Copenhagen by Canal

Hop on a boat in Copenhagen, Denmark to get a feel for the city and to see the major sites.

Sep 7, 2006

Take a canal tour or a waterbus to see Copenhagen's major sites from a unique perspective.

Sure, you could walk to all of the major sites in Copenhagen, Denmark, but why not take in the city from the water? Taking a boat on Copenhagen's canals can be an enjoyable introduction to the city. There are guided tours in English or you can buy a one or two day hop on/hop off waterbus pass for unlimited rides. Different boats follow different routes, so check the route before you go. Here are some of the sites you will see on Copenhagen's boats.

• Christiania - Copenhagen's self-declared "independent" artist/alternative lifestyle district

• Frihedsmuseet - Museum chronicling Denmark's resistance against the Nazis during World War II

• Christianborg Palace - former royal residence that is home to the Danish government

There are two main companies that run boats on the waterways: DFDS Canal Tours and Netto-Baadene. The blue Netto boats start at Holmens Church opposite the old Stock-Exchange and Nyhavn at Heibergsgade. Rates are **30 kr for adults, 15 kr for children.

DFDS guided tours are 60 kr for adults, 25 kr for children, while the one day waterbus pass is 50 kr for adults, 25 kr for children. Guided tours leave from the Marriott Hotel every half hour. The Freedom Ticket (350 kr for adults, 250 for children), gives you 2 days of unlimited rides on all water buses, guided tours, open top buses. The covered, heated waterbuses run in the winter.

For a more posh experience or for group tours, charter your own boat with DFDS for 3100-3600 kr per hour ($530 - $620). You can customize the route through Copenhagen's harbor and canals. Have your shindig catered so you can much on Danish delicacies while cruising the waterways.

** One Danish krone = approximately $0.17 US dollars, so 25 kr = $4.30, 60 kr = $10.30, as of this writing.

The copyright of the article Copenhagen by Canal in Denmark Travel is owned by Lisa Sabol-Sikorski. Permission to republish Copenhagen by Canal in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.