Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark, one of the most peaceful and prosperous countries in the world. Although some may see the entire country as a little bit 'off the beaten path' Copenhagen is actually one of Europe's top tourist destinations, and the city is well-geared towards helping visitors get the most out of their trip.
Things to See and Do
The city has plenty to see and do. Castles are everywhere in this country (it is hard to get from one place to another without stumbling across another one), but Rosenborg Castle is probably the best of the lot. Rather than being a ruin, this castle is completely whole, and furnished with the royal collection, making it a distinctly opulent stop on the itinerary.
Dining
For lunch or dinner, head to Tyenkokkenhanskoneoghendeselsker. That's not a typo or a possessed keyboard, it is the name of the restaurant which is named after the film The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover. The chefs here offer up some very tasty fusions between traditional Danish dishes and avant garde trends – the (well-aged) fish in coffee sauce is one for the braver gastronomes.
Carlsberg Factory
The Danes have the distinction of being the highest consumers of beer in the world (a hotly contested title in Europe, where average consumption is around two litres per day for every man, woman and child on the continent). It makes sense then, to take a tour of the Carlsberg factory in Copenhagen and see exactly where the liquid gold comes from. Of course there are free samples at the end of the tour, and if you are imagining tiny plastic sipper-sample cups, think again. Like the Germans, the Danes like their beer glasses large, so leave the car at the hotel and make use of the city's excellent public transport system instead.
Entertainment
Tivoli Gardens is the magical fairyland cum amusement park in Copenhagen that is well worth a visit (and gets all the accolades) but Bakken is the unsung hero of theme parks in and around the city. Don't expect a lot of bells and whistles here: It is an old-world style park, deliberately unpretentious, and is a great afternoon if you happen to be childless. The low key style of Bakken is popular with adults on dates.
Whether you have kids or not, do not leave Copenhagen without making a side trip to the outer suburb of Billund. This otherwise unremarkable area is the home of Legoland, an overwhelming collection of mazes, buildings and games constructed from more than forty five million blocks of Lego. This park is always changing (Christmas in Legoland needs to be seen to be believed) so if you have visited before it is worth going back to check out the new exhibits.
Hotels
Hotels in Copenhagen are expensive. This is not a tourist-fleecing, simply a reflection of the fact that Denmark has the highest, and most costly, standard of living on the planet. Expect to pay €40 a night for a bed in a shared room in a hostel, and closer to €160 for a room in a good hotel.
Use the Hotelsio Rate Finder on the left to find cheap hotels in Copenhagen.
(Photo:Fotolia/Alban Egger)
