ATTRACTIONS

The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid is a figure in one of Hans Christian Andersen's (1805-75) fairy tales and was created by the Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen. The statue was placed at Langelinie in 1912 and is a world famous tourist attraction.
The Little Mermaid is called (Den Lille Havfrue) in Danish and is situated at Langelinie (Near the Old Citadel). The statue of the Little Mermaid is through a century become a symbol, not only to the city of Copenhagen but also to the entire country, and the Danes love their Little Mermaid - who just wishes to be a human being.

Rosenborg Castle
Rosenborg Castle was built as a royal summer residence by King Christian IV
in 1606-34. The King designed the Castle himself in Dutch Renaissance style and lived here until he died in 1648.
The Castle was at that time outside the ramparts of Copenhagen with its own kitchen and flower gardens.
In 1838 Rosenborg Castle was opened as a museum to the public and the royal crown jewel are kept in the castle cellars.

Tivoli
Tivoli is the greatest attraction in Scandinavia and one of the world's best known amusement parks.
The Tivoli Gardens was founded in 1843 by Georg Carstensen and the oldest buildings are the head-entry and Pantomime Theatre from 1874.
Tivoli opens every spring in April to mark the Danish summer season and closes its gates in September.
Tivoli is also grouped with many enter-tainment's for children and adults together with a wide variety of restaurants, shops and outdoor bars, cafes and fast-food. The fountain in front of the concert hall is from 1956 with 2000 seats and surrounded by various flower arrangements.
Tivoli Garden is filled with many sort of blooming flowers like tulips, roses, chrysanthemums etc. decorating the entire garden in a natural and fascinating setup.
Tivoli offers more than 30 entertainment's many with breathtaking experience and adventures some with spectacular sights over Copenhagen.

Amalienborg Palace
The Amalienborg Palace complex consists of four rococo palaces and is the prime residence of Danish Royal family. The palace buildings are placed around a octagonal square with a equestrian statue of King Frederik V (1723) 1746-66 in the centre, who was the planner and builder of Amalienborg around 1750.

Inside Amalienborg Palace.
King Christian VIII's palace from 1760 houses a museum with private royal apartments of Danish Glucksborg Kings from 1863 to 1947, incl. original fittings and furnishing.
In some periods of the year there are also access to Christian VII's palace from 1754, which has recently been renovated.

The Danish Royal Guard marches from Rosenborg Castle at 11.30 am and through Copenhagen accompanied by
a brass band - and end at Amalienborg Palace to execute the ceremony of changing the guard at noon.

Latin Quarter
Copenhagen's Latin Quarter surrounds the old campus of Copenhagen University and brims with pedestrians, cafes and bookshops. Kultorvet, a plaza just to the north of the Latin Quarter, is particularly busy during summer, when its beer gardens and produce stalls are well attended, and when buskers will endeavour to win your patronage.

Directly opposite the university grounds is Vor Frue Kirke, the city's striking neoclassical cathedral which was originally built in the late 12th century and then rebuilt three times after succumbing to various pesky fires. The interior is decorated with sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen's acclaimed statues of Christ and the 12 apostles.

Good views of the city's rooftops are available from the summit of the Rundetårn (Round Tower), a 35m-high (115ft) pile of bricks a few blocks east of the Latin Quarter. The Rundetårn was erected as an observatory in 1642 and is still used by amateur astronomers in the wintertime, qualifying it as the oldest functioning observatory in Europe.

Christiansborg Castle
Christiansborg Castle houses the Danish Parliament and is the third castle constructed since the very first castle was built 800 years ago and on the very same spot where Bishop Absalon built the first castle.

Today's Christiansborg Castle was built in stages during 1907-28, and beside being the seat of the Danish Parliament (Folketing) the castle also houses the Royal Reception Rooms with the Great Hall used for banquets held for foreign heads of state and diplomatic audiences.

In the north wing is also the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister's office and department located.
The Royal stables and the Theater Museum are placed around the riding grounds.

The first castle was erected by Bishop Absalon in 1167 and the ruins can be seen under Christiansborg Castle.

Christianshavn & Christiania
One of the highlights of the canal-punctured district of Christianshavn is Vor Frelsers Kirke ('Our Saviour's Church'), topped by a 95m (311ft), 400-step spiral steeple which affords breathtaking views over the city. On the eastern side of the district is the self-labelled 'progressive' community of Christiania.

Christiania started life as a military camp before being abandoned and taken over in 1971 by ambitious squatters who proclaimed their own 'free state'.

It never achieved full independence but still enjoys status as a rent- and tax-free enclave and a lively, arts-soaked environment. You can stroll or cycle through the area (cars aren't allowed) and check out the local craft market or organic food eateries - informative guided tours are offered daily throughout summer.

The Round Tower
The great builder of Copenhagen King Christian IV laid the first stone of the fabulous Round Tower in 1637, and the 36 metre high tower was completed as an observatory 1642.
The tower is connected to the Trinitatis church building in the old Latin quarter and right in the heart of Copenhagen.

