24 hours in Copenhagen

My University is located in Kolding, which is a quite small town in Southern Denmark. I thought I wouldn't care about the size of the city when I chose to study there, but to be honest, now that I completed one year in Kolding I can tell you that the size of your host city does matter, at least for a person who grew up in a bigger place, like me.

In Milan for instance if I wanted to go to the movies, I had a list of theaters I could choose from, but in Kolding there is just one and it is located outside the city, so you either have to walk 45 minutes from the city center (and in the winter it is really cold) or you have to take the bus which is approximately 3 euros each ride (basically one movie ends up costing you 20 euros). But don't worry because luckily enough, Copenhagen is only two hours away.

I think that Copenhagen is truly beautiful. It is a big city, alive during the day, shops are open for a longer time and there is more to do. Rødbillet is probably the cheapest option for reaching the city by bus, but there are also the train's orange tickets, which are less expensive than the standard ones. Doesn't matter if you take the bus or the train because both take you to Copenhagen Central Station. There’s no need to worry if you arrive on airplane because the airport is literally only fifteen minutes away by train, isn’t it fantastic?

At the station, if you need to use the restroom you need to pay for it, and if you are hungry there is Seven Eleven, Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, a supermarket and a few more shops. If you are ready to go then exit and you will have Tivoli in front of you. Hint: before planning your trip to Copenhagen, check the openings of the amusement park and the gardens because, as far as I know, they are not open during winter time (I was there in February and they were not open). On the other side, behind Tivoli, there’s Radhushaven and then Stroget, which is basically the main street and where all the shops are. Halfway through Stroget, there’s Storkespringvandet, which is a water fountain, and then at the end of the street you arrive at the Royal Danish Theater.

From there if you turn left and go straight you will find the King’s Garden (of which you should also check the closing time because I was locked inside with my friends, lol). If you don’t turn left but decide to continue straight into Bredgade or Store Kongensgade you will arrive at Kastellet, St Alban’s Church and Gefionspringvandet. This is where the most famous statue of the city is located: The Little Mermaid.

From here you can come back through Amaliegade because at some point you will end up in Amalienborg which is home to the Royal Family, and the view to the Opera House is amazing there (especially at sunset). Also nearby there is the Frederiks Church, which is also nice to see and well-known because is made of marble. From there you can continue walking and you will arrive at Christiansborg Slot. It hosts the Danish Parliament, the Danish Prime Minister’s Office and the Supreme Court of Denmark. Its particularity is that it is the only palace in the entire world that hosts all three parts of the government. It is free to access the tower and admire the city from the top. But this is not the only place where you can observe the city, you can also “climb” the Runtertaarn, which translated means the round tower. Its perk is that it is closer to the city center but there’s an entrance fee to pay, which is 25 DKK (approximately €3. 30).

If you are still at the castle and your back hurts because your backpack is too heavy, you can stop at the Danish Museum of Design, which is free for students. I was there myself because I had my carry-on with me and my arm was tired of dragging it around and they have lockers where you can store your belongings during your visit.

If you are still at Christiansborg Slot instead, you can easily reach Freetown Christiania. This is a unique place in which pictures are not allowed. It is also not allowed to run, and the third rule is to have fun. It is famous for two main reasons: its graffiti and the fact that there are people selling cannabis and all kinds of things related to it. This is why it is not allowed to take pictures or run (the latter could cause general panicking).

Between Amalienborg and Christiansborg Slot you cannot miss Nyhavn, the famous canal of the city with the colorful buildings, boats and local cafés. During Christmas, it is something extremely amazing, but I can confirm that it is beautiful any time of the year, as I've been in Copenhagen in December, February, and May with different kinds of weather.

Have more time in the city?

If you have more than twenty-four hours to spend in Copenhagen, check out also the aquarium, which is located in the southern part of the city, close to the Airport. It is one, if not the one, of the biggest aquariums in Europe. Then, there’s also the Zoo, which I did not have the chance to visit myself, and Superkilen park, which I also did not see (sadly).

Is transportation needed?

Please notice that almost every place I just mentioned, except maybe for the aquarium and the zoo, are within walking distances, so there is no need to take buses and trains. If it is convenient for you, you can buy a seventy-two hours pass which is less expensive than taking the train singularly if you know you may need it. Each ride is €4. 50... make your calculation! I hope this guide helps you find your way in beautiful (and cold) CPH.

To sum up

Here's a list of the places you need to mark on your map before you start your walking tour in Copenhagen:

• Tivoli;
• Radhushaven;
• Stroget;
• King's Garden;
• Kastellet;
• The Little Mermaid;
• Amalienborg;
• Frederiks Church;
• Nyhavn;
• Christiansborg Slot;
• Freetown Christiania.

Here's a list of the places where you can find Christmas markets:

• Tivoli Gardens;
• Freetown Christiania;
• Kongens Nytorv;
• Nyhavn Harbour;
• Hans Christian Andersen.

- Cristian

Photo gallery