Copenhagen (and vicinity) holidays

A harbour since 1673, Nyhavn is Copenhagen's main tourist draw, home to the sprawling Amalienborg Palace (four palaces in all), the Danish royal family's winter home. Bustling Kongens Nytorv is the starting point for many canal tours and the location of summer festivals. It is packed most afternoons and evenings, and lined with colourful tradesmen houses, outdoor restaurants and bars. The Kastellet is 500 metres from Nyhavn.

Trendy and bohemian, Christianshavn is set on an artificial island dominated by Christiania, an almost self-governing community established in an old military barracks in 1971. Dutch-style gabled houses line the bustling quay and the former Arsenal overlooks the canal. Nearby, the Overgarden Institute for Modern Art, the Opera House, and many of the city's creative institutions, add to the youthful vitality of the café-lined streets.

The formerly fortified centre is now encircled by parks and criss-crossed with paved pedestrian streets. Nearly all of Copenhagen’s sights are here, including Amalienborg Palace, Christiansborg Castle, the National Art Museum, Tivoli Gardens, the Royal Danish Theatre and the Round Tower. The Little Mermaid sculpture sits by the harbour in Churchill Park. Strøget has many restaurants and shops, and remains at the centre of the city's night life.

Located in Kastrup, Copenhagen Airport’s three terminals form a hub for Scandinavian Airlines and also serve nearby Malmo. There are many shopping and dining possibilities as well as a Hilton hotel connected by tunnel. A train station is located in terminal 3, with connections to Copenhagen and Sweden, A metro station links the airport with the city centre. Buses 12 and 30 also run to and from the city centre.

This prestigious residential municipality is home to the city zoo and has many parks, including the Botanical Gardens, Frederiksberg Park, the landscaped gardens of the Frederiksberg Palace and a maze in the shape of the Tuborg label. Also nearby are the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain factory and the Museum of Modern Glass Art. The streets of Gammel Kongevej and Falkoner Allé are the focus for upmarket shopping, dining and night life.

Copenhagen's most densely populated area, Norrebro houses some of its best cafés and bars. Nørrebrogade and Elmegade attract a youthful, multicultural crowd, where second hand shops jostle for space with designer boutiques. Hans Christian Andersen is buried in the Assistens Cemetery, also used as a park in the summer. The Folkets Park was laid out by locals in 1971, while the Sankt Hans Torv is one of the most desirable addresses in the city.

A leafy residential area, Osterbro has a number of embassies, several large parks including the Fælledparken, and the city's main sports stadium. Shopping and dining can be found on Østerbrogade and the Trianglen intersection. There are many tree-lined side streets to explore, some of which lead down to the water of the Frihavn and Langelinie. The old villas of Rosenvænget were once home to Copenhagen's upper classes.

The Tivoli Gardens amusement park, founded in 1843, makes this area the liveliest in the city. The park boasts one of the oldest wooden roller coasters still in operation, and the world's tallest carousel. The Pantomime Theatre dates back to 1874. Other attractions include the Hans Christian Anderson Castle, the Glass House, and the Concert Hall with its aquarium lounge. Outdoor concerts take place here in summer.

A quiet residential area, Valby is situated west of Vesterbro and about five kilometres from Copenhagen centre. It is close to the Carlsberg Brewery, the zoo and the green expanses of Frederiksberg Park, Søndermarken and Valby Park. The medieval sandstone Valby Church sits on a hill. The main square Toftegårds Plads has shops and restaurants, but remains calm at night.

Copenhagen’s old workers' quarter, Vesterbro retains a semblance of its seedier past but extensive renovation and investment have greatly improved the area. The Carlsberg Brewery is located here, as is local landmark the Kongens Bryghus, a silo recently converted into apartments. Also of interest is the City Museum by the main square (Vesterbros Torv), a cluster of historic townhouses called The Humleby, and the trendy night life of Istedgade.