Date of trip: April 2009

Denmark has been on my list of places to visit since a close friend of mine married a Dane and moved there several years ago. Although we were not able to visit her due to the distance she lives from Copenhagen, I was happy to finally see the place she has so often written to me about.

Highlights:

-Tivoli Gardens, the oldest amusement park in the world, is probably the most well known attraction in Copenhagen. It is open from the late spring to early fall and for a couple of weeks over the Halloween and Christmas seasons. As the concierge at our hotel told us, “Don’t expect Disney!” but it is a charming place with many cool rides, shops and a huge variety of dining options. There is also live entertainment and the park is one of the few places in the city that stays open until midnight or later. It’s debatable whether it’s more fun during the day when all the rides are running and you can see the pretty gardens or at night when the park glows with multi-colored lights. We went a couple of hours before dark and stayed so we could see it both ways.

-I’m not sure why The Little Mermaid statue has become THE symbol of the city but perhaps it’s because Hans Christian Anderson, who wrote the fairy tale, was one of Copenhagen’s most famous residents. The harbor where she sits is a bit of a walk from the city center, but on a nice day it’s lovely and you can walk through Kastellet Fortress, a former military wall that now serves as a park and monument. Over the years, the mermaid has been vandalized a number of times, usually by feminist groups, but it only seems to add to her popularity.

-Housed in the Prince’s Palace the Nationalmuseet is home to a fine collection of Danish artifacts. I especially liked the collections from the Viking and Middle Ages as they included some interesting items like drinking horns, weapons and clothing from those periods that I had never before seen.

-There many pedestrian only streets in Europe but, at a full mile, the Stroget in Copenhagen is the longest. Along the walkway you’ll find everything from high-end, designer retailers and department stores to souvenir and ice cream stands. The ice cream is absolutely fantastic and is only better in Italy! At the end of the Stroget there is a popular harbor area lined with restaurants called Nyhavn which is popular with both locals and tourists. It’s also the best place to jump on a canal boat for a tour of the city by water.

-The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is located about 45 minutes north of Copenhagen by train in Humlebaek. It’s a must see for it’s outstanding collection and beautiful waterfront location. A fun fact is that the house was called the Louisiana by it original owner, Alexander Brun, for the simple reason that all three of his wives were named Louise! You can buy a combination train/admission ticket at Copenhagen central station and the Louisiana also has a great cafe making it an ideal place to take a day trip.

-Another popular trip from the city is Roskilde which is 30 minutes away by train and famous because it was founded by Vikings. The Viking Ship Museum is a great place to learn about Viking life and check out some of their ships which are on display. During the summer months, you can even go for a sail in one on the fjord. In the center of town, the Roskilde Cathedral has been the final resting place of the Danish Royal family since 1535. The coffins are above ground in tombs which guests can walk through freely.

There are many characteristics that Copenhagen possesses which are typical of a European city but there are also some that are definitely unique. Scandinavia had a decidedly different past than other parts of the world, specifically during the Viking Age. Seeing the artifacts and exploring the history of this era was my favorite aspect of my trip to Copenhagen. Of course, I love shopping or visiting a great art museum, but it was the new things like seeing Viking helmets and stepping on a Viking ship for the first time that really excited me.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Copenhagen Links:
Copenhagen Official Site
Nyhavn
Nationalmuseet
Tivoli Gardens
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde
Roskilde Cathedral