Copenhagen Insider

Copenhagen hotel among the best in the world

CopenhagenInsider — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:15:01 +0100

The American traveller magazine Condé Nast Travellers has nominated the best hotels in the world.

One of them is the Copenhagen Hotel "Axel Hotel Guldsmeden". The reason is the design, ecological products (from kitchen to mini bar) and the free cocktail every night.

The hotel is close to the Red Light District and Tivoli.

Find the cheapest price through Hotels Combined.

Cheap Beer in Copenhagen

CopenhagenInsider — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:02:30 +0100

Copenhagen is known as a city with expensive beer - and deservedly so. But it is actually possible to buy relatively cheap beer.

The following places all sell cheap beer. They are not all the cheapest, but compared to location, you will have trouble finding cheaper places (unless to buy your beer in the local supermarket).

See the City Map for location.

Jagtstuen

Jagtstuen (The Hunting Room) is a real pub, but a nicer one. There are cloth on the tables and a normal Carlsberg or Tuborg can be bought for 15 DKR (about $3 or 2 Euro).

Café Mexico

This is one of the older, original pubs in the Vesterbro part of Copenhagen. This is the place where the locals come to enjoy a beer (or several), while they talk about their own life (and the rest of the world).

Every Thursday between 20 and 24 you can have two beers for 17 DKR.

The Moose

One of the cheapest places in the central part of Copenhagen. This is regular pub for many students, but you will also see local shopkeepers - and even journalists.

One of the reasons for the popularity is that you can have a large draft beer for 30 DKR. And Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday they same beer will only cost you 16 DKR.

Mågekroen

Another classical pub with locals from the neighbourhood. Mågekroen (The Inn of Seagulls) is located in the outer part of Nørrebro - but the prices make it worth the trip. Here you can have a normal beer for 13 DKR - and it is the same price for a snaps. Or you can buy a large draft beer for 18 DKR.

Floss

Floss is another central located pub bar with (relatively) cheap beer. Monday to Thursday it will cost you 22 DKR for two normal beers - or you can have two export beers for 30 DKR between 22 and 23.

Cheap beer in Copenhagen

Nyhavn is infamous for the expensive beer. But if you do not mind sitting by the waterfront, you can buy your beer in the kiosk just around the corner (even though the prices here are more expensive than other parts of the city).

The most popular attractions in Copenhagen

CopenhagenInsider — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:44:00 +0100

The official Danish tourist agency has made a list with the 10 most popular attractions in (or near) Copenhagen - based on the number of visitors.

The most popular attraction in Copenhagen is Tivoli

The winner is Tivoli, with another amusement park on the second place. Number 3 is a zoo and the rest are six museums and a tower with a nice view.

The 10 most popular attractions in 2007 were (with visitors in parentheses):

Tivoli (4.111.000)
Dyrehavsbakken (2.650.000)
Copenhagen Zoo (1.161.388)
Louisiana (468.197)
The National Gallery (424.710)
The National Museum (411.377)
The Round Tower (357.474)
Experimentarium (343.556)
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (311.156)
Open Air Museum (264.805)

You can find them all on the City Map.

What about The Little Mermaid? There is no way to count the visitors for this popular attraction, but it is estimated, that 1.200.000 people go visit the Mermaid each year. If you are interested, you can read more about The Little Mermaid here.

The attractions

Tivoli is a popular attraction for both kids and adults. Click on the links to read previous articles.

Dyrehavsbakken (in english "The Deer Park Hill") is a amusement park north of Copenhagen in the wonderful forest Dyrehaven. You can take the S-Train directly from Copenhagen - which takes 20 minutes. The entrance to the park is free. The website is unfortunately only in Danish.

Dyrehavsbakken is the second most popular attraction in (or near) Copenhagen

Number three on the list, Copenhagen Zoo is also a nice place for kids - read this article.

Both Louisiana and The National Gallery are art museums - and have some nice museum shops with Danish Design (as described in this article).

