Copenhagen Attractions

Tivoli main entrance © Tivoli

Tivoli Gardens

Copenhagen’s world-renowned Tivoli Gardens are ever so much more than just a central city park. The relatively small area in the heart of the city is actually one of the world’s most thrilling entertainment complexes, drawing about three million visitors during its five-month summer open season each year. Tivoli dates back to 1843 when Copenhagen was still a fortified city surrounded by tall ramparts and a deep moat. Today the Tivoli Lake is all that remains of the moat, which now reflects the incredible trademark fireworks displays that light the sky over the gardens twice a week. Tivoli is split in two, one section housing the beautiful miniature gardens where more than 100,000 flowers bloom, and the other the theme park with game arcades and thrill rides. Tivoli also boasts a concert hall and open-air stages where dozens of concerts, pantomimes and circus shows, many of them free, are offered during the season.

Address: Vesterbrogade 3; Telephone: 3315 1001; Website: www.tivoli.dk; Opening time: Open daily at 11am; closing times vary according to season, but usually between 11pm and 12am. See website for details; Admission: General Admission: kr 79 (adults); kr 40 (children 3-11 years), multi-ride tickets are kr 200 (adults), kr 150 (children). Season passes and concessions available

Historical Museums

The rich history of Denmark, from Viking days through to the Second World War resistance movement, is encapsulated in fascinating collections of artefacts housed in a series of museums in and around Copenhagen. The Prince's Palace in the city centre houses the National Museum (www.natmus.dk) covering Danish history in general and a collection of international antiquities. The open air museum a few miles north of the city makes for a fascinating excursion with its 100 or so buildings, most relocated from elsewhere in the country, set out to illustrate what life was like in rural Denmark in days of yore. Visitors can get up to date on the history of the city itself in the Copenhagen City Museum (www.bymuseum.dk), housed in the Royal Shooting Society's palace dating from 1787.

Address: The Copenhagen City Museum: Vesterbrogade 59; The National Museum: Ny Vestergade 10; Open Air Museum: Kongevejen 100; Telephone: Open Air Museum and National Museum: 33 134 411. Copenhagen City Museum: 33 210 772; Opening time: Copenhagen City Museum: Daily except Tuesdays 10am to 4pm, until 9pm on Wednesdays. National Museum: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm. Open Air Museum: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm (3 April and 30 September). Rest of the year Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm (until 9pm on Thursdays throughout July); Admission: Copenhagen City Museum: kr 20 (adults), children under 18 free; Fridays free for all. National Museum: Free. Open Air Museum: kr 25

National Gallery, Copenhagen

Art Galleries

Copenhagen is a city with a proud heritage of art and design, well showcased in numerous museums and galleries as well as architecture. Among the most renowned collections are those housed in the popular Museum of Decorative Arts (traces the history of Danish design www.kunstindustrimuseet.dk), the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (featuring world famous artists www.louisiana.dk), the National Gallery (more than 8,000 works dating from the 13th century to modern times www.smk.dk/smk.nsf/docs/splash) and the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (antiquities, French impressionists and contemporary Danish art www.glyptoteket.dk).

Address: Museum of Decorative Arts: Bredgade 68. Louisiana Museum of Modern Art: Gl. Strandvej 13, Humlebæk. National Gallery: Sølvgade 48-50. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek: Dantes Plads 7; Telephone: Museum of Decorative Arts: Tel: 3318 5656; Louisiana Museum of Modern Art: 4919 0719; National Gallery: 3374 8494; Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek: 3341 8141; Opening time: Museum of Decorative Arts: Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 5pm. Louisiana Museum of Modern Art: Daily 10am to 5pm, until 10pm on Wednesdays. National Gallery: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm, until 8pm on Wednesdays. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm; Admission: Museum of Decorative Arts: kr 50 (adults). Louisiana Museum of Modern art: kr 80 (adults), under 18s free. National Gallery: Free admission, charge for special exhibits. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek: kr 50 (adults), under 18s free. Concessions available

Nyhavn, Copenhagen

Nyhavn Canal

The picturesque historic Nyhavn Canal, dating from 1673 when it was built to connect the inner city to the sea, is today colloquially known as the ‘longest bar in Scandinavia’. This is because the pretty pastel-painted old townhouses that line the canal are fronted with numerous restaurants, pubs and cafes, full of action and entertainment 24 hours a day. The canal itself is crammed with old wooden sailing ships, adding to the atmosphere. Tourists enjoy not only the hospitality establishments along the canal but also visit the house at No.20 Nyhavn, home of famous fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, who wrote his first stories here between 1834 and 1838. Andersen later occupied two other houses in Nyhavn.

Website: www.nyhavn.com

Rosenborg Castle

The attractive Dutch Renaissance style Rosenborg Castle was designed by King Christian IV and served as his home until he died in 1648. Today the Castle is an important cultural institution, acting as a public museum detailing the history of Denmark's royal family as well as acting as repository for the Crown Jewels and royal regalia, which are kept in the castle cellars and can be viewed by the public. The magnificent castle gardens are a welcome retreat from the city hustle and bustle.

Address: Øster Voldgade 4; Telephone: 3315 3286; E-mail: museum@dkks.dk; Website: www.rosenborg-slot.dk; Opening time: Open daily from 10am to 4pm/5pm during the summer season, and from 11am to 3pm during the winter months. Closed 17-26 December. Times can vary month to month, however, so consult website for details; Admission: Entry to the gardens is free. The castle: kr 65 (adults); children under 17 free; kr 40 (concessions). Photos kr 20