Copenhagen, the most fun city in Europe
Copenhagen, the enchanting city of Hans Christian Andersen, is a must on everyone's wish list. With an abundance of beautiful museums, chic designer shops, imposing palaces and fabulous restaurants, there is something for everyone. Explore the city on foot, by bike or by boat. Climb to the top of one of the many towers for a magnificent view over the rooftops, enjoy the terraces along the colorful Nyhavn and have fun at Tivoli. Copenhagen has more than enough to offer and is undoubtedly the most fun city in Europe.
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 gather along the wide quays and numerous canals. The most famous spots are Nyhavn and Christianshavn, but we also explored further on a social sailing trip with Hey Captain. I will tell you all about it in the blog.
Royal Copenhagen: Castles and Palaces
The Danish monarchy dates back more than 1,000 years to the time of the Vikings and is one of the oldest in the world. The various kings have built beautiful historic palaces and castles in the capital and beyond. We visited the castle island of Slotsholmen, then moved on to the fairytale Rosenborg Slot and watched the changing of the guard at Amalienborg Slot, the current home of the monarchs.
Tivoli, a magical park in the city center
Exotic gardens, wondrous scenery, thrilling rides, a world-famous brass band and nostalgic pantomimes. All this and more makes Tivoli a magical amusement park with a touch of nostalgia. It is the pride and joy of every citizen of Copenhagen.
An unplanned visit
I hadn't put Tivoli on my list of must-sees in Copenhagen, but a Sunday morning stroll past Radhus and the Copenhagen Museum brought us to the iconic H.C. Andersen Castle, now the quarters of the Tivoli Boys Guard. We looked for a place to have lunch and ended up at Nimb Brasserie. A view from the terrace into the Tivoli Gardens was enough to lure us inside. We were in for an afternoon of unexpected fun.
Tivoli, a source of inspiration
When the elegant, exotic Tivoli Gardens opened in 1843, Hans Christian Andersen was among the first to discover this magical world and find inspiration for his fairy tales and fables. But he was not the only one for whom Tivoli was a source of ideas and fantasy. Walt Disney visited Tivoli several times in the early 1950s to capture the atmosphere of the place and recreate it in his own fairytale theme park, Disneyland in California.
What's on in Tivoli
Tivoli is worth a visit just for its lush gardens with colorful flowers, sparkling fountains and cozy pavilions. But there is much more to enjoy. There is music with cheerful brass bands and concerts, a pantomime theatre, and historical attractions including one of the oldest roller coasters in the world. You can browse the many shops and enjoy delicious food at the stalls and restaurants. At night, the magical lighting of the Nimb Hotel creates an enchanting and romantic atmosphere in the park. For thrill-seekers, there is the Golden Tower's 60-meter free fall, the Demon roller coaster's wild ride and the Star Flyer. At 80 meters, this is Northern Europe's tallest swing carousel. I stick to the classic and nostalgic Swing Carousel and ride the Fata Morgana, a 45-meter high tower featuring a 3-in-1 attraction.
I stick to the classic and nostalgic Swing Carousel and ride the Fata Morgana, a 45-meter high tower featuring a 3-in-1 attraction.
Museums for all tastes and interests
Denmark's fascinating history and rich culture are reflected in Copenhagen's impressive array of museums. One of the finest is the Ny Carslberg Glyptotek, with art from Antiquity and a collection of sculptures donated by Carl Jacobsen, founder of the Carlsberg brewery. The National Museum tells the story of Denmark from the Stone Age to the present day. The museum's Viking collection is unique. See impressive runic stones, golden horns, a restored Viking ship, wooden graves and the magnificent silver cauldron from Gundestrup.
The Danes are masters of modern design, and at the Design Museum you can see the largest collection of design objects in the world. The permanent collection, The Danish Chair: an International Affair, is unfortunately closed for renovation.
Kastellet and the Little Mermaid
The 17th century military fort of Kastellet is the ideal place for a quiet stroll on a beautiful summer day. The star-shaped fortification includes colorful barracks, ramparts, moats, gardens and even a windmill. The barracks are still in use by the military.
Next to the Kastellet, at the end of the harbor, stands the world famous bronze statue of the Little Mermaid. The work of art is the symbol of the city and is photographed by more than 1 million tourists every year. Some even go to great lengths to take a selfie with the statue.
The fairy tale by H.C. Andersen
The inspiration for The Little Mermaid comes from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale of the same name. In this tragic love story, a mermaid trades her tail for a pair of legs in order to find the prince of her dreams. To do so, she must give her beautiful voice to an evil sea witch. The mermaid has three days to find the prince. If she succeeds in marrying him, she will be transformed into a human forever. If she fails, she turns into sea foam. The mermaid finds the prince, but he marries someone else, and a tragic end awaits the mermaid.
Shop ‘til you drop in Copenhagen
Strøget
A visit to Scandinavia's fashion and design capital is not complete without a stroll down Strøget, the world's longest pedestrian street.
Famous fashion brands entice passersby with beautiful window displays, but I am particularly interested in the flagship stores of Danish brands. After visiting Illum, Scandinavia's largest department store, I admire the designer furniture at Normann Copenhagen. Then I visit the Royal Copenhagen porcelain store. The cobalt floral pattern dates back to 1775 and has since evolved into a beautiful modern design.
Studio Arhoj
One shop not to miss is Studio Arhoj in Skindergade. Potter Anders Arhoj's iconic Ghosts are a worldwide success and are made right here in front of your eyes.
A team of potters throw and decorate plates, cups and figurines, while glassblowers create the most beautiful glasses, vases and crystal objects.
Torvehallerne, Copenhagen for foodies
For an introduction to Denmark's creative food culture, visit Torvehallerne. The indoor market is housed in a glass building on Israels Plads. It is the ideal place to go for breakfast or lunch, or just to hang out and enjoy Danish everyday life.
All that sightseeing must have made you hungry. Bring a taste of Denmark to your table with smørrebrød.