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Days One through Three

Home » Denmark » Copenhagen Vacations: A Week Long Itinerary » Days One through Three
Posted by Your Guide on May 17, 2006 8:29 PM

You’ll begin your Copenhagen experience with a quick one-hour tour around the city. The Open Top Tour is a great way to familiarize yourself with some of the major tourist attractions in Copenhagen. The Open Top Tour takes place from an open double-decker bus and starts at Râdhuspladsen. The tour will take you by the Queen’s residence, Amalienborg, the government building of Christiansborg, the Little Mermaid statue, and the Louis Tussaud Wax Cabinet. Also seen on this tour are the National Museum, Glyptoteket, Thorvaldsens, and the Nyhavn café area. The tour is available in eight different languages, so you should easily be able to find one that you can understand.

As you view these interesting and historical places, see if anything jumps out at you that you would like to visit more thoroughly. If so, there will be time later today to return to those sites.

Since the Open Top Tour begins and ends at Râdhuspladsen, go ahead and sightsee around this area. Here is where Town Hall and the house of Politiken stand, along with several restaurants and Danish sausage stands. Since part of the square has been closed to traffic, you can enjoy walking around without worry. Years ago, Râdhuspladsen was famous for its great number of pigeons and children came from all over Denmark to feed these pigeons. As the city became more polluted, the pigeons began carrying disease, which put an end to this tradition. Râdhuspladsen was originally modeled after the big square in Sienna, Italy.

Grab some lunch at one of the restaurants or sausage stands and then do some shopping on Strøget. Strøget is an open-air market where buses, trams, cars, and bicycles are banned to allow shoppers to walk freely. You’ll notice that things are relatively inexpensive at the Râdhuspladsen end of the market, which has burger joints and reasonably priced bars. As you continue through the market, however, you’ll notice that things get more and more expensive, with stores such as Gucci and Birger Christensen. This is the place to see and be seen in Copenhagen. You can pick up some souvenirs of your trip here, too.

You’ll likely spend the rest of your afternoon here, so when you’re hungry, have dinner at Vesuvio, a popular Italian restaurant located at Râdhuspladsen, the Town Hall Square.

Each night after dinner, enjoy Copenhagen’s eclectic night life. The city has a broad range of bars, clubs, casinos, and live music to keep every guest entertained. Whether you like jazz, dance music, or pop, you will find something to suit your taste. There are also DJ/bar/restaurant “hybrids” that change as the evening progresses. If you’re a night owl, you’re really enjoy Copenhagen’s night life, as most cafes stay open until 1:00 or 2:00 am, most bars stay open until 2:00 or 5:00 am, and most clubs stay open until 5:00 am.

On day two, if you’re not too exhausted from staying at the clubs all night, check out these attractions:

The Little Mermaid – The Little Mermaid is a statue based on a character from one of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales. Made of bronze, she was created by sculptor Edvard Eriksen and was unveiled on August 23, 1913. Sitting on a rock at Langelinie in the Copenhagen harbor, the little mermaid is one of the most photographed statues in the world.

Glyptoteket – Founded in 1888, the Glyptoteket is one of Copenhagen’s best museums. Its conservatory is filled with exotic plants and palm trees. The museum is home to classic artwork, including works by French Impressionist Monet. There is also an impressive antiques collection containing pieces from the Orient, Egypt, Ancient Greece, and the Roman Empire. The Glyptoteket also holds concerts and lectures in its ceremonial hall.

Kongens Have – Kongens Have is the oldest park in Denmark. In 1634, when Christian IV commissioned the building of Rosenborg Castle, this park was designed. While some parts of the original garden are still intact, the park has been added to over the years, including paths lined with lime trees added in the 18th century, and new English-style landscaping added in the 19th century. The park boasts many interesting sculptures, including one of Hans Christian Andersen, whose fairy tales were inspired by this park. Kongens Have is open each day until sunset.

Today, splurge a little and have a meal at Kommandanten, a somewhat pricey French restaurant that is well worth the money. The refined and exclusive Kommandanten serves high quality cuisine and does not cut corners. Designed by Tage Andersen, this was the first restaurant in Denmark to receive two Michelin stars.

Spend your third day in Copenhagen taking a little time to relax, and also visit places you may have missed on your first two days.



Next Page: Days Four and Five

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