This is a truly strange tourist attraction. And, I use that term,"Tourist Attraction," lightly…read more It is said that this place is the home to many of those who live an alternative lifestyle in Copenhagen. They claim that this area is completely beyond the rules and the laws of Copenhagen. In some ways, that is pretty easy to see as the main street is lined with people selling weed and hash, which is still illegal in Denmark. Copenhagen is not Amsterdam. Though a bit sketchy, this city within a city is very well maintained. I am sure there is some other story going on here. ...One that we will never know. This being said, what you will find here is some of the best street art and graffiti that you will witness anywhere across Copenhagen. Of course, it is clearly stated all over the place, "No Photos." But, I'm guess that is more to keep the people dealing drugs safe and off the radar than anything else. One of the funny/interesting things I find about this location is that tour buses actually pull up to it. I don't know, maybe it's just me me, but if you are truly embracing an alternative lifestyle that all seems rather intrusive. Nonetheless, this is an interesting place. Even if all you do is look at the great street art, it is worth the visit.

Christiania is an interesting visit, away from the standard tourist perspective of Copenhagen. From…read moreoriginal art to music and craft, Christiania is open to all as an alternate self-sustaining community.

This is Kongens Have, the King's Garden -- spread just beyond Rosenborg Castle, where Danish…read moreroyalty once wandered. It's a broad, open expanse of green, mostly lawn, trimmed and tidy, with long walking paths that crisscross between patches of trees and neatly kept flowerbeds. Marble statues stand watch here and there -- noble, a bit weathered, as if they've seen centuries of quiet afternoons like this one. No one's playing games or picnicking or frolicking -- it's more a place for gentle strolling, for couples holding hands or locals cutting through on their way home. It's pleasant, peaceful, even regal in its restraint. But honestly? Not quite the showstopper its royal name might suggest. A fine garden, yes -- but more for the calm than the spectacle.

Gorgeous and well maintained garden with a view of Rosenborg Castle. I was in love with the tree…read morelined path. So relaxing and peaceful when walking around the garden.

Venice has the Venetian Lagoon, Greece has the Aegean Sea, Spain has Port Vell and Denmark has…read moreNyhavn. Nyhavn is a beautiful waterfront adorned with restaurants, canal tours, and connection to the fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen, who lived in several of its houses. The vibrant colors of the houses were spectacular. "Nyhavn is a historic 17th-century canal district in Copenhagen, Denmark, famous for its colorful 17th-century townhouses, historic ships, and vibrant atmosphere." I made it a point to pass by daily because the beauty of the waterfront was a great way to start my day. It was a joy to see the shopkeepers get their restaurants ready for business, customers lining up for the canal tours and getting a peek at the Kissing Bridge. My visit in December was special due to the Christmas spirit at Nyhavn, where the iconic harbour is lined with festive stalls selling Christmas decorations, traditional Danish Christmas treats and steaming cups of gløgg (mulled wine). There are numerous restaurants offering fine dining to casual eating, especially the famous open faced sandwich, Smorrebrod. Nyhavn is close to the Royal Opera House, Royal Danish Theater and the Broen Food Market. It is a must see in Copenhagen.

What can I say about Nyhavn that hasn't already been said? It's iconic! You can't visit Copenhagen…read morewithout seeing it. It's just as beautiful and scenic as seen in famous photographs and paintings. It survived the Great Fire that destroyed most of Copenhagen. A famous Danish fairytale writer lived in not 1, but 3 of these houses on the waterfront. That's right! There are wall plates designating the buildings that Hans Christian Andersen lived in along Nyhavn. So, why 4 stars? It's a huge tourist attraction! That means it's super crowded with many travelers taking canal and Inner Harbour cruise tours. It's lined with cafés and restaurants on both sides of the canal. All of which look amazing yet are pricier than the ones you see tucked away from all this hype. The outdoor tables at these restaurants are all taken along the canal. There's certainly lots of people watching going on here. We were told to be aware of pickpocket activities. To be honest, it's just like any other crowded tourist spot. Don't let that discourage you. There's a hot dog stand here that appears to be very popular. Just know that there are many throughout the city that are just as good and with better seating. With all that said, it was still an amazing sight to see. It's probably best to give yourself more time to browse through everything that this area has to offer. It's a fun & happening place to be. Go there in the early morning hours for a calmer experience. You'll get better picture opportunities of the brightly painted buildings with the reflections off the water.

The Black Diamond is an architectural masterpiece and anyone visiting Copenhagen needs to at least…read morestop by! Why would a library be one of the places to visit during your vacation? Well, it better not be like any other boring old library right? This library is huge, and just walking around it is a cool feeling. There's free wifi and plenty of areas to roam or sit. It's also right by the water, where I sat and enjoyed the breeze before taking the train back.

This is a must visit place when in Copenhagen! Library,…read moreCafe, Literature and amazing architectural masterpiece.

