Copenhagen Things to Do Tips by Sjalen Top 5 Page for this destination

Royal Opera Opera House Review

The Opera opened in January 2005, and whilst we booked tickets to go on a guided tour backstage in September that year, we didn't get to go until June 2006. That's how popular it has become! No wonder, since it was financed by A.P (Maersk McKinney) Møller - Denmark's biggest business man known for primarily shipping - who has a fund for things to benefit the public. Architect Henning Larsen must have had a field day and several artists have also been included to create for instance the three huge chandeliers in the foyer and other pieces. The Opera was then handed over to the Prime Minister in October 2004 as a gift to the Danish people. The Royal Theatre, to which the Opera belongs, is very happy to finally have a stage big enough for proper opera and with acoustics to match it!

My own favourites are two. First, the walls of the auditorium. From the foyer, you get to your seats by walking through a rounded maple wall reminding me of "James and the Giant Peach"! Once inside, you feel like you are cuddled inside this giant thing instead which is very relaxing. I think the only ones less relaxed here are the royals as their seats are in the worst possible place along a side. But apparently, that's how they wanted it to be to not be "above their people". My other favourite is the musical stones. Both on the side of the entrance outside, and in the foyer to the smaller stage, there are slabs of stone which you can hit and they will respond in different tones! Children happily discover this whilst adults think you're not allowed to "play" on the walls but yes, you are in fact encouraged to do so.

An interesting feature is also that the Opera sell cheap "standing tickets" these days. A new thing in Denmark but common in other countries to get a more mixed audience able to enjoy good music, they hope to promote it more in future to get sold out performances even more often.

Address: Ekvipagemestervej 10, København K

Directions: At Holmen, on Amager. Catch a harbour bus from Nyhavn.

Music History Museum

Although no music museum is in such a beautiful building as the one in Brussels, this too is in historic buildings from the 18th century. The full title of the museum is the Music History Museum and the Collection of Carl Claudius. Here, you are taken through the history of music pretty much in chronological order to see various European, African and Asian instruments. There are also separate exhibitions on for instance Danish folk music and a violin workshop. A concert hall also belongs to the museum and is used frequently. If you are a real music buff, there is a huge shop full of scores and song books further down the same street (towards the centre rather than N?rreport station).

Address: ?benr? 30

Directions: In a block parallel to Gothersgade close to Rosenborg Castle.

Amalienborg Royal Castle Amalienborg Palace Review

Well, if you're in town, why not see it. I'm not a royalist myself but I accept them and the Danish royals belong to the less stiff and the Danes themselves with a few exceptions absolutely adore anything to do with their royal family. The changing of the guards is at 12.00 daily and if you want to know more about that, Allan (TheView) is the one to contact as he used to be one! All in all, the palace is a nice place as it is so close to the seaside and you can wander around outside much as you please. The Queen lives in one wing and there is also a castle museum so that you can actually visit some of the interior too. If you want to see my photos from when the Crown Prince's married his Tasmanian Mary a few years ago, have a look at the travelogues on my Denmark page.

Address: Amalienborg

Directions: Approach it along the quay from Nyhavn or from Bredgade starting at Kongens Nytorv.

Tycho Brahe Planetarium Tycho Brahe Planetarium Review

The characteristic building that is the planetarium is easy to spot. There is an IMAX with all sorts of films on nature, space and archaeology but of course also the planetarium itself with shows. You can rent an audioguide in English for the shows. If you are more interested in the famous 16th century Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, you should head for the island of Ven (now Swedish) in the strait between the two countries as that is where he had his observatory. A fascinating place.

Address: Gl. Kongevej 10, 1610 København V

Directions: At the "Central station end" of the lakes.

Phone: 33 12 12 24

Website: http://www.tycho.dk

Canal and harbour tour Canal & Harbour Tours Review

A 50 minute tour of the harbour and canals of Copenhagen. During the trip you will see typical sights like the Christiansborg Castle and the Little Mermaid but also more unusual parts of the city such as the old naval areas where people today live on barges or in luxury flats along the water front. You also follow the canals of Christianshavn. Very informative guides too. Remember to keep your head down under the sometimes very low bridges :-) 50 DKK per person is good value for money. Not far away, Netto boats do an even cheaper tour but I haven't tried them. You can also put together you very own harbour tour with the help of the water buses - see transport tip below.

Address: DFDS quays in Nyhavn

Directions: Cross Kongens Nytorv and you see the boats.

Other Contact: http://www.netto-baadene.dk

Website: http://www.canaltours.dk/dct/en

Post and Tele Museum

This is a museum about the Danish postal and telephone services and is not as dry as it sounds. Amongst one of its later exhibitions has for instance been one on Danish communications during the German occupation. There is also a nice restaurant on the top floor.

