Copenhagen is ideal for a few days’ getaway. A pleasant Scandinavian atmosphere and many beautiful sights await tourists.
Denmark’s capital and the most populous city in Scandinavia, the settlement first mentioned in the 11th century became the capital of Denmark in the early 15th century. During the reign of Christian IV in the 17th century, it developed into a significant regional center.
Copenhagen also ranks highly on the list of the world’s most livable cities and is considered one of the world’s most environmentally friendly cities.
I made a short trip to Copenhagen, you can read about it here!
Table of Contents
Copenhagen attractions
Amalienborg Palace
The complex is the winter residence of the Danish royal family. Over the centuries, numerous kings and their families have resided in the four palaces.
It consists of four identical, classical facade and internally rococo-style palaces surrounding an octagonal square (Amalienborg Slotsplads), with the equestrian statue of Amalienborg’s founder, King Frederick V, at its center.
The four parts of the complex are: Christian IX’s Palace, Christian VII’s Palace, Christian VIII’s Palace, and Frederick VIII’s Palace.
Frederik’s Church
Better known as the Marble Church, it is one of Copenhagen’s most iconic buildings.
In the 18th century, King Frederick V decided to build a magnificent church to glorify his reign. The construction began in 1749 but was only completed more than 150 years later, in 1894. Made of fine marble, which its name also reflects.
Known as a masterpiece of Danish classicism, the building is dominated by a massive dome, which is one of the city’s highest points and recognizable from afar. Its interior is characterized by marble and gold decorations.
The Citadel (Kastellet)
One of the best-preserved fortifications in Northern Europe, located by the seaside, close to the city center.
Its construction was started by King Christian IV in 1626, continued by his second-born son and successor, Frederick III. The fortress played a role in defending the city against the English in the Battle of Copenhagen in 1807.
Its layout is star-shaped. Its five bastions are named: King’s Bastion (Kongens Bastion), Queen’s Bastion (Dronningens Bastion), Count’s Bastion (Grevens Bastion), Princess’s Bastion (Prinsessens Bastion), and Prince’s Bastion (Prinsens Bastion). The fortress has its own church and windmill.
Gefion Fountain
Located next to the fortress, it’s the city’s most beautiful fountain.
The Danish mythological goddess Gefion stands in a chariot pulled by four massive oxen. According to legend, these were her sons, whom she turned into oxen; they plowed the land to create the island of Zealand, where Copenhagen is located today. 🙂
Along with the fortress, it’s a great photo spot.
Rosenborg Castle
This magnificent Renaissance building represents an important piece of Denmark’s history and culture.
Ordered by King Christian IV in 1606 as a summer residence, the construction was completed in 1633. Over the years, the castle underwent numerous modifications and expansions but always retained its original Renaissance style. Its exterior is characterized by red brick walls and green copper roofs, along with decorative windows and towers.
The building houses portraits of royal family members and masterpieces of contemporary art. Among the most beautiful rooms are the Great Hall, known for its stained glass and ceiling frescoes, and the throne room, where the Danish kings’ coronation thrones are located.
It also houses the Danish coronation regalia, including the crown, scepter, and orb. The treasury contains royal jewels, as well as the Amalienborg silver and the Flora Danica porcelain collection.
Rosenhaven
The Rose Garden is located next to Rosenborg Castle.
Numerous varieties of roses and other flowers can be seen. It is particularly spectacular during the summer months when the roses are in full bloom, and the entire garden is fragrant.
Christiansborg Palace
The palace houses the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Supreme Court, and the Royal Reception Rooms.
Before the current one, two palaces stood here. This was built in the early 1900s after the previous palaces were destroyed by fires. The new building was designed by Thorvald Jørgensen in a neo-baroque style.
Some parts are open to the public, like the Parliament visitor center, the Royal Reception Rooms, and the palace tower, which offers one of the best views of the city. All information here!
City Hall (Rådhus)
The center of Copenhagen’s administration, it is also a tourist attraction because of its exterior.
The building was designed by Martin Nyrop and inaugurated in 1905. In designing it, Nyrop applied the style elements of Danish national romanticism, drawing inspiration from medieval Italian city halls, especially the one in Siena. Its distinctive features are its brickwork, towers, and bastions, as well as its intricately detailed decorations.
Its most famous part is one of the world’s most accurate mechanical clocks, the Jens Olsen’s World Clock (Verdensur). This clock not only shows the time but is also capable of accurately following the year, days, astronomical cycles, and other temporal measurements.
Nyhavn
This is a canal and the surrounding buildings ensemble. One of the most well-known parts of Copenhagen, where tourists love to visit.
The old houses, once home to merchants, have been renovated and now host numerous restaurants. The differently colored houses look beautiful along the waterfront. Old ships can also be seen in the harbor.
Strøget
Copenhagen’s shopping street, which is one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe.
The streetscape is rich in cultural and historical elements. Amagertorv, one of the street’s main areas, is famous for the beautiful Stork Fountain (Storkespringvandet).
Rundetaarn
The Round Tower was built in 1642 by King Christian IV as an observatory to aid the development of science.
The uniqueness of the tower lies in its interior, where instead of stairs, a 7.5 turn spiral ramp leads to the top, making it unique in Europe. This solution originally served to allow access to the top by horseback or carriage, thus facilitating the transport of astronomical instruments.
From its top, there is a magnificent view of the city, offering a 360-degree panorama.
The Little Mermaid Statue
The bronze statue located at Langelinie Pier represents the main character of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, The Little Mermaid.
The statue, erected in 1913, is relatively small, only 1.25 meters high, which often surprises tourists seeing it for the first time. Nonetheless, it’s a must-see.
Opera House
Denmark’s national opera house is among the world’s most modern buildings of its kind.
The building’s width is 90 meters, its length 127 meters, but the roof length reaches 158 meters: extending 32 meters beyond the building in front of the five-story high glass facade. Its total height is 38 meters.
The 1700-seat building was constructed using quality stone and metal materials, including 105,000 gold-smoke plates. The facade is clad in Jurassic limestone from North Germany, while the surrounding public areas and quaysides are covered in Chinese granite. The foyer and the hall are floored with maple wood.
Børsen
One of Copenhagen’s most significant historical buildings, it once housed Denmark’s stock exchange and now serves as the headquarters of the Danish Chamber of Commerce.
The Børsen building is most famous for its iconic spiral tower, formed by the intertwining tails of four dragons, symbolizing elements of Scandinavian mythology and Denmark’s commercial ties with Sweden, Norway, and Finland at the time.
Nyboder
A few streets away from Frederikskirke, you can see a district of yellow houses, which is particularly striking for its color.
This was established during the reign of King Christian IV of Denmark in the early 17th century, originally for the officers and sailors of the Danish navy. This initiative was one of the first state-supported housing construction projects in Europe.
Tivoli
The famous amusement district is one of the world’s oldest amusement parks.
Opened in 1843, the park offered many attractions even then. It not only provides entertainment options but also a chance to explore Danish culture and arts. The park houses the Pantomime Theater, which has been operating since the 19th century and still offers popular performances today.
Its significance is enhanced by the fact that it allegedly inspired Walt Disney for his own projects.
