Copenhagen Travel Guide

Geography

Copenhagen is a compact city. The old town is bordered on the west by Radhuspladsen (Town Hall Square), Tivoli Gardens and the Central Railroad Station; on the north by Orsteds Park and the Norreport Train Station; on the east by Kongens Have (Rosenborg Garden) and Kongens Nytorv; and on the south by Christianshavn.

Stroget, the lifeline stretching out from Radhuspladsen to Kongens Nytorv, is the main pedestrian shopping street. To the east of Kongens Nytorv is the old harbor area, called Nyhavn, with picturesque taverns, quaint restaurants and restored warehouses that now function as hotels lining an old canal. Beyond Nyhavn is Amalienborg Palace, home of Denmark's royal family. South of Copenhagen is the large island of Amager, once the kitchen garden of the city, where Dutch farmers taught Danes how to grow flowers and vegetables. It's now the site of Copenhagen Airport and the picturesque town of Dragor.

The old town is surrounded by four colorful residential neighborhoods. Vesterbro stretches southwest from Radhuspladsen along Vesterbrogade. Farther north along Gammel Kongevej is the independent municipality Frederiksberg, which is bordered on the north by the very hip, student-filled neighborhood of Norrebro. Finally, Osterbro stretches east of the old town along Osterbrogade. Beyond these neighborhoods are Copenhagen's suburbs and most of its parks and recreational areas.

History

Founded in the 11th century as a fishing village in what was then a remote corner of Denmark, Copenhagen gradually became the country's uncontested political, economic and cultural center. Bishop Absalon was the first to recognize the importance of its location on the Baltic Sea. In the 12th century, the Viking warrior-cleric built the first fortress to defend the area against pirates and planned a compact city behind its ramparts. By the time of his death, the city was a vital military post and a thriving trade center.

In the 15th century, the city's position as Denmark's powerhouse was solidified when the royal family made its permanent home there and the University of Copenhagen was founded. During Christian IV's 60-year rule in the 17th century, the city began to acquire its current shape, with the construction of many spectacular buildings—some of which still stand, including the Round Tower built in 1642.

After a series of disasters—both natural (fires and the plague) and man-made (wars with Sweden)—Copenhagen emerged in the middle of the 19th century as a modern city. It also became the capital of Denmark, which ratified its first constitution in 1849. The city's busy harbor and rapid industrialization fueled growth outside the old city walls.

About the same time, Copenhagen's artisans began making a name for themselves with silver and porcelain. A distinctly Danish sense of style that fuses aesthetics and function reached its fullest expression in the 20th century. The clean, elegantly modern lines of Danish design have since captured the world's attention and have spread from home furnishings (Fritz Hansen) to electronics (Bang & Olufsen) to toys (Lego building blocks) to architectural and interior design.

This modern style is evident in projects around the city, such as the harbor-area development, the Oresund Bridge between Copenhagen and Malmo, Sweden, the Opera House and the metro. Yet Copenhagen retains a distinct old-world charm with its combination of attractive buildings, relaxing canals and busy streets.

Sightseeing

If it weren't for the unstable weather, Copenhagen would be the perfect European capital. It has beautiful parks, a picturesque harbor area and canals through the old town. Stroll around town, allowing plenty of time to admire the architecture (both old and ultramodern) and to chat with people in shops and small restaurants.

Start out at the redbrick Radhus, or Town Hall, and its square. The Copenhagen tourist office is just a block away, and almost every main sight is within a 20-minute walk.

To get oriented, first walk the Stroget (pronounced STROY-et), the pedestrian shopping street around which many restaurants and sights are clustered. Stroget ends on Kongens Nytorv (King's New Square), where the ancient harbor of Nyhavn, directly ahead, is a must-see. This is also where the canal tours begin.

Nightlife

Copenhagen is a late-night city where jazz clubs, nightclubs, dance halls, discos and taverns proliferate. The usual boundaries between bars, cafes and clubs have begun to blur, and many quiet cafes turn into happening bars at night; even traditional taverns and restaurants sometimes double as trendy DJ bars.

There is no single distinct nightlife center. Most of the fashionable places in the old town concentrate around the area just north of Stroget near Kongens Nytorv, but there are also many interesting events and places in Norrebro and Vesterbro. Explore the area around Sankt Hans Torv on Norrebro and along Vesterbrogade and Istedgade on Vesterbro.

Most bars, taverns and pubs stay open at least until 2 am, and most clubs close at 5 or 6 am.

Dining

One of Denmark's culinary specialties is the "cold table" (kolde bord) lunch: hot and cold fish dishes accompanied by ice-cold schnapps or aquavit, and then meat-laden, open-faced sandwiches (smorrebrod) accompanied by beer and followed by all manner of cheeses and fruit.

A traditional Copenhagen dinner might feature meatballs (frikadeller), hamburger smothered in onions (hakkebof med log) or pork roast with red cabbage. Most dinners end with coffee or tea, sometimes complemented with pastries purveyed by konditori (a combination bakery, confectioner's shop and tearoom).

Modern Danish cuisine blends southern European influences with the richness of Denmark's natural produce, such as its excellent dairy products, its high-quality organic fruit and vegetables and, of course, the raw ingredients from its surrounding waters.

The restaurant culture is expansive, and dining out has become a usual treat for the average Dane. New and interesting restaurants crop up regularly, emphasizing either fine cuisine or a special atmosphere—and sometimes both. The city also boasts more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in Scandinavia.

Locals don't often go out for breakfast, except for weekend brunches, usually served 9 am-1 pm. Lunch is usually between noon and 1 pm, and dinner is typically between 6 and 8 pm.

Expect to pay within these guidelines, based on the cost of a dinner for one, not including drinks, tax or tip: $ = less than 150 DKK; $$ = 150 DKK-300 DKK; $$$ = 301 DKK-500 DKK; $$$$ = more than 500 DKK.