The National Museum is Denmark’s largest museum of cultural history. The museum's main domicile is a classical 18th century mansion just a stone's throw from Strøget. At The National Museum you can follow the history of the Danes right down to the present day. And you can get around the world from Greenland to South America. Read all about the museum on the website.

From the platform on the top of The Round Tower, 34.8 m above the street you have a magnificent view of the old Copenhagen. There are also art exhibitions and concerts. Read more at the website.

Experimentarium is another great place for kids. Learn more in this article.

The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek was founded by the brewer Carl Jacobsen (son of the founder of the Carlsberg Brewery), who created one of the largest private art collections of his time. It was named after his brewery, Ny ("New") Carlsberg, with the addition of "Glyptotek", meaning collection of sculpture. Read more on the website.

Frilandsmuseet (The Open Air Museum) is a nice attraction near Copenhagen

Open Air Museum (in Danish "Frilandsmuseet") is actually a part of The National Museum - but it is located in Lyngby north of Copenhagen. It is one of the largest and oldest in the world. Spread across 86 acres of land today the museum houses more than 50 farms, mills and houses from the period 1650-1950. More on the website.

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Strøget

CopenhagenInsider — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:18:00 +0100

Strøget in Copenhagen is the World's longest pedestrian street with a length of about 1,1 kilometres (about 0,7 miles). And actually it is not only one, but several streets in continuation:

Frederiksberggade
Nytorv
Gammeltorv
Nygade
Vimmelskaftet
Amagertorv
Østergade
Strøget

Strøget - the World's longest pedestrian street

Strøget starts (or ends) at Rådhuspladsen (the City Square) near Tivoli and finish near Nyhavn. This way it connects two of the most interesting parts of Copenhagen (check the City Map to see the route).

But the street itself is also very interesting with a lot of nice shops and old buildings. If you can not get enough, many of the adjoining street are also pedestrian streets (Købmagergade, Læderstræde, Fiolstræde etc.). All pedestrian only streets are marked with gray on the City Map).

So take a stroll at Strøget on a sunny (or a winter) day and see the bustling shopping life.

Noma - the 10th best Restaurant in the World

CopenhagenInsider — Sat, 31 May 2008 15:49:06 +0100

If can find the 10th best restaurant in the World in Copenhagen according to the website The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants - beating several of the most famous French, three star restaurants

The restaurant is called Noma and is also the only place in Denmark with two Michelin Stars.

Noma - The 10th best restaurant in the World

It serves Nordic gourmet cuisine, so if you are looking for foie gras and sun-dried tomatoes, you better look somewhere else. But it you want to taste the best of the Nordic kitchen, this is the right place prepared by some of the best chefs in Denmark.

The price for a seven courses Menu is 850 Danish Kroner (about 115 Euro). Seven glasses wine menu is 800 Danish Kroner. So a two people can eat and drink for about 400 Euro.

If you want something cheaper, you can try the three courses lunch menu, which will cost you 325 Danish Kroner (about 45 Euro).

Try the best of the Nordic cuisine at Restaurant Noma in Copenhagen

Do you really want to spoil yourself, why not try the 12 courses menu for 1200 Danish Kroner. The very special experience lasts more than 4 hours.

If you want to book, you can do it online.

You can find the restaurant in a renovated warehouse in the cosy Christianshavn section of Copenhagen (see the City Map for the location).

See the sights of Copenhagen in 3D

CopenhagenInsider — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:06:23 +0100

So you want to have a look at some of the Copenhagen Sights in 3D before you leave home? No problem - the Danish Map producer KRAK has made it possible.

Examples of 3D sights

Here are some examples...

Nyhavn in 3D

Tivoli in 3D

Copenhagen Zoo in 3D

Try it yourself

The KRAK website is in Danish, but you can try it anyway. Here is how you do it:

Logon to the KRAK website
If you want to find a specific building (sight, hotel etc.) - use the "Hvad" text box
If you know the address - use the "Hvor" text box
Press "Søg"
Find the right place on the list and click at the "Kort" link
Now you have a normal map - click at "Skråfoto" instead
This is it - now you can zoom, turn the map etc.

