Copenhagen from a cruise liner

Description:

This area could be described as the most beautiful in Copenhagen, and stretches from Esplanaden to Lystbådehavnen, the pier of Langelinie and Frihavnen. If you walk along the outer harbor of Copenhagen, you will be able to enjoy a breath of fresh air from resund. You will also pass the Gefion Fountain, the statues of Frederik IX and Princess Marie, the The Little Mermaid, and the Mylius-Erichsen Monument (to the people who died during the Greenland Expedition 1906-07). Last but not least, you'll see Frihavnen, with its warships and huge cruise liners, which is now also a housing and business district. From Langelinie you can see over to Holmen, where the yacht of the Royal Danish family, Dannebrog, usually lies anchored.

Our Local Expert Says:

A must for fans of royalty.

Description:

The royal residence of Queen Margrethe II was built in 1749 and is widely considered to be a splendid architectural example of the Rococo-period. Amalienborg consists of four different buildings, Christian VII's Palace, Christian VIII's Palace, Frederik VIII's Palace and Christian XI's Palace, erected around an octagonal square. This square - Amalienborg Slotsplads - sees the changing of the guard daily at noon with a monument of Frederik V on horseback in the centre, completed by French artist Jacques Saly in 1771 after 20 painful years of building. While the Royal Family resides in Christian IX's palace, Christian VIII's Palace houses the Amalienborg Museum and - aside from occasional tours of Christian VII's Palace - is the only one open to the public.

Description:

Amaliehaven's royal gardens were donated to the city by the A.P. Møller Fund and Møller's wife, Chastine McKinney Møller. When the gardens were laid out in 1983, they were strongly debated and criticized. However, the people of Copenhagen have accepted and grown to love the beautiful gardens, where you will find many exotic plants and trees. There is a magnificent view over the harbor, Amalienborg Slotsplads with Saly's equestrian statue, and the Frederiks Church. The gardens were designed by the Belgian, Jean Delonge. The four bronze pillars and the two fountains were created by Italian sculptor, Arnoldo Pormodoro.

Our Local Expert Says:

Strangely, this tiny statue is Copenhagen's biggest landmark.

Description:

Denmark's most photographed tourist attraction is also the nation's smallest and, for many, something of an anticlimax. A tribute to the most well known of Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen's characters, the bronze figurine The Little Mermaid has sat on her rock out in the Øresund Channel along Langelinie since 1913; over the decades she has been vandalized numerous times, most famously in 1964, when she was decapitated in what later turned out to be an artist's prank. In 2006, The Little Mermaid acquired a neighbor, Bjørn Nørgaard's 'Genetically Modified Mermaid', a contemporary commentary on the landmark. In 2010, The Little Mermaid was moved for the first time ever, when it was exhibited in Shanghai as part of world exhibition EXPO's Danish Pavilion.

Description:

Kastellet is a star-shaped fortress near Langelinie. Its bastions and moats are almost unchanged from when they were a part of the original structure built in 1660 as per recovered drawings of Heinrich Rüse, a Dutch fortress expert. Kastellet was built as a result of the wars against Sweden at the time. The forts appear today almost as they did towards the end of the nineteenth century, but without the outer parts. This has been made possible by thorough restoration work financed by the company A.P. Møller. It is now possible to walk on all of the bastions. Entrance is through the recently restored Kongeporten (the King's Gate), dating from 1663. Inside are barracks where you find the state prison and Kastelskirken church. Exit is through Norgesporten (the Norwegian Gate). For many reasons, Kastellet has become a popular place to visit. It is wonderful to walk around the bastions in all seasons. Since most old trees have been removed, there is an excellent view over Langelinie, the harbour and the centre of the city.

Description:

Cafe Oscar has a splendid location, on the very edge of Bredgade, the upmarket boulevard of art galleries and antiques stores, as it intersects with Esplanaden, and close to tourist spots like Amalienborg, Kastellet and the Little Mermaid. With its elegantly upholstered black leather bar and classic cafe chairs, Oscar's decor has remained the same despite the vagaries of Copenhagen's cafe scene. The menu includes a good quality brunch, an assortment of sandwiches and a reasonably-priced evening menu with all from Argentinian steak to pasta dishes.

Description:

At the Museum of Applied Arts you will find handicrafts dating from the Middle Ages up until today. Amongst the many items there are fabrics, china and faiences, silverware and jewels, but also furniture and other household goods. The museum is located in an old Rococo building dating from 1757. In the summer the Grønnegård theatre holds performances in the beautiful garden belonging to the museum.

Our Local Expert Says:

A tourist must.

Description:

This small harbor street is one of Copenhagen's biggest visitor attractions, and while its row of timber-built, brightly-painted 17th-century buildings-most of them cafes-are an obvious tourist trap, there is something delightful about sitting here by the water on a hot summer's day. While all the cafes offer outside seating in spring/summer as well as a mostly traditional Danish lunch menu, a cheaper alternative is to buy a bottled drink from a local supermarket or an ice cream and sit on the edge of the pier. Nyhavn has two very different sides, with the Charlottenborg side much quieter. It also has a lively and chequered past: Just 30 years ago, the street was a rowdy collection of notorious drinking dens frequented by sailors. Heavily cleaned up for tourists, traces remain in the tattoo parlor and the all-night Hong Kong Bar. Note that should you be visiting Copenhagen in wintertime, off-season Nyhavn is virtually deserted.

Description:

If Rådhuspladsen is Copenhagen's most popular square, then Kongens Nytorv is the city's most distinguished and exclusive one. Limousines glide up in front of Hotel d'Angelterre to drop off their guests. Kongens Nytorv was constructed in 1670 on the side of the former ramparts of the city. Many beautiful buildings are situated around Kongens Nytorv, for instance Charlottenborg, built for Frederik III's half brother in Dutch Baroque style. Charlottenborg is the former location of the Architectural School and now contains the Art School and Kunsthal Charlottenborg. Other buildings are the Thotske Palace (now the French Embassy), and Magasin du Nord, a high-end department store. During the Christmas season, the square is turned into an ice skating rink and the trees and many buildings are decorated with lights that transform the square into something from a fairy tale. The statue in the middle of the square represents Christian V, made by Frenchman Abraham-Cesar Lamoroux in 1687.

Description:

What used to be Cafe A Porta was relaunched in 2009 as 'A Porta eta 1792,' as a reminder that this spot on Kongens Nytorv is one of the oldest cafes in Copenhagen, dating from...1792. The first modern refurbishing, back in the 1990s, took historical photos from the Museum of Copenhagen to recreate its original décor and style, affording a dining experience in very traditional, elegant surroundings. During the day, it's possible to enjoy a traditional Danish lunch, while the evening menu is more in keeping with a French bistro. On weekends, the place transforms into a cocktail bar and exclusive nightclub after 11pm.

Description:

Terence Conran owned restaurant empire has converted the former hovercraft terminal, Custom House, to house this Bar & Grill in addition to two other restaurants. The Custom House has a magnificent view of the water, the Opera House and the Christiansborg Palace. The restaurant serves unpretentious hearty fare from roast port, grilled chicken to lobster and fish. Bar & Grill is specially attractive to American tourists longing for delicious greasy traditional American fare.