Copenhagen is the largest city in Scandinavia. Being the capital of Denmark, it is inhabited by more than 1.8 million citizens. 

The city was founded in 1167. Now it is a modern vibrant metropolis, a centre of culture and arts. “The Paris of the North” is one of the oldest capitals in Europe. It is a multicultural centre with friendly people and international atmosphere. Nowadays, the city is very easy to reach by air, sea or land. Copenhagen Airport (it was originally called Kastrup Airport), is an important European international air hub. It is one of the oldest international airports in Europe with direct flights to most European cities, as well as far away destinations. Also Copenhagen is visited by many international cruise lines. In addition, the city has a modern subway station. Alternatively, it offers a lot of bicycle paths. 

The city is famous for its colourful history too. Visitors can see old historical buildings, narrow streets and cobbled squares. Copenhagen was a strategic and important harbour for the Vikings. Over a period of 300 years, they set out on their voyages from that region. There is evidence that the city existed more than 6,000 years ago. It started out as a small fishing village and has become a dynamic capital. In 1343, King Valdemar made Copenhagen the capital of Denmark. Now the city is a meeting place for cosy copper-roofed buildings and a modern lifestyle. In the Danish language, its name is København.

All kinds of religions are represented here. The city is known for its numerous churches, synagogues and mosques situated close to each other.

The Danish capital is one of the world’s major destinations for international conferences and congresses. The Bella Center, Scandinavia’s largest conference centre, is situated in the outskirts of Copenhagen. 

This spirited city is ideal for exploring. It is a favourite place for cruisers too.

With its strategic location, Copenhagen offers golden opportunities for many international businesses. The metropolis is strategically located at the crossroads of the Baltic Region and Scandinavia. It is also a financial and commercial hub of the Nordic countries. The city is growing rapidly, and there are a lot of good reasons to establish a business here. Copenhagen provides a range of banks and financial services, brilliant communication solutions, a strong maritime network, the best airport in the world, the Øresund bridge which connects Denmark and Sweden, etc. Several research centres can be found here. The Science Park lies 20 km north of Copenhagen, at Hørsholm. Many biotech companies are located in the Øresund region - an area of quick growth and development, one of the most important and dynamic areas in Europe. Moreover, a large number of educational institutions are established in the region. The University of Copenhagen is one of them. It is the first university in Denmark.

The Danish capital is a surprising destination. It offers a lot of interesting places. The Tivoli Gardens is a piece of imagination which enchants people from all over the world. Visitors will find this special amusement park in the heart of the city. The park offers something for everyone: roller coasters, theatres, gourmet restaurants, bars, a winter fairyland, old-fashioned markets, etc. 

Amalienborg Palace – the winter residence of the Danish royal family, is another place which visitors enjoy immensely. Every day at noon, they can watch the change of royal guards who march through the city. But the city’s most famous attraction is the bronze sculpture of the Little Mermaid. Well, the mermaid is really little – it is only 1.25 metres/4 feet high. 

Another attraction here is Christiania – a famous freetown founded in 1971. No cars, no guns, no stealing, no hard drugs – the freetown has its own rules. It also has its own flag and its own currency. The citizens of Christiania work as carpenters and blacksmiths. They also run restaurants and night clubs. 

Nyhavn, the old harbour district, is very popular among the tourists. The atmosphere here is always warm. The place is famous for its picturesque harbour where people can see old sailing ships and old houses with colourful facades. In one of these houses down the harbour, H. C. Andersen wrote his first fairy tale. 

The Church of our Saviour, the Round Tower and the new Carsberg Glyptotek are other famous attractions. The Church of our Saviour (Vor Frelsers Kirke) is located close to Christiania. It is famous for its golden staircase. Copenhageners believe that everyone should climb to the top of the church. And every year, more than 70,000 tourists climb the 400 steps up to the tower’s top to enjoy the fantastic view of the capital. 

The Round Tower (Rundetårn) is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. The new Carsberg Glyptotek is an interesting museum which consists of one collection of ancient art and one modern collection. It is one of the most popular art museums in Denmark.

The Experimentarium is another interesting place. Visitors of the museum can make a wind machine, examine enzymes, or visit a slimming machine. 

People who enjoy these things probably will be happy to go to the Tycho Brahe Planetarium. It has an IMAX theater and a star projector which shows the sun, the stars and the planets of our solar system. 

Copenhagen Zoo which holds 3,500 animals is a dream oasis for the children. The new aquarium, The Blue Planet, is another landmark for Copenhagen. Close encounters with ocean animals give their guests an unforgettable experience. 

Copenhagen is blessed with a lot of amazing places. Visitors who love shopping know that Strøget is one of the major attractions in Denmark. It is the longest shopping area in Europe. Shops with many established brands, small boutiques and trendy bars can be found here. 

If you love beer, Copenhagen is your destination. The Carlsberg Breweries and the Carlsberg centre attract more than 150,000 visitors every year. Here tourists can learn about the brewing process and enjoy the collection of 18,000 beer bottles. The Carsberg beer is one of the most famous Danish brands.

Visitors also should learn some Danish words, for example smørrebrød. These open sandwiches are the most famous feature of the Danish kitchen. They have hundreds of variations but people here usually make them with dark rye bread decorated as a piece of art. Experts who make this inspirational food in restaurants are trained at least three years. A restaurant in Copenhagen offers 178 different sorts of Smørrebrød. Pølse, the famous Danish red hot dog, is something you should taste too. 

Quite surprisingly, the weather in Copenhagen is rather mild. The summer months are moderately warm and quite pleasant. Temperatures range between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius. Autumn days here are still sunny. But nighttime temperatures drop to freezing point by mid-November. February is the coldest month. During this time, average temperatures range between 0 and 2 degrees. Because of the frequent drizzling rainfall, snowstorms are not so common. 

Today, the Danish capital is the most visited city in Scandinavia. It is also one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the world. 

 

10 Interesting Facts about Copenhagen

1. The Queen’s Guards have two designated costumes. The red costume is for special occasions; otherwise, they march in black down the street.
2. The city offers a new and popular way to have fun. The so-called ‘hybrid bars’ change their character from bars to clubs to restaurants during a 24-hour period.
3. The Danish capital is a safe and happy place: the crime rate here is very low.
4. The Radisson Blue Royal Hotel, which is the tallest building in downtown Copenhagen, was the city’s first skyscraper.
5. Copenhagen is one of the world’s top cities for cyclists. 50% of all citizens ride their bikes every day. The amount of bicycles on the streets is really amazing. Many middle-class families don’t own a car.
6. The city has something special and curious to offer. Absolut Icebar Copenhagen, located in the central area of the city, is the first permanent deep-frozen bar in Denmark. Everything inside (the walls, the tables, the glasses) is made out of ice.
7. Copenhageners have excellent language skills. English, German and Swedish is the most popular foreign languages in the area.
8. The transport infrastructure of the city is one of the most reliable and efficient systems in the world.
9. M/S Selandia, the world’s first ocean-going diesel-powered ship, was launched in Copenhagen. The ship was owned by the East Asiatic company founded in Copenhagen in 1897.
10. One of the best-known music pieces in the world, Tango Jalousie, was composed by Jacob Gade in Copenhagen. Also, it was performed for the first time at the Palace Cinema in the Danish capital.