Copenhagen Unveiled: A Guide to Denmark's Capital
Copenhagen
55.6761° N, 12.5683° E
We loved this capital of Denmark - Copenhagen! It is a bustling city with an eclectic mix of historic and modern architecture along cobblestone streets. And, with a history tracing back to the Vikings, it is home to one of the oldest monarchies. Copenhagen is easy to navigate and explore - whether on foot, by train or bike! Did you know Copenhagen was voted the most bike-friendly city in the world?! Observing rush hour in the morning is simply amazing — On any given workday more than 40,000 people cycle across Queen Louises Bridge….. that’s 49% of commuter traffic on bikes! We rented city bikes through the Bycyklen app and did our best to keep up with the locals. With the app, you can rent bikes and locate the nearest bicycle station throughout Copenhagen — There are 130 stations. We suggest you download the app and enter all of your personal information before you leave on your trip (just makes it easier when you go to pick up a bike). After creating the account, you can sign into any of the Bycyklen bikes by using your user name and password - you will automatically be charged to the card you have attached to your user account. We chose to ride along the path affectionately called “the snake” to Strøget but, there are many routes that will give you a unique perspective.
Seeing Copenhagen by bike is a beautiful way to see the city!
The pedestrian mall, Strøget, is a good spot to stop for a break. Here you’ll find shopping for every taste and budget —- there is a mix of high-end luxury stores mingled with cheaper souvenir/kitschy shops. And, while you can do plenty of window shopping on Strøget, we suggest you venture onto the side streets where there is more of a focus on independent shops — we found them more interesting.
In addition to shopping along this cobblestone street, the buildings that watch over it are equally as attention grabbling.
These buildings overlooking Strøget Square make me wonder what sort of design is inside…..
And, there’s always the talented busker looking for a listening audience….
As you walk down Strøget look out for Stork Fountain at Amagertorv Square, it’s a nice spot to rest your feet and listen to musicians. It is also from here that you can see across the canal to Christiansborg Palace, where the parliament sits.
Stork Fountain
Just by chance we caught the beginning of the Changing of The Guard — the daily procession of the Royal Guard begins at 11:30am. Their parade travels through the city center to the royal family’s winter residence in Amalienborg Palace — marching begins at the Life Guard Barracks in Rosenborg Castle with a 12pm arrival at the palace. They looked very festive in their bearskin hats and blue ceremonial uniforms. While much smaller than the fanfare we’ve witnessed in London, it was still fun and very regal to watch.
Just a stone’s throw from Rosenberg is Frederik’s Church —- it can be seen from many places throughout the city with it’s domed rooftop. Also referred to as the Marble Church, the dome is open to visitors (check for new hours post-Covid).
Frederik’s Church
From Rosenberg Castle, it’s about a 15 minute walk to Nyhavn Canal. I was so excited to see this colorful area that I’d seen in books and it did not disappoint! The picture postcard canal of Nyhavn has rows of gabled victorian buildings that look like an artist spilled a pallet of primary colors upon them. The vibrant buildings are spectacular! It was a bit more crowded in this area and it’s easy to see why….. this waterfront corner oozes charm with its buildings and outdoor dining.
Here you can also catch a 1-hour boat tour of the canal. We hadn’t really anticipated taking the tour but, it was well worth the $15. It gives you another perspective of the city from the water and after a busy day it gave us a chance to relax and get our bearings before we got back on our feet. As we quietly drifted along the canal, we took in views of the Opera House (directly opposite Amalienborg Palace on Holmen Island), The Royal Playhouse and a building made of black glass affectionately called the Black Diamond — The Royal Library. Currently the site of a Gutenberg Bible as well as the diary of Hans Christian Andersen.
Opera House
Børsen, home of the oldest stock exchange in Denmark — and one of the country’s oldest buildings.
I loved this view of the restaurant, Standard, a two-story green building with a tower and a clock on the canal bank — dating back to 1937. They offer an upscale menu of seafood samplings as well as jazz entertainment.
Views of the restaurant, Standard.
We took a relaxing lunch break in Tivoli Gardens…. there wasn’t much to see here in the Fall but, the grounds are pretty and the perfect setting for a light picnic. Do what we did and stop at the market for local bites.
Last stop of the day, Church of Our Savior. This baroque style church is located in the Christianshavn neighborhood. The church is beautiful inside and boasts a spire with an external staircase —- the day we arrived it was closed due to rain.
Spire at the top of Church of Our Savior.
Final details, we had a wonderful stay at Hotel Alexandra. It is conveniently located next to City Hall and the Copenhagen Central Station. Also, steps from Strøget shopping boulevard and Tivoli Gardens. The rooms are beautifully designed with Danish mid-century furnishings. You’ll find the staff friendly and very helpful!
For nighttime entertainment, we spent our evenings at Jazzhus Montmartre. This jazz club is legendary worldwide and has hosted artists such as Dexter Gordon and Stan Getz. You can purchase tickets online or in-person and you can enjoy drinks and small snacks during the performance. This venue is very small with limited seating so, we suggest you arrive early. On this particular night we were entertained by Ronie Cuber and the Nikolaj Bentzon Trio.
It was a quick whirlwind of a trip to Copenhagen —- we hope to return in the future and see more of what this beautiful city has to offer along with a train ride in to neighboring Sweden. Until next time…..
Happy Travels!
