Copenhagen Art tour

Description:

Europe's largest design hostel is centrally located and within easy walking distance of the city center. The ultra modern, five star hostel offers more than 1000 beds on 15 floors with rooms for families, couples or large groups. There are plenty of facilities, including breakfast, bar/longe and wireless internet access, as well as a fantastic view over Copenhagen harbor.

Our Local Expert Says:

Eye-catching architectural styles and an even more eclectic collection of art.

Description:

With more than one thousand works on show over three floors, the Statens Museum takes on 700 years of art history, both Danish and international. While the original building dates from 1896, overcrowding in the past decade has led to two modern extensions, first in 1970 and later in 1998 - the latter including a huge glass façade that offers a splendid view of the museum's grounds and lake. The museum's 'sculpture street' functions as a kind of bridge between the architectural styles. The exhibitions are organized according to themes, allowing the viewer to compare two works from different periods of art history. While this makes interesting browsing, it can make finding a particular work challenging. Families should also check out the interactive children's wing, where there's also a chance to participate in workshops.

Our Local Expert Says:

The perfect starting point for a lesson in Danish art history.

Description:

Despite its unassuming exterior and out of the way location, the Hirschsprung museum has one of the world's largest collection of paintings from what is known as the Danish Golden Age of art and thus offers a fantastic overview of Danish 19th century art. The extensive private collection of tobacco tycoon Heinrich Hirschsprung (1836-1908) and his wife Pauline includes a great deal of work from the Skagen painters, including P.S. Krøyer and Michael and Anna Ancher. This small, old-fashioned museum is positively crammed with art, the walls filled with gilt-framed oil paintings - even the furniture is a period antique from the family collection.

Our Local Expert Says:

This quirky cafe-bar's artful decor just has to be seen to be believed.

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Bankeråt means 'Bankrupt'. Nevertheless, this café is not broke or going out of business. Very much alive and kicking, it gained its fame through some TV poetry sessions held here. Even though it is somewhat out of the way on Ahlefeldtsgade, it is frequented by a wide audience. The place has paintings on the walls and the atmosphere is pleasant.International dishes are served. The ingredients are mainly organic. The food is good and cheap enough to ensure that the customers come back time and again.

Description:

Part of the new "Carlsberg Byen" (Carlsberg City) complex currently underway in the old buildings of the Carlsberg Brewery on the border of Vesterbro, Frederiksberg and Valby, the old truck garage at Ny Carlsberg Vej 68 encompasses 2000 sq.meters housing five different artistic spaces: these being artist-run space IMO, BKS Garage (run by the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts), Nils Stærk Gallery, Galleri Nicolai Wallner and Kopenhagen Publishing. Of these, Nils Stærk and Nicolai Wallner promote between four and five exhibitions a year respectively, from both Danish and international artists. The space is open from midday until 5pm Mon-Fri, and from midday until 3pm Sat.

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Cafe Elefanten is located in the foyer of the new DANSEhallerne in the rejuvenated Carlsberg neighborhood, and offers visitors to this burgeoning cultural quarter the chance to grab a snack and a drink while they visit the galleries, or before enjoying a dance performance in the adjacent theater. Elefanten opened in the summer of 2010 and is still expanding its opening hours, but the owners (who also run Nørrebro's Rust nightclub) have high hopes for serving top-notch bistro cuisine as well as the promise of a late bar and events. The food is Scandinavian-inspired, with a modern touch and plenty of vegetarian options, and the prices are moderate. Elefanten has a large open space outside that includes a sandbox and terrace for summer dining.

Our Local Expert Says:

A totally unique attraction: only in Denmark.

Description:

In 1971, a band of hippies decided to squat a collection of deserted army barracks close to Copenhagen's Christianshavn neighborhood, proclaiming the area as a Free State to be self-governed as a collective. Almost four decades later, Christiania continues as one of the country's biggest attractions, confirming the global view of Denmark as a tolerant nation able to accept Christiania as a 'social experiment'. It's possible to walk around the 32-hectare, car-free area, which houses a music venue ( Loppen), various vegetarian cafes and bars as well as a surprisingly classy restaurant (Spiseloppen). Since the notorious open-air marijuana market 'Pusher Street' was shut down in 2004, Christiania has seen a steady police presence, yet despite all attempts to gradually 'normalize' the area, it remains as a testimony to the tenacious free spirit of liberal Scandinavia.

Our Local Expert Says:

Perfect for vegetarians on a budget.

Description:

True to the alternative Christiania spirit, the Free City's vegetarian cafe has been popular for two decades for its healthy, organic (and cheap) meat free dishes. You can choose between the day's selection of hot meals, a salad or a soup, or choose all of them. There is seating both outside and in.