Find your hotel

The 3D map is also a nice way to see the surroundings of a hotel. If you do not know where to stay, search for a hotel (e.g. at Hotels Combined), find the address and use the 3D map to see, if you like the location.

Somandshjemmet Bethel in 3D - one of the top 10 hotels in Copenhagen

Right now it is only the big cities in Denmark, which have 3D maps - but more are coming every day.

By the way - if you want to know, where I am living, it is right here:

My home in 3D

Danish Design for everyone

CopenhagenInsider — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:00:07 +0100

You do not have to be incredible rich to buy Danish Design. Of course you can not get the famous chair "Ægget" designed by Arne Jacobsen, unless you bring a lot of money. But it is still possible to get a lot of inexpensive Danish Design.

Museum Shops

Some of the best places to buy Danish Design are the museum shops.

The best ones are:

Louisiana
Danmarks Design Center
Kunstindustrimuseet

Louisiana is a museum of modern art situated 35 kilometres north of Copenhagen (30 minutes by train) in beautiful surroundings close to Øresund. Her you can see alternating exhibition - and subsequently buy some Danish Design. One of the specialities are quality toys for kids.

Danmarks Design Center (Danish Design Centre) is situated close to Rådhuspladsen (The Town Hall Square) and opposite Tivoli. This is the place for Danish Design - and nice presents for the folks back home. Or you can buy some of the special "Travel Light" products for yourself. Admission is free on Wednesdays 17 - 21.

Danish Design Centre is one of the best places for buying Danish Design

Kunstindustrimuseet (Danish Museum of Art & Design) is the museum of handicraft products. In the Museum Shop a wide selection of industrial design, ceramics, glass, textiles, jewellery, postcards etc. are for sale.

You can find the location of all three museum shops at the City Map.

Department stores

Another place for buying Danish Design are the department stores. Magasin (close to Nyhavn) has a minor selection, but the best place is Illums Bolighus at Strøget. Here you can find a lot of Danish Design (and Scandinavian Design) - especially for your home.

Both department stores can be found at the City Map.

More about Danish Design

If you want to see examples of Danish Design, you can visit the In-Design website. It is in Danish, but if you click at "Katalog" (catalogue) and then at "Lænestole" (loungechair), "Stole" (chairs) or "Belysning" (lighting), you can see examples of the famous Danish Furniture Design. You can also read about some of the designers by clicking at "Designere" (in the top menu).

If you want to see the furniture in real life, visit the shop in Copenhagen (see the location at the City Map).

The best sushi in Copenhagen

CopenhagenInsider — Fri, 23 May 2008 11:25:00 +0100

You do not have to go to Japan to eat sushi - just visit Copenhagen. In the city there is about 50 sushi restaurants - the ones mentioned here are the best.

Top 10 sushi restaurants in Copenhagen

The 10 best sushi restaurants in Copenhagen are:

Banzai (website)
Bento (website)
Damindra (website)
Fifty Fifty (website)
Sanshin Sushi (website)
Selfish (website)
Stick'n'Sushi Istedgade (website)
Sushi Day (website)
Sushi Time (website)
Sushiya (website)

Eat sushi in Copenhagen

Some of the places are really close to the best hotels in Copenhagen. Most of them have also Take Away, so you can enjoy the meal in your hotel room (or maybe out in the sun).

You can see them all at the City Map.

Rock in Tivoli

CopenhagenInsider — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:08:19 +0100

Every Friday night, you can hear pop/rock from "Plænen" in Tivoli. Most of the bands are "top of the pop" in Denmark, but also foreign bands will be playing (e.g. The Flaming Lips). The concerts start at 10pm, but it would be a good idea to be there about half an hour before. You can see the schedule at the Tivoli website.

The Flaming Lips are playing in Tivoli, Copenhagen the 8th of August

You can also enjoy the concerts from some of the Tivoli-restaurants nearby. The best places are "Balkonen", "Promenaden" and "Valhal". Just remember to make reservation as soon as possible.

