In collaboration with Wonderful Copenhagen and Visit Copenhagen we bring a series of articles to discover this year’s Eurovision host city Copenhagen. Today we will check out the Danish capital’s sightseeing hot spots: where to go, what to see and what to do.
Copenhagen oozes of history and effortlessly combines old and new, preserving its 1000-year history yet always looking to the future with open arms, hearts and minds. From history museums, castles and statues to art museums, world-class architecture and amusement parks – Copenhagen has many different attractions and sights to offer for every taste.
All these possibilities can be overwhelming and confusing. A good idea to get a first impression of Copenhagen are guided tours, which provide you with basic information about the city and the attractions. Guided tours also give you the opportunity to do some sightseeing on short visits with limited spare time.
City Hall Square
You can take your pick among various tours. There are the classic guided tours like the Hop On Hop Off bus, where you learn about Copenhagen while leaning back, watching and listening. You can also take a trip by boat as the city is surrounded by water and thus gained the name “Venice of the North”. These tours are conducted in Danish, English, French, and German.
Nyhavn Harbour
With CPH:cool’s trendy guided walks through Copenhagen, you will be able to see Copenhagen from a different side. Discover hidden parts of the city that can be hard to find on your own and which are categorised into themed tours about architecture, design, fashion, urban and gastronomy.
You loved the Danish TV series “The Killing”, “Borgen” and “The Bridge” and are already looking forward to experiencing the actor Pilou Asbæk (Kasper Juul in “Borgen”) live on stage as host of the Eurovision Song Contest? Take one of Peter and Ping Literary Walks and follow the guide to some of the crime locations in Copenhagen to get to know more about the background of the series.
Copenhagen has just been awarded green European Capital 2014 with the ambitious goal of being carbon free by 2025. This strategy includes a lot of initiatives concerning transportation, energy supply and adjusting to climate changes. Green Energy Tours take you around by with the purpose of introducing the green Copenhagen to you.
You can find more sightseeing tours and information about booking here: http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/culture/guided-tours
Attractions
Copenhagen is compact, easy to navigate in and ideal to experience it for yourself. Here are some recommended attractions for those of you in favor of putting together your own sightseeing tour.
Royal Copenhagen
Copenhagen is home to the world’s oldest monarchy and many castles and palaces. To catch a glimpse of the life of the current royal family, however, you should concentrate on the following three: Amalienborg Palace, Christiansborg Palace and Rosenborg Castle.
Amalienborg Palace
The first one, Amalienborg Palace, is the main residence of Her Majesty the Queen. When the flag is raised, it signals that the Queen is present. The changing of the Danish Royal Guard takes place every day at 12:00.
Christianborg Palace
In Christiansborg Palace, you can visit the Royal Reception Rooms, which are used by the Queen and the Prince Consort for official occasions.
Rosenborg Castle.
Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen is home to some of Denmark’s greatest cultural treasures. In the basement, you will find the Danish crown jewels and regalia.
Other treasure of Danish royal history can be found here: http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/royal-denmark/top-10-royal-copenhagen
Museums in Copenhagen
In the heart of the city close to the Eurovision Fan Mile, you can find the oldest functioning observatory in Europe: the Round Tower. To get to the top of the tower, the visitor walks up the spiral walk. This means that you walk around 209 meters to get to top even though the tower is only 36 meters tall.
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
Close to the start of the Eurovision Fan Mile (City Hall Square) the art museum Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is located, which is worth a visit due to its department of ancient art and the impressive architectural surroundings.
If you are interest in visiting museums in the Danish capital you can can find more information: http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/history/history-museums
Have you been celebrating the Eurovision Song Contest for a couple of days and need some quiet to gather your strength? The beautiful museum Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is located 40 kilometers north of Copenhagen and it has gained a reputation as a museum in touch with the zeitgeist of the contemporary art world.
It is also possible to enjoy art without leaving the city in the National Gallery of Denmark. It is Denmark’s largest art museum, featuring outstanding collections of Danish and international art from the past seven centuries.
Do you want to know other art museums in Copenhagen? Follow this link: http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/art/top-10-art-museums
Tivoli Gardens
At Tivoli Gardens you do not look for quiet. Tivoli is the world’s second oldest amusement park and is one of Copenhagen’s most famous attractions. Tivoli is filled with wild rides, green oases, gourmet food, rock concerts and much more – all in the very heart of the city.
Tivoli Gardens
Aquariums
The Blue Planet – Denmark’s Aquarium – is Northern Europe’s largest aquarium and offers a unique experience not only for children.
Many more attractions in Copenhagen can be found here: http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/top-30-attractions-1
Copenhagen Card
Copenhagen Card gives you free entrance to 75 museums and attractions, unlimited transportation with bus, train and metro, discount on sightseeing tours and car rental.
Stay tuned to esctoday.com for the latest news on esctoday.com for the latest news on Denmark and the Eurovision Song Contest.
