Overview
There are two ways to discover Copenhagen. One is simply to relax and enjoy its unending charm, sit alongside one of the historic canals, and drink a beer. But if you're interested in exploring and discovering the real city, one that is diverse, intriguing and full of surprises, that experience is there for you too. You'll never feel, as you sometimes do with picture-perfect cities, that you've seen it all.
It is very easy to be a visitor in Copenhagen. The city is cozy and charming, attractions are centrally located, just about everyone speaks English, and it is very easy to get around on foot. Actually, the best way to see Copenhagen is on a bicycle. Everyone in Copenhagen has a bike, and they know how to use it. As a pedestrian, you should be very aware of the bike lanes. City bikes are located in stands all over the city. Simply go up to one, put a coin in and take the bike. When you return it at the end of the day, you get the coin back, so it's free.
Sights/Landmarks/To Do
Town Hall Square: Town Hall Square is in the center of it all. All the city's main museums, attractions and shopping are either right off the square or a short walk from it. It's not the prettiest place in Copenhagen, but what it lacks in beauty, it more than makes up for in purpose.
Wonderful Copenhagen Tourist Center: One of the first things you'll want to do when you arrive in Copenhagen is stop by the Wonderful Copenhagen Tourist Center for a good map and all the information you could possibly need. The tourist center is a block from Town Hall Square, and it's very user-friendly.
Web site: www.visitcopenhagen.com
Nørrebro: Nørrebro is one of the most exciting neighborhoods in Copenhagen. It's the heart of the city's old workers' quarter. Over the past few years, fashionable restaurants, bars and designer shops have been springing up there. In the center of Copenhagen you might get the feeling that the city's an all-white monoculture. However, if you visit the suburbs, especially around Nørrebro, you'll see what a melting pot Copenhagen actually is. It is full of people from many different cultures, including the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and elsewhere.
Nyhavn: Nyhavn means "new harbor," and today, it's a very touristy area with small restaurants and bars facing the canal. But it wasn't always this family-friendly. It used to be a red light district catering to sailors from abroad.
Christianshavn: The neighborhood of Christianshavn is a 10-minute ride from Town Hall Square. It's a lovely place set on a peaceful canal. If you're looking for Danish pastry, or wienerbrød, you can't go wrong in Christianshavn. Translated, wienerbrød means Viennese bread. If you want to blend in with the locals, wash it down with a glass of chocolate milk, of course.
Tivoli: Tivoli is the No. 1 attraction in Denmark; the mere mention of its name causes Danes to get misty-eyed. Tivoli is an old-time amusement park in the center of the city, and it has been a favorite Copenhagen destination since 1843. One of the park's roller coasters is among the world's oldest, dating to 1914. Tivoli has beautiful gardens, an old-fashioned midway, and dozens of restaurants. In fact, the locals willingly pay the admission price just to eat there.
Web site: www.tivoli.dk
The Little Mermaid: If you want to visit The Little Mermaid statue, you should be aware that there's not much else to see in the area, so you may not want to build a whole day trip around it. It's a little underwhelming as a city symbol, but it's still quite beautiful. They don't call her The Little Mermaid for nothing.
Shopping: Right off Town Hall Square is Copenhagen's main shopping street, which is actually five streets pieced together into a long, pedestrian-only thoroughfare for a major shopping experience. The streets eventually open up to include huge squares that become the perfect rest stop for ice cream and coffee. The side and parallel streets are also much quieter, the pace is slower, and the shops are more independent, so take some time to explore those if you need a break.
Hotels
The Square Hotel: The Square Hotel is located right off Town Hall Square. It is one of the few hotels in Copenhagen that has a strong Danish design aesthetic. If you've never seen Danish design in full force, check out this hotel. It's sleek, non-fussy, clean and crisp. The Square is a big hotel, which is surprising because it has such an intimate, boutique feel. If street noise is an issue for you, request a room on one of the higher floors. The hotel has rooms with balconies overlooking Town Hall Square, and it's a real treat to look out onto the open city-scape and see the energy of the streets below.
Web site: www.thesquarecopenhagen.com
Food/Restaurants/Bars
Ida Davidsen: The Danes have perfected the art of the sandwich. The famous Ida Davidsen sandwich shop is like the Carnegie Deli of Copenhagen but with more pleasant service. It's probably the only sandwich shop in the world where you need reservations. Ida's has been a family business since 1888, and it has nearly 300 different types of smørrebrøds, Danish open-face sandwiches, to choose from. The choices include everything from fresh salmon, crawfish tails and Alaskan king crab, to smoked potatoes, poached egg and roast beef. Finish off your creation the traditional way by drinking a local beer.
Web site: www.idadavidsen.dk
Where: Store Kongensg. 70
Hot Dog Stands: The Danes love their hot dogs, and there is a hot dog stand about every 20 feet in Copenhagen. You can get your hot dog with or without the bun, and you can even buy only the bun if you're a vegetarian or low on cash. The typical toppings are ketchup, mustard and cucumber salad. The Danes traditionally wash down their dogs with chocolate milk.
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