Tivoli GardensCity/Region: Copenhagen
Copenhagen's world-renowned
Tivoli Gardens are ever so much more than just a central city park. The relatively small area in the heart of the city is actually one of the world's most thrilling entertainment complexes, drawing about three million visitors during its five-month summer open season each year.
Tivoli dates back to 1843 when
Copenhagen was still a fortified city surrounded by tall ramparts and a deep moat. Today the Tivoli Lake is all that remains of the moat, which now reflects the incredible trademark fireworks displays
that light the sky over the gardens twice a week. Tivoli is split in two, one section housing the beautiful miniature gardens where more than 100,000 flowers bloom, and the other the theme park with game arcades and thrill rides. Tivoli also boasts a concert hall and open-air stages where dozens of concerts, pantomimes and circus shows, many of them free, are offered during the season.
Address: Vesterbrogade 3
Phone Number: 3315 1001
Website: www.tivoli.dk
Hours: Open daily at 11am; closing times vary according to season, but usually between 11pm and 12am. See website for details
Admission: General Admission: kr 85 (adults); kr 45 (children 3-11 years), multi-ride tickets are kr 200 (adults), kr 160 (children). Season passes and concessions available
Historical MuseumsCity/Region: Copenhagen
The rich history of
Denmark, from Viking days through to the Second World War resistance movement, is encapsulated in fascinating collections of artifacts housed in a series of museums in and around Copenhagen. The Prince's Palace in the city center houses the National Museum (www.natmus.dk) covering Danish history in general and a collection of international antiquities. The open air museum a few miles north of the city makes for a fascinating excursion with its 100 or so buildings, most relocated from elsewhere in the country, set out to illustrate what life was like in rural Denmark in days of yore. Visitors can get up to date on the history of the city itself in the
Copenhagen City Museum (www.bymuseum.dk), housed in the
Royal Shooting Society's palace dating from 1787.
Address: The Copenhagen City Museum: Vesterbrogade 59; The National Museum: Ny Vestergade 10; Open Air Museum: Kongevejen 100
Phone Number: Open Air Museum and National Museum: 33 134 411. Copenhagen City Museum: 33 210 772
Hours: Copenhagen City Museum: Daily except Tuesdays 10am to 4pm, until 9pm on Wednesdays. National Museum: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm. Open Air Museum: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm (3 April and 30 September). Rest of the year Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm (until 9pm on Thursdays throughout July)
Admission: Copenhagen City Museum: kr 20 (adults), children under 18 free; Fridays free for all. National Museum: Free. Open Air Museum: kr 25
Art GalleriesCity/Region: Copenhagen
Copenhagen is a city with a proud heritage of art and design, well showcased in numerous museums and galleries as well as architecture. Among the most renowned collections are those housed in the popular
Museum of Decorative Arts (traces the history of Danish design www.kunstindustrimuseet.dk), the
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (featuring world famous artists www.louisiana.dk), the
National Gallery (more than 8,000 works dating from the 13th century to modern times www.smk.dk/smk.nsf/docs/splash) and the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (antiquities, French impressionists and contemporary Danish art www.glyptoteket.dk).
Address: Museum of Decorative Arts: Bredgade 68. Louisiana Museum of Modern Art: Gl. Strandvej 13, Humlebæk. National Gallery: Sølvgade 48-50. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek: Dantes Plads 7
Phone Number: Museum of Decorative Arts: Tel: 3318 5656; Louisiana Museum of Modern Art: 4919 0719; National Gallery: 3374 8494; Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek: 3341 8141
Hours: Museum of Decorative Arts: Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 5pm. Louisiana Museum of Modern Art: Daily 10am to 5pm, until 10pm on Wednesdays. National Gallery: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm, until 8pm on Wednesdays. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm
Admission: Museum of Decorative Arts: kr 50 (adults).
Louisiana Museum of Modern art: kr 80 (adults), under 18s free. National Gallery: Free admission, charge for special exhibits. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek: kr 50 (adults), under 18s free. Concessions available
Nyhavn CanalCity/Region: Copenhagen
The picturesque historic
Nyhavn Canal, dating from 1673 when it was built to connect the inner city to the sea, is today colloquially known as the 'longest bar in
Scandinavia'. This is because the pretty pastel-painted old townhouses that line the canal are fronted with numerous restaurants, pubs and cafes, full of action and entertainment 24 hours a day. The canal itself is crammed with old wooden sailing ships, adding to the atmosphere. Tourists enjoy not only the hospitality establishments along the canal but also visit the house at No.20 Nyhavn, home of famous fairy-tale writer
Hans Christian Andersen, who wrote his first stories here between 1834 and 1838. Andersen later occupied two other houses in Nyhavn.
Website: www.nyhavn.com
Rosenborg CastleCity/Region: Copenhagen
The attractive Dutch Renaissance style
Rosenborg Castle was designed by King Christian IV and served as his home until he died in 1648. Today the Castle is an important cultural institution, acting as a public museum detailing the history of Denmark's royal family as well as acting as repository for the Crown Jewels and royal regalia, which are kept in the castle cellars and can be viewed by the public. The magnificent castle gardens are a welcome retreat from the city hustle and bustle.
Address: Øster Voldgade 4
Phone Number: 3315 3286
Email Address: museum@dkks.dk
Website: www.rosenborg-slot.dk
Hours: Open daily from 10am to 4pm/5pm during the summer season, and from 11am to 3pm during the winter months. Closed 17-26 December. Times can vary month to month, however, so consult website for details
Admission: Entry to the gardens is free. The castle: kr 65 (adults); children under 17 free; kr 40 (concessions). Photos kr 20
Freetown ChristianiaCity/Region: Copenhagen
Freetown Christiania is a partially self-governing neighborhood in the borough of Christianshavn, Copenhagen, dominated largely by a freethinking 'hippy' culture. Local rules forbid stealing, violence, guns, knives, bulletproof vests and hard drugs. Aside from its cannabis smoking affinity, Christiana is also well known for its inhabitants' love of meditation and yoga, and abroad it is celebrated as a showcase of the progressive and liberated Danish lifestyle. Christiania is considered a 'Losers' Paradise' for the creative and recreational values widely practiced in the area. However, visitors can enjoy the neighborhood's peaceful green environment and its magical combination of village and metropolitan life.
Address: Christianshavn
The Little MermaidCity/Region: Copenhagen
The Little Mermaid, basking on a rock at the Langelinie harbor, is one of Denmark's biggest tourist attractions. The sculpture was put up in 1913, and over a million people visit the mermaid every year. At only about 4 feet (1.25m) high, she is very small, with naked breasts and a fish tail; she seems to be in her true element when the waves crash against her rock. The sculptor,
Edvard Eriksen, modeled the mermaid's head after ballerina
Ellen Price. When the ballerina wouldn't model in the nude for the body, the sculptor's wife posed for him. There are some similarities between the Little Mermaid and the 'Pania of the Reef' statue on the Napier beachfront in
New Zealand, and with
Vancouver's 'Girl in a Wetsuit' sculpture.
Address: Langelinie Harbour
Christiansborg PalaceCity/Region: Copenhagen
When sightseeing in Denmark, the Christiansborg Palace is an architecture or history lover's dream, and a winter snowfall adds to its romantically royal appearance. This is further enhanced by the presence of ruins dating as far back as 1167 AD, when it existed as Absalon's Castle. The complex consists of several different buildings, centered by a neo-baroque core, and is home to important institutions; the
Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister's Office and the Supreme Court. The royal family uses the palace church, the Royal Reception Rooms and the Riding Ground Complex. From the front steps of the main castle, there are also some stunning churches within easy viewing distance. This attraction embodies the essence of Danish history, architecture and royalty.
Address: Slotsholmen
Hours: Open daily (except Mondays form October to April), 10am to 4pm.
Admission: Royal Reception Rooms, adults DKK65 and children DKK30; the Ruins, adults DKK40 and children DKK20.
Legoland BillundCity/Region: Copenhagen
Legoland Billund, the original Legoland Park, is a holiday must for children visiting Denmark. Opened in 1968, it plays host to numerous visitors from all over the world and is conveniently situated next to the original
Lego factory. The features are divided into 'Worlds', including Denmark's iconic Miniland as well as
Duplo Land, Imagination Zone, Legoredo Town,
Adventure Land,
Pirate Land, Lego City and the Knights' Kingdom. With a legendary selection of rides, shops and eateries,
Legoland Billund has something to offer to everyone in the family, kids and folks alike!
Address: Billund
Phone Number: +45 7533 1333
Website: www.legoland.dk
Hours: Seasonal, open April to October.
