Copenhagen: the premier capital of northern Europe
Copenhagen has been voted as the “best tourist destination in 2011” by European tourists, who have preferred it to Barcelona, Berlin, Rome and Madrid. How can we not agree … This “friendly old girl of a town” offers shopping, culture and nightlife opportunities, but remains an intimate and safe place, neither too large nor to small and easy to navigate. So let’s give start to our virtual journey, in order to learn about the old and new not-to-be-missed attractions in Copenhagen.
Culture and sightseeing
Possibly on one of the thousand bikes daily wandering all around the city, start from a visit to the Tivoli Gardens – the greatest attraction in Scandinavia and one of the world’s best known amusement parks.
A true symbol of Copenhagen, The Little Mermaid statue was a present from brewer Carl Jacobsen (The Carlsberg Breweries) to the city of Copenhagen, made by sculptor Eriksen in 1913.
The Opera House of Copenhagen was opened one year ago. This jewel of modern architecture by architect Henning Larsen is fast becoming the new landmark of the city.
Among the main museums it is worth mentioning the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek – museum of impressionist and post-impressionist art – and the Statens Museum for Kunst, displaying works by Matisse and Picasso. Moreover, don’t miss a self guided tour at the old Carlsberg Brewery – at the end of which you get free samples of fresh, delicious brew. The zoo of Copenhagen, finally, is the largest in Europe.
Dining, food & restaurants
Until the 80s, tourists have liked Danish cuisine probably just because it was the best if compared to the rest of Scandinavia. However, to be frank, the choice of dishes was neither wide nor varied and to break monotony Danes have often drawn influences from German cuisine. Well, things have clearly changed with the arrival of fusion cuisine, enjoyable in restaurants such as the Cofoco, Kong Hans Kælder or Cap Horn, all releasing the new, charming character of Copenhagen. You can enjoy the purest Nordic cuisine at the Noma, a world-famed restaurant serving delights based on musk ox, wild birds and local berries. Easy-goers who want to enjoy traditional food, should visit the small, family-run Ida Davidson, the city’s finest purveyor of smørrebrød (typical open sandwich with a choice of filling) with 250 varieties available.
Shopping and nightlife
Copenhagen’s famous pedestrian shopping street is called Strøget. Here you will find the beating heart of Copenhagen’s social life, with giant exclusive stores and curious specialty shops. Nightlife in Copenhagen changes fast and starts late. New clubs and bars spring up regularly. Some of the newer spots include: Subsonic – featuring a Bier Keller corner and dancing to 80’s music; Fever – a Hip hop and R&B club. The Base Camp, Copenhagen Jazz House, Stengade 30 are all wonderful venues for unusual nights out.
In short, nowadays Copenhagen is blossoming. There are new interesting architectures, more cafés and restaurants than ever and, more importantly, locals are learning how to make the most of it. If up to some time ago people went out only on weekends, now bars and cafés are crowded seven days a week, and places and streets are fostering with a uniquely Danish sense of wellbeing and conviviality.
Photo by daik+
About the Author
Andrea Guerriero Hi, I'm Andrea, a travel blogger, web programmer, seo apprentice and amateur photographer based in Milan. I love reading, I love music. I love to travel but only if I leave on a mission! I've been traveling through most of Europe and I love writing about it. I love photography, especially as a way to document experiences, places, events. My Nikon D300 camera is always with me, and it helps me in sharing my life with the rest of the world. Getting in touch with new people, different life styles and foreign traditions, and write about it, is all I can ask for.
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