Things to do in  Copenhagen

With its jumble of 17th- and 18th-century townhouses, painted in a rainbow of bold colors and its cobblestoned waterfront lined with shops and restaurants, Nyhavn is one of Copenhagen’s most photogenic thoroughfares. The scenic road and canal runs from the grand Kongens Nytorv (King’s Square) to the banks of the main Inderhavnen canal and makes a strategic starting point for sightseeing cruises, with tours taking in nearby attractions like Amalienborg Castle, Copenhagen Opera House and the Little Mermaid statue. Nyhavn also makes a popular choice for a lunch date or evening drinks, and the many bars and restaurants spill over onto the waterfront during the summer months, from where you can watch the traditional wooden fishing boats moving along the canal below. Additional sights of interest along Nyhavn include the Memorial Anchor commemorating the Danish Navy fleets of WWII and a number of houses formerly lived in by fairytale writer H. C. Andersen – no.18, 20 and 67....

Amalienborg Palace is the winter residence of the Danish royal family in Copenhagen. It consists of four identical palace exteriors with rococo interiors that create an octagonal courtyard. A majestic equestrian statue of Amalienborg's founder, King Frederick V, lies in the center of the courtyard, created by French sculptor Jacques-Francos-Josephy Saly. Amalienborg was originally built as manor houses for four noble families; however, when Christiansborg Palace suffered fire damage in 1794, the royal family bought the palaces and moved in. Over the years various royal families have resided in the four different palaces. Although it is still the residence of the royal couple, you can experience some of the rooms that are not in regular use filled with royal furnishings, tapestries, photographs, portraits, and heirlooms....

The Danish castle, Rosenborg Slot, was built between 1606 and 1633 in the Dutch Renaissance style, typical of Danish buildings of the time, by architetual innovator King Christian IV. Now the castle contains a museum exhibiting the Royal Collections, heirlooms representing the span of royal Danish culture from the late 16th to 19th century. Some of these artifacts belonged to the nobility and the aristocracy in the past. The castle became state property and was opened to the public in the1830s and to serve the dual function as a royal treasury and a museum. The particularly interesting attractions include the glittery crown jewels, the Danish Crown Regalia, coronation furnishings, and impressive family portraits. The castle is surrounded by the city’s oldest public park, Kongens Have, featuring lovely botanical gardens....

The Little Mermaid statue rests on a rock in the harbor of Copenhagen. Based on the fairytale by acclaimed Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, the modest but beautiful statue is a Copenhagen icon and a major tourist attraction. Carl Jacobsen, heir to the Carlsberg beer fortune, commissioned the statue in the early 20th century after watching the ballet about the fairytale in Copenhagen's Royal Theatre. Jacobsen asked sculptor Edvard Eriksen to create the statue, which was unveiled in August of 1913. The statue's head was modeled after the ballet's prima ballerina but the body was modeled after Eriksen's wife....

With a history dating back over 800 years, the Baroque Christiansborg Palace is one of the capital’s most iconic landmarks, set on the island of Slotsholmen in Copenhagen harbor. For a long time, Christiansborg Palace was the principal residence of the Royal Family but despite their relocation to Amalienborg Palace in 1794, the palace remains at the center of Danish rule, housing the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Danish Supreme Court, alongside a number of Royal Reception Rooms. Today, the palace welcomes visitors by guided tour, offering guests the chance to view the ornate Throne Room, where Danish monarchs are crowned; the richly decorated Queen's Library; the grand Royal Banqueting Hall and the Great Hall, where a series of spectacular tapestries depicting 1000 years of Danish history are displayed – a gift to Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II on her 50th birthday in 1990. Visitors can also opt to tour the Royal Stables....

Tivoli Gardens is a famous amusement park in Copenhagen. The park opened in 1843 and became one of the most popular theme parks in Europe. It offers a mix of attractions, gardens, and restaurants. Although always continually evolving, Tivoli maintains its traditional feel and quaint charm. Tivoli is part of early theme park history; Walt Disney modeled Disneyland after Tivoli once he'd experienced its magic. The park is known for its wooden rollercoaster Rutsjebanen. Another attraction, Himmelskibet, was unveiled in Tivoli in 2006 and is the world’s tallest carousel. Tivoli also plays host to a variety of concerts and performing arts and is an integral part of the cultural scene in Copenhagen....

Since opening its doors in 2005, the Copenhagen Opera House has quickly secured its place as one of the capital’s most iconic buildings, with its futuristic roof canopy looming over the waterfront of Copenhagen harbor. The award-winning design, which spans 41,000 square meters and 14 stories, was created by local architect Henning Larsen and features equally captivating interiors, including a striking marble foyer and a gold-plated auditorium roof, shimmering with 24-carat gold leaf. The opulent surroundings are the home stage of the Royal Danish Opera but the Opera House’s varied schedule includes everything from classical, ballet and opera performances to jazz concerts, held on the 1,500 seat main stage, alongside a roster of experimental works held on the smaller Takkelloftet stage. The principal opera season runs from mid-August until June, when guided tours of the impressive building are also available....

Denmark’s Old Stock Exchange, which was built in 1625, is one of the oldest building in Copenhagen and home to some of the city’s richest history. The original structure housed some 40 stalls for trading and was flanked by water on three of its four sides. Between 1658 and 1659 the lead roof was removed in piecemeal and used to fashion cannonballs to combat the Swedish occupation of the nation. It wasn’t until a few centuries later that roof was full restored. Although the Old Stock Exchange is iconic in the city’s history, it’s not open to the public. Travelers can explore the land around the building, but it’s difficult to actually get inside. Only those with invites to dinners, conferences or galas are typically lucky enough to pass through the doors. Visitors should still keep their eyes out for the swirling dragons’ tail spire that sits atop the red brick building, which represents the original kingdoms of Denmark, Sweden and Norway....

The Rundetårn (or 'Round Tower' in English) is perhaps the best place in Copenhagen to enjoy panoramic views of the city’s skyline with its fairytale old town and many spires. The observation deck is located 35 meters (115 feet) above street level, offering an expansive view of inner Copenhagen. The tower was built by King Christian IV, the famous architectural innovator of Denmark, to be an astronomical observatory. A wrought iron lattice runs along the edge of the platform, featuring Christian IV’s monogram. The Rundetårn was mentioned in two Hans Christian Andersen fairytales and is commonly used as a metric to compare heights of buildings in Denmark....

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