10X TO SEE & DO IN COPENHAGEN

A weekend is of course very short to get to know a city, but I think we got a good first impression. And we also hit it with the beautiful spring weather. You should not miss these highlights when you go to explore unique things to do in Copenhagen for the first time:

1) The colorful Nyhavn

Everyone knows the photos of this cozy harbor with the colored houses. After checking into our hotel, we walked into town for lunch. Almost automatically we arrived at Nyhavn, where the terraces were full because of the radiant spring sun. It is all café and restaurant on the Nyhavn. After some searching we also found a place in the sun and ordered our first smørrebrøds .

2) Cruise

Copenhagen, it is sometimes just like Amsterdam!

A cruise is always a good idea to get a first impression of a city. After lunch, we therefore boarded a tour boat , which departed from Nyhavn. We saw the Opera House, Amalienborg Palace, the back of the Little Mermaid, Christiansborg Palace and the Christianshavn district, where some canals are a bit reminiscent of Amsterdam. Kind of.

3) The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid is not very big indeed

You haven't been to Copenhagen if you haven't seen the Little Mermaid. And although we had already seen her from the back from the tour boat, we also walked there later that afternoon. It is very touristy and we were also unlucky that a load of Japanese people had just got off a coach. If you only want to be in the picture with the image (you), you have to be patient. Certainly in this time, in which you have apparently only been somewhere if you can prove it with a selfie. And oh yes, the statue is small (see photo), but clearly visible with the naked eye. 😊

4) Shopping in the Strøget shopping street

Strøget shopping street is one of the longest pedestrian shopping streets in Europe, running between the squares Rådhuspladsen and Kongens Nytorv. Here you will find all well-known retail chains such as H&M and Zara, but also more expensive fashion brands such as Prada and Louis Vuitton. While in the Netherlands a modest place has been reserved for LEGO in toy stores, there is a complete LEGO store in this street. Nice to have a look around. You can also see the Nyhavn in LEGO.

5) The view from the Rundetaarn

In the Rundetaarn

The Rundetaarn ('round tower'), not far from the shopping street Strøget, is recommended for a nice view. The tower was built between 1637 and 1642 and is almost 35 meters high. At the top of the tower is the oldest observatory in Europe still in use. To enjoy the view, walk about 200 meters up through a sloping corridor around the center of the tower. Only the last bit to the top has stairs. On the way up, also take a look at Denmark's zero point, in the middle of the tower. Those who are not afraid of heights can stand on a thick glass plate, 25 meters above the ground.

6) Watching hippies in Christiania

At the entrance to Christiania

In 1971, a group of hippies claimed an abandoned military barracks in the Christianshavn district. They started a commune with their own rules, separate from Danish laws and regulations, and this commune is still there. There are regular disputes with the Danish government, but the free state is still tolerated. It is nice to walk through the green Christiania and see this different, freer way of life. There are many colorful (but usually poorly maintained) houses, and there are restaurants, cafes and shops. In summer there are often outdoor events.
Important to know: photography is not appreciated in Christiania, especially on Pusher Street where drugs are sold.

7) Discover Copenhagen by bike

We planned to go cycling in Copenhagen, were it not for the fact that my girlfriend had just had an operation on her hand. Cycling was therefore not an option, but it seems to be highly recommended. There are good cycle paths and the city has been voted the best cycling city in the world several times. You can rent bicycles anywhere in the city, or use a free city bike that can be found at various places in the city. Also a nice way to get to know the city a bit quickly: take a bike tour accompanied by a (Dutch) guide. This is possible with Baja Bikes , for example .

8) Hip food at Reffen or in the Torvehallerne

Copenhagen Street Food

During the cruise we saw a shed on the water where it was pleasantly busy. What were all those people doing there? That's how it works: the hangar, with the name PapirØen, was home to 'Copenhagen Street Food' since 2014, a collection of food stalls with street food from all over the world. Copenhagen Street Food unfortunately closed its doors at the end of 2017, but… since May 2018 you can go to Reffen on the industrial peninsula Refshaleøen. Here too you will find food stalls with street food from all over the world. You can get there by bicycle (approx. 10 minutes from the center), bus 9A and by hop on hop off boat. Another hip place to eat is elsewhere in the city, in Torvehallerne, near Nørreport metro station. In this modern food marketyou can buy all kinds of goodies at about 60 stands. From coffee and chocolate, to cheese, wine, sandwiches, porridge , sushi… and I can go on and on. But I don't. For more tips, read my blog about good food in Copenhagen !

9) Tivoli amusement park

The historic Tivoli Gardens theme park from 1843 is one of Copenhagen's most famous attractions. It is no coincidence that Tivoli was high on our to-do list. Unfortunately we were faced with a closed door (gate actually); the amusement park would not open until two weeks later. What?! We thought that Tivoli was open all year round… The amusement park includes bumper cars, a Ferris wheel and a roller coaster, as well as cozy cafes and restaurants. In the evening the park is illuminated by thousands of lights, which seems to be very special. But yeah. So a free tip: check in advance whether the amusement park is open, so that you are not - like us - standing in front of a closed door. The amusement park is open from the beginning of April to the end of September, and also around Halloween and Christmas. You can book abuy a skip-the-line entrance ticket (without attractions) and possibly a ticket for a full day unlimited access to all attractions in the park.

10) Looking at palaces

Christiansborg Slot

We viewed Amalienborg Palace , the castle of the Danish Royal Family, from the main square with the statue of Frederick V. The palace consists of four identical rococo buildings. One wing is open to the public, and in the square you can see the traditional changing of the guard every day at noon. The Neo-Baroque Christiansborg Palace on Slotsholmen Island is now home to the Danish Parliament and Supreme Court. Some rooms of the palace, the tower and the royal stables can be visited.

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