Copenhagen in pictures. Best places and key tips

Nyhavn

Nyhavn
Nyhavn
Nyhavn
Nyhavn

Nyhavn, or “new port” is Copenhagen’s most popular attraction. It is a 17th-century waterfront, canal and entertainment district. Expect to see brightly coloured houses, boats, bars, cafes, restaurants, street food stands and tourists.

It was home for sailors and artists. Hans Christian Andersen wrote The Tinderbox, Little Claus and Big Claus and The Princess and the Pea while living at No 20, and also spent time living at Nos 18 and 67.

Freetown Christiania

Freetown Christiania
Freetown Christiania

Christiania is an intentional community and commune of about 850 to 1,000 residents, covering 7.7 hectares. It was established in 1971 and has drawn nonconformists from across the globe, attracted by the concept of communal living, collective business and workshops.

Expect to see all kind of DIY homes, pubs and beer gardens, cosy garden plots, restaurants, plenty of picnic space, hippies and music venues. There are also plenty of stands selling hash and marijuana. No hard drugs or photographs allowed.

The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid is a bronze statue by Edvard Eriksen, depicting a mermaid becoming human. The sculpture is displayed on a rock by the waterside at the Langelinie promenade. It remains a popular attraction despite being selected as the second most disappointing tourist attraction in Europe.

It was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale about a mermaid “who gives up everything to be united with a young, handsome prince on land”.

Hans Christian Andersen’s gravestone

Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen

If you like the Little Mermaid, you can complete the cultural experience by visiting Hans Christian Andersen’s gravestone. It is located at Assistens Cemetery in the Nørrebro district.

Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, Andersen is best remembered for his fairy tales, including include “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, “The Little Mermaid”, “The Nightingale”, “The Snow Queen”, “The Ugly Duckling”, “The Little Match Girl” and “Thumbelina”

Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Slot
Rosenborg Slot

Rosenborg Slot is a castle that was built in Dutch Renaissance style between 1606 and 1633 by King Christian IV to serve as his summer home. Today is a museum showing artworks, furnishings, swords, crown jewels and portraits of each monarch from Christian IV to Frederik VII. Tickets can be purchased online.

Besides the museum, The Danish Royal Guard march from Rosenborg Castle to Amalienborg Palace where the Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place. The ceremony takes place daily with the guard leaving Rosenborg Castle at 11:30 to arrive at Amalienborg Palace for the ceremony at 12:00 [More Info]

Christiansborg Palace

Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace

Christiansborg Palace is a palace and government building on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the seat of the Danish Parliament, the Danish Prime Minister’s Office, and the Supreme Court of Denmark.

Admission to the palace grounds, public galleries (during parliamentary debates only) and the tower is free. Other parts of the palace are open to the public for a fee. These areas include the royal reception rooms, ruins from the 11th-century, the royal kitchen and the chapel.

Mikkeller

Mikkeller
Mikkeller
Mikkeller
Mikkeller

Mikkeller is the most popular microbrewery in Denmark. It was founded by two homebrewers in 2006, and has won multiple awards including “Danish Brewery of the Year”, and has also been judged the fifth best brewery in the world on two occasions.

In terms of pubs, our favourite was Mikkeller and Friends (picture above). They have 40 tap beers and 200 bottles, and also cider, spirits, soft drinks and a selection of bar snacks. You can also visit Mikkeller Bar and the HQ.

Opera House

Opera House
Opera House

The Copenhagen Opera House is the national opera house of the country, and among the most modern opera houses in the world. It is also one of the most expensive opera houses ever built with construction costs of well over US$500 million (limestone exteriors, oak bridges, marble floors, gold leaf ceilings, glass sculptures).

It is located on the island of Holmen in central Copenhagen. It was designed to give the impression the structure itself is on an island.

Grød

Grod, the world's first porridge bar
Grod, the world’s first porridge bar

Grød (or porridge as it translates, is the world’s first porridge bar. They serve delicious porridge, granola and grains for reasonable prices (considering Danish values).

The menu is not extensive but more than good enough, with all kind od porridge and toppings. Ideal for breakfast, but also lunch, as they offer savoury options as well. The ingredients are fresh and organic.

Food

Scandinavian Brunch
Scandinavian Brunch

Open sandwiches, known as smørrebrød, which in their basic form are the usual fare for lunch, can be considered a national speciality when prepared and decorated with a variety of fine ingredients. Meat and fish dishes include flæskesteg (roast pork with crackling) and kogt torsk (poached cod), frikadeller (meatballs), karbonader (breaded pork patties) and medisterpølse (fried sausage).

Some recommended -value for money- restaurants are La Banchina, Neighbourhood (pizza), Hos Fisher, Bodil, Höst, La Neta, Gro Spiseri. If you want more exclusive ones, there are plenty of Michelin restaurants. Geranium (3), Koks, Noma (2), Alouette, MeMu and 108 (1) are some of them. The complete list below:

  • 3 stars: Geranium
  • 2 stars: AOC, Kadeau, Noma
  • 1 star: 108, Kong Hans Kælder, Marchal, Clou, Studio at The Standard, Relæ, Kokkeriet, Era Ora, Formel B, Kiin Kiin, Søllerød Kro, Alouette, Jordnær

Pubs

Hipster pubs
Hipster pubs

There are plenty of good pubs and coffee shops in Copenhagen. Our favourite area was between København N and Nørrebro, supposedly the coolest area in the city. There are plenty of places surrounding the Assistens Cemetery, such as Grød and Mikkeller and Friends (see above), The Barking Dog, Dupong, Ravnsborg Vinbar and Stengade. Good spots for coffee are Cafe N and Cafe Taxa.

Another great pub, which is not in Nørrebro, is Ørsted Ølbar, with a large selection of beers, 200 different bottles and 20 on tap.

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