The capital of Denmark
for nearly 600 years, Copenhagen is the largest Scandinavian
city and stands on the Baltic coast. Overlooking the
cities harbour is the famous statue of the ‘Little
Mermaid’. Though a busy modern city, Copenhagen
is clean and orderly and retains its historic charm,
with attractive canals and cobbled streets. Within
the city are picturesque historic buildings and strict
laws have prevented the construction of skyscrapers
familiar in many cities around the world.
Copenhagen can be explored on foot or using a bicycle,
which are popular with the local Danes. Attractions
include the Copenhagen City Museum, the National Museum,
Nyhavn Canal and Rosenborg Castle. A long pedestrian
precinct runs through the heart of the city, where
you will find shops, restaurants, cafes, theatres,
galleries and museums. There are also parks such as
the Tivoli Gardens, where you can enjoy the fresh
air in a city with strong anti-pollution laws.
Public transport in Copenhagen is reliable and inexpensive,
with a well integrated system of buses, trains and
the metro. Night buses run to outlying areas and the
metro runs through out the night on Friday and Saturday.
Tickets can be used on each form of transport, although
as a tourist it is advisable to purchase the ‘Copenhagen
Card’, which offers free transport as well as
free entry to many of the cities attractions. Licensed
taxis are widely available, though it is not advisable
to drive in the city yourself as the roads tend be
congested and parking difficult. If you prefer to
use a bicycle there are cycle paths along the main
roads and from May to September free bicycles are
available from Bike Parks, where you deposit a coin
to use one.
