Romantic in Copenhagen

Description:

71 Nyhavn Hotel is a four-star luxury hotel on Nyhavn. As a rebuilt storehouse dating from 1804, the hotel had to undergo a total restoration process in 1997. The rooms are now furnished with private bathroom/toilet, cable TV, mini-bar, hairdryer and trouser press. Executive rooms also have fax machines and ironing facilities. The hotel has its own gourmet restaurant (open until midnight) and a lobby bar (open 24 hours).

Our Local Expert Says:

Elegant and relaxing.

Description:

Designed in the romantic style during the 1700s, Frederiksberg Gardens stretch out from the entrance at the end of Frederiksberg Alle with a glorious view of the central boating lake and the gently sloping lawns, with Frederiksberg Palace standing regally at its top. This Baroque-styled mansion was inspired by Frederik IIII's trips to Italy, and is now a school for military officers. It's usual to see almost-tame herons standing sentry around the lake, and the 200 year-old Chinese pagoda lends a more exotic air to the park. With blankets and baskets, families enjoy long picnics on the lawns, while the children's playground is another popular spot. Frederiksberg Have is neighbor to the wilder recreational area of Søndermarken as well as Copenhagen Zoo, located on Roskildevej.

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.

Our Local Expert Says:

The perfect spot for a romantic meal.

Description:

This delightfully romantic restaurant on the edge of Frederiksberg Have has a wonderful courtyard dining area and a Scandinavian menu from its Danish and Swedish chefs, with particular emphasis on fish dishes.

Description:

This attractive neighborhood is characterised by its network of canals and the brightly-painted houses clustered around them, many of which date back to the 1600s. Christianshavn was originally settled by Dutch workers who were brought to Copenhagen to work on nearby Slotsholmen on the orders of King Christian IV; reclaimed marshland just over the water became their home, and Christianshavn-'Christian's Harbor' took on the look of a miniature Amsterdam. While it became one of the city's poorest quarters during the 1800s and early 1900s, the 1990s saw a dramatic change, as Christianshavn became one of the most fashionable areas of Copenhagen to live in.
Christianshavn is pleasant to just wander around; specific attractions include the twisting spire of Vor Frelsers Kirke and the naval Orlogsmuseet. This upmarket neighborhood also has some of the city's best restaurants, including world-famous noma and expensive Italian Era Ora. read more

Description:

The architect of the 1752 staircase of the "Church of Our Savior" was Laurids de Thurah. A legend still persists about him. It is said that he constructed the staircase encircling the building the wrong way. Climbing to the top, and belatedly realizing what he'd done, he jumped to his death. A good story, but it's not true. According to more reliable reports, he died poverty-stricken in his sleep in his own bed in 1759. The green-and-gold tower of this Gothic structure is a Copenhagen landmark, dominating the Christianshavn area. Inside, view the splendid baroque altar, richly adorned with a romp of cherubs and other figures. There are also a lovely font and an immense three-story organ from 1698. Four hundred vertigo-inducing steps will take you to the top, where you'll see a gilded figure of Christ standing on a globe, and a panoramic view of the city. Warning: Those steps grow narrower as they reach the pinnacle.

Description:

A cafe on a boat, offering sandwiches, salads and tapas plates during the day and an evening menu from 5.30 - reservation is recommended, as this place fills out in the summer. A great place to watch the other tourists as their boat tours pass by.

Description:

Do you ever lie awake at night wondering what happened to the propeller from the German U-boat that sank the Lusitania? Look no further: It's here at this former naval hospital in Søkvasthuset, opening onto the Christianshavn Kanal. That's not all that's here, as you can follow the history of Denmark, a maritime nation, through the exhibits of its royal navy. Although there are a lot of artifacts that won't interest you, many will. More than 300 model ships, many based on designs that date from as early as 1500, are on view, and some of them were designed and constructed by naval engineers, serving as prototypes for the construction of actual ships that ventured into the cold, dark waters of the North Sea. The models are wide ranging -- some are fully "dressed," with working sails, whereas others are cross-sectional with their frames outlined. You get a vast array of other naval artifacts too, including an intriguing collection of figureheads, some of which are artworks themselves. For us, nothing is as glamorous or splendid as an ornate state barge from 1780.

