Wednesday, September 24, 2014

TRAVEL PLAN 8: Copenhagen (Denmark)



Moten Jerihau: Rooftops of Copenhagen (Source: http://www.copenhagenmediacenter.com/CMC.aspx#/photo/1285)

My friend Gosia says about Copenhagen: "Copenhagen is surely one of the coolest cities in Europe. Visit in Carlsberg brewery is a must. Royal Castle was interesting too. Going north to Helsingor to visit "Hamlet`s castle Kronoborg is also worth a try. List of interesting sights goes on and on. And there are loads of great design stores!I`m sure you (me and you as well) will fall in love with that place (- I am sure too). oh, and the unnamed metro is super cool too. I love Copenhagen!"


Here you find a really cool video what my university-friend Kinga suggested to me. She is living in Copenhagen and this video was made by a bunch of creative people living in the Nørrebro district.




Kinga was also suggesting to mention some of the famous Danish people, so here you go. To the group of the famous Danish people belongs for example: Hans Christian Andersen, Mærsk, Lars Von Trier, Suzanne Bier, Arne Jacobsen, Karen Blixen and Niels Bohr.


Best months to visit according to Kinga: May-July


BIG THANKS FOR GOSIA AND KINGA FOR THE TIPS!

Sights


1. Nyhavn


Facts and History: Nyhavn is a 17th century canal, waterfront and entertainment district. This is the scene what you can see most often on the Copenhagen-postcards with its colorful houses, bars and cafes. One interesting fact is that it was constructed by Swedish war prisoners, ships handled cargo and fishermen`s catch and it was sort of red light district that time. There is a Memorial Anchor at the end of Nyhavn which is commemorating the Danish soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the Worl War II.
How to get here: Kongens Nytrov metor station is located at the end of Nyhavn. The copanhagen Harbour busses take you more closer to the center of Nyhavn, Routes 901, 902, 903 and 904 stop close to the Royal Playhouse (nice modern building of the Royal Danish Theater).


2. Little Mermaid


Facts and History: It is a Copenhagen icon and a main tourist attraction, based on the name of the same fairy tale of Hans Christian Andersen. The statue was commissioned by the founder of Carlsberg, Carl Jacobsen in 1909. They asked Ellen Price, a primaballerina of the Copenhagen Royal Theater to model for the statue. They transported it for the 2010 Shanghai Expo to represent Copenhagen, but it is back already.
How to get here: go to Copenhagen Harbor, in Nyhavn district.

3. Amalienborg Palace


Facts and History: It is the winter home of the Danish Royal Family and said to be one of the greatest works of Danish architecture. Because Denmark has a Royal Family,yes.  The Danish Royals Guards are marching on the street at 11:30 am daily, and the exchange of guards is at 12 am at the Amalienborg Palace.
More info on the Palace and the Danish Royal Family under: http://kongehuset.dk/english/palaces/amalienborg


How to get here: Metro Line 1 or 2 Kongens Nytorv stop, Bus Line 15 Fredericagade/Bredgade


4. The Castle Ruins (Ruinerne under Christiansborg)


Facts and History: When the present Castle was constructed the National Museum committed to excavate and protect the ruins of the Palaces`s older predecessors. Construction workers found the ruins by accident and it turned out that they dated back that far as 1167. For people like me who like archaeological places it is definitely a must to see sight.


How to get here: http://www.christiansborgslot.dk/en/FindVej.aspx
Entrance fee to the Ruins: Adult 40 DKK, Student 30 DKK, Child (ages 7 to 14) 20 DKK, Groups (more than 10 persons) 30 DKK, School class 500 DKK. They offer also guided tours.
Opening hours: http://www.christiansborgslot.dk/en/Aabningstider.aspx

5. Kronoborg Castle 


Facts and History: the castle from Shakespeare`s play Hamlet (!)


How to get here: Busses 340, 388 and 840
Opening hours: info at http://www.kronborgcastle.com/en/Aabningstider.aspx
Entrance fee: there is different ticket combinations, but the Ticket 1 costs 95 DKK for Adults, 70 DKK for Children between 15-18 years and 25 DKK for Children between 6-14 years


6. Danish Design Center


How to get here: Busses 1a, 15; Train (S-tog): Osterport, Metro: Kongens Nytorv
Entrance fee: Adults 75 DKK/ Children under 18 years: Free. Groups/min 10 person: 50 DKK. Free admission to Design Studio, library, garden, café and museum shop. You can buy your card with bank card and pay with EUR. 
Opening hours: from February 14th 2012 Tue-Sun 11 am-5 pm, Wednesdays until 9 pm, Mondays closed


7. Botanical Garden (Botanisk Have)


Facts and History: I like botanical gardens in general a lot. The Botanical Garden of Copenhagen is situated in the hearth of the city. You can find here the Natural History Museum, Geological Museum and the Zoological Museum here as well.


