Copenhagen Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Copenhagen

Copenhagen City Hall, designed by famous architect Martin Nyrop and inspired by Siena's Town Hall in Italy, stands prominently on City Hall Square. The hall was inaugurated in 1905, showcasing the pinnacle of national romanticism in Denmark.

The building is marked by a striking facade decorated in rich ornamental style, featuring among other elements the roof statues of polar bears symbolizing the giant Danish protectorate of Greenland. A golden statue of Bishop Absalon, the city's founder, presides over the central balcony, while the clock tower, reaching 105.6 meters, marks one of Copenhagen's tallest structures. The tower clock, a notable feature, chimes daily at noon and during New Year's Eve at midnight.

The City Hall's architectural complex comprises three aligned buildings connected by longitudinal structures. The hall is linked via tunnels to the nearby buildings, ensuring a blend of historical elegance and modern functionality.

The interior layout includes meeting rooms, a wedding hall, and a banquet hall used by the municipality. At its heart lies the Town Hall Garden, open to the public during summer months and accessible from Hans Christian Andersen Boulevard. The front entrance boasts a glass mosaic depicting Copenhagen's coat of arms, commemorating the city's historical privileges and the City Hall's inauguration.

Inside the building, looking down on the inner grand hall (which is open to the public) are the marble busts of four celebrated locals: fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, physicist Niels Bohr, and the building's architect Martin Nyrop. Downstairs are the national archives dating back to the 1270s.

As you leave, check out the amazing World Clock (opposite the info desk), the supreme mechanical astronomical chronometer in terms of function and precision. Built between 1943 and 1955, its displays include lunar and solar eclipses, positions of the stellar bodies, and a perpetual calendar, in addition to the time across the world's time zones. The clock's fastest gear completes a revolution every ten seconds, while the slowest – every 25,753 years!

Tip:
The main hall is free to enter, whereas to go up the tower you'll have to pay a small fee.
They escort you in groups at 11 am / 12:30 pm and 2 pm on weekdays and noon on Saturdays. You can join a guided English tour at 1 pm (on weekdays) and 10 am (on Saturdays).
As the building is central, the views are great and the viewing platform is square and large.

City Hall Square (Rådhuspladsen), situated in the heart of the Danish capital, fronts the striking Copenhagen City Hall. As a prime venue for a myriad of events taking place in the city, this is a favored gathering spot for street performers and international folk visiting the capital. The square is notably used as a reference point for measuring distances from Copenhagen much as for many miles of beautiful pedestrian streets within the city. Just as in so many other places throughout Denmark, English is spoken here widely and, surprisingly so, often of better quality than you would hear in many English-speaking destinations.

The square's historical relevance dates back to the times when it was a hay market and housed the Western Gate of the city's fortifications. Back then, the area was overcrowded (housing as many as 150,000 people), which quite naturally led to hygiene problems. So, eventually, the walls had to come down.

Following the removal of fortifications in the 1850s, the area transitioned into an exhibition space. The late 19th century brought further transformative changes with plans to construct a new city hall, thus turning the square into a significant urban space. Subsequent redesigns in 1996 and more recently, in 2010, with the introduction of a metro station, enhanced its utility and accessibility.

Today, the square hosts, among other attractions, significant buildings like Politiken's House, home to the national newspaper 'Politiken', and the rather peculiar Dansk Industri building containing a showroom for green technologies (the House of Green), plus a series of two-story flagship stores and restaurants on the adjacent Vesterbro Street. Also nearby is the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Copenhagen's only skyscraper, built in 1960 as the world's first design hotel that focuses on visual appearance such as architecture, interior decor, or aesthetics style.

Among the artistic highlights in the square are the Dragon Fountain, installed in 1904, depicting a mythical battle between a bull and a dragon, and the Weather Girl sculpture, perched atop the Richs Building, which provides a whimsical weather forecast. Other notable additions to the square's cultural landscape include the statue of Hans Christian Andersen, the most popular Danish writer, and the bronze depiction of Lur Blowers mounted atop a tall terracotta column. The latter was a gift to the city from the Carlsberg Foundation on the occasion of the centenary of its founder, Jacob Christian Jacobsen.

