- Copenhagen
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Denmark
Zoos are zoos are zoos but Copenhagen Zoo is a great getaway for the family and it is unique in that it is located very close to town. A simple bus or bike ride from Central Station.
Built in 1859, the Zoo has evolved well. The petting zoo is super for kids and Sir Norman Foster has designed the coming Elephant House.
The Zoo is open 365 days a year!
Copenhagen Zoo
Roskildevej 32
www.zoo.dk
The hot spot for young, hungover city dwellers. You're lucky to get a table on a Saturday but try the Hang-over Brunch and, if necessary, order a painkiller pill with it.
Brunch is served from 10-13 except Saturday 10-12 and Sunday 10-15.
In town at:
Læderstræde 32
Tel: (+45)33 13 50 60
www.zirup.dk/
The main newsstand in the Central Station is the best place to buy the papers. They're usually on the racks in the late morning.
In addition, this newsstand has the best selection of papers from across Europe as well as magazines.
Central Station.
When entering through the main entrance, the newsstand is on the left across from McDonalds.
Neither here nor there by Bill Bryson reveals his love affair with Copenhagen. He travels throughout Europe in the book but his passages about CPH are great. He loved it and was convinced that all the old and ugly people are put away in the summer so that only beautiful people are on the streets.
Bookshops or online
A long line of famous Danes are buried here. Among those known abroad are Hans Christian Andersen, Soren Kierkegaard and Niels Bohr.
It's an oasis in the middle of the noisy Nørrebro neighbourhood and has been used as a park for decades.
If you visit in the summer don't be suprised to see half-naked locals lounging on blankets in the sun.
A wonderful graveyard in all seasons.
Located along Nørrebrogade - the long, yellow wall is it. Bus 5A will take you there from the centre or it's a 30 min. walk up Nørrebrogade.
Open 8-16 (winter) and 8-20 (summer).
A stone's throw from the town hall square, the Danish Design Centre showcases all that is hot in Danish design. There's always an exhibition on and their shop is guaranteed to tickle your fancy with its wealth of cutting edge design wares.
Entree: 40 kroner (20 for students)
H.C. Andersens Boulevard 27. Just south of the Town Hall.
Tel +45 3369 3369
www.ddc.dk/
Ironic isn't it? The design hotel phenomenon was late in coming to this Mother of All Design Nations. But Hotel Sankt Petri has got the whole concept wrapped up. Housed in an old department store, the hotel offers an über modern hotel experience. In short, it's the urban resort of choice for the demanding, travelling urbanite. There's a bar, brasserie and a cafe.
Prices start at 2,100 kroner.
Located in the heart of town.
www.sktpetri.dk/
Vesterbro is a dynamic, youthful neighbourhood well worth a visit. Istedgade is the main street to wander down. By the central station there are sex shops, tourist hotels and a mini Chinatown, but continue on and soon lively middle-eastern green grocers, trendy boutiques and wonderful cafes appear.
A high concentration of great and varied restaurants, fantastic coffee places and an invaluable insight into the daily life of Copenhageners are to be found in this old working class neighbourhood.
To the left of the Central Station on the map. Walk up Istedgade to Enghave Plads (square). At an amble it'll take a relaxing 30 minutes.
Wondering what those strange-looking bikes chained to bike racks are? They're free transport opportunities. Pop in a 20 krone coin - just like a shopping trolley - take the bike and ride. You can deliver it back to any other bike rack in the city centre. There is a limit to how far outside the centre you can ride but the fully-adjustable bikes have a map on them. Understand the Copenhageners by riding alongside them. Be warned, however... stick to the right, just like driving. Obey the traffic signals. Just like driving a car.
All over town. Costs 20 kroner in deposit - based on a shopping trolley system.
Web: www.bycyklen.dk/
The main tourist information bureau is opposite the main gate of Tivoli, on the railway station side of the Town Hall square. Lots of leaflets, helpful staff - but usually a long queue. If arriving at the airport there is an information desk there which can usually help and very seldom has more than a couple of people ahead of you - it's diagonally ahead on your left as you come out of the customs end of the arrivals area.
For local (greater Copenhagen) transport info and tickets use the glass box building in the Town Hall square.Its an integrated system and the same tickets cover buses, local trains, the metro and the waterbuses.
Hotel close to the central station, and withing walking distance to the major sites. The Tiffany has little kitchenettes in the room, so you can stock up in local shops.
www.hotel-tiffany.dk/
Hotel Tiffany
Halmtorvet 1
1700 København V
Tel.: +45 3321 8050
tiffany@hoteltiffany.dk
The best place to shop for antiques is just across The Lakes from the city centre where over 30 antique dealers are gathered in one street - Ravnsborggade. All independent and varied but conveniently located side by side. A nice walk - whether you're window shopping or looking for hardcore bargains on 'old things'.
Start at the corner of Nørrebrogade and Ravnsborggade. Just across Dronning Louise's Bridge. Check this website for more info (click on the Union Jack for UK version): www.ravnsborggade.dk/
From outside it's a big, impressive old building. But it's what's inside that counts.
The Town Hall is beautiful and church-like inside. Check out the Wedding Rooms - the murals on the walls are worthy of a religious building. But this is where Copenhageners get hitched in secular fashion. Show up on Saturday and witness the atmosphere in the waiting area. It's magic. Hey, why not sneak in with a large wedding party? Nobody will notice. My wife and I are still wondering who those two ladies in all our wedding photos are.
The Town Hall is, not suprisingly, located on the Town Hall Square or Rådhuspladsen.
Basically every tourist guide to Copenhagen will feature a photo of Nyhavn as the defining iconic image of the city.
The name means New Harbour, an optimistic description for what is merely a straight canal running from the harbour up to Kongens Nytorv Square.
But the gaily painted old houses are eye candy for the tourist and the old sailing ships bobbing at the quay are a long line of photo ops.
What used to be the drunken, whoring sailor's favourite haunt is now a long line of cafés that laugh behind your back for paying so much for their beer.
But it's pretty. Go for a walk. Drink beer elsewhere.
Metro to Kongens Nytorv or walk along the pedestrian street Strøget.
Good online site about what's happening in Cph. Also has a tourist section.
Great area for bars, places to eat and small fashion stores. Good place to meet young people in Cph.
Nørrebro
Terrifying staircase up the outside of a church spire 90 metres above the city. Tivoli doesn't compare.
One of the best-kept secrets in town is the cafe atop the Post and Telegraf Museum. A stunning view of town and light, traditional Danish courses for lunch. Loads of blue-haired, sophisticated ladies, but that’s part of the charm.
Café Hovedtelegrafen
Købmagergade 37, 5th floor
Use the elevator at the back of the museum
Tel: (+45) 33 41 09 86
The fairytale The Drop of Water, by Hans Christian Andersen. A scathing tale of the pettiness of the citizens of Copenhagen although it applies to any city today.
Read it online here:
www.andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersholt/TheDropOfWater_e.html
Reconstruction by Cristoffer Boe. This elegant arthouse film features Copenhagen as a character and gives a good impression of the Nordic mentality of the city.
Is this your business?Search Been there