Description:

Although by no means as extensive as Louisiana, Ordrupgaard combines a day out in the country with the opportunity to view art exhibitions of an international calber. While the original building was created in 1918 to house a collection of French impressionism as well as a number of works from the Danish Golden Age, a new extension by acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid in 2005 has added a new modern dimension to a visit. Ordrupgaard's large park is also open to the public, and visitors can choose between the museum's cafe and bringing a picnic basket to enjoy in the grounds. Public transport takes you virtually to the door: take the S-train to Klampenborg / Lyngby followed by bus 110.

Our Local Expert Says:

This world-class art museum makes a perfect day trip.

Description:

You could visit Louisiana Museum of Modern Art for its collections, or you could enjoy it for its surroundings, its views and its architecture. Throw it all together, and the experience is breathtaking whether you're a modern art lover or not. Built in 1958 right on the North Zealand coast, Louisiana was conceived as an interaction of art, architecture and landscape; with its challenging architecture and panoramic views over the Øresund Channel, the vision appears to have succeeded. The museum houses a large permanent collection as well as 4-5 temporary exhibitions annually, and includes a children's annex where the youngest visitors can play creatively. With some of the biggest international names in modern art over the past century on show, you could easily spend a day wandering around the many different galleries, the restaurant and the surrounding sculpture park - which is even more possible since the museum began evening opening in 2008.

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Although Mikkeller only started operations in 2006, one-time home brewer and founder Mikkel Bjergsø's tiny brewery was named Denmark's best brewery that same year, and placed on the RateBeer Best List from international beer website RateBeer.com in 2007. In May 2010 Mikkeller opened its own micropub - or 'ølbar' - on the premises of a former French wine bar, offering 15 beers on tap and even more bottled options, including a choice selection from around the world - in addition to Mikkeller's own brews, naturally. The bar also offers light snacks and music.

Description:

After many years on Gammel Strand, one of Copenhagen's best venues for photographic exhibitions moved to premises in the new Carlsberg Byen cultural quarter in spring 2011. The well-lit, spacious venue hosts a number of changing exhibitions a year, attracting reputable artists from both Denmark and overseas for solo as well as group exhibitions, and the challenging program is often provocative as well as visually-stunning. The centre also houses an excellent bookstore with international art magazines as well as sumptuous limited edition photographic books, and The Digital Room, a darkroom and workshop available to artists. Entrance costs DKK 25; closed Mondays.

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In an area of Copenhagen where stores are expensive and simple cafe fare hard to find, cosy Mormors (meaning "grandma's") is the perfect place to take the weight off your feet and enjoy a simple, inexpensive sandwich and a cold drink, or a coffee and a cake for the sweet-toothed. The service is always pleasant and friendly and there is always plenty of space to sit and look out onto the street, or browse the cafe's wonderfully nostalgic interior. A personal NileGuide favorite. Breakfast (including oatmeal or a croissant) served until 10am weekdays.

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Galleri Christian Dam is an expert in Icelandic art, as well as in Nordic artists such as Finn Mickelborg.

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After a number of years as one of the key players on the Islands Brygge gallery scene, Christina Wilson has moved to premises on Esplanaden, around the corner from the smart galleries and auction houses of Bredgade. With an exciting exhibition program of internationally-focused artists such as Sophie Calle, Kaspar Bonnén and Kirstine Roepstorff, Galleri Christina Wilson is one of the city's most dynamic private galleries. Open Tue-Fri midday until 5pm, midday until 3pm on Sat.

Description:

The 17th-century Charlottenborg Palace has housed the Royal Danish Art Academy since 1754. Kunsthal Charlottenborg is the original exhibition building of the academy, opened in 1883 and restored during the 1970s, and now run as an independent institution. Historic surroundings and a beautiful old building are combined with a strong and challenging contemporary program that includes not only the long-established Spring Exhibition, where exhibits are chosen from an open forum of applications but also large retrospectives, group and solo shows. Here is also a cafe, Cafe Charlottenborg, with outdoor serving in summer, as well as a bookstore with a good collection of both international art magazines and lavish art books, and which hosts monthly events featuring visiting artists and designers. Entry is DKK 60; closed Mondays.

Description:

Kunsthallen Nikolaj (Nikolaj Copenhagen Contemporary Art Center) was actually a church, which was built in the thirteenth century. Since 1917, the building has only been used for exhibitions of different kinds, the reason being partly the beautiful, bare interior, which has proved perfect for showing art. The building has three galleries, including one in the tower. The exhibitions consist primarily of photographic art, and throughout the years, Kunsthallen Nikolaj has become known for its often provocative art. The subtle copper spire of Kunsthallen Nikolaj is a well-known silhouette in the Copenhagen skyline. When Nikolaj Kirke was built, the harbour of Copenhagen stretched as far as the foot of the church. With its direct view over the harbour, the church was named after the seamen's patron saint, Nikolaj. Now, the square surrounding the church is called Nikolaj Plads, and is a very attractive area behind Strøget.

