One Day in Copenhagen
Soak up the best of Denmark’s capital city in twenty four hours.
Copenhagen, Denmark is a compact, historic city of palaces, sites, great shopping, and atmospheric cafes. Sample the best of what the city has to offer in only one day.
Breakfast and a Palace
Start the day with a frothy cappuccino and fresh Danish pastry (called weinerbrod here) at one of the many cafes that dot the city. Next, make your way to the Dutch Renaissance style Rosenborg Palace (Rosenborg Slot), home of Danish royalty from the 16th through the 19th centuries. The palace is home to the Danish Royal Treasury, displaying the Danish crown jewels, brilliant objects created from the plentiful amber that comes in with the Baltic Sea tides (a chess board, mirrors, jewelry, vases), gilded horse saddles once made for royal derrieres, and other priceless, gemstone encrusted bric-a-brac. An exhibit onsite through May 2007 (with explanations in English) provides insight into how 18th century Danish royalty lived, complete with stories of love, infidelity, political intrigue, and jealousy. Parts of the castle are going through renovations through April 2008, so certain rooms may be closed.
Afternoon: Shopping or Museums
To combine shopping with lunch, try one of the restaurants on Stroget, Copenhagen’s main shopping street. International chains like H&M, Vero Moda, and Bata have presence, along with Royal Copenhagen for Danish china, Georg Jensen for silver and decorative objects, and smaller shops selling Danish souvenirs and crafts. Gammel Torv, the old city center, is a grand, picturesque square teeming with life and people watching opportunities on Stroget. Those interested in the latest Danish and Scandinavian design should go to the Danish Design Center exhibition space and shop on Hans Christian Andersens Boulevard, or head to Bredgade Street, lined with unique design shops and galleries selling everything from modern to antique, affordable to out of this world unaffordable. Those more interested in culture or history can tour the Amalienborg Palace (near Nyhavn), home to Denmark’s royal family or the Danish Resistance Museum (near Tivoli), which chronicles Denmark’s struggle against the Nazis.
Late Afternoon Relaxation
Ordering a Tuborg or Royal Ale beer and sitting outside in one of the many cafes that line the colorful and scenic neighborhood of Nyhavn is a great way to unwind after a day of touring and to catch your breath before an evening of Copenhagen nightlife. Or, enjoy the capital city's sites by water on one of the 50 minute Copenhagen boat tours that leave from Nyhavn and sail around the Christianshavn area.
Dinner
For traditional Danish fare, like herring, meat and potatoes, and whitefish, visit one of Copenhagen’s many pubs. Or, for a more pan-European menu go to Café a Porta on Kungens Torv.
Nighttime in Tivoli Amusement Park
Tivoli offers a nighttime of fun and finding your inner child. The amusement park, one of Europe’s oldest, is open from 13 April – 21 September. On Fridays and Saturdays it stays open until 12:30am and midnight, respectively, on the other days it closes at 11:00pm.
