Copenhagen is a vibrant city offering an array of experiences. Walk through the cobbled streets of the medieval city, explore world-class museums, experience the finest restaurants and hippest nightlife, or simply unwind beside the gorgeous waters of one of the nearby peaceful seaside towns. This charming destination has something for everyone.
- Harbour Sights
- Tivoli Gardens
- Rosenborg Slot and Kongens Have
- Latin Quarter
- Kongens Nytorv and Nyhavn
- Amalienborg and Frederiksstaden
- Statens Museum for Kunst
- Christiania
- Nationalmuseet
- Slotsholmen
1. Harbour Sights
A harbour tour is a delightful way to take in the city’s brilliant views and varied topography. You will be taken along the wide waters of the Inner Harbour and winding waterways of Christianshavn, then round to Slotsholmen (the island on which the original town of Havn flourished in the 12th century). Vor Frelsers Kirke, in particular, makes a spectacular sight as you look up through the rigging of sailing boats dotting the Christianshavn canal.
2. Tivoli Gardens
Known for its magical fairytale setting, exotic architecture, beautifully landscaped gardens, and upscale entertainment and dining, Tivoli Gardens is more than just an amusement park. Even if you're not interested in great rides, the atmosphere here is magical enough to be worth a visit. Founded in 1843, Tivoli has long been a royal favorite. It also proved to be a major inspiration for Walt Disney, who visited in the 1950s and was said to be fascinated by the atmosphere at Tivoli.
3. Rosenborg Slot and Kongens Have
Rosenborg Castle was originally built by Christian IV in 1606-34 as a summer residence. It was then surrounded by extensive gardens (now Kongens Have Park) in peaceful countryside. This was Christian IV's favorite castle, and many rooms retain the original Renaissance furniture of his residence. On his deathbed at Frederiksborg Castle in 1648, he insisted on being taken to Rosenborg Castle, where he eventually died.
4. Latin Quarter
The Latin Quarter is home to the University of Copenhagen, where Latin was once the spoken language. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city and is filled with 17th-century buildings built by architect King Christian IV. Although there have been dwellings here since the Middle Ages, most of them were destroyed in the devastating fire that engulfed Copenhagen in 1728. Today, the Latin Quarter is a vibrant and busy student district filled with shops and cafés.
5. Kongens Nytorv and Nyhavn
Kongens Nytorv (New King's Square) and Nyhavn (New Harbour) are two of Copenhagen's most scenic areas, although the ongoing construction around Kongens Nytorv can sometimes spoil the landscape. The square used to be in front of the city gate and was the site of the city's gallows in the Middle Ages. The Newport Canal was built by Frederick III. There are plans to connect the inner harbour to the square, allowing merchants to unload their cargo.
6. Amalienborg and Frederiksstaden
Built in the 1750s, this stately complex was designed by the royal architect, Nicolai Eigtved. Four Rococo palaces, originally home to four noble families, enclose an octagonal square in Frederiksstaden, an aristocratic area built by Frederik V. Christian VII bought the palaces after the Christiansborg Slot burned down in 1794. The royal family has lived here ever since. It was named after a palace built on this site by Queen Sophie Amalie in the 17th century.
7. Statens Museum for Kunst
The National Gallery is housed in two buildings, one from the 19th century and the other a stylish, modern extension, linked by a bridge over Sculpture Street. The museum holds international and national paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and installations from the 14th century to the present, with the national collection specializing in Golden Age and 19th-century paintings.
8. Christiania
Far from the opulent splendor of Royal Copenhagen, the city that calls itself "Freetown" sits on the fringes of one of the city's most expensive neighborhoods. It has provided a haven for hippies, dreamers and nonconformists since the 1970s, when a group of ideological squatters moved into abandoned military camps to create a self-sufficient community freed from the shackles of the state. Today, it's an idyllic rundown wonderland with cozy cafes, bars, music venues, art galleries and shops.
9. Nationalmuseet
The largest museum in Denmark, the National Museum, showcases the history and culture of the Danes from prehistory to the present. It also houses a fine collection of Greek and Egyptian antiquities, an ethnographic collection and a children's museum. Many of the exhibits are from King Frederick III's Cabinet of Royal Treasures, which was assembled around 1650.
10. Slotsholmen
The small fishing village of Copenhagen was founded in the 12th century on the island of Slotsholmen. Bishop Absalom, a friend of the king, built a castle here in 1167. Two centuries later, the castle was destroyed by the Hanseatic League, a European trade union opposed to Copenhagen's tightening of trade controls. The Christiansborg trough, which stands here today, is home to the Danish Parliament, the Jewish Museum and the Castle Church.
