City Guides : Copenhagen

With a population approaching two million and a superb location in the Oresund region bordering the Swedish city of Malmo, Copenhagen is the lively, cultured capital of Denmark. It has received awards for its excellent quality of life and it is a major hub for science, IT and business.

Copenhagen is a beautiful city to explore, with a myriad of historical treasures and contemporary attractions. The oldest part of the city, known as the Medieval City, contains some interesting elements including St. Peter’s Church and Christiansborg Palace. However the later 18th century district of Frederiksstaden contains the more spectacular traditional architecture, such as the four palaces of Amalienborg Palace, the beautifully domed Frederick’s Church and Frederiks Hospital. The region also contains stunning examples of modern architecture such as the Opera House overlooking the harbour, and the Royal Playhouse is also found here, making this an exciting district for the arts.

Interesting areas to wander around include Christianshavn in the city centre, a trendy and lively residential area. In the district is Christiania, a large communal area founded by hippies in 1971 on the site of former military barracks. Other attractions in Christianshavn are the Baroque Church of our Saviour, the Rococco Christian’s Church, the Danish Architecture Centre and the museum of Little Molle.

Copenhagen is an environmentally friendly city with many parks and open green spaces. The popular Rosenborg Castle Gardens include Renaissance and Baroque style gardens, while the Botanical Gardens contain beautiful glasshouses dating from 1874. Other parks include Fælledparken, Kastellet, and the English country park inspired Frederiksberg Park. The park of Langelinie on the harbour contains an attractive promenade and pier, and is also home to the Little Mermaid, a statue inspired by the fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson.

If shopping is more your thing, Copenhagen has some fantastic shopping districts. Stroget is a long pedestrian street, with major international brands such as Louis Vuitton and Karen Millen alongside smaller boutiques, street performers and cafes.
Copenhagen hosts several events throughout the year, including the world renowned Roskilde Festival and smaller music festivals such as the Green Concert, Strom Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival and Copenhagen Opera Festival. Arts events also include Copenhagen International Sand Sculpture Festival and the Trailerpark Festival.

Getting to and around Copenhagen is easy. There are regular flights from Heathrow Airport as well as other major UK airports. Public transport is reliable, with efficient bus, train and Metro links. Cycling is popular and an excellent way to see the city. It can be rewarding to wander around the city on foot, and the central attractions are close enough to make this a pleasant way to explore this laidback and relaxed city.

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