It's a fun little tower to climb. Can't remember the entry cost, but pro tip: if you intend to see…read moremany sites here, get the Copenhagen card which applies to this church. Climb difficulty depends on your fitness level but imo it's easy. Steep inside, but easy. The outside is a little scary off you're afraid of heights, and it narrows as you get closer to the top. The spiral stairs part is outside the church. Plus you get the chance to meander through the streets on your way here.

I hyped everyone up for the Church of Our Saviour. My kids know it as the Tower of Doom…read more First up, it is a church that is still in use, but it also gives you a breathtaking view of the city. It's included on the Copenhagen Card but you still need to book your entry time online to avoid crowds. They do not allow walk ins - or at least they didn't in July. They also close the climb up if there's rain or is excessively windy for safety reasons. I took my friend and my two kids, ages 4 and 8. They did not want to go. I gave them a choice to stay at the front desk and they ended up making it up, since they didn't want to be left behind. You can store your larger bags (like backpacks) by the front desk at your own discretion. You should. It gets a bit cramped. I kept my purse on me though. As opposed to the Ruundetarn, there are a lot of steps. Roughly 400 up and another 400 down. It's not terrible but the closer you are to the top, it can get narrow and cramped. If you're tall, watch your head. It also gets to the point that groups going in one direction need to stop to let the ones coming down go just so you have room to go up. The last set of stairs to get outside is more like a ladder and you really feel it when you're getting ready to get back inside the church and you look down to see how steep and narrow those steps are. It is a beautiful view though! Your heart is pumping from the climb up, the wind hampers your breathing a bit... I heard a number of people breathing quite hard - but you're there! You go up further until you can go no more. When I went, there was a lady who was seemingly stuck at the very top and didn't budge from it, but no matter. (She spoke to us... just didn't let go.) Both of my kids made it up too despite their reservations. It took time to get them moving at first but they did it! My eldest got down without issues but going down those ladder steps, I just held my 4 year old in one arm and took us both down 2 flights before I let him down. But yes, younger kids can do it! (They got ice cream afterwards.) If you have a fear of heights or claustrophobia.... You can definitely turn around if you really can't do it. I couldn't stare down at the ground for long while at the very top (it is a bit high) but I didn't feel unsafe while up there. That was definitely an experience to remember! A bit of a thrill at the very end, haha.

Another day, another fountain. This one is the famous "Stork Fountain" in the Amagertorv square…read more The fountain consists of a nine-sided basis of stone, which has a bronze bowl at the top and three small cascades. It is decorated with various aquatic plants and in the basin, frogs spewing water. The three storks are ready to take flight. The fountain was a present to Crown Prince Frederik (later King Frederik VIII) and Crown Prince Louise for their silver wedding anniversary in 1894. There are a number of traditions that happen here including recent high school graduates taking a swim in the fountain. When I was here, something that looked like a bachelorette party had a blindfolded woman using a fish net to pick up plastic balls that were floating in the fountain. It was odd. Maybe you'll luck out and see something similar. The Amagertorv is a busy plaza, full of tourists. Watch out for pickpockets!

Simply put, a shop full of beautiful things. We visited this large department store, as well as one…read moreof the smaller outposts. I indulged in several beautiful things, as did my boyfriend. My Georg Jenson champagne topper will always remind me of a wonderful trip København. Ditto for the beautiful bag I got here. Everything here is extremely high quality. And the prices are not all that bad for how nice everything is. Worth a pop in, or two!

Oh my, I had no idea what to expect upon entering what thought was a womenswear store. This was a…read moreSaks Fifth Avenue on steroids. Four floors of upscale designer clothes from just about ant designer you can name. Beautifully decorated. As you took each turn, another name brand would appear before your eyes. I had a great time wandering about looking at outfits and home decor. Take a stroll through here if you're nearby. Interesting sights. Free WiFi.

In 1921, it was decided to mark the 600-years anniversary of Dante Alighieri's death with a…read moremonument in Copenhagen. I'm a little unclear as to why they chose Denmark to commemorate an Italian poet, but a bunch of Danish expatriates in Rome raised money for this monument that was designed by the sculptor Einar Utzon-Frank in collaboration with the architect Carl Brummer. It consists of a statue of Beatrice Portinari mounted on an antique statue which was a gift from the city of Rome. A relief on the plinth shows Dante's portrait. Originally in the plaza, the large column managed to land in the middle of H. C. Andersens Boulevard when it was redesigned in 1955. Interestingly, the plaque has the name of Italian King Vittorio Emanuele III who visited Denmark on a state visit in May 1922. Italian King Vittorio Emanuele III and Danish King Christian 10)laid the foundation stone for the column.

This bronze statue is well exposed to the elements and has gone completely green. The sculpture is…read moreof a soldier carrying a little hornblower and is a national memorial to the two Danish-Prussian Wars, 1848-1850 and 1864. Denmark did not win the wars, giving up quite a lot - nearly 40% of the country - in peace talks that were held in Vienna in 1864. The statue sits near the Rådhuspladsen on H.C. Andersens Boulevard.