In addition to being a dynamic venue for public expression, the square is surrounded by multiple bars and nightclubs and serves as a central transportation hub, continuing its legacy as a pivotal city landmark.

Conveniently located in central Copenhagen, very close to the train station (for those traveling into town), Tivoli Gardens is the original inspiration for Walt Disney World – and it shows. The lovingly tended grounds – a wonderland of rides, games, restaurants, marching bands, funny mirrors, and roulette wheels – are picturesque and equally friendly for both kids and adults.

Tivoli is actually the second oldest, still operational amusement park in the world; the oldest one is also in Denmark. The wooden "Mountain" Roller Coaster (Bjergbanen or Rutschebanen) was built in 1914; its operator actually controls the ride by braking, so that it does not gain too much speed while descending the hills! Another roller coaster, The Demon (Dæmonen), features an “Immelmann” vertical loop and a zero-gravity roll – all in one ride that lasts one minute and 46 seconds. Also of note is The Star Flyer swing ride, opened in 2006, offering panoramic views of the city from an 80-meter (260-foot) elevation.

Apart from these exciting rides and a few thrilling towers, Tivoli is a venue for performing arts, counting among the major cultural hubs in Copenhagen. So even if you are not interested in the rides, there is plenty of space just to walk around, admire the prodigious flowers and large fountains, catch a free concert, or try a wide range of different foods: Mexican, Asian, Japanese, Italian, French, Danish, or regular street food like sandwiches/burgers, etc.

Tickets are both "pay as you go" and "pay once for all", which is affordable for every budget and worth it just to see the Danes – both young and old – at play. In the summer months they have fireworks displays every Saturday at 11:45 pm and if you don't want to stay all day, just have your hand stamped so you can re-enter at a later time.

Why You Should Visit:
Supposedly, this was the template that inspired Walt Disney to create his theme parks!
Fun to walk around in even if you don't go on any rides – a lovely way to spend time with friends.

Tip:
Great to come a bit before sunset, so you can see the place both in daylight and illuminated in the evening.
You can also take your own food and drink in a bag (they don't check them), as it's rather expensive inside.

The New Carlsberg Glyptotheque (Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek), commonly known simply as The Glyptotheque (Glyptoteket), is the sculpture museum that features the private art collection of Carl Jacobsen (1842–1914), the son of the founder of the Carlsberg Breweries.

The museum contains over 10,000 artworks spanning ancient Mediterranean cultures and modern European art, including the largest collection of Auguste Rodin's sculptures outside France. It also boasts numerous paintings by French Impressionists and Post-Impressionists (such as Monet, Manet, Degas, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Picasso, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, etc.), as well as Danish Golden Age artists, complete with the extensive collections of Greek, Roman, Etruscan, and Egyptian antiquities.

Carl Jacobsen, a dedicated art collector, amassed a wealth of antique, French, and Danish sculptures during his life, which were initially displayed in his private villa's winter garden in 1882. As the collection outgrew its space, in 1888, Jacobsen donated all of it to the Danish State and the City of Copenhagen, contingent on them providing a suitable exhibition facility. A new location was chosen near Tivoli Gardens and opened on May 1, 1897.

Celebrated for its architectural elegance, the building harmoniously blends art with its structure. Featuring the historicist Dahlerup Wing with its Venetian Renaissance style and the neo-classical Kampmann Wing, it also includes a connecting Winter Garden and the minimalist Henning Larsen Wing, used for prestigious events.

What is more, the museum's wings are built around a very soothing, Victorian-style garden, rich with greenery and sculpture, under a translucent glass dome. If you can afford some extra time, it's always a nice place to relax for a while and enjoy coffee or lunch – especially in the winter, as you can be in nature and enjoy the warmth.