Our Local Expert Says:

See Copenhagen from the water and get a whole new perspective of the city.

Description:

For once, it's the tourists who get it right - locals almost never experience Copenhagen in this way, and they're missing out on a treat, experiencing the old city centre from a different perspective and seeing almost all the downtown attractions from the water. DFDS Canal Tours offer five different tours of the city, ranging from 60-75 minutes in duration, both with or without a guide. They leave from Gammel Strand and Nyhavn, with longer ones taking you as far as the Little Mermaid and out into the Øresund Channel to the tiny fortress island of Trekroner. On Sunday and Thursday evenings during summer months there's even a 90-minute jazz cruise, with live music aboard the boat.

Description:

A gentle stroll from Klampenborg Station takes you into the woods of Dyrehaven, a former royal hunting ground. The giddy screams ahead should give you a clue that Bakken, the world's oldest amusement park, lies hidden amongst the trees. Open from the end of May until the end of September, entry to the 400 year-old park is free and tickets to the rides - some thankfully newer than the still-functioning wooden rollercoaster from 1932 - can be purchased singly or as a pass at Bakken's entrance. For the less young at heart, there are also plenty of restaurants, from fast food to traditional Danish, and revue-style entertainment. Alternatively, venture out into the 1000 hectares of woodland that is Dyrehaven, all completely open to the public and accessible by foot or bicycle. Deer have roamed freely in the forest since 1670, when they were introduced to what was then a royal hunting ground by King Frederik III, as a gift for his son.

Description:

'The Yellow Cottage' is a small, thatched house under oak and beech trees close to Bellevue Strand 7 miles up the coast from Copenhagen. The restaurant offers seasonal, gourmet food made with local ingredients. A pricey but worthwhile experience.

Description:

Frederiksborg Castle is located in the middle of Hillerd and contains the National History Museum. Originally built by Frederik II in 1562, it was Christian IV who commissioned the wonderful Renaissance castle we know today. The castle burned down in 1859, and only the church is left; but the castle was rebuilt in 1865, from the outside looking just like before. Brewer Carl Jacobsen invested money so that the interior could be made like the original as well. Frederiksborg Slot contains a fine collection of photographs and portraits.

Description:

The park gardens of Frederiksborg Palace were laid out between 1720 and 1725 and are widely considered to be the best example of the style in Denmark. After forty years and three different kings, the lavish and complex lawns, fountains and hedges of the palace fell into decline at the end of the 18th-century and it was not until the 1990s that enough money was invested into the gardens and they could be viewed once again as they had been in the time of King Frederik IV. The immense task of re-landscaping the gardens included the planting of 65,000 box plants and 166 pyramid-shaped yew trees. There is also a 19th-century romantic garden and a lake. From May to September, visitors can enjoy sitting outside the garden cafe, where there are also toilet facilities. The gardens themselves are open daily from 8am all year round, until 9pm in summer and 6pm in off-season.

Our Local Expert Says:

A fascinating walkway to a great view of the city.

Description:

Europe's oldest functioning observatory, the Rundetårn (or Round Tower) was built under the orders of King Christian IV in 1642, and remains a fascinating piece of architectural engineering. Central to this (and unique in Europe) is the 209 meter-long spiral ramp, which twists around the tower 7.5 times before reaching the top of the 34.8 meter-high tower. With Copenhagen's landscape decidedly lacking in tall buildings, the summit still affords some of the best views over the city. As well as its astronomical purpose, today's Round Tower is home to a modest gallery hosting changing exhibitions as well as concerts.

Description:

Before this Japanese restaurant moved in, there was a gloomy pub on these premises. The façade is still the old one, creating a funny combination: the dark, inhospitable exterior and the very opposite, light, Japanese, stylishly welcoming interior of the restaurant. The light, open room with tables for 42 guests is decorated with rice-paper lamps, and the furniture and bar counter are made of light wood. There is a quiet and respectful atmosphere in here, and able service as well. At Sakura you can even watch the sushi chef in action inside the restaurant, doing his job with accuracy and patience. A Sushi dinner costs DKK200; 10 pieces of sushi cost DKK170. Apart from the sushi selection, Sakura also offers warm Japanese dishes. Have Japanese beer (DKK35) or sake (DKK45) with your food, and don't forget to reserve a table.