I Heart My City: Alexandra’s Copenhagen

Hello, city lovers! Today we are heading to Copenhagen, where Alexandra Redisch tells us what not to miss in the Danish capital.

Copenhagen is My City

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is Tivoli Gardens (left), one of the oldest amusement parks in the world.

When I crave cake and hot chocolate in old world-settings, I always go to La Glace; the oldest confectionary in Denmark.

To escape the harsh city-life, I head to the uninhibited town of Christiania, where one makes love, not war.

If I want to be amazed by beautiful marble sculptures and a breathtaking winter garden, I go to the New Carlsberg Glyptotheke, where they also have a lovely tea room.
For complete quiet, I can hide away in the Royal Library; a vast modern building known as the “Black Diamond” (below).

If you come to my city, get your picture taken with the Little Mermaid (right), an iconic statue depicting the heroine from the famous fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen.

If you can only order one thing off the menu from the art-nouveau-style Café Norden, it has to be the famous pancakes.

The Magasin du Nord, located in Kongens Nytorv, is my one-stop shop for great shopping.

When I’m feeling cash-strapped, I go to Rosenborg Castle (below). There is an entrance fee to step into the castle, but the gorgeous 15th-century gardens are accessible to all!

For a huge splurge, I go to the main shopping street, Strøget, where they have everything from Topshop to Chanel.

Photo ops in my city include the Wheel of Copenhagen (left); the best vantage points are from the top of the wheel.

If my city were a celebrity it’d be Danish/Australian Crown Princess Mary, because it’s stylish, international, and friendly.

The most random thing about my city is the hot dog stands on every corner that sell bright red hot dogs.

My city has the most uncouth men.

My city has the most fashionable women in northern Europe.

In my city, an active day outdoors involves a bike ride.

My city’s best museum is the National Museum, which has everything from Egyptian mummies to modern-day Danish culture objects.

My favorite jogging/walking route is around the Botanical Gardens, which is located between one of the main metro stations and the university’s city campus.

For a night of dancing, go to Koloer Bar, where they have a strict dress code but great surroundings. Or, for live music, check out La Fontaine jazz club, which has concerts and jam sessions during the weekends, and a poetry night once every month.

You can tell a lot about my city from looking at the architecture; Copenhagen is clearly the most beautiful city in Scandinavia. Sit by the fountain in Amalienhave (above), next to the Royal Palace Amalienborg, and gaze across the canal to the new opera house (interior shot, right).

You can tell if someone is from my city if they boast a lot about it.

People from Copenhagen cannot stop talking about how beautiful they think their city is!

In the summer you should head to the two main beaches in the city; Amager beach or Islands Brygge.

A hidden gem in my city is Dragør; a small fishing village on the island of Amager.

For a great breakfast joint, try Jensen’s Steakhouse, where they serve breakfast steaks until 4.00 p.m!

Don’t miss the Roskilde Music Festival (left) in the summertime, the biggest music festival in Scandinavia.

Just outside my city, you can visit the castle of Helsingør (Elsinore), where Shakespeare’s Hamlet takes place.

The best way to see Copenhagen is by going on a canal tour by boat, where you see the city from the waterfront.

If my city were a pet it would be a dog; energetic and always happy to see you!

If I didn’t live in a city, I’d live in the British countryside, in a cozy Marpelian village.

When I think about my city, the song that comes to mind is “Wonderful Copenhagen” by Danny Kaye.

If you have kids, you won’t want to miss the zoo, which turns 150 years old this year and has all kinds of animals.

My city should be featured on your cover or website because in only a few short weeks Copenhagen will be hosting the United Nations Climate Conference ’09, which most Danish people are pretty proud of!

For more information on visiting Copenhagen, check out these photo galleries and our 48 Hours guide to the city.

Photos by: bildungsr0man (Tivoli entrance), lenoz (Tivoli), pabhc (Black Diamond), jhuffmanPhotography (Little Mermaid), svanes (Rosenborg), jhuffmanPhotography (Wheel of Copenhagen), bumpytours10 (Amalienhaven), PlanetStar (Opera House), Mads Danquah (Roskilde Festival) via Flickr.