In April this year we changed our name to 'Kunsthallen Nikolaj'. The right english name is 'Nikolaj Copenhagen Contemporary Art Center" and the right adress is: Nikolaj Plads 10

Description:

One of Copenhagen's best independent art galleries/ museums raised its profile in 2010 when it expanded into the neighboring premises with room for a pleasant canalside cafe and bookshop. Five to six changing annual exhibitions range from group shows of Danish artists to international retrospectives in all media, from painting to video art, with two presented at a time. The name means 'Gammel Strand art association' and can be traced back to 1825, though the almost 200 year-old group didn't move into its attractive 18th-century building until 1952. The light radiates over three floors and is accessible to those with wheelchairs/ strollers (use the alternative entrance on Læderstræde 15). Admission charge DKK 60; late night opening Wednes-Thurs, closed on Mondays.

Our Local Expert Says:

Great food for the price

Description:

While Wokshop is really just a take away, it is possible to eat the reasonably priced food, which is mostly Thai-inspired (curries, noodles, satay sticks and soups) at the limited seating inside. The simple dishes a lot tastier and more substantial than those offered by the city's many 'Kina Grill'.

Our Local Expert Says:

For a unique experience.

Description:

This fascinating watering hole is one of the oldest in Copenhagen, historically interesting for being the first place to introduce the bar counter to the Danish capital. A sailor brought it back here in 1917, having purchased it while on shore leave in New York, and that was about all he needed to start this small establishment whose interior and character hasn't changed much in almost a century. Frequented by artists, writers and journalists as well as many of the civil servants who work in the area, the place serves bottled beer only-with the only food available being the jar of hard-boiled eggs at the counter. Like 'Cheers', the action takes place around the bar top, and you're sure to leave here feeling like you've seen a little more of the real Copenhagen.

Description:

This wonderfully cute cafe can be found in the middle of Frederiksberg's most tempting street when it comes to food, the deli heaven Værnedamsvej. Granola has been completely furnished in true nostalgic '50s style, right down to the crockery and the cash register. Though it isn't licensed to serve beer and closes as early as 7pm, Granola's early morning opening hours make it the perfect place to come for breakfast or brunch. Specialities include the oatmeal with coconut, apple and cinnamon: just the thing to start the day.

Our Local Expert Says:

An unusual museum and a gloriously wild park.

Description:

Though Søndermarken and adjoining Frederiksberg Have were conceived at the same time, Søndermarken is obviously the wilder twin, with patches of dense woodland and a steep hill that fills up with the city's children and their sledges on snowy winter days, and is equally enjoyed in the summertime by dog walkers, joggers and anyone else seeking a break from the bustle of the city. The park's stained glass museum Cisternerne is something of a mystery; like a secret bunker, the pyramid-shaped, glass and steel entrance of the museum appears out of the trees, taking visitors down into a subterranean world. This permanent exhibition of contemporary stained glass art is housed in an old reservoir and has been cited as one of Europe's most original museums, presenting this unusual art form in a quite unique setting.

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Vesterbro's hippest gallery moved to nearby Kødbyen from its premises on Absalonsgade in early 2007, after developing quite a reputation over the past decade for its promotion of underground artists, among them street and graffiti artists.

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This new photographic gallery, located in Vesterbro's up-and-coming meat-packing district Kødbyen, has big plans as Copenhagen's first "edition gallery" and promises to keep its prices affordable to the average person - meaning that it is possible to buy a numbered, signed limited-edition print here for as little as $100. Open from midday Tuesday through Saturday.

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Another big name on the Copenhagen gallery scene to move out to new, larger premises in the up-and-coming cultural neighborhood Kødbyen, Galleri Bo Bjerggaard represents international calibre artists like Georg Baselitz, Jonathan Meese and Per Kirkeby, and specializes in video and photography exhibitions. The gallery holds between 8 and 10 exhibitions annually, each time showcasing one younger artist and one more established name within its two rooms.

Our Local Expert Says:

A must for eco tourists.

Description:

This trendy 'people's kitchen', located in a old Bosch warehouse (the restaurant has retained the sign outside), is the newest place to come for organic cuisine, with an extra twist being the plastic card you are given on ordering and which then saves your check electronically so you pay as you leave. Everything here is organic, right down to the toilet paper - and the place has a certificate to prove it. BioMio is another of the new businesses to set up shop in Copenhagen's up-and-coming quarter, the former meat-packing district of Kødbyen.

