Europe Travel Guides

Points of interest

Charlottenborg

Charlottenborg was built in 1683 as a palace for the royal family. Since 1754 Charlottenborg has housed Det Kongelige Kunstakademi, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Its exhibition hall on the eastern side of the central courtyard features changing exhibitions of modern art by Danish and international artists.

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Dansk Design Center

A nexus of Scandinavian design, the Center is a work of art in itself with a double-glass wall of windows, originally intended to hold a layer of liquid crystal that would act as a huge LCD screen. For the hi-fi nut, the centre houses a history of the iconic and avant-garde audiovisual company, Bang & Olufsen.

Opening in 2000, the DDC has a dual function; it provides a meeting place for people in the field of design and offers a display space for exhibitions.

The ground floor holds an exhibit of classic Danish chairs, while upstairs displays changing exhibits on topics such as the development of fashion trends.

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Tivoli

Tivoli caters for both wild and sedate fun-lovers. The famed park has been operating for over 150 years. There are all the fun-park staples such as a roller coaster, Ferris wheel and carnival games, as well as traditional folk dances and a large concert hall hosting symphony orchestras and ballet troupes.

There are three entrances to Tivoli: the main one on Vesterbrogade, another opposite the main entrance to the Central Station and one on HC Andersens Blvd opposite Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. You pay both for entrance and then again for whatever rides you choose thereafter (usually around DKK 15 ), although a Turpas (Tour pass) covers all the rides. There are, however, plenty of free shows, including the Wednesday and Saturday night fireworks and the live band on Plænen (the Lawn) every Friday night.

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Nationalmuseet

Nationalmuseet (the National Museum) is a must-see for anyone who wants a comprehensive grounding in Danish history and culture. True to its name, Nationalmuseet has the biggest collection of Danish historical artefacts in the country. On Sundays in summer the ambience is enhanced by free chamber music concerts.

Nationalmuseet has dibs on virtually every antiquity found on Danish soils, whether it was unearthed by a farmer ploughing his fields or a government-sponsored archaeological dig.

The artefacts date from the Upper Palaeolithic period to the mid-19th century. Highlights include the Sun Chariot, which is over 3500 years old, and an exhibition of 3000-year-old bronze lur (Danish horns).

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Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

This exceptional museum houses an excellent collection of Greek, Egyptian, Etruscan and Roman sculpture and art, and more contemporarily, a notable Gauguin series. It was built a century ago by beer baron Carl Jacobsen, an ardent collector of classical art who generously bequeathed his collection to the public.

The museum's century-old main building, designed by Danish architect Vilhelm Dahlerup, is centred around a glass-domed conservatory replete with palm trees and Mediterranean greenery, creating an atmospheric complement to the antiquities collections it showcases.

The museum's extensive sculpture displays are arranged to depict the history of Western sculpture from 3000 BC to the end of the Roman Empire. Particularly notable is the Greek collection, which in terms of its breadth and calibre is the finest in Northern Europe.

The French collection is centered around the Gauguin works, which now number 50. These are displayed alongside pieces by Cézanne, Van Gogh, Pissarro, Monet and Renoir in a new wing of the museum that opened in 1996. This 'French Wing' also boasts one of only three complete series of Degas bronzes.

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Copenhagen Jazzhouse

This is the city's leading jazz spot, featuring top Danish musicians and occasional international performers. The music runs the gamut from bebop to fusion jazz so there is something for every taste, and there's a large dance floor.

Jazz has evolved and morphed into new forms, made evident by the range of acts and artists that perform at Jazz House. Not limited to the high-art of Jazz alone, the large dancefloor gets put to heavier-duty use after 01:00 from Thursday to Saturday when the venue becomes a club.

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Pussy Galore's Flying Circus

Nørrebro's trendiest bar is a popular place for sampling the latest drink or chatting over a lethal cocktail and a plate of snacks. Whether it's the cheeky James-Bond-via-Monty-Python name that attracts them or the decor, Pussy's is popular with young Danish royals and the beautiful people. A great place for gazing.

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Studenterhus

This low-key student hangout near the Rundetårn offers some good, light meals to soak up all the cheap beer that's on offer. Not a bad spot to catch some live music either, or the eye of eager types who more than likely sport Che Guevara posters on their bedroom walls.

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RizRaz

Just south of Strøget, this airy basement cafe will have you feasting on a Mediterranean-style vegetarian buffet that groans under the weight of felafel, pasta, hummus and salads. You can also order from the menu, which includes lamb kebabs, grilled fish or fried calamari for the meat lovers among us. A frequent winner of 'best and cheapest' awards.

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Peder Oxe

Located on historic Gråbrødretorv, or Greyfriars' Square, Peder Oxe is a good choice for a pleasant dinner treat. The all-organic restaurant meshes Danish country ambience with affordable fine dining and top quality produce. Copenhagen's oldest monastery was built on this site in 1238 and the restaurant's wine cellar retains part of the old stone foundations.

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Peter Lieps Hus

A few minutes' walk north of Bakken, this quintessential Danish country restaurant occupies an historic thatch-roofed house and is good for a nice relaxing meal, with smørrebrød, venison specialities and other Danish food (including children's portions of frikadeller - meatballs - and chips). On sunny days it's a popular place to sit outside and watch the horse and buggy carts go by.

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Events

The Night Film Festival (Natfilm Festival) takes place over 10 days in March, and features more than 100 Danish and international films in their original languages. The three-day Copenhagen Carnival is held over the Whitsunday weekend (usually late May or early June), filling the streets of the city centre with parades, samba dancing and other organised festivities.

Beach bonfires are lit up all around the country on Midsummer Eve; also called Sankt Hans Aften (23 June), while those who enjoy a good flaring of the nostrils should head for Klampenborg just to the north of Copenhagen for Denmark's most important horse race, the Danish Derby. The Copenhagen Jazz Festival gets toes a-tappin' over 10 days in early July, but if chamber or classical music is more your thing, hang out for the Sommerkoncerter i Vor Frue Kirk (Summer Concerts in Vor Frue Kirk), summer concerts held throughout August.

In late August the Danish capital plays host to the Golden Days in Copenhagen, with art exhibits, poetry readings and theatre focusing on Denmark's 'Golden Age' (1800-50). Christmas is a big celebratory deal around the country and it'll be hard to escape the numerous feel-good community fairs no matter where you are.

Public holidays include New Year's day, Maundy Thursday (Thursday before Easter), Good Friday (Friday before Easter), Easter Monday, Common Prayer Day (fourth Friday after Easter), Ascension Day, Whitsunday (seventh Sunday after Easter), Whitmonday (eighth Monday after Easter), Constitution Day (5 June), Christmas Eve (from noon), Christmas Day and Boxing Day (26 December).

official holidays