Denmark and especially Copenhagen which is also the capital of the country is a much visited honeymoon destination among many Europeans while it is increasingly becoming a favoured spot amongst travellers from around the world.

Copenhagen, Denmark by JamesZ_Flickr

Copenhagen itself offers a myriad of choices for couples and a night at The Opera should not be missed. This is definitely a wonderful and memorable experience which can be added to your special time together. It is said that the Danish Opera is special in its own way while you can add that special touch to your opera experience by having dinner beforehand. The city offers some of the best restaurants with beautiful views adding to the ambience of the entire night. Always make sure that you pre book your opera tickets since the shows are sold out most of the time. Make your romantic night more special by booking in advance.

For a more romantic setting you can head towards Gammel Holtegård which is towards the North of Copenhagen. This is a former country house and which is now operated as an art exhibition space while the Baroque Gardens will always leave you in awe. Summer is one of the best seasons that you should explore the beauty of these gardens with your loved one. Sunday afternoon is more of a surprise for all you love birds out there with various open air concerts featuring a number of classical and jazz musicians which creates the ideal setting for a romantic evening.

The Thorvaldsen Museum is a not to miss venue when visiting Denmark. This is known to be as one of the most fascinating museums in the country and it is a dedication to the works and collections of Bertel Thorvaldsen. ‘Cupid and Psyche’ is one of the most famous masterpieces that you should admire as a couple.

Amalienborg Royal Palace, Denmark by Rob Deutscher

As a couple you will also love romantic walks in the evening and Denmark offers you just that. You can head towards the waterfront by the Amalienborg Royal Palace. The views across the water will leave you breathless while a further walk will lead you to the statue of the Little Mermaid sitting on her rock.

Strøget is also a place that you should visit since there are many tiny streets and alleyways which are excellent to shop around while they are all lit with candles to set the perfect mood for couples. There are many local designs, arts and crafts that you can purchase. A romantic souvenir is always a good thing for you to remember wonderful time that you spent together and the streets of Strøget has plenty to offer.

Author’s Bio

Travelling is something very enjoyable activity in our lives. Theresa Kent is writing so many articles regarding travel including her own experiences. This time she writes about airports, airport transfers Tenerife and about Denmark.

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Jomfru Ane Gade is maybe the most popular street in the entire country and by far the most popular street in Aalborg. The street is only 150 meters long and is located in the very center of Aalborg. It is very busy on hot summer evenings and you will find people staying in the street partying through the whole night.

Jomfru Ane Gade, Aalborg, Denmark by Nichlas Hummelsberger

If possible you should visit the street both during the day and at night. The street is filled with cafés and restaurants during daytime and by night you will find the street packet with clubs and bars. This is a real “going-out”-street. In fact, besides a 7-Eleven store, the street is occupied by nothing but clubs and restaurants. It is actually said to be the longest continuous stretch of restaurants and bars in Denmark.

During the day you will find plenty of restaurants suitable for the whole family. Most of the buildings in the street are several hundreds years old and during the summer you can enjoy the view of people walking by from the tables outside every restaurant. Around 23:00 the restaurants will transform into clubs and bars. Jomfru Ane Gade is nothing like the red light district of Amsterdam, but you should not bring small children if you plan on making a visit by night. At this time of the day, the street is literally filled with loud and drunk people of almost all ages. As a matter of fact, children under the age of 18 will be asked to leave by the police.

The city is the most monitored street in Denmark and you will see surveillance cameras almost everywhere in the street and on the rooftops. The police is also present at all times during the night. Therefore the street is quite safe despite all the people.

In Jomfru Ane Gade you will find many different clubs each famous for its own type of music. The locals usually start arriving between 23:00 and 00:00, but you will not see the true level of partying prior to one or two hours after midnight. Many people stay up the whole night and in the summer months you will see people still partying when the sun rises in the morning.

Jomfru Ane Gade is not a place to miss, so you better start looking for those cheap flights (or billige flybilletter as it’s called in Danish) to Aalborg, Denmark. Come visit this summer and get ready to party hard in Jomfru Ane Gade.

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The story of the little mermaid standing by the waters of the Copenhagen Harbour is based on a fairy-tale by Hans Christian Andersen.  It was written in 1836, and turned into a movie by Disney in the 20th century.  It is a popular attraction for the whole family, no matter of what age, and a famous tourist place of Denmark, and is visited the whole year round.

