Copenhagen’s Appeal Is Simply Irresistible
Prior to becoming a Travel Advisor, I have had the pleasure of living in one of the world’s coziest capital cities, Copenhagen, Denmark. As this travel destination is common on most Baltic Cruises that I plan, for my thousands of clients around the world, I wanted to share some of the interesting things I have learned about it over the years.
Having found this one of the most welcoming of European hubs, bubbling with people on bicycle or on foot, eager to discuss with me just about anything that was on their mind, I always felt right at home. Most people, particularly the younger crowd, speak English (even though printed material remains in Danish, a forbidding language) so it is easy to strike up a thoughtful discussion at any time.
With vehicular transportation relegated to mostly Mercedes taxicabs, foot traffic and particularly two wheeled modes of transportation reign, even in the snowiest of winter scourges. Considering it has a public transportation system and a bicycling labyrinth, second to none and boasting one of the earliest built and longest continuous walking street in the world, Strøget, it is easy to get lost in time in this fascinating city.
Modern architectural prominences blend with historical touches making this a truly remarkable stay that touches the soul and calms the mind.
Explore parts of the city less traveled by visitors, such as the calm and chic Frederiksberg or architectural Amager. Take in sights like Hans Christian Andersen’s grave in the Assistens Cemetery in Nørrebro or The Little Mermaid on her rock near Østerbro, both close to cool local streets. It’s easy to find a little part of the city all your own in Copenhagen – the world’s most livable city.
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Strøget
Strøget is a nickname from the 1800s and covers the streets Frederiksberggade, Nygade, Vimmelskaftet and Østergade and Nytorv square and Gammeltorv Square .
Strøget is most famous for shopping. Big international brands like Prada, Max Mara, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry, Hermès and Boss are represented at the end of the street facing up to Kongens Nytorv.
If your budget is more limited, you can continue along Strøget down towards City Hall Square, where you find shops like H&M, Vero Moda, Weekday and Zara.
However, besides shopping this area features several of Copenhagen’s beautiful sights and attractions, such as Helligåndskirken, Church of Our Lady (Vor Frue Kirke), where Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary were married, behind Gammeltorv Square, the court house at Nytorv Square and the Stork Fountain (Storkespringvandet) at Amagertorv Square.
From Amagertorv you can also see across the canal to Christiansborg Palace, where the parliament sits. And do not forget City Hall Square (Rådhuspladsen) with Copenhagen City Hall Tower and the beautiful Kongens Nytorv square with The Royal Danish Theatre and Nyhavn in the other end of Strøget.
The Little Mermaid
Unveiled on 23 August 1913, The Little Mermaid was a gift from Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen to the City of Copenhagen.The sculpture is made of bronze and granite and 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.
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Every morning and evening she swims to the surface from the bottom of the sea and, perched on her rock in the water, she stares longingly towards the shore hoping to catch a glimpse of her beloved prince. Carl Jacobsen fell in love with the character after watching a ballet performance based on the fairy tale at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen. The brewer was so captivated by both the fairy tale and the ballet that he commissioned the sculptor Edvard Eriksen to create a sculpture of the mermaid.
The sculpture was inspired by ballerina Ellen Price, who in 1909 danced the lead role in the ballet The Little Mermaid at the Royal Theatre. However, Ellen Price would not model in the nude for sculptor Edvard Eriksen. Thus Eriksen’s wife, Eline Eriksen, posed for the sculpture of The Little Mermaid.
The little mermaid has several times been the victim of vandalism. Twice she has lost her head, once the arm was sawn off, and several times she has had paint poured on her. But every time she is rescued and restored, so she can stay in her place by the water and bid travelers welcome to Copenhagen harbor.
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Cycling in Copenhagen
Travelers exploring this area will find that cycling is major pastime not only in Copenhagen but in the country as a whole.
Cyclistic is your gateway to bicycling in Denmark. Developed by the Danish Cycling Federation, cyclistic.dk has combined route finding for cyclists with points of interests for accommodation, food and sights, which enables you to plan your bike holiday in Denmark.
If you’re planning to take a bicycle trip around Copenhagen (which you should of course), don’t miss out on this fantastic 2014 architectural masterpiece.
From the elevated beginning up on Dybbølsbro bridge, The Bicycle Snake takes you on a fun ride criss-crossing 7 meters above one of the harbour baths in between Fisketorvet Shopping Mall and other buildings down towards the harbour with perfect vistas of the harbour and Copenhagen’s many spires.
Once down at ground level, the bridge connects with Bryggebroen, another bike bridge crossing the harbour. You’ve arrived in Copenhagen’s Islands Brygge after this short but beautiful ride from Vesterbro.
The Bicycle Bridge is yet a perfect example of what puts Copenhagen among the very best bike cities in the world. Its slender design and the experience it offers to cyclists stands out as a perfect contrast to the buildings and concrete between which it passes
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Tivoli Gardens
Tivoli Gardens was founded in 1843 and has become a national treasure and an international attraction. Fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen visited many times, as did Walt Disney and many other celebrities, who all fell in love with the gardens.
Part of Tivoli Gardens’ secret is that there is something for everyone. The scenery is beautiful with exotic architecture, historic buildings and lush gardens. At night, thousands of coloured lights create a fairy tale atmosphere that is completely unique.
Magical and nostalgic rides
The rides are all designed to match Tivoli’s architecture and gardens. Some rides are wonderfully nostalgic. Others will match the expectations of the keenest thrill seekers, e.g. the Vertigo which will turn you upside down at 100 km/h and was voted Europe’s Best Ride in 2014.
Copenhagen Awaits You
It is difficult to share with you, all that amazes in this wonderful conclave: there is City Center, featuring Nyhavin Harbour with its colorful rows of houses and boats where Hans Christen Anderson once lived in lot number 20 not to mention that a ferry to Oslo where Sweden is just a 8 hour jaunt.
If you do ever have the opportunity to visit Copenhagen, be sure to allow a couple days or more to take advantage of the wonderful discoveries that are availalble there.