If you want to hear some of Denmark's upcoming bands, it is at "Pantomimeteatret" (the same place as Pierrot is performing) every Friday at 8pm from the 18th of July to 22th of August.

Copenhagen for kids

CopenhagenInsider — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:43:00 +0100

There is a lot to do in Copenhagen for kids. There are beaches nearby, amusement parks in the central - and even art especially for children. All places can be found at the City Map.

Tivoli

Tivoli is probably the most popular attraction for kids. With a Multi-ride ticket they can try all 28 rides in Tivoli as many times as they like. In the meantime you can sit on a bench enjoying the flowers and the music.

They should also not miss The Pantomime Theatre with the white faced Pierrot. Something all children will enjoy.

Tivoli - a great place for kids at all ages

Experimentarium

The Experimentarium is "living science" with the use of all five senses. Here the kids can experience 260 interactive exhibits on nature and technology, subject-centred around a series of scientific areas. Furthermore there are frequently changing exhibitions. Fun for both kids and adults.

More at the Experimentarium website.

Copenhagen Zoo

The Copenhagen Zoo is home to 3,300 animals and 264 species - from Greenland to Africa. Especially for kids there is a Children's Zoo, where they can pet animals like goats and rabbits or watch the show at the children stage. In the middle of the park there is an Eiffel-like tower (40m/131 ft.) with a nice with of the surrounding Frederiksberg.

The Children's Museum of Art

At the National Gallery ("Statens Museum for Kunst") there are exhibitions at children's eye-level. Here the kids can visit the workshops and create their own works of art by working with clay, paper, paint and other fun materials. Furthermore there are so-called "Children's stations" where they can experience the artwork in new and playful ways.

The Children's Museum of Art at the National Gallery

More information at the National Gallery website.

Beaches in Copenhagen

In the middle of the city there is the harbour baths with their clean water at Islands Brygge and Fisketorvet. Children's basins are to be found in both places.

If you want a real beach with sand, you can take a trip to Amager Beach Park with many activities in and around the constructed shallow lagoons. A really nice place in the summer.

You can walk to the harbour baths, and if you want to visit the Amager Beach Park, the easiest way is to take the Metro to the "Amager Strand" station and walk the last part.

Denmark's Aquarium

On a rainy day Denmark's Aquarium in Charlottenlund, north of Copenhagen is a nice place to be.

With 300 colourful fish, sharks, electric eels and octopuses, there is a lot for the kids to see. Maybe the most fascinating is the piranhas, that flense anything in less than a second.

Watch the colourful fish at Denmark's Aquarium

The kids can also touch some of the aquatic animals or see when the fish get fed (only during weekends and holidays).

Read more at the Denmark's Aquarium website.

The Little Mermaid

CopenhagenInsider — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:15:20 +0100

The Little Mermaid is one of the smallest and most unimposing national symbols of the World (after Manneken Pis in Brussels). But still it is a landmark of Copenhagen, so you probably want to see it anyway. If so, here are some facts.

A statue at Langelinje

The Little Mermaid illustrates Hans Christian Andersen's famous fairytale written in 1836 (which you can read here). It was a present from the Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen (son of J. C. Jacobsen - the founder of Carlsberg) and was made by the sculptor Edvard Eriksen - with his wife Eline as a model. The statue has been placed at the Langelinje area since 1923.

The Little Mermaid at Langelinje, Copenhagen

Several times the statue has been vandalized. The head has been sawed off twice (the first time it was never found again) and she has also lost her arm once. Recently the stone the statue is sitting at was brought down - apparently with explosives.

Walk or sail

You can see The Little Mermaid in two ways: you can walk or you can sail.

If you decide to walk, you just stroll north from Nyhavn, passing the royal residence Amalienborg and the headquarter of the Danish shipping company Mærsk on the way. Check the City Map for direction. And do not cheat yourself of a walk in the neighbouring park Kastellet.

Canal Tour - one way to see The Little Mermaid

You can also use the canal tours, but this way you will only see the statue from the waterside (there is no stop at Langelinje). Two different companies leaves from Nyhavn: DFDS Canal Tours and Netto Bådene - both leaving from Nyhavn.