The Little Mermaid, Copenhagen, Denmark by Dennis Jarvis

Sculptor

A brewer named Carl Jacobsen went to watch a ballet of the Little Mermaid in 1909, which was also based on the fairy-tale.  He then went to the Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen and asked him to build the sculpture of the mermaid.  She was constructed with half a fish tail and half legs so that visitors would know who she was.  In 1913, she was unveiled at Langelinje and stood four feet tall.  Edvard Eriksen’s wife was the woman who modelled for the statue after the ballerina from the theatre turned Carl down.  She did not want to pose naked, knowing the public would look upon her.

The Mermaid’s Tale

The story of the little mermaid is a sad tale about a fifteen-year-old mermaid who comes out of the sea to fall in love with a prince that she saved from drowning. To get legs to walk around on land she gives her voice to an evil sea witch. Unfortunately, she never finds her prince because the witch betrays her and changes her legs into deadly sea foam instead.

Little Mermaid, Copenhagen, Denmark by Dennis Jarvis

The little bronze mermaid sculpture rests on granite stone in Nyhavn, an old port district, where she will always sit next to the shore of the Langelinie Quay or harbour.  She is not far away from many other famous attractions of Denmark. This is the perfect spot for her to rest because it is where she can watch the sailors coming into Copenhagen. The life for the locals here is to visit outdoor bars and restaurants, but they have to keep an eye on the weather. Some chat by the water if it is warm and perhaps sunny, with a beer, looking upon the little mermaid with pride.

Sadly, for the people of Copenhagen the Little Mermaid was no longer where she had lived for about one hundred years.  She was lifted onto a truck where she started her journey to Shanghai for a World Expo.  She was moved there to be the centrepiece of the Danish exhibit.  It was only to be a temporary move at this point, but the residents of Copenhagen wondered if they would ever see their Little Mermaid again.  Many of the older generation had grown up with her, so it was very sad for those people losing a piece of their memories as well as the history.  But in November 2010, the people of Copenhagen rejoiced again as the Little Mermaid came back home to rest in her old spot by the water.

The Little Mermaid is a must see if you visit Denmark. However, you definitely need to find a suitable hotel in Copenhagen (interesting to know is that the Danish term is Lækkert hotel København) for you. Find more travel tips in Channel Voyager.

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Egeskov Castle was built in 1544 on oak stilts in the middle of the water.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Rico Bergholdt Hansen

The castle is still inhabited so only few room are available to the tourists. Old family history is often completely in contrast with modern times. In addition to a painting of modern art which hangs above the old stone fireplace, but also in one of the rooms, you can find the superman costume (the original costume from the first Hollywood film) right next to grandfather’s armor. It is hard to overlook also a collection of dolls with the faces of some female members of the royal family. Among them are the first and second wife of the current landowner. Dolls have a beautiful house, which was designed by a retired soldier for his granddaughter. It took him 7 years. Everything is invented in the greatest detail.

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The water area is surrounded by a beautiful park with a labyrinth. There is a beautiful herb garden waiting for lovers of spices and herbs. You will find a lot of museums here, café, gift shop and other traders who want to capitalize on tourism.

You can stay overnight in the camping that is just near the castle. It is only available for tents and is completely free.

Egeskov Castle is open daily from May to September (from 10:00am to 5:00pm, during the summer even longer) and basic admission is €21.

For further details see the official website of Egeskov Castle.

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The biggest attraction of Hornbæk is its local beach. It is also one of the best beaches in Scandinavia, awarded by the Blue Flag. Hornbæk Beach has fine white sand and you can enjoy here really clean air. It is a popular place of windsurfing and kitesurfing. Unfortunately there is no rent available, so you must bring your equipment yourself. In summer, the swimmers are secured by the Coast Guard. Hornbæk beach stretches on both sides of the harbor.

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Those who like walking and hiking are invited to the public forest Hornbæk Plantage, which stretches several kilometers along the coast. In the forest there are several marked routes. You can stop at one of many small parks and pick up the map of the trails at the local tourist Information Centre.

Hornbæk is also a popular place for fishing enthusiasts. Here you can rent a boat here either at the local Information Centre or in the office of Captain of the port, located on the south side of the harbor. Prices are around 600 DKK (80 EUR) per boat per day and up to 3 people.

You can stay in the local camp, which is well equipped and offers also cabins, a playground and an air trampoline for children. Or in one of the hotels. In the port you can visit the fish market.

Hornbæk is best accessible by train and car. The nearest international airport is located in Copenhagen, which is 50km away.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Hunter-Desportes

European E20 route passes through Öresund Bridge as well, which is important connection between Scandinavia and Central and Western Europe. But not only the bridge is interesting here. Another part of this route is a well-built tunnel under the sea that ensures better navigation and transportation network for the ships. The long tunnel permits fleets of large cargo boats, passenger ships and speed boats steer safely through this extended tunnel.

On Öresund Bridge you will pass the borders but thanks to Schengen Agreement there are usually no passport inspections.

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The Architect of the bridge is Georg Rotne who designed several important bridges throughout the world. Öresund Bridge is 7,845 meters long and up to 23.5 meters wide and today it serves to more than 17,000 road vehicles every day.

If you visit Sweden or Denmark in the future, you have to make a trip by train or car through this unique bridge and tunnel. It is really very impressive!

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The capital of Denmark is located on the island of Sjæland, which lies east of Denmark. Half a million inhabitants live here and 600,000 others live in the metropolitan area. Copenhagen Centre, which is full of sights, lies to the very shores of the Baltic Sea.

Copenhagen is a royal city and really has a royal looking. You will find the seat of kings here, gardens, parks, many ancient churches, towers, and especially beautiful harbors. In the following sections we will present the most interesting places in Copenhagen.

Botanisk Have – botanical garden
Nature lovers shouldn’t miss this large botanical garden, founded in the late 19th century, which is full of all kinds of plant (both exotic or Danish). Through the garden leads many paths. In one section there is a beautiful stream with a rock, in others the lake with wetland plants. You should visit also a large greenhouse full of plants – most interesting is a greenhouse with orchids, cacti and palm house, where you can go to the top and see the palm trees from above.
There is no admission, the access is free.

Statens Museum for Kunst – national gallery
If you are art lovers, do not miss this gallery, which contains one of the most interesting collections of European art. You will find works by such artists as Rubens, Rembrandt, Picasso and Matisse, but the works of Danish painters as well.

Rosenborg Slot – Royal Palace
The royal palace is on of the symbols of Copenhagen. Without the admission fee you can enter the walls and see the Palace from the outside, or see it from the Royal Garden (Kongens Have). If you pay the entrance (40 DKK), then you can visit the underground treasure (where are the crown jewels), a marble hall, long hall, a Chinese salon, mirrored cabinet and stair tower.

Kongens Have – Royal Garden
This garden, immediately adjacent to the Rosenborg Slot, was founded in 1606 and is thus the oldest park in Copenhagen. You can find there beautiful roses, trees, fountains, and the various statues. One of the most famous is the statue of Hans Christian Andersen.

Kastellet fortress
Another well-known sight of Copenhagen is Kastellet fortress, which was founded in the early 17th century. This building, now open to the public, is interesting for the 5-pointed star layout, with an ancient windmill in one part. In the 19th century, the building served as a prison. Kastellet is now used by Danish army – you can meet the members of army inside.

Sankt Albans Kirke (church) and fountain Gefion
Beautiful church, called St. Albans Kirke, is built in Gothic style and it is located near Kastellet fortress. The church was built in the late 19th century and is located near the impressive fountain Gefion. This fountain is one of the most important sites of Denmark, although it was built in 1908. In the middle of the fountain there is a statue of the goddess Gefion, which has four oxen hitched to have a character from the famous Scandinavian legend.

Den lille havfrue – The statue of Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid statue, which sits on a rock and staring sadly at sea is one of the most famous symbol of Copenhagen and a major tourist attraction as well. The statue sits on a rock in the Copenhagen harbor in Langelinie.

“The Little Mermaid” is a fairy tale written by the Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen about a young mermaid willing to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to gain a human soul and the love of a human prince.
Originally it was written as a ballet, the tale was first published in 1837 and has been adapted to various media including musical theatre and animated film.

The statue was commissioned in 1909 by Carl Jacobsen, son of the founder of Carlsberg, after he had been fascinated by a ballet about the fairytale. The sculptor Edward Eriksen created the statue, which was unveiled on 23 August 1913. His wife, Eline Eriksen, was the model.

The statue has been moved to Expo 2010 in Shanghai for the first time ever.

Amalienborg Slot – Royal Palace
Another of the royal residences in Copenhagen is Amalienborg Slot, which is the current official residence of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. The Palace is the seat of the royal family already from the late 18th century. The palace consists of several buildings which in the middle of is the square with the statue of Frederic V. From this square you can see on one side the Amaliehaven park, which borders the sea and opposite the Marmorkirken church.

Kongens Nytorv – King’s new square
One of the most famous squares throughout Copenhagen is located in its heart. There are several interesting buildings. One is a theater – Det Kongelige Teater, where you can see drama and ballet. Then there is the Hotel d’Angleterre, which belongs to the most luxurious hotels in Scandinavia. Most interesting is Nyhavn harbor.

Nyhavn – New harbour
It is 300 meters long channel, from the 17th century, with beautiful color buildings on both sides. Nyhavn is a place where people love to meet, sit in cafes or on the channel trims and enjoy the atmosphere of this place. Many boats leaves from Nyhavn on scenic routes across the Channel and the coast (hour cost approx. 30 DKK).

