Copenhagen
What to see in Copenhagen, bike ride, the Little Mermaid, Christiana, Stroget, Tivoli Gardens, and diving in the canals.
☛ BICYCLE CENTER-STROGET MERMAID KASTELET NYHAVN CHRISTIANA GARDENS OF TIVOLI NYRBORDER DIVE INTO THE CANAL TIPS ITINERARY IN MAP
Getting around the city by bike
Copenhagen is a really well-organized city and the best way to enjoy it is by bike, if the weather permits. The center is collected and with the assisted pedaling it's a snap to turn around.
As a starting point we chose the Steel House Copenhagen hostel, super-equipped, with private rooms, bar, kitchen and bike rental.
🛌 Steel House Copenhagen
🚲 Rental bikes available throughout the city.
The Mermaid
The Little Mermaid (Den Lille Havfrue) is the protagonist of the fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen and is the symbol of the city.
The statue is from the early 1900s and the sculptor used his wife as a model, unfortunately over the decades it has been vandalized several times. It is located in the Kastelet area, on the Langelinie promenade.
Fortress and Castles
Near the beautiful and colorful Gefion Fountain and a few steps away is free access to the Kastelet, the star-shaped fortress built in the 1600s where today there are walkways, ramparts, parks in which to relax and large windmills. Continuing the bike ride you arrive at the Amalienborg Palace with its garden on the canal and the round square overlooked by historic palaces.
At the end of the Royal Way is Frederiks Kirke with the largest dome in Scandinavia.
Nyhavn, the new harbor
This is one of the most typical areas of the city. In fact, historic wooden ships are moored in this canal and the colorful houses of the 17th century overlook one after the other, which today house cafés and restaurants. At number 67 a plaque commemorates Andersen's home. From here, the tour continues passing over the modern Inderhavnsbroen bridge reserved for bicycles and pedestrians, at the end of which the Broens Gadekøkken food and wine area awaits you with delicious products.
🍴 Broens Gadekøkken
Stroget and palaces of power
The Stroget is the central shopping street, with luxury and alternative shops. 1.1 kilometers long, it boasts of being one of the longest pedestrian and shopping streets in Europe. In the evening it is full of people with nice cafes in the squares. From here you can reach Christiansborg and the stock exchange which are illuminated and reflected in the canal in the evening. Christiansborg Palace houses Parliament, the Prime Minister, the Supreme Court and was used by the Danish royal family. Not far away is also the Black Diamond, a nickname given to the Royal Library due to its shapes. On the opposite bank the Five Circles Pedestrian Bridge.
Christiania
The self-governing and self-proclaimed autonomous Free State of Christiania in the 1970s; it is unique to Copenhagen and must be visited.
Former abandoned military base, in 1971 a group of hippies knocked down the barricades and began to occupy it and today around 900 people live in the area with their rules. In "The Green Light District" they used to sell all kinds of cannabis and there is still some business today, but efforts are being made to clean up the area and the people of Christiana are appealing to the people of Copenhagen asking them not to buy drugs here. The 3 rules: have fun; do not rush - causes panic; no photo. Here are stalls, cafes and restaurants, venues for music, Science & Cocktails, skaters.
🥂 Boat Bar - Christianshavn boat rental & Café
Gardens of Tivoli
The amusement park in the heart of Copenhagen, the second oldest in the world (since 1843). Just look at it from the outside to become a child again. Inside there are parks, games with unique and colorful designs, theater shows and cute cafes. Its roller coaster dates back to 1914, one of the oldest in the world still in working order. Admission is expensive, you can buy an access-only ticket (and buy the individual games separately) or a ticket that gives you access to everything.
🎫 Entrance from 20 euro to 58 euro link
Nyborder, museums and parks
Nyborder is a quaint neighborhood where you can see historic yellow houses from the 17th and 18th centuries, once used as naval quarters. Not far away are parks and the National Gallery, Natural History Museum, Botanical Gardens and the Renaissance-style Rosenborg Castle which houses the Crown Jewels.
Canals and dips
In summer the city comes alive and the inhabitants undress (in the truest sense of the word) day and night to dive into the canals. There are topless girls along the docks and dedicated swimming and diving areas. Among those where we enjoyed the most Havnebadet Islands Brygge with a trampoline in the shape of a boat and also lanes and pools for children and Kalvebod Bølge where the more daring dive from the unfinished cycle path.
Useful tips:
As a budget consider that it is not a cheap city.
Airport-city centre: metro yellow line M2 in 15 minutes or by bus in about 40 minutes.
To move around the city, the bike is perfect or there is the subway.
For sleeping we recommend the Steel House Copenhagen.
Food to try: smoked herring and Smørrebrød (a kind of bruschetta with fish, salmon and other delicious ingredients on top).
Click here to see the Map of Copenhagen and using during the trip:
Have a nice trip!
