Copenhagen was the last stop during our Euro trip this fall, and it was also by far the coldest of the cities we visited. After the sunny and warm climes of Malta and Croatia, the freezing temperatures in Copenhagen were a chilling wake up call, albeit a reminder of what awaited us back home in Portland.

The City of Copenhagen was founded on the island of Slotsholmen in the late 12th century by Bishop Absalon, an adviser to King Valdemar. The city eventually became the capital of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1443. The royal heritage of Copenhagen is visible throughout the city, with opulent palaces, imperial statues and imposing churches strewn all over.

Copenhagen is consistently voted as one of the best cities to live in and is famous as the birthplace of Hygge – the quintessential Danish concept of coziness, warmth and taking comfort in life’s simple pleasures. As with most European capitals, Copenhagen is relatively compact and easily accessible on foot. We spent our 3 days in Copenhagen strolling through the main historical and tourist sights, taking in all this charming city had to offer in between our numerous Hygge inspired coffee breaks!

Nyhavn

The colorful facade of former merchant houses lining the banks of the Nyhavn (New Harbor) are a great place to start exploring Copenhagen. Nyhavn has shed its formerly seedy reputation for brothels and rowdy pubs to now house various fine restaurants and bars instead. Most of the canal tours of the harbor begin from Nyhavn as well. Hans Christian Andersen spent most of his life in various Nyhavn houses, where he wrote some of his famous fairy tales. At the western end of Nyhavn is Kongens Nytorv (King’s New Square), an open square flanked by Palaces and Churches.

The Little Mermaid

The iconic statue of the Little Mermaid is situated off the northern banks of the harbor and is one of the most visited sites in Copenhagen. The statue was commissioned by Carlsberg brewery founder Carl Jacobsen and created by artist Edward Eriksen in 1913, who modeled the statue after his own wife. Jacobsen was smitten by the tale of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen, and the statue was his gift to the city of Copenhagen.

Frerediksborg Slot

The lush green gardens of Fredericksborg Palace and its surrounding park are just a few metro stops away from the city center. We took advantage of Baby A’s nap time by strolling through the gardens of the park, enjoying the crisp air and taking in the beauty of the autumn colors.

Carlsberg Brewery

Although Carlsberg beer is no longer brewed here, this was where Carl Jacobsen started brewing and distributing one of Denmark’s most famous exports. The imposing elephant statues representing Jacobsen’s 4 offspring guard the main entrance way to the brewery, where his namesake Jacobsen beer is still produced to this day. It was interesting to see the Swastikas which were selected as ancient representations of all that is good, way before the symbol lost its true meaning after being hijacked by the Nazis

Vor Frelsers Kirke

This church on the island of Christianshavn is instantly recognizable for its trademark twisted tower. The external spiral staircase was a slightly strenuous climb, but offered some of the best views of the Copenhagen skyline. The interior of the church also showcases an intricate altarpiece depicting Christ in the garden of Gethsemane.

Amalienborg & Frederiksstaden

This stately complex comprising 4 palaces enclosing the Frederiksstaden square was named after Queen Amelie who resided here in the 17th century. Marmorkirken church is located at the north western edge of the complex, and it is hard to miss its massive dome.

Bicycles Galore

Copenhagen is one of the most bike friendly cities in Europe, if not the world. There are dedicated bike lanes on almost every road in the city, and can be daunting for newcomers like us who kept confusing the pedestrian paths with bike lanes!

Smorrebrod & Schnapps

We indulged in the Danish open sandwich concept of Smorrebrod (butter & bread) at Gilleleje Restaurant in Nyhavn – sampling pickled herring, smoked salmon, and chicken salad served with various condiments on dense dark rye bread – all washed down with tasty Danish Schnapps of course.