Wonderful Copenhagen -Top 7 things to do in this Danish Delight

By The Courier Travel

October 17 2017, 12:53pm

Copenhagen, Denmark on the Nyhavn Canal.

You may have heard the term ‘hygge’ (pronounced hoo-guh) recently – in fact, it seems to be have been a buzzword last year.

It was actually shortlisted as a ‘word of the year’ by Oxford Dictionaries in 2016.

Generally, it encapsulates all things of comfort and happiness and for me that means good food, good company, cosy bars, soft woolly jumpers and lashings of candlelight.

Speaking of candles, you’re likely to see them everywhere here – Danes love them and they’re used wholesale in bars, cafes and homes across Denmark.

So back to hygge and what better way to beat the winter blues than by embracing this fine concept on its home turf.

Thanks to the availability of easy overseas travel and budget airline deals these days, fairy-tale cities like Copenhagen have never been more accessible or affordable.

As a result, it has become a popular city break destination for those of us who have tired of the usual and more obvious getaways.

Denmark is a delightful country where visitors can experience its Viking heritage among beautiful scenery, charming towns and vibrant cities but Copenhagen would be my first choice for anyone wishing to visit for the time.

The Danish capital is packed with bars, cafés, design shops and some of the best restaurants in Scandinavia.

There’s also a good choice of excursions and attractions to while away your days if you fancy a spot of sight-seeing.

Here’s my top seven things to do if you’re lucky enough to find yourself with a few days in this beautiful city.

Copenhagen Castle Tour

Take a tour of some of the most famous castles in Scandinavia with a professional guide who will tell you all about their history and their inhabitants. On this tour from Viator.com, you will visit Rosenborg Castle, Christiansborg Castle and Amelienborg Castle – home to the Danish Royal family.

Canal Cruise

Getting to know a new city can take time but a lovely way of seeing it is from the water. On one of these trips, visitors can glide along the peaceful city canals, soaking up the scenery and the atmosphere at a leisurely pace. The Copenhagen Canal Cruise is a great way to take in the key sights of the city, away from the crowds. Look out for the Little Mermaid statue, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy-tale.

Tivoli Gardens

A must for everyone who visits Copenhagen is Tivoli Gardens. Founded in 1843, this is so much more than a theme park or a fairground – it’s a world-class attraction. Sure, there are plenty of exciting rides for thrill-seekers but there’s also beautiful scenery, stunning architecture and pretty gardens to be admired, along with a good choice of nice eateries offering traditional Danish fayre as well as tasty international cuisine. From November to January, Tivoli Gardens is transformed into a magical a Christmas wonderland.

Open-Top Bus Tour

Another great way of getting around and ticking off the ‘must see’ list is to take an open top bus tour of the city and discover why’s it’s called ‘wonderful Copenhagen’

You can sit back, relax and enjoy the fascinating on-board commentary or you can get on and off when the notion takes you and see things for yourself.

If you choose the Carlsberg Tour, you can look forward to a packed itinerary, taking in the Planetarium, Frederiksberg Garden, Copenhagen Zoo, Vesterbro Square and Visit Carlsberg.

Visit Carlsberg

At Visit Carlsberg, you can learn about the history and production of Denmark’s famous beer. Whether you’re a beer fan or not, the tour is fascinating and there’s a chance to sample some of the stuff too. You never know, you might learn something new about beer that you didn’t already know.

Nyhavn Canal

Arguably one of the coolest spots to hang out and watch the world go by as you get a taste of life in Copenhagen. Park yourself with a nice drink or a coffee and do a bit of people watching along this popular strip with its candy coloured houses and plentiful bars. As the city’s historic port, there are lots of tales and folklore surrounding this part of town.

Hans Christian Anderson also lived here.

Copenhagen’s Art Galleries

And finally, if you fancy a bit of culture, you must visit the fascinating galleries in the city. There’s a thriving art scene here in Copenhagen and a whole host of galleries to choose from such as the impressive SMK National Gallery of Denmark, Galerie Birch, Secher Fine Art & Design and Gallery Poulsen.

If finding ‘hygge’ is on the cards for you this winter, take a look at some of the great travel offers with travel social network talkholiday.