Words and Photographs: Tina Edward Gunawardhana
A city driven by design and cool aesthetics, Copenhagen is an effortlessly stylish city. With its modern Scandi feel melded with cosy nostalgia it truly reflects the Danish concept of Hygge – cosiness.
With centuries old architecture standing next to modern builds, canals, beaches and cobbled streets lined with colourful houses, Denmark’s capital city of Copenhagen is an absolute delight to explore. Braving the sub zero temperatures the first thing that hit me as I disembarked from the Norwegian Airlines plane was an icy blast of cold air. With tears streaming down my cheeks, I navigated the easy to use Metro and made my way to the Raddison Bue Scandinavia hotel which had some great deals on offer.
I always travel with a comprehensive list of places to see which includes addresses. This coupled with the Citymapper App is a helpful app which provides bus, train and tram routes to get to your destination. Thanks to this navigating Copenhagen was an absolute breeze. Tivoli Gardens the second oldest amusement park closes its gates during winter so that was one destination I had to miss. Copenhagen is a beautiful city which is safe and friendly locals are always helpful in showing you the way if you get lost. A dynamic place of culture and innovation, these attributes are visible in all aspects of the city from dining out and shopping to architecture and various attractions.
Often voted as the Capital of Cool and also as one of the world’s best cities, Copenhagen has an enviable stance on sustainability. Exploring the city on a bike is by far the best option as the city is cycle friendly and you can blend in with the locals. Copenhagen is also home to legendary author Hans Christian Andersen. In recent times there has been a clutch of gripping Danish crime dramas which for me added to the desire to visit Denmark. With its culture of hygge, Denmark is said to have the happiest people on earth and after a whirlwind 48 hours in Copenhagen I can understand why!
NYBODER HOUSES
Another picturesque sight in the Frederiksstaden area in old town Copenhagen is called Nyboder. This housing development was also initiated by King Christian IV after he expanded the walls of the city to double the size of Copenhagen. Originally built for crew of the naval ships to reside, the ochre hued rows of houses are simply beautiful. The construction of Nyboder began in 1631 and was completed ten years later. Bizarrely it is not a very touristy area despite the beauty of its architecture.
THE ROUND TOWER
Designed by architect Han van Steenwickel on the orders of King Christian IV as part of the Trinitatis Complex, The Round Tower includes a church, library and an observatory housed in a single building. The helical corridor with a spiral ramp leads to the topmost part of the tower which offers unparalleled views of the city. The Round Tower holds the distinction of being the oldest functioning observatory in Europe.
ROSENBORG CASTLE & THE KING’S GARDEN
Built by King Christian IV this 400 year old Renaissance castle is situated in the middle of the King’s Garden which is Denmark’s oldest royal garden. The Renaissance style garden has impressive herbaceous borders, numerous tree lined avenues and statues including one of Hans Christian Andersen. The impressive Rosenborg Castle houses the Danish Crown Jewels. Once inside discover beautifully decorated rooms. The Knight’s Hall with the coronation thrones, decorated with narwhal tusks and three life size silver lions standing guard is impressive. There are tapestries on the wall which commemorate the battles between Denmark and Sweden.
