Copenhagen
The Danish capital was founded in the year 1167. Today about 1.5 million people live there. In the future, Copenhagen, the Swedish city Malmö and other places are becoming one large connected area.
The city center of Copenhagen is defined by the pedestrian street "Strøget". It is approximately one kilometer long, beginning in the southwest at the town hall square (Rådhus Plads) and ending in the northeast at Kongens Nytorv. Nearly all points of interest in Copenhagen are situated close to Strøget.
At Rådhus Plads stands the town hall. The famous amusement park "Tivoli" and the main station "København H" are located slightly to the southwest. Tivoli is open until late at night. On some evenings there are fireworks at midnight. At the edge of Tivoli lies "Louis Tussaud's".
Northern downtown
A few streets north of Strøget you can see the Round Tower (Runde Tårn). It is 36 meters high and has no steps - only a winding ramp leads up to the top. The Botanic Garden and Rosenborg Castle are situated nearby.
The parliament meets at Christiansborg, south of Strøget, behind a canal.
In the east of the city lies the square Kongens Nytorv, where the New Harbour (Nyhavn) begins. It is the departure point for affordable sightseeing ferries. At night, Nyhavn transforms into a lively pub mile.
From Kongens Nytorv you can walk to the Marble Church and Amalienborg Castle. About one kilometer further you will find the famous Little Mermaid (Den lille Havfrue), sitting on a small rock at the Yderhavn.
Tours on Zealand
Day trips around Copenhagen are highly recommended. Helsingør, for example, is located in the north of the island Zealand (Sjælland). UNESCO has declared its well-preserved town centre with timber-framed buildings a World Heritage Site. Just a few minutes away by ferry is Sweden and the city of Helsingborg. [Between Copenhagen and Helsingør there is a train service every 20 minutes; the journey takes about one hour.]
Roskilde lies in the middle of Zealand, west of Copenhagen. Its magnificent cathedral alone is reason enough to visit. Beyond that, you will find many charming towns and villages along the coast of Zealand.
Since 1 July 2000 you can use the Øresund Bridge between the Danish island Amager (Copenhagen Airport) and the Swedish city of Malmö. Travelling by train over the bridge and through the tunnel is a special experience. The journey from Kastrup Airport to Malmö and back cost approximately 15 EUR in 2002.
This was my first journey to Northern Europe ever. And it was just the beginning…
Link Tips
- Øresund bridge tickets and information
- Metro timetable and routes of the Copenhagen Metro
- Copenhagen at Wikipedia
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… more of Copenhagen:
