Scandinavia has many unique destinations perfect for a city trip. Whether you want to head to the mountains or visit an urban city, it’s all possible.
Do you also want to explore the north of Europe but haven’t decided on a destination yet?
No worries, we’re happy to help you get started. Danish Copenhagen is an incredibly cool destination for your next city trip.
In just a little over an hour and a half flight from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, you can reach this unique destination. Due to the short flight, you can easily visit Copenhagen in 1 day.
But what makes this destination so unique? It’s a very trendy and young city full of sights. Historical buildings, historic palaces, and dozens of museums. It’s a city where the traditional and the modern go hand in hand. The stately palaces and colorful houses offer a beautiful contrast and give the city a special appearance.
Population of Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark. Approximately 635,000 people live in Copenhagen. If you include all the suburbs and municipalities surrounding Copenhagen, you speak of the Capital Region. Or as they say in Danish, Hovedstaden. This region includes, besides Copenhagen, the following regions: the islands of Zealand and Bornholm, Frederiksborg, and Bornholm. If you count all the inhabitants of the Hovedstaden, there are about 1,345,565. About half of them live in Copenhagen. Copenhagen is considered the economic and cultural center of the country.
Where is Copenhagen located?
Copenhagen is not on the mainland of Denmark but on the country’s largest island: Amager.
Copenhagen is located on the east coast of the Danish island of Zealand. From Copenhagen, you can easily take a train to Sweden. The Swedish Malmö is only half an hour away from Copenhagen. This is the distance you cover by train or car.
Book Malmö in Sweden during your Copenhagen city trip
Visiting two countries during your city trip? Why not.
From Copenhagen, it’s very easy to take the train to Sweden. The train takes exactly 36 minutes and goes over the Øresund Bridge. This connects both countries. You can take this train every 20 minutes. The cost for a train ticket is on average €12,- for a one-way trip. If you travel by car, you pay a toll. Costs start from €18,-
Despite the fact that Danish Copenhagen and Swedish Malmö are so close to each other, you will notice that they are two completely different destinations.
Copenhagen is very industrial, trendy, and chic, while Malmö is the more alternative sister. It’s really cool to visit both so you can compare them yourself.
During your city trip to Copenhagen, it’s definitely recommended to go across. Visit the Malmöhus Castle and have lunch in the bustling district of Lilla Tjorg. This is a cozy place with many nice restaurants, cafes, and bars.
How did Copenhagen get its name?
The city was founded in the 15th century. Denmark had many large cities, and around this time, they all got their own name, including Copenhagen.
Copenhagen was and is a major port city. In the Middle Ages, it was also one of the most important port cities in Northern Europe. The name Copenhagen is derived from the Danish word Købmandshavn. Købmandshavn translates to Merchant’s harbor.
In the Middle Ages, a lot of trade was conducted in the name, and the name was very appropriate. If we look today, the name is no longer as fitting. Denmark is no longer an important port city, and trade has also disappeared. Yet the name remains unchanged, and the Danes are very proud of the city’s history.
Sights in Copenhagen
- The Little Mermaid
- Tivoli Amusement Park
- Christiansborg
- Børsen (the stock exchange building)
- Kongens Nytorv
- The Gefion Fountain
- Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square)
- Langelinie
- Nyhavn (New Harbor)
- The Royal Theaters
- Operaen (the opera house)
- Amalienborg (the royal residence)
- Frederik’s Church (the Marble Church)
- The Gefion Fountain
- Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square)
- Langelinie
The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen
Who didn’t grow up with the fairy tale books of Hans Christian Andersen? This Danish author came from Denmark and wrote the most beautiful fairy tales.
To honor his work, Denmark created a statue of the Little Mermaid and placed it by the water in the Danish capital. In Danish, the Little Mermaid is called lille Havfrue.
The lille Havfrue statue has been on a rock in the old Harbor since August 1913. To this day, it is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. For the Danish people, this statue is very important. There was quite an uproar in 1964 when the Little Mermaid was beheaded by artist Jørgen Nash. He never gave a specific reason for this. Unfortunately, this was the beginning of various acts of vandalism towards the statue. It is often defaced and sprayed with graffiti.
There was also an uproar when the statue was moved to Shanghai for an exhibition in 2010. Although this was temporary, it led to local protests and indignation among the people. The statue was therefore brought back earlier. The Danish people want the Little Mermaid to always be home. And for them, home means in Danish Copenhagen.
Who is Denmark interesting for?
Denmark is a cool destination for everyone. Young or old, there’s something fun for everyone to do. It’s a destination with many sights. A city where you can enjoy going out and also shop well. Even if you’re traveling as a family, Copenhagen is a top destination for a city trip.
Like many Scandinavian cities, Copenhagen is very child-friendly. There are many palaces to visit, towers to climb, and museums specially created for children.
A big favorite is the Experimentarium. Here, children (and adults) can do various experiments, create their own artworks, and enjoy active audio tours. Even in adult museums, such as the National Gallery of Denmark and The National Museum, sections for children have been created. This way, the whole family can enjoy the museum.
You can also shop well there. Copenhagen is known for its many fashion boutiques with collections from Scandinavian designers. The minimalist designs are always in fashion. They are mainly classic pieces that you can enjoy for years. You might pay a little more for them, but you really get quality. That is definitely an important theme for the Danes: Sustainability. Quality over quantity. It’s also a very green city. Not only because of the large green parks you can find there. You’ll notice it in everything on site.
Discover Copenhagen by bike
Just like us, the Danes also love a nice bike ride. The country is designed for it, and there are good bike paths, making cycling in Copenhagen very safe.
Through Baja Bikes, you can book a bike tour through Copenhagen. And doing a bike tour during your city trip is a must.
Is this your first time in Copenhagen and do you want to get to know the city well in a short time?
Then book your bike tour. The highlights bike tour from Baja Bikes is highly recommended because you will immediately see all the important sights of Copenhagen. This is the perfect way to get a taste of everything the city has to offer. You can decide for yourself what you found interesting enough to visit again so you can spend more time there. You undertake the bike tour with a Dutch-speaking guide. This way, you can ask all your questions without encountering a language barrier.
The highlights bike tour from Baja Bikes
The highlights bike tour focuses on the highlights of Copenhagen. These are the coolest sights the city has to offer. You will cycle past the Little Mermaid, the Opera House, and the Tivoli Amusement Park. During your bike ride, you can take the perfect photos of all the Copenhagen sights.