The Round Tower is built with a 210 metre long spiral stairway, which leads to the top.
In 1716, the royal Empress Katharina drove up to the top of the Tower in
a horse carriage, with her husband Peter The Great in front, on horseback, to enjoy the beautiful view over Copenhagen.

On the top of the Round Tower there is an exquisite view over the old part of Copenhagen and visitors can see some of King Christian IV's buildings like Rosenborg Castle - Børsen (Old stock exchange), Nyboder etc.
At this pictorial viewpoint the Cathedral "Our Lady" and the Town hall building is placed right in front.

Nyhavn
Nyhavn "New Port" was established in 1673-73 as a gateway to the sea from the old inner city.
During the growth of Copenhagen the canal moved to it present place and the houses surrounding the Nyhavn canal are more than 300 years old.
The great anchor in front of Nyhavn is the monument commemorating all the Danish sailors who offered their life's during the second world war.

Today the canal is packed with old wooden ships creating an atmosphere from the past time around 1780-1810 when Nyhavn was the main center of
all trade to sea from Copenhagen.

Nyhavn with its picturesque old houses and sailing ships on either side of the canal, offers a variety of restaurants, pubs, cafes with dancing and music, 24 hours a day. Nyhavn is also called "The longest bar in Scandinavia".

The Royal Library called "The Black Diamond"
On September 15th 1999 the Royal Library's extension at Copenhagen’s harbor front - The Black Diamond - was inaugurated. The construction of the Diamond had been going on since 1996 and fulfilled an age long dream of an extension of the old Royal Library.
Pay this architectural peal at the waterfront a visit and experience the atmosphere among books, exhibitions activities, shops, restaurant, café etc. surrounded by Scandinavian building design at its very best.

Nationalmuseet
The Nationalmuseet (National Museum) is a must-see for anyone who wants a comprehensive grounding in Danish history and culture. True to its name, the Nationalmuseet has the biggest collection of Danish historical artefacts in the country. On Sundays in summer the ambience is enhanced by free chamber music concerts.

The Nationalmuseet has dibs on virtually every antiquity found on Danish soils, whether it was unearthed by a farmer ploughing his fields or a government-sponsored archaeological dig.

The artefacts date from the Upper Palaeolithic period to the mid-19th century. Highlights include the Sun Chariot, which is over 3500 years old, and an exhibition of 3000-year-old bronze lurs (Danish horns).

Rosenborg Slot
Rosenborg Slot houses a museum and the treasury where the royal regalia and jewels are kept. Downstairs is a public viewing room where you can marvel at incredible jewellery.

It was built in Dutch Renaissance style by Christian IV to serve as his summer home. A century later Frederik IV, who felt cramped at Rosenborg, built a roomier palace north of the city in the town of Fredensborg.

The 24 rooms in the castle's upper levels are chronologically arranged, housing the furnishings and portraits of each monarch from Christian IV to Frederik VII. However, the main attraction lies on the lower level, where the dazzling collection of crown jewels are displayed.

These include Christian IV's ornately designed crown; the jewel-studded sword of Christian III; and Queen Margrethe II's emeralds and pearls, which are kept here when the queen is not wearing them to official functions. These items are considered such a national treasure that the queen is not permitted to take the royal jewels with her when she travels outside Denmark.

Slotsholmen
Slotsholmen is a groovy island connected to the rest of Copenhagen by small bridges, it is the place that Denmark's national government calls home. Slotsholmen attracts large numbers of visitors who come to check out the palatial (literally) government office.

The original Christiansborg palace was constructed in the 1730s to replace the pokey Copenhagen Castle and several buildings, namely the royal stables and edifices surrounding the main courtyard, date from this time.

Folketinget, the parliamentary chamber, can be toured on Sunday year-round, as well as on weekdays over summer, and this includes a peek at Wanderer's Hall, which contains the original copy of Denmark's Constitution.

For sheer Renaissance grandness, De Kongelige Repræsentationslokaler (the Royal Reception Chambers) won't disappoint - it's where royal banquets are scoffed and heads of state entertained. Underneath the palace are the excavated ruins of two earlier castles, including Bishop Absalom's original 1167 effort.

Grundtvig's Church
Grundtvig's Church (Grundtvigskirken) was commended in 1921 and completed 1940. It is known as the largest public Evangelical Lutheran church in Scandinavia.
he architectural concept is a devided combination between a cathedral and old Danish country churches.

Three generations of architects from the same family have been involved in building and furnishing Grundtvigskirken. The main architect P. V. Jensen Klint, who died in 1930, was succeeded by his son Kaare Klint and later his grandson Esben Klint.

The church is a national monument over the hymn-writer N. F. S. Grundtvig
(1783-1872), who also was a Danish pioneer of folk high schools, philosopher and social reformer.

It took almost 20 years to finish this huge building project at Bispebjerg in the northern part of the city - which is worth a visit.