COPENHAGEN IN ONE DAY: THE ITINERARY

18 Sep COPENHAGEN IN ONE DAY: THE ITINERARY

The first time I visited Copenhagen I was 17: it was autumn, I was living in Sweden just across the bridge and ended up visiting the danish capital with a friend. We spent the afternoon being silly at the Tivoli, and then went to discover the “forbidden” free city of Cristiania. Copenhagen was wet, smoky and mysterious, and it enchanted me back then.

Since then, I visited it countless times, but the last one this summer was a quick visit of barely one day.

The capital of Denmark is a lively and interesting city, but not at all big, so discovering it in one day is possible, and I will show you how:

1 – START! THE CENTRAL STATION

It’s most likely that you will reach Copenhagen by train: it connects to Sweden via the Oresund’s bridge, to the airport and to all major cities in the country.

The train station is located in the very center of the city, so from it you won’t have any difficulties in reaching all other sites by feet.

We are going to do it right now!

2 – RADHUSPLADSEN AND NYGADE

 views of Nygade

A few steps from the station, just after the Tivoli, you will find yourself in Radhuspladsen, the Town Hall square, hosting, well, the Town Hall, a very charming building located in a square most of the time very crowded.

As you proceed take Nygade, a pedestrian street full of shops and cafes, very famous among both locals and tourists. If you follow it without leaving it, it will change names, and will lead you all the way to Kongens Nytorv and Nyhavn, through many picturesque squares and monuments, some of these being the Helligåndskirken – Church of the Holy Spirit, the square of Amagertorv hosting the Stork Fountain.

3 – KONGENS NYTORV AND NYHAVN

Nyhavn might be my favorite spot in town. It’s pretty much a canal that developes from Kongens nytorv, one of the most important squares in town, and it can reminiscent the ones in Amsterdam.

The only thing that you can find in Nyhavn are restaurants, one after another, yet they are always packed with people, no matter what time it is.

This said, if you are lucky, I would advise having a bite there. It’s quite expensive and yes you would have to wait, but sitting in the sun with that view is priceless.

ROYAL DANISH PLAYHOUSE AND LARSEN PLADS

Frederiks Kirke as seen from Larsen Plads

Leaving Nyhavn on the left side, proceed to the Royal Danish Playhouse and take the Larsen Plads: it’s a very charming sea-side promenade that will lead you to the Kastellet park and the Little Mermaid.

4 – THE LITTLE MERMAID

Ah the Little Mermaid. You will have to walk a bit to reach her, but all the other tourists will do it as well, so expect her to be in good company.

To be honest the first time I saw her I was a bit disappointed. Not only I had walked all the way through the whole city in a windy freezing storm, but when I arrived I expected her to be … I don’t know.. different. Maybe bigger. And she is located in a pretty uncharming corner. The park is great, but the view you get from the point she is it’s a bit industrial.

This said, the little mermaid remains the sweetheart of Copenhagen, and its most visited spot.

KASTELLET

If you remain a bit disappointed by the Little Mermaid, at least you can enjoy the Kastellet park that developes just above her spot. It hosts a cute little church, and a magnificent fountain, one of the biggest I’ve ever seen. Its name it’s the Gefion fountain and it’s actually the biggest monument in Copenhagen.

5 – RUNDETAARN

From the Kastellet park you can take Kronprincessesgade and find your way to Kobmagergade, another pedestrian street. Then turn left until you find the Rundetaarn. This tower, once an observatory, has an accessible rooftop from where you can enjoy a fantastic 360 degrees view over the danish Capital. In clear days, you can spot even the Oresund’s bridge and the swedish coastline.

How could I hold myself from getting on top of Copenhagen??

Rundetaarn as seen from Kobmagergade

random views in town

After visiting Rundetaarn, we were so tired that all we could do was getting lost to find something to eat, so this is the end of our Copenhagen itinerary, of course this doesn’t mean that there aren’t a lot of other things to do and see in Copenhagen if you have more time.

Two of the most important would be visiting the Tivoli, a huge theme park which is said to have inspired Walt Disney for its Disneylands, and the free city of Cristiania, a very odd place, famous for its pot and light drugs legalized sale and consumption.

Have you ever visited Copenhagen?

Which other spots caught your attention?