Copenhagen Walking Tour

I firmly believe that the best way to get to know a city is through its people, and the Danish are some of the nicest people to get to know. Everywhere I have gone, I have been greeted with excited smiles and lists of recommendations, introductions, and welcomes to Copenhagen. With so many local and trustworthy suggestions, I have found it hard to do everything I want to do in my short time here, but I’ve only let this encourage me to spend less time in bed (even when I might be craving a nap) and more time exploring the city and its surroundings. 

Unfortunately, I did not bring my bicycle across the Atlantic, so I don’t quite have the full experience, but I have found my favorite thing to do is walk around the city. While the public transit in Copenhagen is incredibly easy to use, simply walking to class or new landmarks can show you so much that you would miss underground on the metro. You interact with more people, pass more local sights, and accidentally buy extra souvenirs at a few too many gift shops. 

Starting at my apartment in Nyhavn, the Little Mermaid statue is a fifteen-minute walk northeast. On the way, you will pass the vibrant yellow Nyboder houses, built by King Christian IV for navy families hundreds of years ago. Just past there, you will walk through a star-shaped fortress called Kastellet. This fortress is a bright red base inside surrounded by green walking paths and flowing creeks. As you walk through here, you will pass St. Alban’s Church, the Gefion Fountain, several parks and gardens, and finally reach the famous Little Mermaid statue. Here, after you snap a quick picture with the landmark, you can admire the water from land or sea, as I saw several kayaks floating around the area. 

Turning back around, a ten-minute walk in the other direction takes you to the famous Nyhavn Canal, a colorful strip with the best Italian restaurants in all of the city (in my opinion, of course). The canal is also my go-to spot for crepes, a food my roommates and I decided we were very passionate about two weeks ago. Near the canal, you can stroll through Kongens Nytorv plaza, stop in the Guinness World Record museum, and go shopping at any shop you could imagine — from souvenirs to name brands. 

Continuing my walk towards my DIS academic building, I pass Gammel Strand, the Church of the Holy Ghost, and Gammeltorv plaza. Every day, I am in awe of the sights I take in on my casual walk to class. I have always been so fascinated with European monuments and how immersed in the cities they are. I love being able to walk up to so many different churches and palaces so close to my apartment in the city. Just past my classroom is Rädhuspladsen plaza, home to several restaurants and cafes, the Copenhagen City Hall, Museum of Copenhagen, and (my personal favorite) Tivoli Gardens, the third-oldest amusement park in the world. 

If you take a slightly different route home, you will walk north past the Round Tower and head towards the Botanical Gardens and Rosenborg Castle. These green zones are the perfect post-class destresser, especially with a friend or a pair of headphones. If you go slightly northwest from there, you will find a lake where you can ride a giant swan boat just past a lively street market with the freshest smoothies I’ve ever tasted, and in just fifteen minutes you can be home again.

With so much to do literally steps from my apartment in Copenhagen, I have found joy in exploring the city at my own pace. I am prone to getting caught up in the next thing I have to do or the next place I have to be, never leaving time for me to stop on the journey and appreciate what is in front of me. In Copenhagen, I have found myself doing just that. I am hoping to spend my last week here exploring, walking, and appreciating more.