How to get here: Nørreport S-Train/ Metro stop
More info: snm@snm.ku.dk. 
Opening hours: 1. May-30. September 8:30-18:00 (all days), 1. October- 30. April 8:30-16:00, Monday closed, Admission free. Palm house opening hours info: http://botanik.snm.ku.dk/english/Praktisk_info/Aabningstider/

8. Visit Carlsberg 


Facts and History: Carlsberg brewery mentioned above in Gosia`s recommendations


How to get here: it is in Vesterbro, further info: http://www.visitcarlsberg.dk/visitcarlsberg/howtogethere/Pages/default.aspx
Entrance fee: Adults 50 DKK (inc. 2 beers/soft drinks), Young (12-17) 50 DKK (incl. 2 soft drinks), Children free, Groups Price upon request
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10 am- 5 pm, Mondays closed

9. Caritas Springvandet


Facts and History: a beautiful fountain in Copenhagen, it was built in 1608 and its official name is Fountain of Charity. It is located in the Strøget at the City Hall Square. The names comes from the statue on the fountain which represents Caritas,the goddess of charity.
How to get here: it is in the Strøget, which is the famous shopping street of Copenhagen


10. Tivoli Gardens


Facts And History: Tivoli is an amusement park in Copenhagen and it opened in 1843.  It is said to be the most visited theme park in Scandinavia. You can find here also a concert hall and a pantomime theater. The illuminated garden in the winter looks really nice.


Entrance fee: children 0-7 free, people 8+ 95 DKK (approx. 13 EUR)

11. Rosenborg Castle


Facts and Info: You find more info on the Castle under: http://dkks.dk/english.

How to get here: by Train and Metro Nørreport Station
Opening hours: info at: http://dkks.dk/opening-hours/
Entrance fee: Adults 80 DKK, Children (0-17) Free Admission, Groups (12 person min.) 60 DKK per person. You can also book a guided tour. Visiting groups have to call the Palace in advance and if you want to take photos, you have to pay 20 DKK extra.

12. Copenhagen Opera House: more info at http://kglteater.dk/?sc_lang=en
13. La Glace: the famous and historical Conditori of Copenhagen (http://laglace.dk/en/index.php/visit-la-glace)
14. The Royal Library Slotsholmen and the Black Diamond 
15. Jens Olsens Clock
16. Rundetårn Tower
17. Kastellet fortifications


Nice churches:  Alexander Nevsky Kirke (Russian Orthodox Church), Vor Frue Kirke, Christiansborg Kirke, Marmorkirken


Shopping places and nice parks: The Kings GardenFredriksberg Park, Strøget (shopping street), parallel to Strøget runs Straedet (shopping street, chilled atmosphere), Kallbadhaus Ribbersborg (bath, spa, sauna, restaurant and cafe by the sea), Gammel Strand (Old Beach)

If you want to go by districts: Nørrebo, Latin Quarter, Slotsholmen (Christansborg Palace, Folketing (Danish parliament)), Vesterbro district, Pisserenden (younger and more alternative shopping streets), Österbro district are the ones mentioned the most in the Copenhagen-guides.


Cultural Sights


Thorvaldsens Museum
Davids Samling
Experimentarium
Viking Ship Museum
Den Hirschpunkske Samling
Kunstindustrimuseet
Medicinsk Museion
V1 Gallery
Galleri Christina Wilson
Reipley`s Believe it or Not
Assitens Kirkegård
Børsen
Ny Carlsberg Glypotek
Frihetsmuseet
Tøjhusmuseet
Kunsthal Charlottenborg
Kunstforeningen GL Strand
Danish Design Center
Guiness World of Records Museum
Nationalmuseet
Nikolaj Kirke
Overgaden



Nice design shops and clothes stores

Design shops


Bloomingville


Bloomingville, (Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=362073297150270&set=pu.222401781117423&type=1&theater)


Illums Bolighus
Stilleben
Casa Shop
Rue Verte
Raun
BoConcept
BoConcept, (Source: http://www.boconcept.dk/inspiration.aspx?ID=72368)


Designdelicatessen
Anna Olivia
Hay
Hay, (Source: http://files.hay.dk/files/view/931785/)


Clothing


Designer zoo
Inwear
Matinique
Bruuns Bazar
Designers Remix Collection
Mads Nörgaards Copenhagen
Illum

Freetown Christiana


This is one of the places I am most interested in Copenhagen. It`s Danish name is Christianshavn and it is kind of "city in the city" with its own laws. It is also known among tourists as sot of hippie-island.


I saw one documentary about it some time ago and there I saw that you can for example reserve you sauna term and go to some of the public saunas on the island (public means that it does not belong to one specific flat, and can be rented by anyone who pays for it.) In Scandinavia public has a bit different meaning than in the Continental Europe. You do not have to remember the disgusting public toliets etc. if you hear the word "public sauna". In Northern countries people pay good amount of taxes for public good, so they usually know how to use them properly.


Back to Freetown Christiana, it is said to be on an artificial island and was founded in the 17th century as an independent privileged merchant`s town. Then in the 20th century it was a working class neighborhood and developed its bohemian flair in the 1970s. It is not only  a place for hippies. Also businessmen, children with families, students and artists live here side-by-side.


Attractions:
  • Church of Our Savior
  • Christian`s Church
  • North Atlantic House
  • Christianshavn Rampant
  • Danish Architecture Centre
  • Lille Mølle
  • Copenhagen Opera House
  • Nyholm
  • Arsenal Island
                                                    Travel Plan 8: Copenhagen (Denmark) © Mónika Csapó- All Rights Reserved

4 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Seems so that we will be in Copenhagen with my friend in November :)!

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  2. And I would be happy to go there and write an article about it. I can inform you when I am in Copenhagen :).

    ReplyDelete
  3. Paul Klee is one of my favorite painters btw.:)

    ReplyDelete