Nyhavn, Copenhagen
Why? Anyone fortunate enough to holiday in Copenhagen
will testify to the fact that the lovely Danish capital is one of
Europe's most desirable destinations. Its attractions are many, and
easily accessible on foot; its architecture reflects its centuries
of history; its shops are upmarket and splendid; its restaurants
are superb. To sum it up in a word, Copenhagen is simply
wonderful!
When? A summer holiday in Copenhagen is ideal, especially
for those intent on making the most of Tivoli Gardens, the city's
popular amusement park, and the pavement cafes on the pretty
squares. A Copenhagen holiday is also magical in the run-up to
Christmas, when the snow-covered city takes on a fairy-tale aspect
and it is fun to shop for gifts in the Christmas markets.
Who for? A holiday in Copenhagen is a magical experience for
children and anyone who is young at heart, with its wonderful
Tivoli funfair and association with Hans Christian Andersen's
fairy-tales. Culture vultures travel to Copenhagen to enjoy its
many theatres, arts events and music concerts.
More Info? Find out all the delights that await you on a
Copenhagen holiday by consulting our Copenhagen travel guide, which
lists details of the major events and attractions in the city, as
well as providing basic information for planning travel to
Copenhagen.
Overview
The waterside city of Copenhagen is packed with old-world
fairytale charm alongside some of the world's most avante garde
architecture. It is a vibrant, modern city with a long and
fascinating history, having been the capital of Denmark for close
on 600 years and home to the oldest resident monarchy in the
world.
The biggest city in Scandinavia, Copenhagen occupies a pleasant
and strategic spot on the Baltic east coast of Denmark's largest
island, Zealand, its harbour overlooked by the world-famous statue
of the 'Little Mermaid'.
One of the first impressions that strike visitors to this busy,
dynamic capital is the cleanliness and orderliness that prevails in
its narrow medieval cobbled central city streets and along the
picturesque canals in Christianshavn. Most of the myriad
attractions for visitors are situated within about one square mile
(3 sq km) of flat terrain in the centre, making it easy to explore
on foot (or bicycle, which is the vehicle of choice for
locals).
Five streets in the heart of the city have been merged to
provide the world's longest pedestrian mall, running between
Rådhuspladsen and Kongens Nytorv, which are packed with
historic gabled buildings, dynamic department stores, stunning
shops, restaurants, pavement cafes, theatres, and world-class
museums and galleries.
Despite the condensed city centre, Copenhagen is not short on
green lungs: parks such as the ever-popular Tivoli Gardens abound
in this city, which prides itself on its strict anti-pollution laws
and lack of glass and chrome skyscrapers.
The family-friendly city that spawned Hans Christian Andersen
is, indeed, a modern fairy-tale: one of Europe's finest capitals
that retains a provincial charm and sense of history along with its
cutting-edge efficiency, offering its justifiably proud citizens an
extremely high standard of living.