Other important squares – Nytorv a Raadhuspladsen
Nytorv is another famous square, where you can see a fountain of Caritas Springvandet from the beginning of the 17th century. There is also Raadhuspladsen’s Square, which is the second largest square in Copenhagen after Kongens Nytorv. It is important because there is the so-called Raadhus Hall, built of red bricks in the early 20th century.

Tivoli – amusement park
Another frequently visited site is the Tivoli amusement park. Unfortunately, the entrance is about 100 DKK + 25 DKK per adult/trip. Park operates from April to late September, then on Halloween (which is celebrated here) and on Christmas.

Vor Frelsers Kirke – church
Other attractions of Copenhagen is the church with remarkable tower from 18th century. You can enjoy beautiful view from this tower. The total height of the tower is 90 meters and it is the second biggest view point in Copenhagen.

Christiansborg Slot – Royal Palace
Another of the castles and royal residences of Copenhagen is Christiansborg Slot, which is 90 years old.

Christiania
Do not forget the Free State of Christiania, which is a special place of this city. It was founded in 1971, when squatters occupied several local branches of the barracks and the government decided not to intervene. Today there live nearly a thousand people and is certainly a place that attracts many people. Entrance to Christiania is free, but it should be noted that you can not make pictures there.

One weekend in Copenhagen
Due to the fact that Copenhagen is full of great sites, it is impossible to list them all. Nor is it possible to walk all in one afternoon. Nevertheless, we recommend the use of offers to spend a weekend in Copenhagen, as monuments are located in close proximity and all of the above listed you certainly be able to see.

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In the capital of Denmark you can find literally everything you could imagine about culture. Thanks to absolutely flat plain, which is so typical for Denmark, Copenhagen is the perfect place suitable for the construction of beautiful castles and palaces. From the Royal Palace Amalienborg Slot, through Rosenborg Castle and Christiansborg Palace to Borsen palace.

What you definitely should not miss are many small museums in the city. Museum of Danish design, fabulous Museum of Hans Ch. Andersen, Karen Blixen Museum in a short distance from Copenhagen…etc… But on a small area of Copenhagen there is still squeezing something else – it is independent State of Christiania that was founded in the 70′s of 20th century.

For the lovers of modern architecture there is a new library building named the Black Diamond, or a brand new opera house built as a gift for Danish people.

Perhaps the best feature of Copenhagen is the possibility of long walks through the city – through the Pedestrian Zone Strøget or through some of the parks.

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The Kronborg castle has been one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe. The castle was originally used to collect duties, and was later rebuilt to Renaissance castle. However it is important to note, that Renaissance means something else in Italy and something else in Scandinavia. Later the castle was used as barracks for two centuries.

You can save a tour of the interior. After the fire, there is not much remained to be seen inside. It is best to walk along the sea and the view from the ship.

Kronborg Castle has been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites list in 2000.

History of Kronborg Castle

• In 1420s the fortress, Krogen, was built by the Danish king, Eric of Pomerania.
• In 1585 was rebuilt by Frederick II into a magnificent Renaissance castle and renamed to Kronborg.
• In 1629 the castle was totally burned due to some mistake of two workers.
• In 1639 the castle was restored by Christian IV, but the interior never fully regained its former glory.
• From 1688-1690, an advanced line of defence and ramparts were built around it, which made Kronborg Castle the strongest fortress in Europe.
• From 1739 until the 1900s, Kronborg was used as a prison.

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Since 1848, Denmark is a constitutional monarchy and kings have not been crowned any more. In 1859 there was a large fire in the castle and the majority of the castle has been destroyed. Restoration has been proceeded with the intention to build a museum of Danish history in the castle. Tourists now pass through magnificently furnished rooms which are divided into different time periods, and can see the rich history of the Danish kingdom. The castle is richly equipped with paintings, furniture and interior decorative accessories. Frederiksborg is the Denmark’s largest gallery of portraits of all kings and queens from the year 1500, along with hundreds of other prominent Danish people.

Frederiksborg Palace is surrounded by a lake and park, which consists of a Baroque French garden and English park. From May to September, you can take tour boat around the castle. The start point is near the main square with city hall and the finish at the castle gardens.

The castle is located in the town of Hillerød, the final lines of the S-train. The city’s history is closely linked to the castle. Before castle construction there stood only a few village houses. Soon the city grew and became a center of commerce. Even today you can do shopping here, as well as in the center of Copenhagen, all the major companies have their own clothing shops here in the shopping street.

Hillerød is a vibrant town with 35,000 inhabitants and a beautiful castle, which is its greatest attraction.

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