Hello Copenhagen

Next on the list of places to visit in Europe is Copenhagen. The capital of Denmark is recognised for its design, nordic cuisine and beautiful architecture. Let's go!

Langelinie

Langelinie is a key harbour in Copenhagen where you will see most cruise ships dock. One of the most famous attractions along the promenade is the bronze Little Mermaid statue perched on the rocks. There are statues and monuments around the park including The Peace Statue Angel of Langelinie dedicated to the 648 Danish merchant navy seamen who lost their lives at sea in WWI. If you walk a little further you will see the biggest fountain in Copenhagen; the Gefion Fountain featuring the mythical Gefion and oxen. There is also a star-shaped fortress, Kastellet which was built in the 1600s to defend the city and St Alban's Church.

Amalienborg Palace

The 18th century palace complex is the official home of the Danish family. The palace comprises of four identical buildings facing a central square. In the middle of the square is an equestrian statue of Amalienborg founder King Federik V. The palace was originally built for four noble families, however in 1794 there was a fire at Christiansborg Palace and as a result, the Royal family bought the palaces and moved into the buildings. Inside the palace, there is a museum where you can walk through the different rooms and discover more about the history of the palace and the monarchy of the past century. We opted for a guided tour around the palace which was really interesting and informative. Every day, at noon there is the Changing of the Royal Guard where the guards march from their barracks to Amalienborg Palace.

Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Castle is a renaissance palace with beautiful landscaped gardens. The castle was built by Christian IV in the early 17th century as a country summerhouse. The furnished rooms include the Great Hall with its series of woven tapestries showing Christian V's victories in the Scanian War, Knight's Hall with the coronation chair of the absolutist kings and throne of the Queen and silver lions, and the Danish crown jewels and treasury in the basement. An audio guide is available which gives information on each room. 

The Round Tower

The 17th century tower was designed to house the University observatory, library and the Trinity church below. Built by King Christian IV, the tower stands at 36m tall and was the centre of Danish astronomy. Follow the spiral ramp around 209 meters to the top where there is am open platform with 360 degree views of the city and the oldest functioning observatory.

Tivoli Gardens

Opening its doors in 1843, Tivoli Gardens is the world's oldest amusement park offering rides, activities, restaurants, cafes and concerts in the centre of the city, The gardens are another one of the attractions in Tivoli. The most recognisable ride is Rutschebanen, the wooden rollercoaster which has been operating since 1932.

Nyhavn

When most people think of Copenhagen, its usually the vibrant coloured townhouses in Nyhavn which springs to mind. The canal was used as a gateway from the sea to the inner city at Kings Square and was popular with sailors. Danish author Hans Christian Anderson had lived in Nyhavn in no.20. These days, Nyhavn is a bustling place with bars, restaurants and cafes.

Freetown Christiania

Christiania was established in 1971 and was a former military base when squatters took over and formed an alternative society. The community has its own rules and regulations independent of the Danish government. Known for its open cannabis trade, the controversial area does not allow photographs to be taken. There are cafes, restaurants and bars in Christiania and concerts held here.

Christiansborg Palace

Christiansborg Palace is home to the Danish Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Ministry of State. The reception rooms are used for state visits and dinners. Amongst the attractions are The Great Hall with the Queen's tapestries. The seventeen tapestries depict over a thousand years of Danish history and are worth a closer examination.

Meatpacking District

The district, as you guessed it used to be the home to meat industry businesses, however it is now a trendy place for food and drink from hotdog delis, homemade burgers, fish and seafood dishes. There are galleries and small creative businesses located here.

Torvehallerne

The food market has over 60 stands to suit every tastebud. From fresh meats, fruit, sandwiches, tapas, sushi, vegetables to baked goods such as pastries and cakes. There was a lot of choice and most of the food was organic and fresh. A great place to come for lunch.

A selection of some of the delicious food in Copenhagen....

Smørrebrød 

These open faced sandwiches have a mixture of toppings sitting on top of a slice of rye bread. I went for the organic eggs with tarragon mayo, pickled and raw fennel and roasted almonds and the second one was the chicken salad with apple celeriac, honey, lettuce and fried chicken skin. Beautifully presented and absolutely delicious! 

DØP - Den Økologiske Pølsemand

Another popular snack are hot dogs, where you can find many stands around the city. We tried an organic hotdog with ketchup, mustard & remoulade, fresh and fried onions and pickles. Don't forget to get some chocolate milk!

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