The Glyptotek Auditorium regularly hosts classical concerts featuring notable artists, as well as other cultural events including poetry readings and debates. Known for its excellent acoustics, the venue also accommodates rehearsals and performances by musical ensembles.

Why You Should Visit:
To enjoy a surprisingly good collection in a gorgeously modified setting (the open rooftop affords great views of the city!), plus the magnificent palm garden with many benches, ponds, a delicious café, and some horticultural wonders.

Tip:
Pick up a floor plan as you enter to help navigate the somewhat confusing layout. Take breaks to go through one wing at a time. You will need breaks, as the place is huge in an unexpected way.
Keep in mind that Tuesdays are free, so perhaps you could go multiple times to make sure you see it all.
The on-site classical music concerts are frequently free too, so try to catch one.

The National Museum of Denmark (Nationalmuseet) is the largest institution dedicated to the country's cultural history. Its main building showcases a diverse range of exhibits spanning from Greenland to South America, emphasizing both Danish and international cultures.

Recounting 14,000 years of history, the museum presents a detailed narrative of Denmark's past from the Ice Age reindeer hunters to the Vikings, and further into the religiously influential Middle Ages. The museum explores the identity and evolution of the Danish people through various exhibits that detail daily life, national events, and the broader societal changes in Denmark from 1560 to 2000.

A prominent feature within the museum is The Greenland Research Center dedicated to archaeological and anthropological studies of the island. Also notable is the major Vikings exhibition, opened by Queen Margrethe II in 2013, which was featured internationally, including at the British Museum in London.

The museum's numismatic collection includes Danish coins from the Viking era to modern times, as well as ancient Roman and Greek coins, showcasing a broad perspective on historical currencies.
Additionally, the museum boasts a wealth of ancient artifacts from Greece, Italy, the Near East, and Egypt, highlighted by items from the 1957 Danish excavation of Tell Shemshara in Iraq.

Outside its core responsibilities, such as archaeology, ethnology, numismatics, ethnography, natural science, and conservation, the museum also plays a key role in managing the National Treasures (Danefæ) and overseeing antiquarian efforts related to Denmark's churches.

Tip:
After paying your entry fee, be sure to find out when a free one-hour tour of the museum's 'greatest hits' is available in your language.

Christiansborg Palace, located on the small island of Slotsholmen outside Copenhagen Harbor, is a multifunctional building serving as the seat of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget), the Prime Minister's Office, and the Supreme Court. Unique for housing all three branches of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—it is the only structure in the world to do so.

The current palace is the third on this site; the original castle built by the city's founder, Bishop Absalon, stood here since 1167. Its remains along with those of its successor – Copenhagen Castle – have been excavated and are now visible in the subterranean section at Christiansborg. After suffering two major fires in 1794 and 1884, the palace was rebuilt in a historicist Neo-baroque style by 1928.

Often called "the Castle of the Realm" (Rigsborgen) or simply "the Castle" (Borgen), Christiansborg is also used by the Danish monarchy, specifically the Royal Reception Rooms, the Palace Chapel, and the Royal Stables.

King Christian IX's equestrian statue at the Riding Ground Complex, unveiled in 1927, caused controversy, as the horse model for it was sourced from Hanover, Germany, causing discontent among Danish breeders.

Owned by the Danish Government, parts of Christiansborg are open to the public. If you have a Copenhagen Card for tourists, admission to the royal reception rooms (as well as the stables, kitchen, and underground ruins) is free. Highlights of the experience include the Queen's china collection; her ornate ceremonial library; and the Great Hall, which today is adorned with tapestries chronicling Denmark's history. The detail in the hand paintings that cover every square inch of some of the rooms is simply amazing.

If you don't have a Copenhagen Card (or don't want to pay to get in), it is still possible to walk around the courtyard and go up the Tower (Copenhagen's tallest), where a nice observation area looks over the city on all sides. There's even a small elevator that takes groups of 8ish at a time to the top, so definitely do this, if nothing else. Access to the viewing platform is free, though passing through a security check is required due to the official nature of the building.

