Copenhagen (Kobenhavn) - Travel Guide

Kobenhavn (Copenhagen)

Just its setting makes Copenhagen Scandinavia’s funkiest city and a regular on the World’s Top Five list of liveable cities. It is ringed by a series of lakes, canals and an inner harbour and criss-crossed by narrow pedestrian- friendly streets, lined with gabled houses. You’ll find every kind of shop and an abundance of cafes. The city is clean, safe, easy to get around and many locals speak English with enviable fluency.

A series of pedestrianised streets radiate out from the huge Rådhuspladsen, (City Hall Square), at the western end of the central area and extend as far as Kongens Nytorv, (King's New Square). Strøget, the world’s longest pedestrian street, is home to a multitude of shops, including exclusive retailers and rings to the sounds of street performers.

For cooler threads, funky fashions and edgy design stores and some ethnic vibes, Nørreport and Nørrebro are the places to seek out. After dark, some of the city's best nightlife and bars operate here.

From Kronborg Castle, on the sea in Helsingør, you can get a clear view of Sweden across the water. The Castle was built between 1574- 85 to observe and collect taxes from ships sailing through the Sound between Denmark and Sweden. There’s a reminder of the Danes’ maritime past at the Viking Ship Museum, 30km from town, at the foot of Roskilde Fjord, beside the Roskilde harbour.

There’s no mentioning Copenhagen without a word about the Little Mermaid sculpture, named after the Hans Christian Andersen story. It is possibly one of the world’s most unimposing public-sculptures yet it remains one of the Danish capital’s most photographed landmarks. Throughout the year, 75% of all tourists visit her and her birthday is celebrated every August 23rd.