Since the 15th century, Copenhagen has been the capital of the Kingdom of Denmark, and also the most populous city in this beautiful country. It is located on the Baltic Sea and connected to Sweden by an 18-kilometer-long bridge called the Öresund Bridge. Copenhagen is actually situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, which are essentially the southern part of the Öresund island.
The city is known for its vibrant colors, numerous tourists, beautiful buildings, and, of course, the famous Tivoli Park.
What to visit in Copenhagen
I have traveled to Copenhagen from Sweden, by car or train across the aforementioned Öresund Bridge. Information about the bridge and crossing fees can be found HERE. For foreign tourists, one of the busiest airports, Copenhagen Airport, or Københavns Lufthavn, is also available.
The old part of the city is recognizable by the canal where small tourist boats sail daily. For 50-120 Danish kroner (5-12 euros, depending on the offer), you can afford this unforgettable experience. The boats are open-air type, with a guide who speaks Danish and English. Canal tours last for an hour or an hour and forty-five minutes, depending on the tour you choose, and start and end in Nyhavn.
During that hour, which the boat tour lasts, you can see many city landmarks, of course, including the most famous one – the Little Mermaid statue.
The Little Mermaid statue is a bronze sculpture by the author Edvard Eriksen, inspired by the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. What our guide pointed out to us is not to be disappointed: “The Little Mermaid is indeed small. Some expect it to be like the Statue of Liberty, so don’t have too high expectations,” he warned us. You can read more about the statue itself and what it symbolizes HERE.
Furthermore, the boat passes by the Royal Danish Opera House (The Royal Danish Opera). It is a magnificent building located right on the seafront, of a more modern style that critics say resembles a ship’s prow. Along the canal, there are rows of houses in various colors, mostly inhabited today, but once they served as shops, catering establishments, and even brothels. Interestingly, the old locals were illiterate, so they recognized which one was a brothel or, for instance, which of the several brothels was the best based on their colors.
The old Vor Frelsers Kirke, or Church of Our Savior, is located right by the canal, so our guide warned us to prepare our cameras and capture the magnificent golden staircase leading to its roof. Don’t worry, he said, if you fail to catch the moment, you’ll still be able to photograph this tree that has become the most photographed tree in Copenhagen. I only managed to partially capture the staircase 🙂
We also toured the old harbor by boat, from where Scandinavians massively emigrated to America between 1820 and the outbreak of World War II due to the famine that prevailed in the region.
Copenhagen is also home to the Scandinavian Stock Exchange, characterized by its roof made up of four intertwined dragon tails. The dragons represent the four Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland), which have joined forces in a common financial institution.
After disembarking, Nyhavn street is lined with numerous restaurants, pubs, pastry shops… I treated myself to churros and ice cream at the Rajjisimo pastry shop, which locals say is the best in the city.
Check out a short video clip from our boat ride: