Copenhagen Ferry Connections
There are daily ferries from Norway (Oslo, by DFDS Seaways) and Poland (Swinoujscie, by Unity Line).
These ferries arrive to Søndre Frihavn.
If you are travelling from the UK, there is a daily ferry, operated by DFDS Seaways from Harwich to Esbjerg, 200 kilometres west of Copenhagen.
From Rostock and Puttgarden in Germany, you have daily connections operated by Scandlines to Gedser and Rödby, about 150 kilometres from Copenhagen. Crossing time Puttgarden - Rödby is 45 minutes, Rostock - Gedser: 2 hours.
From Sweden, there is the frequent ferry connection Helsingborg - Elsinore (Helsingør). Those who will take a train afterwards, will travel from there for less than an hour, by car on the European route E55 the journey takes approx. half an hour.
Copenhagen Tourism
Copenhagen is regarded as the coolest, most cosmopolitan, most exciting and the most wonderful city in Scandinavia.
These days the Danish capital is blossoming. There is a spring in its step borne from a mixture of some brave new architecture, continued prosperity and a burgeoning confidence in its own charms. There are more cafés and restaurants than ever and, more importantly, the locals are learning how to use them. It used to be that Copenhageners ate out on special occasions only and nights out were restricted to Friday and Saturday only, but that’s all changed. Even on a wet Wednesday in February the bars and cafés will be buzzing, that all important hyggelige (cosy) atmosphere fostering a uniquely Danish sense of wellbeing and conviviality.
In a way, the rest of the world woke up to how great this historic city of canals, cobbled squares and copper spires was before the locals did, but it is at last sinking in that the world now looks to Copenhagen for the best in design, architecture and fashion and is beginning also to notice the extraordinary culinary revolution that has taken place here over the last decade.
If you are looking for an earthy, hardcore travel experience look elsewhere. Copenhagen is clean, safe and ridiculously easy to get to know, the locals all speak superb English and the transport system makes London’s look like it’s on the verge of a nervous breakdown. It usually makes the top five, if not the top spot, in those ‘most liveable city’ lists. And if you are looking for a budget destination, you might also want to reconsider your plans. This is not a cheap city by any means, but then neither is it any more expensive than any other major European city – London and Paris will hit your pocket harder.
Copenhagen Top Visitor Attractions
Amalienborg Slot (Amalienborg Palace)
This palace has been the winter residence of the Danish royal family since 1794. The four identical rococo palaces face each other across the octagonal Amalienborg Slot, where the changing of the guard takes place each day at noon when the family is in residence. A museum, featuring some of the private chambers and royal treasures dating from 1863-1947, is open to the public.
Carlsberg Visitors Centre
Carlsberg is, according to its own long-running marketing campaign, 'probably the best lager in the world'. Whether or not you agree, the Visitors Centre is an intoxicating experience. The tour details the history and modern processes of the brewery, with a route through the production plant. At the end, there's a chance to sample the finished product. There is also a Carlsberg Museum, rather more old-fashioned, but housed in a beautiful building dating back to 1882, where extensive exhibits relate more to the cultural and historical relevance of the family and the brewery.
Christiania Free Commune
On the eastern edge of Christianshavn, situated on the derelict site of a former military barracks, Christiania, the 'Free City of Copenhagen', is a working experiment in alternative lifestyles and communal living. First occupied in 1970, it is now home to about 1,000 people and several hundred dogs. Once away from the clothes stalls and eco-cafés, the area is seductively rural, with picturesque farmhouses and wooden cabins overlooking the calm waterways of the Stadsgraven. Afternoon tours guided by a resident of the commune take approximately 90 minutes, but are not free.
Den Lille Havfrue (The Little Mermaid)
Nyhavn (New Harbour) is an inlet off the Inderhavnen. Brothels and bars for visiting sailors once dominated this seedy area, but now the multicoloured, 17th-century gabled buildings accommodate bustling restaurants and pavement cafés serving traditional Danish food beside a pedestrian thoroughfare and the masts of traditional yachts. Children's writer Hans Christian Andersen lived at three different houses here. It is a very pleasant walk from Nyhavn along the waterfront via Amalienborg Castle to the spot in the northeast of the city where Den Lille Havfrue (The Little Mermaid) stares wistfully out to sea. Erected in 1913, the statue commemorates the Hans Christian Andersen heroine and has become a global symbol of Copenhagen.
Denmark Experimentarium
Experimentarium is Denmark's only science centre, which opened in 1991 in the old bottling hall of the Tuborg Brewery. Visitors of all ages can interact with about 300 entertaining and informative sound and water exhibits and experiments. The centre also stages science demonstrations, workshop activities and special exhibitions.
Guinness World Records Museum
Visitors can experience over 500 outstanding world records through interactive challenges and displays, from the tallest man to the most poisonous frog, and find out what it feels like to drive at 500kph (311mph) or take on the world's best fighter. You might even bump into Harry Potter, one of the latest additions to the museum.
Nationalmuseet (National Museum)
Housed in a 17th-century royal mansion, the National Museum is the country's premier historical and cultural institution. Permanent collections include the history of Denmark from the Ice Age to 2000, Egyptian, Greek and Italian antiquities and a survey of indigenous populations. There is also an interactive children's museum. Free guided tours in English take place daily at 1100 (Jun-Aug) and on selected days in September.
Carlsberg Glyptotek
The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek was built by the Carlsberg brewer, Carl Jacobsen, between 1897 and 1906. Today, it houses a superb collection of Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, Impressionist masterpieces and Danish and French art by Monet, Gauguin, Renoir, Degas and Cézanne. The café overlooking the beautiful winter garden is a great spot for lunch.
Rosenborg Slot (Rosenborg Castle)
Built between 1606-1634, Rosenborg was the chief residence of Christian IV and the main royal palace until the end of the last century. This red-brick, Dutch Renaissance-style palace displays the crown jewels and other royal treasures. The gardens (Kongens Have) surrounding the palace were laid out in 1606 and are some of the most attractive in the city.
Rundetårn (The Round Tower)
To the north of Strøget is the Rundetårn, the oldest observatory in Europe. Built by Christian IV in 1642, the building forms part of a scholastic complex that also includes a university library (now an exhibition hall) and student church. An impressive 209m-long (686ft) spiral ramp leads to the top of the tower 35m (115ft) above the street, from where there are good views over the old city.
Statens Museum for Kunst (Royal Museum of Fine Art)
The Royal Museum of Fine Art houses Denmark's largest art collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Brueghel and Rubens, works by Titian, Mantegna and Picasso, and an excellent Matisse collection.
Tivoli Gardens
One of the Europe's top amusement parks, Tivoli is a bizarre mixture of the natural and the artificial. It opened in 1843, with a horse-drawn carousel and a rollercoaster. Today, there are 25 rides, plus games, arcades, two theatres, an open-air stage and a museum. Of the four rollercoasters, the 'Rutschebanen' is the oldest (dates from 1914) and still the most popular. The Tivoli Boys Guard Band parade through the gardens at 1730 and 1930 on weekends and public holidays, with a full orchestra. Crowded, pricey and unbelievably kitsch, Tivoli remains strangely appealing. It hosts numerous special events in the summer, as well as a Christmas market in December.
