Whirlwind Tour of Copenhagen… on a Bicycle

Copenhagen was a surprise destination, and I am really glad I decided to visit.  I found it mostly void of “traditional tourists”, as it felt a bit off the beaten track.

As I mentioned in my previous blog, I had my hands on a bicycle, so with Copenhagen being so accessible, I decided to see what I could get up to.

Fælledparken

Clearly a favourite spot in Summer for local Danes, this is a great park with lots of places to sit, lie down, cycle and walk around.  There is even a nice mini-lake and fountain.

Sortedam Lake

Or Sortedams Sø looks a lot like a river when you cycle over it to reach the city centre, but yes, it is actually a lake.  It’s really nice to relax, walk or cycle around.

City Centre

There is SO much to see in Copenhagen town centre.  Just walking through the Old Town is wonderful. And there are plenty of places to leave your bicycle.

Copenhagen Cathedral

Or Vor Frue Kirke in Danish was finished in 1829, but had been a site for churches since 1209.  It is unique compared to other cathedrals I’ve seen.

Trinity Church

Or Trinitatis kirke was finished in 1651.  It was built by Kind Christian IV with university professors and students in mind.  This church is unique as it also contains the royal library and observatory.

National Gallery of Denmark

Or Statens Museum for Kunst opened in 1896.  Current permanent displays include European Art 1300-1800,Danish and Nordic Art 1750-1900, French Art 1900-1930 and Danish and International Art after 1900.

I had a quick look inside, but at DKK 110 (AUD $21.60) for a ticket to enter the exhibition area I opted out.

The Little Mermaid

Or Den Lille Havfrue is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Copenhagen.

It is a bronze statue of a mermaid by Edvard Eriksen which sits on a rock by the waterside of the Langelinie promenade. It is 1.25 metres (4.1 ft) tall and weighs 175 kilograms (385 lb).

Based on the fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, The Little Mermaid is a Copenhagen icon and has been a major tourist attraction since 1913.

Luckily, when I arrived there were less tourists than normal, so it was more-or-less easy to view.  I’m glad that I saw it.

Nyhavn

Yes, I went to Nyhavn. Also known at “Tourist Central” filled with 1,000s of tourists being herded around in buses and canal boats.

Nyhavn is a 17th-century waterfront, canal and entertainment district and is a spectacular sight of colour and art.

I believe a lot of locals come here on weekends and at night for drinks or dinner.

I also cycled down to the Opera House for a great view of the city.

Amalie Garden on the Waterfront

Once back over the other side of the river, Amaliehaven was the final area on my bicycle tour of Copenhagen.  It was a beautiful foundation and park built on the site of old shipyards.

It led through to…

Amalienborg

The 18th-century rococo complex of palaces, with a museum and marches by royal guards from time to time.

Frederik’s Church

The 18th-century Lutheran church with the largest dome in Scandinavia.

And so ended my tour of Copenhagen.  I really enjoy seeing the sights of the city, and the Danish capital will always have a special place in my heart as a memorable experience.

Is Copenhagen expensive? Yes.  Can it be done on a budget? Yes.  And lastly, does it have good coffee? Absolutely.