Description:

Located on Flaesketorvet in Copenhagen's meat-packing district, this cafe, bar, and restaurant is in the heart of the increasingly trendy Vesterbro district. The restaurant is owned by Danish artist Jeppe Hein, who displays the art of some 30 international artists. Regular concerts and lectures are also given here, but most patrons come to eat and dine, and they can do so exceedingly well here.

The kitchen makes much use of organic produce and many of the dishes show the influence of Asia, including the steamed scallops with sesame-chili seaweed salad, or the sautéed breast of duck resting on a mound of noodles, fresh apple slices, and beetroot. Other well-recommended dishes include Jerusalem artichoke soup with truffle oil and chervil, or veal sweetbreads with pasta and Parmesan cream. An excellent cheesecake is flavored with rum-braised pineapple. The chefs feature set menus ranging from DKK180 ($31/£18) for 2 to 10 courses, or wine menus going from 4 to 8 courses. On the latter, each dish is accompanied by the appropriate wine.

Description:

The oldest butcher's pub in Copenhagen's meatpacking district Kødbyen, Mesteren & Lærlingen (The Master & Apprentice) was transformed in 2009 into a trendy bar with old-school DJs spinning vinyl and a loyal crowd that includes not only local hipsters but also the original workers from the district who continue to drink here in the early evenings. This isn't so surprising, as the new owners have retained the name, logo and even most of the original decor. The brainchild of four local DJs from popular music collectives Den Sorte Skole and Ladybox, Mesteren offers a cheap, traditional bar (mainly beer), lively music, the chance to smoke indoors, and a casual, friendly vibe-as well as light meals like hot chilli con carne early in the night.

Description:

As the name might suggest, this new wine merchants / tapas and wine bar is located in a former liver pate factory next door to eco-restaurant BioMio in the heart of Copenhagen's hip meat-packing district. Owned by the team behind a number of popular wine bars in the city including Nansensgade's Bibendum, PatéPaté is open from as early as 8am until the wee hours, and this place is many things depending on the time of day: come early and enjoy croissants and coffee whilst browsing through a foreign newspaper, come during the day to take home a bottle of good-quality wine or even champagne/cava, or come in the early evening for some pre-clubbing tapas and a glass. Later, enjoy the laid-back lounge atmosphere as the place transforms into cosy wine bar.

Our Local Expert Says:

For many, this is Copenhagen's most beautiful museum.

Description:

Carlsberg Brewery founder Carl Jacobsen and his wife were some of the biggest art benefactors of the time, and presented their extensive collection to the Danish state in 1888/ 1899 - calling it 'Glyptoteket' after the Greek word for a collection of sculpture. The beautiful building was then built to house the huge collection, and is worth visiting for the architecture alone - which includes a delightful winter garden at its centre. Home to the largest collection of ancient art in Northern Europe - including Egyptian and Etruscan artifacts - it also houses an impressive range of French impressionist paintings, most notably by Gauguin and Rodin. Extensive modernizations have vastly improved access and facilities without destroying the museum's unique atmosphere, which is best experienced with an extended sojourn in the garden's café.

Description:

Situated south of Copenhagen in the coastal suburb of Ishøj, art museum Arken is generally seen as one of the Denmark's big three art galleries, along with Statens Museum for Kunst and Louisiana. It is also the newest, having opened in 1996. Arken ('the ark') takes its name from its distinctive shape, a unique architectural design that has its good as well as bad points: Although it certainly stands out on the beach at Køge Bay, the interior tends to feel cold and a little dark and is hard to light successfully, so that sharp shadows often intrude over the paintings, a fact that makes the rather cavernous space better suited to sculpture exhibits. It is however fully accessible for wheelchair users. The museum's collection focuses on international artworks from 1990 onwards, while additional changing exhibitions include both historical retrospectives and more contemporary showcases; generally, a larger exhibition runs concurrently with a smaller one. The rather pricey cafe-restaurant affords excellent views out to the sea. The museum costs DKK 85 for adults and is free for children; closed on Mondays and open late on Wednesdays. read more

Description:

One glance through the window into Spicylicious and it becomes clear that the lively, youthful atmosphere of its Vesterbro location is as big an influence as the cusine served here, which is Thai with a helping of Vietnamese. Relax with a cocktail or a freshly-prepared fruit drink on the couch while you decide your order. Priced around 125kr for a main, it costs a little over the norm for Thai food - but there are few restaurants in the city that combine a modern, hip lounge vibe with such authentic rice and noodle dishes.