Copenhagen Travel

Overview

Copenhagen, the capital of Scandinavia, is one of Europe's smallest capitals and one of the most easily traveled. Copenhagen's center, Slotsholmen, encompasses no more than a thirty minute walk from one side to the other. Slotsholmen is the district with the most historical and architectural appeal of the city. On the opposite side of the Slotsholmen Kanal is Indre By, the most-modern city district, packed tightly together with cafes, bars, restaurants, shops, churches, and museums. Opposite of Indre By is the island of Christianshavn, Copenhagen's art district. Northeast of Indre By is Copenhagen's former aristocratic district, home of several palaces, including the Rosenborg palace, and Kastellet, the oldest continually-utilized military fort in Europe. South of Indre By is Rådhuspladsen and Central Station.

Tourist Attractions

Copenhagen is home to many amazing museums: Bakkehus Museum, the Barbie Doll Museum, the Museum of Modern Glass Art, Museum Erotica, the Museum of Copenhagen, the National Museum, and the Worker's Museum, just to name a few. All of these museums display an interesting array of treasures that Copenhagen tourists will enjoy browsing. A trip to Amalienborg Palace to watch the changing of the guards can be an enjoyable experience, and the Botanic Garden is a must-see for flora enthusiasts. Kids will enjoy a trip to the Copenhagen Zoo, and art enthusiasts will want to take a trip to see Edvard Eriksen's statue of the Little Mermaid.

Historical and Architectural Attractions

While Slotsholmen is a monument in itself to Copenhagen's historical architecture, there are places outside of the city center's walls that are just as rich in historical value. On the city's outskirts lie Kronborg and Frederiksborg castles, Kronborg being the actual castle that Elsinore Castle of Shakespeare's Hamlet was based on. There are also many historical attractions northeast of Indre By, including the Rosenburg palace, the Kongens Have gardens and the Botanisk Have greenhouses, the Marmorkirke church, the Amalienborg palace, and the Kastellet military fort.

Nightlife

There are two great places for shopping in Copenhagen: Strøget, the pedestrian mall that links four of the city's streets, and Fields, Scandinavia's largest shopping center. For dining, fresh herring can be found in the restaurants along Nyhavn, and typical Mediterranean cuisine can be found in establishments condensed mostly within Indre By. Drinking is a popular pastime in Copenhagen, and it is not difficult to find a pub on just about every corner serving lager, Scandinavia's drink of choice. However, wine is also pretty easy to find in some of the city's more upscale dining establishments. Recently, Copenhagen has acquired some cocktail bars and nightclubs These clubs can be found in four different areas around the city -- Indre By, Tivoli, Vesterbro, and Nørrebro.