There has never been a better time to visit Copenhagen. The capital of Denmark which is arguably one of the most beautiful Scandinavian cities (next only to Stockholm) is gradually waking up to its potential as a tourist destination. The streets of Copenhagen are lined with cafes and pubs which are flooded with locals and tourists alike throughout the week. At the same time, there has been a sudden emergence of modern architecture and a brand new urban culture is making inroads into Copenhagen. None of this has taken away from its original charm and beauty as it still has the appeal of a Scandinavian city with a rich and bountiful history.
Five Reasons to go to Copenhagen
1. Get a taste of Scandinavian history – Copenhagen is an absolute treasure house for history enthusiasts. Situated in the heart of the city, the National Museum offers a panoramic view of Danish history right from the 18th century to present times. Similarly, the Museum of Danish Resistance chronicles Denmark’s involvement in World War II between 1940 and 1945. If you are a more outdoorsy person, visit the Rosenborg Castle, an emblem of Danish Renaissance architecture or the Round Tower, an observatory built in the 1600’s.
2. Make the switch from history to modernity – One moment you will be surrounded by castles and museums and the very next moment, you will find yourself in a modern day amusement park. Tivoli Gardens was originally built as a pleasure garden in the 19th century and today, it has become an absolute favourite among tourists. It offers an enormous variety of rides both for children and adults along with fireworks, laser shows, live band performances, several eateries etc. Similarly, the New Harbour or the Nyhaven has also been modernised to attract tourists. In earlier times, the canal hosted small vessel traffic but these days, tourists can be seen enjoying an evening stroll along the pavements.
3. Shop at Strøget – Strøget is one of the longest pedestrian shopping streets in the whole of Europe. It runs through the city of Copenhagen and you can find all sorts of shops, right from high end fashion brands to budget clothing stores to shops selling ethnic trinkets. Besides Strøget, you can also head over to Kompagnistraede and Larsbjorns for a quick shopping spree.
4. Treat your taste buds – Copenhagen has seen a culinary revolution of sorts over the past decade or so. Not only can you find different European cuisines, many Michelin star restaurants are now specialising in Oriental cuisine. Head over to Noma and Ida Davidsen for some authentic Scandinavian cuisine; while the former is an elaborate restaurant with gorgeous ambience, the latter is more like a local favourite with an affordable menu. Copenhagen has a lot of offer for foodies besides native flavours – Umami is known for its Japanese cooking while Cafe Victor is built around a French theme.
5. Copenhagen is friendly and economical – As a tourist, you will find that Danish citizens are some of the most friendly people on the planet. Most of them speak flawless English, so language shouldn’t be a problem. Additionally, even as Copenhagen is not a cheap city by a long shot, it is still less expensive than other European cities like Paris and Rome. If you start looking well in advance, you can also find cheap flights to Copenhagen. You can check online for airfares with some airline companies like SAS on www.flysas.com/en/uk. Copenhagen is large enough to offer a variety of experiences yet it is small enough to be explored on a short holiday. All in all, be assured that you will enjoy a calm and relaxed vacation here which will come as a welcome break from the monotony of your daily life.