Downtown and historic center
It was on the island of Slotsholmen that Bishop Absalon had the first castle built. The island has retained its original vocation, as it still houses the institutions of power. Encircling Slotsholmen, Indreby's historic center corresponds to the fortified town of the Middle Ages. Its lively center remains Rådhusplads, the town hall square, and Strøget, the pedestrian and shopping district. It has preserved some traces of the medieval town, visible in its half-timbered buildings, red-brick facades and narrow, flower-filled passageways. By day, it appears like a theatrical setting, blending Dutch Renaissance and Viking forms, a vast crossroads, caught between the main railway station and Tivoli, that metamorphoses at night. To the north lies the district designed by Christian IV in the 17th century, which took on its own personality as port activities were pushed northwards, and boasts architecture that oscillates between a highly rococo Baroque and a more austere Neoclassical style. Nature is never far away, however, and always takes precedence over stone and concrete, with vast parks adjoining the city center, artificial lakes in the west and canals creating a random pattern in the south.
Nyhavnmeaning "new harbor", is Copenhagen's central canal, easily recognized by the brightly-colored houses that line it. This is the former home of the famous writer and poet Hans Christian Andersen. At its mouth, it joins the Syhavnen, a river that flows through the city. Nyhavn was built at the instigation of King Christian V, between 1670 and 1673, by Swedish prisoners of war from the Danish-Swedish War (1658-1660), as a bridge to the open sea from the old inner city and Kongens Nytorv (Royal Square). The present bridge dates from 1912. Once a place of perdition and debauchery for sailors and fishermen, it was deserted by ships after the Second World War to make way for a pleasant marina.
Christianshavn and Amager
Christianshavn faces the city center. The island is easily identified by the spiral spire of the Church of Our Saviour. Criss-crossed by canals, it is reminiscent of Amsterdam. Its redeveloped quays are home to universities, trendy coworking spaces and the headquarters of Poulsen, creating a sharp contrast with the 60s-era wasteland of Christiana, where Peace and Love is trying to resist real estate pressure. Further afield, on the island of Holmen, stands the Opera House, one of the city's proudest landmarks, a little out of the way, but very pleasant for its tranquility. It's great to cycle around.
Amagerbro, nestled behind Christianshavn, is also emerging from its anonymity and should benefit from the metro and the birth of the new town of Ørestad, a veritable architectural laboratory. Take the waterbus to Reffen - Copenhagen Street Food and its 6,000 m² of start-up and food-truck space! Go skiing at CopenHill, an 85-metre-high artificial slope built around a futuristic waste treatment plant. A dive into the marine world at Den Blå Planet aquarium, Northern Europe's largest, offers a less sporty alternative to waterskiing or windsurfing!
Vesterbro and Fredriksberg
Vesterbro, once a rascally area around the railway station and a stronghold of the proletariat nicknamed "the red light district", was created when the city walls were dismantled in the 19th century. Today, it's the capital's trendy bobo district, very much in vogue for its Meat packing district, a former butchers' industry zone, frequented by funky restaurants and bars. Rehabilitation of industrial buildings and modern construction go hand in hand around the headquarters of the Carlsberg brewery, where fashion boutiques and art galleries rub shoulders with the eternal sex shops!
Islands Brygge faces Vesterbro, and can be reached by crossing the railroad tracks. It may seem a little out of the way, but it's definitely worth a stroll, if only for a refreshing dip in the waters of its natural swimming pool, or to cruise the waters of the harbor by captaining your own boat with GoBoat. The district has been revitalized since Bryggebroen, a bridge reserved for pedestrians and cyclists - and its extension, the famous Cykelslangen "the Bike Snake" - rescued it from its isolation. It's rehabilitating its docks into alternative spaces, its silos into daring residences, some of them quite luxurious, like Gemini Residence.
Frederiksberg. The city's green district is renowned for its calm, tree-lined avenues, chic architecture and shady parks. Fredericksberg Have, the royal park, is a favorite strolling destination for local residents. A detour to the zoo or the Royal Society's horticultural garden make this haven of peace a Copenhagen must-see. A bucolic afternoon of canoeing and gourmet delights (for example, at the Chinese Pavilion of the Royal Teahouse, built in the 18th century) is a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the city. However, it's still easy to get to Central Station via Gammel Kongevej, a shopping street lined with beautiful old buildings and bustling with trendy cafés and restaurants.
Nørrebro and Østerbro
Nørrebro is a popular, multicultural and colorful district, home to trendy young people, street art and designers. It's a great place to cycle, and super fun at Superkilen, a giant outdoor area for skaters, scooters, roller bladers... in short, anything with wheels! Nørrebro's meeting point is the Queen Louise Bridge(Dronning Louises Bro), which spans lakes lined with guinguettes; its many benches allow you to enjoy the light of the setting sun while listening to musicians in search of inspiration. For the romantically inclined, the boats are shaped like white swans! Equally romantic is a trip to theAssistens Kirkegård cemetery, where local glories Andersen and Kierkegaard are buried. A must-see!
Østerbro, once popular with the artists of Denmark's "Golden Age", is still very pleasant for its mix of green spaces, residential avenues, countryside and harbor area. It's the family-friendly district par excellence. For its delicacies, Oluf is just excellent with its Italian-style ice creams; for its beach, Svanemølle is accessible all year round; for its trendy boutiques, which promote 100% made in Denmark; for its cultural institutions, Den Frie Centre for Contemporary Art or the Hirschsprung collection; for the citadel near which the melancholy Little Mermaid waits again and again...
