Copenhagen Things to Do Tips by gordonilla

Helligåndskirken (The Church of the Holy Ghost) Helligåndskirken - Church of the Holy Ghost Review

The church was originally part of a monatsery by the same name - it was built in 1296. The monatsery was dissovled in 1536 at the Reformation. The church remained and functioed as a parish church.

The church and surrounding buildings have been restored and through each century work has been done to recreate it's past - both in appearance and by the artifacts housed in the church.

Address: Niels Hemmingsensgade 5, København K, 1153

Radhuspladsen - the City Hall Square Rådhuspladsen - Town hall square Review

The square is a place where most city buses converge apparently - as such you should be able to get to or from any part of the city of Copenhagen by using this logic.

The square has a number of nearby places of note - a staue of Hans Christian Anderson, a fountain with water spouting dragons, a column with two Vikings blowing lurs (horns) and of course the city hall itself.

Nikolaj (Copenhagen Contemporary Art Centre)

The church of St Nikolaj dates to the 13th century and is one of Copenhagen's oldest churches. Alebit that it no longer functions as a Church. This change from ecclesiastical use was as a consequence of the Great Fire of Copenhagen in 1795. Nikolaj's history of being a church came to an end in 1805; the buildings have served in a variety of different capacities ever since that date.

Knud Pedersen established an art library in the building in 1957, and since then it has the buildings have come to play a significant role in Copenhagen's contemporary art scene. During the 1960's a number of significant avant-garde exhibitions and events took place here, notably some of the first international Fluxus performances in 1962.

(NOTE from Wikipedia: Fluxus—a name taken from a Latin word meaning "to flow"—is an international network of artists, composers and designers noted for blending different artistic media and disciplines in the 1960s. They have been active in Neo-Dada noise music and visual art as well as literature, urban planning, architecture, and design. Fluxus is often described as intermedia, a term coined by Fluxus artist Dick Higgins in a famous 1966 essay.)

During the 70's, the Danish Association of Visual Artists became involved and since 1981 the building has functioned in the way it does today. There are 7 or 9 Danish and International exhibitions held annually, which permits visitors to acquaint themselves with experimental and innovative art. One of the annual exhibitions is a children's exhibition, and oneother more significant exhibition is made by an older artist whose work has had a pioneering impact on the art world today.

Address: Nikolaj Plads 10, 1067 København

Other Contact: hh@kunsthallennikolaj.dk

Phone: 00 45 3318 1780

Website: http://www.kunsthallennikolaj.dk/en/

Something that everyone does - visits the airport

Copenhagen Kastrup airport is the gateway for many traveller to both Denmark and the other parts of the nordic region. i tend to travel by SAS, so this is one of their hubs - however as a frequent traveller I dont tend to get as many points for travelling through Copenhagen, Stockholm is much better for point earning.

The whole experience of the airport is wonderful - lots to eat and drink - with many excellent places to shop often at excellent prices.

Address: Lufthavnsboulevarden 6, Postbox 74, 2770 Kastrup

Website: http://www.cph.dk/CPH/UK/MAIN/

Slotsholmen Slotsholmen Review

The island is home to Denamrk's Government and a number of historical sites and facilities. The island is linked to the city by a series of bridges and the most prominent feature is the Christiansborg Slot, a neobaroque palace. There is a courtyard which was used a miltary riding ground and still has that appearance. A statute of King Christian IX sits astride his horse looking across the parade ground.

Danish Design Centre Danish Design Centre - Dansk Design Center Review

Sadly I did not manage to se much of the centre - they were rebuilding two floors for a new exhibition. The interior was pleasant and relaxing and I did have a coffee and buy a book from the shop.

There was one small exhibition running called flowmarket. It was a supermarket selling some interesting products.

Address: HC Andersens Boulevard 27, 1553 Copenhagen

Directions: across the H C Andersens Boulevard from Tivoli

Phone: 00 45 33 69 33 69

Website: http://www.ddc.dk

The best lager in the world...probably! Carlsberg Brewery Review

The Carlsberg Visitors Centre & The Jacobsen Brewhouse: Did you know that..... Carlsberg sold 94 million bottle everyday in 2005....and Carlsberg produces beer at 95 breweries in 50 countries .......the name Carlsberg is composed of the founder's son's first name and an old word for hill - the tour and visit is well worth undertaking.

In the wprice of the admission ticket, you get to take the tour and they offer each customer two drinks within the visitor centre bar.

Address: Gamle Carlsberg Vej 11, 2500 Valby

Phone: 00 45 33 27 13 14

Website: http://www.visitcarlsberg.dk

Rundetaarn (The Roundtower) Rundetårn Review

The tower was originally built in 1642 on the orders of Christian IV and is some 35 meters tall. To reach the top of the tower, which gives an excellent view of the city, visitors walk up very few steps and these are only at the top of the structure - the climb to the top is a 209m long walkway spiralling around the inside of the tower. There is a small exhibition space appproximately half way up the tower.

It was used by the local University until 1861 as an observatory, and even now amateur astronomers continue to use it. On my last visit, we were able to look through the lens which was trainied upon the top of the weather vane of the Radhus ( City Hall).

Address: Kobmagergade 52 A, 1150 Kobenhavn K

Directions: Latin Quarter of the City

Phone: 33 73 03 73

Website: http://www.rundetaarn.dk

Gefionspringvandet - Gefion Fountain Langelinie Review

This is a monument which commemorates another overseas link - in Scandinavian mythology the Swedish King offered the goddess Gefion as much land she could plough in a single evening. The myth notes she turned her four sons into powerful oxen and ploughed an area of land that is now present day Zealand.

The bronze statue depicts Gefion and her oxen.

Directions: Churchill Parken

Website: http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/gefion.html

The Little Mermaid - Den Lille Havfrue Little Mermaid Review

She is what people come to see - the beer entrepreneur commissioned Edvard Eriksen to create the statue after seeing a ballet performance of the "The Little Mermaid" in 1909. It was to be placed on the waterfront.

The mermaid's head has been severed on two occassions - 1964 and 1998 ( the incident in the 60s did not result in the head being found - the 1998 incident found the head returned after 3 days.)

In 1983 and arm was sawn off and never recovered.

Address: Langelinie

Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Mermaid