This is an excellent port to embark on a Baltic cruise. There is so much to see and do that adding a few days, as it’s always a good idea to arrive at least a day early before leaving on a cruise (in case of flight delays or cancellation), or after your cruise to enjoy more of what this city has to offer.
Our 9-day cruise was round trip from Copenhagen and with a couple of nights prior to sailing, we had time to visit Denmark’s capital. We were staying near the Tivoli Gardens and that’s where we went for our first night of exploring. There is something for everyone: restaurants, concerts, ballets, shows, rides and even fireworks. Some of our favorites were the George III Frigate Ship which is a replica of a 17th century Danish frigate, now turned into a restaurant; the Chinese Pagoda dating from 1900 which also hosts a Chinese-Danish restaurant at the top; the Pantomime Theatre with peacock curtains where concerts, ballets, dance shows and stories of Pierrot, Harlequin and Colombine are presented; The Nimb which hosts many restaurants and a hotel that looks like it came right out of Aladdin’s story book with its Moorish architecture. In the evening the park’s numerous lights come on for a fairy tale look. It’s a very nice place to roam around.
For shopping, grabbing a bite to eat or just taking a stroll, head over to the pedestrian area of Strøget or Nyhavn Street which is divided in two by a canal. There are plenty of terraces to choose from so you’re sure to find something you like but be aware that these areas are very touristic and prices are inflated. We walked around and ventured further out to find a place to eat where locals would go as the price and quality both looked better.
Visiting palaces was also on our itinerary
The Rosenborg Castle was built by Christian IV and was used as a summer residence. It is surrounded by a moat giving it a fortress like look. The lavish interior is decorated like a renaissance palace should be and contains many artifacts including: thrones, tapestries, glassware, porcelain, amber chandeliers and even life-sized silver lions. The royal jewels are kept in the treasury, which is located in the basement.
The Christianborg Palace has been the site of the Danish parliament since 1918, which is very fitting since it was erected on the site of the founding of Copenhagen. The historic building stands alone on a small island and it encompasses many museums. The ruins of the Bishop Absalon’s castle that lie below are accessible for viewing. The palace can be closed to the public when there is a special event since it’s still in use for diplomatic or governmental functions.
The Amalienborg Palace, residence of the Royal family, is in effect a series of four identical buildings aesthetically arranged around a cobblestone plaza. Time your visit with the change of the Royal Guard that takes place at noon on a daily basis.
For a bird’s eye view of Copenhagen, climb the spiral ramp of the Round Tower, which was built as an observatory by Christian IV in 1642.
Copenhagen is a clean city but this isn’t the case in Freetown Christiania and you should go only if you don’t mind getting out of your comfort zone. It’s a green car-free area with a hippie commune vibe made up of homemade houses, art galleries, concerts, and organic eateries among other things. It has it own set of rules and typically the police do not get involved there. For your safety neither photos nor videos are permitted especially around Pusher Street where cannabis dealings are done openly despite the fact that it’s illegal in Denmark.
Some interesting architecture to see include the Old Stock Exchange with a unicorn like spire crowning the tower which represents four twisted dragon tails; the art gallery Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek opened by the son of the founder of the Carlsberg Brewery has a nice façade and copper cupola; as well as the Nimb in the Tivoli Gardens.
There are many museums to choose from and if viewing Viking artifacts is on your radar head over to the National Museum. This time around we didn’t have time to visit, maybe one day!
Tip: If Copenhagen isn’t your embarkation or disembarkation port but one of your ports of call, the Hop-on Hop-off has a stop at the cruise port so it’s easy to get on and it’s much more economical than a shore excursion with the cruise ship.
European Ports of Call – Baltic Cruise