Why You Should Visit:
The on-site library is the stuff of dreams, and one could easily spend an hour looking at the modern tapestries.

Tip:
Always look out for the free English one-hour tours included in your ticket (they run at 3 pm each day but also at different times during weekends: 12 pm or 2pm), unless you'd rather wander the rooms on your own, reading the descriptions.

Constructed by a pair of Flemish-Danish architects as a testimony to Copenhagen's wealth in the 17th century, "the commodity bourse" (Børsen), later known as the stock exchange, was built under the reign of Christian IV, from 1619 to 1640. Fit to impress foreign and local merchants arriving by sea, its design declared a clear intention to bolster Copenhagen as a Northern European trade hub. Like many other buildings in the city during that period, this eye-catching red-brick structure was inspired by the Dutch Renaissance style; the inscription on its low facade, stretching out along the waterside, reads "For the profitable use of buyer and seller."

Throughout centuries, the building underwent several modifications, most significantly in the 19th century. Until 1974, it served as the Danish stock market and today houses the Danish Chamber of Commerce.

A popular tourist attraction, the Bourse was most noted for its iconic "Dragon Spire" (Dragespir), shaped as the tails of four dragons twined together and topped by crowns to symbolize the union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Perhaps it also showed an aspiration of Copenhagen to rule the united Scandinavian empire as its commercial capital.

Originally built in 1625, the 56-meter (184-foot) spire was replaced in 1775 due to structural concerns. According to legend, it was also to protect against enemies and fires – and true enough, for many years, the building was spared from damage, while the neighboring structures burnt to the ground. The luck ceased on 16 April 2024, when a fire caused by renovation work severely damaged the building, destroying half of it and toppling the spire itself. Recognizing the cultural impact akin to the Notre Dame fire (the disaster struck just over five years after a similar tragedy at Notre Dame, marking a poignant moment for Denmark), the authorities vowed to rebuild the property.

Meanwhile, the nearby island of Christian's Harbor (Christianshavn) – Copenhagen's "Little Amsterdam" district – has its own distinct spires quite interesting to see up close (or zoom in).

Tip:
For a nice overview picture of the Bourse, take an elevator in the nearby Christiansborg Palace, on the other side of the road. The inside of the Bourse is accessible only during a Culture Night that is held annually in October. The queues to get in can be quite long, though.

Copenhagen has no shortage of statues, but when it comes to fountains, there aren't that many. The latter fact makes the Stork Fountain on Amager Square particularly noticeable. The fine inlaid Italian granite stonework stands amid the old buildings, the oldest of which dates back to 1600.

Designed as a present to Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Louise for their silver wedding jubilee (or 25th anniversary), the Stork Fountain was unveiled in 1894.

The Stork Fountain's design is truly unique, with its key elements being the three storks ready to take flight. Decorated with aquatic plant reliefs, the fountain also features bronze frogs on dock leaves which add a whimsical touch, spewing jets of water into the basin. In 2008, the Danish Ornithological Society officially debunked an urban myth that the depicted birds were herons, confirming that they are indeed storks.

The most familiar tale about the storks' role in bringing babies was written by Hans Christian Andersen and published in 1838. These birds know "the pond in which all the little children lie, waiting till the storks come to take them to their parents. The prettiest little babies lie there dreaming more sweetly than they will ever dream in the time to come. All parents are glad to have a little child, and children are so pleased with a little brother or sister."

In 1950, Danish midwife students started a tradition of dancing around the fountain as part of their graduation ritual. To see it, come in mid-summer when graduates come by the truckload to dance around and wade or swim in the fountain. Just grab a table with a good view of the fountain in a nearby restaurant in the early evening and wait for the show to start!