Do not be disappointed

Yes, The Little Mermaid is small and unimposing. But if you take it as a fun way to see to a part of Copenhagen, it is a nice trip. And when you have taken you photos standing in front of the statue, then watch all the tourist from around the World doing the same. It can be rather fun to watch.

Copenhagen's best burger

CopenhagenInsider — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:47:31 +0100

If you want a really good burger, stay away from McDonald's and Burger King. Instead you should try a burger from the café Halifax.

Build a Burger

I don't know if the owners of Halifax have been inspired by the Build a Bear concept, but at Halifax, you can build your own burger.

Build you own burger a Halifax in Copenhagen

First you have to choose between beef, chicken or vegetarian beef. After that it is time to decide the accompaniment (french fries, baked mashed potatoes, nachos or salad) and dip.

Finally you have to choose a burger version: e.g. classical Copenhagen style, Liverpool style or maybe a Bangkok burger.

And why not drink a Danish brewed micro beer with the burger.

You can find Halifax at Frederiksborggade 35 near Nørreport Station.

The 10 best hotels in Copenhagen

CopenhagenInsider — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:30:48 +0100

According to the world's largest hotel search website Hotels Combined (more than 800.000 hotels), Copenhagen has 102 hotels (see them all here). The users of Tripadvisor have spoken and voted the 10 best hotels of Copenhagen.

The Top 10 hotels

The 10 best hotels in Copenhagen are:

Adina Apartment Hotel Copenhagen (Website, Review, Book it)
Bertrams Hotel Guldsmeden (Website, Review, Book it)
Hilton Copenhagen Airport (Website, Review, Book it)
Copenhagen Marriott Hotel (Website, Review, Book it)
Carlton Hotel Guldsmeden (Website, Review, Book it)
Somandshjemmet Bethel (Website, Review)
Axel Hotel Guldsmeden (Website, Review, Book it)
Avenue Hotel (Website, Review, Book it)
Radisson SAS Royal Hotel Copenhagen (Website, Review, Book it)
Hotel Twentyseven (Website, Review, Book it)

Some of the hotels are a part of a chain (Hilton, Marriott, Radisson etc.), others are small, cool designer hotels. There is even a hostel on the list (Somandshjemmet Bethel).

Hotel Guldsmeden - three great hotels in Copenhagen

If you want to read more about each hotel, you can visit the hotel websites by clicking at "Website". And if you click at "Review", you can read, what the users of Tripadvisor are saying.

But if you want to book one of the hotels, you should not use the hotel website or the booking at Tripadvisor - they are all too expensive.

Instead I would suggest to use Hotels Combined - a hotel search engine, which finds the best price at more than 30 different travel websites. This way you are pretty sure to get the best price. Click at "Book it" to get the best price.

You can find the location of the hotels at the City Map.

Copenhagen voted 86th at the Top 100 Destinations

CopenhagenInsider — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:18:00 +0100

The users of one of the largest travel sites Tripadvisor have voted Copenhagen as the 86th best destination.

The only city in Scandinavia

On list are cities from around the world. But Copenhagen is the only city to represent Scandinavia. Neither Stockholm nor Oslo can be found on the list.

And Copenhagen is better placed than e.g. Rome (number 87th), Barcelona (number 90th) and Machu Picchu (97th). That is something, which makes a native of Copenhagen proud.

Next time I hope, more users will vote for Copenhagen and give this great city an even better place.

Welcome to Copenhagen Insider

CopenhagenInsider — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:40:00 +0100

I guess you are here, because you are interested in Copenhagen as a tourist destination. Maybe you have read a guidebook about the capital of Denmark. And that is fine – but as a traveller in 53 countries I know, that a city is always a lot more than the information in the books.

In this blog I will reveal relevant information about one of the greatest cities in Europe. Information I know, because I am a native of Copenhagen – and because I read Danish.

The content will be a mix of normal tourist information seen with a different angle and secrets only known by natives of Copenhagen.

Welcome to Copenhagen Insider – and welcome to Wonderful Copenhagen.