of his most famous fairy tales, such as The Princess and the Pea and The Tinder Box.
Nyhavn opens onto the beautiful central square, Kongens Nytorv. Here you will find the historic Hotel d'Angleterre, one of the oldest hotels in the world, the Royal Theatre and the imposing bronze equestrian statue of King Christian V. You can see it all from the terraces of the trendy restaurants Esmée and Fiat.
Social sailing with Hey Captain
Life in Copenhagen revolves around the Øresund, and a visit to the Danish capital is not complete without a boat trip through its many canals and waterways. In some parts of Copenhagen, the only way to really experience life is from the water. You can opt for the typical cruise through the inner harbor of the city, but we decided to discover the hidden gems of Copenhagen on a social sailing trip with Hey Captain.
What is social sailing?
Social Sailing is the idea of meeting other people during a cruise and having a nice conversation. To maintain the casual atmosphere of a boat trip among friends, the number of participants is limited to 12. The skipper talks about living in Copenhagen and points out the sights while cruising.
The Hidden Gems tour with Hey Captain
Mette welcomes us aboard a small, stylish open boat. She has been sailing the canals in and around Copenhagen for years and knows the city like no other. We leave Ofelia Plads and set course for the Trekroner Fortress. The fort at the entrance to the harbor used to defend the city but is now a popular venue for fashion shows and parties.
Mette then sets sail for Nordhavn while the rosé wine flows and the conversations get going. Topics range from Copenhagen's best restaurants to Taylor Swift's concert in Stockholm. We pass the round Spidsen office building, built around a tree, and visit the 5-minute community, a neighborhood where everything you need is a 5-minute walk from the parking lot.
We see the bronze statue of the Little Mermaid, but also her modern counterpart, the genetically modified Little Mermaid, lying in the water at Dahlerup's pakhus.
The tour then takes us past the autonomous free city of Christiania, Amalienborg Palace and the magnificent modern opera house built by Maersk and presented to Denmark's Queen Margrethe II.
The 2-hour trip is over in a flash, and we say goodbye to the lovely Mette and our fellow passengers.
A walk along the Inderhavn
When the weather is nice, it is a pleasure to walk along the quay from Langebro to Inderhavnsbroen, which connects Nyhavn with Christianshavn. You will pass the Cirkelbroen, a beautiful pedestrian bridge in the shape of a ship.
A little further on is the architecturally impressive building Den Sorte Diamant. Situated right on the water, it is a branch of the Royal Library, the largest library in Scandinavia.
All along the waterfront you will find Danes soaking up the sun at one of the city's many bathing spots. There is nothing quite like a refreshing dip in the cool, clear water of one of the many canals.
When you arrive in Nyhavn, the car-free Inderhavnsbroen leads you to Christianshavn. From the bridge you have a beautiful view of the busy waterfront and both harbors.
