Denmark

Copenhagen

Widely known to be one of the greenest cities in the world due to its extensive cycling infrastructure, Copenhagen has a relaxed feel. We spent an enjoyable few days here taking in the sights and learning the true meaning of Hygge, the secret to Danish warmth and contentment.

We chose not to join the legion of cyclists zipping down the cycle lanes. The centre of Copenhagen is very compact and you can get round most of the tourist sights on foot, which also gives you plenty of opportunity to stop for coffee and a cinnamon bun or even to sample some of that famous Danish beer along the way.

On the Canal

First stop was Nyhavn, the harbour area with its brightly coloured 17th century buildings. We took a riverboat trip along the canal which takes one hour and passes sights such as The Little Mermaid, Christiansborg Palace and the Opera House. The tour guides speak multiple languages and we found it really informative.

Lunch

After the trip down the canal we headed for the city centre and found a cafe for lunch. We opted for Denmark’s famous open sandwiches with toppings such as mackerel, potatoes and vegetables.

Royal Palaces

Christiansborg Palace is worth seeing. Once a royal palace and now home to the Danish Parliament, you can go inside and do a free tour of the building. Any fans of the Danish political drama Borgen from a few years back will undoubtedly recognise the exterior of the building as it was used extensively for filming.

As well as Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen also has Rosenborg Castle, a small castle right in the heart of the city. Standing next to the Kings Gardens, this Castle is where the Danish Crown Jewels are housed. Because the Castle is very small only a limited amount of people can enter at one time so buy your tickets in advance and get your timeslot to guarantee entry.

The City of Fairytales

Although not born in Copenhagen, the prolific author Hans Christian Andersen is celebrated across the city. He lived in three different houses in Nyhavn and this is where he wrote The Princess and the Pea among other tales. His fairytale, The Little Mermaid is immortalised in a bronze statue which is located along the Langelinie Pier, a 20 minute walk from the city centre. We saw The Little Mermaid from the canal boat, but went back later to see it on foot and take some more close up photos. It’s a lot smaller than I was expecting and it can get a bit crowded so you might have to get there early and hang around a bit to get a clear picture.

The man himself has much larger statue in town in HC Andersens Boulevard, across the road from the famous Tivoli Gardens. You’ll also find another statue of him at Rosenborg Castle.

Danish Design

Amongst other things Denmark is famous for its design and a visit to the Designmuseum Danmark is a must. It’s also very family friendly with lots of activities and workshops for kids and a cafe that caters for everyone.

Finally

Copenhagen is a very environmentally-conscious city and got me thinking more about green issues and sustainability. Together with the hygge that Denmark is famous for I came back armed with some beautifully ‘green’ souvenirs and a refreshed mindset that reminds me to appreciate that, as the saying goes, the best things in life are free.