Stroget, a pedestrian thoroughfare in the heart of Copenhagen, is renowned as one of Europe's longest shopping streets, extending over 1.1 kilometers. Initially known as Ruten until the late 19th century, the street has been a fashionable hub in the Danish capital since its layout was established in 1728 following a major fire. The architecture along Stroget mainly dates from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the oldest building erected in 1616.

Stroget is renowned for its extensive shopping opportunities. It hosts a wide range of shops, from international brands to local boutiques, offering fashion, design, jewelry, and more. It's a shopper's paradise and attracts both locals and tourists alike.

Throughout the day, especially during weekends and holidays, Stroget comes alive with street performers, musicians, and entertainers. This adds to the lively atmosphere and creates a festive mood.

Numerous cafés, restaurants, and bars line Stroget, offering a variety of cuisines and refreshments. It's a great place to stop for a meal or a coffee break while soaking in the bustling ambiance.

King's New Square is a central hub in Copenhagen, noted for its significant size and historical prominence. Established in 1670 by King Christian V, the square was part of an extensive urban development aimed at expanding and fortifying the city.

Originally a chaotic site with muddy terrain outside the city's fortifications, the area was transformed into a planned, cobblestoned space inspired by royal squares in Paris. It served both military and social functions – first, as a military alarm square and then as a venue for royal ceremonies and public gatherings.

Dominating the square, at its center, is the equestrian statue of King Christian V. The oldest of its kind in Scandinavia, first crafted in 1688 and recast in bronze in 1939, it exudes a historical aura.

Surrounding the square are prominent buildings such as the Royal Danish Theater, Charlottenborg Palace (now housing the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts), the Thott Palace (currently the French Embassy), and notable commercial establishments like the Hotel D'Angleterre and the Magasin du Nord department store.

Also, check out an old kiosk and telephone stand from 1913. Built in Baroque Revival style and featuring a copper-clad roof and hand-carved ornamentation, it once hosted Copenhagen's first public telephone service and now serves as a café with outdoor seating.

Today, the square is not only a historical site but also a vibrant public space that hosts outdoor exhibitions and ice skating in winter and is a traditional spot for high school graduation celebrations.

New Harbor is a historical waterfront entertainment district famed for its picturesque alignment of brightly colored townhouses showcasing traditional Danish architecture from the 17th and early 18th centuries.

Originally constructed by King Christian V between 1670 and 1675 to facilitate trade with the Dutch, using Danish soldiers and Swedish war prisoners, back then it was a bustling area notorious for its beer halls and brothels.

The famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen lived here for 18 years, immortalizing the area's cultural significance. Between 1834 and 1838, he quartered on the second floor of the bright red-color building at Number 20, and over the next four decades, occupied two more canal-front properties, including one next door, at Number 18. His longest lodging stint, however, was at Number 67, where he lived on and off from 1848 to 1865.

New Harbor underwent significant transformations over the centuries. Post-World War II, the area saw a decline in maritime activity, leading to its near abandonment. The revitalization of New Harbor began in the mid-1960s. In 1977, it saw the opening of the Veteran Ship and Museum Harbor, and by 1980, the quay was pedestrianized, transforming it into a bustling tourist and local hotspot.

The harbor today features various museum ships, each with its own story. It also houses the Memorial Anchor at its end, a tribute to Danish sailors lost in World War II.

To the south of this gentrified sailors' quarter, you'll find a maze of trendy cafés, restaurants, jazz clubs, and tattoo shops. It is a great place to go for sampling traditional Danish dishes like open-faced sandwiches.

Tip:
If you fancy a drink, do as the locals do: take your beer or coffee from a nearby store out to the canal, rest your feet at the quayside, and enjoy the view. Otherwise, take a walk down the harbor all the way to the end, where you will find the Royal Playhouse (Skuespilhuset) and its reasonably priced bar/café, with good-quality service and one of the best views in town (of the harbor itself, the new Opera House, and other things too).

Those with tired feet may alternatively opt to take an hour-long boat tour, usually booked just at the entrance to the harbor.