Directions: Very close to Rundet?rn tower.

Christiania Christiania Review

I hadn't been here since childhood so it was interesting to come back during a VT meeting and see how it had changed. Christiania is a very unusual place where citizens who wanted an alternative life to the usual consumer society started off by occupying the area when it was no longer in use by the navy. This became a huge success and it grew and grew with permission by the authorities who didn't know what else to do. Today, the authorities have adapted a hardened attitude as the main street in the area became known as Pusher Street due to all the open drug dealing. It went so far that tourists couldn't take pictures without risking trouble because the people involved didn't want to end up on film. Having said that, they don't want you to take photos of much in general here, since they don't want to feel like animals in the zoo. Instead, you can come here to escape from the "musts" of ordinary life and enjoy great street food or the cheap and international food of the famous Spiseloppen. There are also music arrangements and a great tolerance for odd people here. Just don't be afraid of dogs - they wander about everywhere here amongst the colourful and often home built houses and cottages.

Address: Christiania

Directions: Five minute's walk from Christianshavn metro station.

Website: http://www.christiania.org/

Bakken Amusement Park Bakken Review

It claims to be the World's oldest amusement park and whatever it is, it is good. Nope, it's not huge and nope, it doesn't have all the latest rides. Instead, it is charming and very, very Danish. Entrance is free and it is set in the huge park landscape that is a part of much of the north of Copenhagen. You can get into the mood instantly by coming here by horse and carriage from the railway station at Klampenborg. Bakken is not owned by anyone in particular. Instead, all the individua and unusuall rides are privately owned. However, you will find a bracelet to buy including most rides at a VERY good price compared to Tivoli. You can then go ten times on each ride. My own favourite is the octopus (I always like those) which here is unusually thrilling. Having said that, the hilarious and watersplashing crocodile ride (see picture) is something very unusual. There are plenty of eateries here too of various quality. Our own favourite is a spare ribs place near the main entrance with a huge plate which is great value for money. Cleverly enough, several restaurants are placed near rides for the younger children so you can still keep an eye on them when they've lost interest in dining. Note that the park is only open April until end of August.

Address: Dyrehavsbakken, Klampenborg

Directions: 10-15 minute walk from Klampenborg S-train station.

Website: http://www.bakken.dk

Denmark's Pere Lachaise Cemetary Assistens Kirkegården - Cemetery Review

In the middle of one of Copenhagen's city centre working class areas, Nørrebro, you will find the cemetary where "everyone" is buried. But this is more than a cemetary - it is also a park since the area is not spoilt with green areas. Originally, the cemetary was on its own, way outside the city gates and along the main road north, but as the city grew, it incorporated the cemetary. Today therefore, most of it is holy ground but some parts are still left for sunbathers and picnics. Where there is a border, notes have been put up to ask you to respect the dead.

If you are not interested in sunbathing but come here for the cemetary itself, you will not be disappointed. Not that Copenhagen can rustle up as many famous people as Paris, but you can come here to pay respect to a few still. The cemetary is divided into sections but the graves are not numbered, only the sections have letters. You need to go to one of the signs set up near entrances to find who lies in what section as only H.C. Andersen's grave is well signposted. It is also fairly easy to find the philosopher Kirkegaard and Niels Bohr, whereas I had to ask the caretakers for the reason for my own pilgrimage: Ben Webster. I found him along with several Danish jazz musicians.

Address: Kapelvej 4, 2200 København N

Directions: Nørrebro, walking distance from the Lakes.

Phone: 35 37 19 17

Website: http://www.assistens.dk/

Churchill Park Churchill Park Review

The park surrounding the Citadel is named in honour of Churchill as this corner of Copenhagen is very much dedicated to the WWII events with the Resistance Museum (see tip) and the St Albans Anglican church here too. Just like the Citadel, it is a great place to stroll around on a sunny day and maybe eat a lunch sandwich. The nicest thing to look at is the famous and impressive Gefion fountain by Bundgaard. Gefion is the Norse Godess of unmarried women but despite this, she had four sons together with a giant! These were in the form of oxens and she put them in front of a plough given to her by king Gylfi of Sweden as a reward for good company. Gylfi had told her that she would have the land she could plough. This turned out to be such a chunk that it left a great hole in Sweden, today known as Lake Vänern (Sweden's biggest lake), and this chunk was dropped into the sea and created Sealand :) A great legend which gets even better when you consider the fact that Vänern and Sealand are very similarly shaped! in any case the sculpture is from 1908 when the romantic era made Scandinavians proud of their viking legacy.

Directions: Near the Little Mermaid