Copenhagen (Denmark)

I have been to Copenhagen many times, because my girlfriend lives there, travelling from London.

It is a very good place to visit for a long weekend. Arriving at the airport, transport to the city is easy: taxi (about 150-200DKK), train or bus (both about 20DKK). That's one excellent thing about Copenhagen - the public transport is frequent, cheap and integrated. A ticket bought on a train, is then valid on a bus, in a valid zone, for a certain period, depending on how many zones you buy.

If you come buy bus or train from the airport, you'll arrive at the central train station, which is directly opposite Tivoli, the famous fun park. Open in the spring, summer and autumn (and for shopping only before Christmas), it IS one of the best places to go in Copenhagen on a first trip. It's much more gentle, pleasant and easy-going than somewhere you might get in the UK, say. There are lots of good, expensive (a common theme) restaurants within its boundaries. There are quite a few roller coasters, which look gentle but a still good fun "for all the family".

I guess the other famous Copenhagen site is "The Little Mermaid", emphasis on the little. Frankly I wouldn't bother, but fot the fact that you've got to see it to say you've been to Copenhagen. Not doing so would be like going to New York City for the first time and not seeing the Statue of Liberty.

The best way to see "Den Lille Havefrue" (at least in the summer) is from one of the boats that give guided tours - in three languages: Danish, English and German - around the canals and waterways that make up Copenhagen. Trouble is you end up with photographs of the back of her (small) head, with lots of other tourists on the bank taking pictures of her front. But, as I said, it's not really worth it anyway. From the water you get to see lots of nice buildings, and you get the little Mermaid for free.

Some of the places to see by foot (if you don't see them from the water) are the:
- marble church
- the palace (four near-identical building arranged in a square - really beautiful)
- Nyhavn (new harbour), a really pretty street with water in middle with lots of (expensive) pubs and restaurants along one side.
- the royal theatre in "Kongensnytor"
- raadhuspladsen (the central square, where the council building is)
- and lots of others that I can't remember

Which reminds me. One of the things Denmark SHOULD be really famous for (rather than stupid small statues) is their pastries and bread. I know British people talk about "Danish Pastries" (irony is that the Danes call that particular pastry "Wienerbroed" (roughly) - which means Vienne's Bread), but I don't think that label does their bakers justice. It is still a tradition in DK to get fresh bread in the morning (at least at the weekend), and so would I if I could get the stuff they can. Forget french pastries. These are much better. Take time to go to a baker and buy bread and pastries.

If you're coming from somewhere like London, then Copenhagen will seem like a medium to large town, rather than a capital city. This is mostly because it's so quiet rather than because you can particularly perceive the smallness. The thing to watch out for is that many of the shops close at 1.30pm on Saturday and are not open at all on Sunday. So you need to get up early (having bought and eaten fresh bread!) to get in any shopping.

If you're flying there from the UK, my advice would be to go SAS if you want Heathrow or Stansted, Maersk if from Gatwick, and BA if you have no other choice. Stansted SAS flights are cheap and empty, the opposite of Heathrow ones. However the SAS flights have the advantage of being filled with Danes (and Norweigans and loads of Swedes), which means you get into the feel of DK as soon as you get into the departure lounge.

One last thing. New Year is amazing. They do the most crazy things with fireworks. If you goto the central square (raadhuspladsen) on new years eve you will not believe it. Straight-laced Danes really let-go. I am amazed that hundreds don't loose one or both eyes in firework accidents each year. Following that dire warning, I've spent new year in Copenhagen for the last two years, and I shall be off there again tomorrow for new year 00/01.

Another last thing: Best restaurant "Peder Oxe".

And another. Best time to visit: Summer/spring. The weather is dreadful in winter. New year is also great