What should I do in Copenhagen?

[commasense]

If I have a couple of days in Copenhagen in June, what should I do? Any great day trips outside the city that are better than staying in town?

Thanks.

[Cunctator]

Strolling around the old town area near the Amalienborg Palace/Nyhavn is worthwhile. The Little Mermaid is vastly overrated though. I also enjoyed climbing the spiral of this church (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Our_Saviour,_Copenhagen), something I'd wanted to do since reading about it as a child in Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

For a day trip, catch the train to Roskilde. The Cathedral there is worth seeing.

[Lust4Life]

Years since I was there but the Tivoli Gardens were well worth a visit.

[Surok]

I just got back from Copenhagen, where I had a day and a half in the city.

The Church of Our Saviour is fun to look at - costs 25kr to go up the spire. The church itself is currently closed for renovation.

The Frederiksberghave Park is lovely for walks or sitting on the grass people watching. Tame herons and lots of other bird life. And just up the street there's a great sandwich place/ restaurant (http://www.hansenshave.dk/) which isn't too expensive.

Also went to Tivoli for an evening which was a lot of fun, and down to Christiania (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freetown_Christiania) - lots of interesting little houses off the main streets and down by the water.

[commasense]

Do most Danes speak English? When I was in Stockholm a few years ago, I only came across one or two people who didn't, and they were all older. Practically everyone else, including clerks in convenience stores, spoke nearly perfect English. Is it the same in Denmark?

[Lust4Life]

My experience of Denmark is yes,not only do they speak English but its often better then the English we speak.


Also if they still do it there was a "Castles" coach trip which was very good,i remember that we went to a Royal Palace,also went to the castle of Elsinore from Hamlet though I think that it was called Helsinborg.

[MOIDALIZE]

I bet the chewing tobacco is extra fresh there!

[commasense]

My experience of Denmark is yes,not only do they speak English but its often better then the English we speak.Two intentional typos to prove the point, right? :D

[RealityChuck]

Figure out how to interpret quantum mechanics.

[Panurge]

Previous thread on the subject (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=443512). (Christmas themed, but most of the suggestions are still valid). More suggestions here (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=482481).
Also: Let me buy you a beer. I just started at a new job so I might be a bit busy, but if I have the time I'll be more than happy to meet up and show you some places you probably wouldn't find on your own. Email in profile

[phreesh]

It's a bit touristy, but taking a canal tour is pretty cool. Lots of cool houses and people watching.

Also, there are free bike stations scattered around downtown, so you can grab a bike, take it a short while and drop it off where it's convenient. They're heavy and not in the best shape, but they're kinda fun.

I wouldn't really recommend Tivoli, it's pretty underwhelming.

I'd mostly recommend sticking close to the canals, do some window shopping and find a funky cafe to take in the atmosphere.

[Maastricht]

I came in to second Christiana and Tivoli. Tivoli especially on a summer night, the park is open till midnight and there are some beautiful shows or live music you can catch there. Restaurants, too. I think Tivoli is my favourite garden park/fairground in the world.

[Sri Theo]

Christiania is cool, especially if you like weed or hash - tonnes of fun chilling out there smoking, playing chess, drinking their speciality beer (not actually very good, but what ya gonna do).

Tivoli is pretty much a second rate theme park which is only cool when they have special events and concerts which can be pretty good. And also its right in the centre of the city.

Maybe a trip to Nyhavn? Which is a harbour area of the city has lots of cool bars and restaurants, can be pretty pricy though.

More touristy stuff you can do during a day: Helsinborg as mentioned below is the castle MacBeth occurred in and is pretty cool, or the Carlsberg brewery is interesting and you get to taste some good beers :-)

Don't bother with the little mermaid unless your doing the canal trip, although it is a very nice walk to it if you start from where the queen lives (lots of statues and monuments) down past the new ballet and opera houses (very modern, not to everyones taste) and miscellaneous other stuff (I think at one point there's a museum of iron works which I've never actually been in).

Let us know what you like to do, there's a few world class museums around which could interest you or some nature very close by if thats more your seen. Or maybe you'd like to go out clubbing or something?

PS: Yes everyone speaks English and no one will be offended if you just go up start talking in it, as long as you smile :-)

[ralph124c]

One of my favorite towns..you will never lack for something to do. that said, food (restaurants) are very expensive in Denmark; you are better off to eat sandwiches which you make yourself. Danish beer is good.
My picks:
-Tivoli: on a summer night, it is enchanting. Take in the pantomime show, and watch for the boy soldier's parade. The restaurants in Tivoli are not very good, so eat elsewhere.
-Harbor Tour: nice on a sunny day
-Carlsberg Brewery: nice tour (free) and you get to drink at the end (though only minimal snacks provided).
-Rosenborg Castle: nice tour-free
-Thorwaldsen Museum: amazing..the marble statues look like they are alive!
-Bellevue Beach-on a sunny warm day, beautiful-check out thse beautiful bodies. The Baltic is brisk, but good for a quick swim (water doesn't taste salty).
-Kongens Nytorv: interesting.
I found the Danes to be very warm and friendly, >90% speak english.
-Nyhavn: lots of cool bars, check out "HongKong" for jazz.

[Maastricht]

Tivoli is pretty much a second rate theme park which is only cool when they have special events and concerts which can be pretty good. And also its right in the centre of the city.In defense of Tivoli, judge it on its own merits. Tivoli is not Disneyland. It is very old, over a hundred years, and has always been confined to a very small space, a park, in the city centre. The rides are not big and spectacular. They are old, almost antique, intimate, fun, and many, though well maintained, are older then yourself and have that fun sixties and seventies hippie feeling. Plus, a big part of the attraction are the planted flowers and little lights everywhere.

[Jragon]

Figure out how to interpret quantum mechanics.

Beat me.

[Walpurgis]

Also if they still do it there was a "Castles" coach trip which was very good,i remember that we went to a Royal Palace,also went to the castle of Elsinore from Hamlet though I think that it was called Helsinborg.
Caution! Elsinore translates into the Danish town Helsingør, which is not the same as Helsingborg. Helsingborg is a Swedish town across the water from Helsingør. It's a nice town too, but if you're looking for Hamlet's castle you're better off going to Helsingør.

[Lust4Life]

Two intentional typos to prove the point, right? :D

Was rushing the post as I was supposed to be doing something else at the time :)

Showing my age here but when I visited, Christiana was an area due for demolition but hippies took it over and established a "free state",as a previous poster mentioned got some good grass there and saw some good bands.

[Anne Neville]

We took a day trip to the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde (http://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/index.php?id=1246&no_cache=1&L=1) when we were in Copenhagen. Roskilde Cathedral is also nice.

[commasense]

Also: Let me buy you a beer. I just started at a new job so I might be a bit busy, but if I have the time I'll be more than happy to meet up and show you some places you probably wouldn't find on your own. Email in profileThanks for the offer! You wouldn't happen to be a gorgeous Danish supermodel who happens to be wildly attracted to pudgy, white-haired 50-something Americans, would you? (In which case, I'll buy the beer!)

As we get closer to the dates (June 13-18), and I find out who else among my colleagues will be attending the conference that is my ostensible reason for going, I'll have a better idea of my free time. But if we can get together while I'm in town, that would be great.

And thanks to everyone else for the suggestions.

BTW, what's going on in Copenhagen June 9-11? I tried to book during those days, and every hotel in town was completely sold out.

[Improvisor]

One thing not to do.... eat Mexican food in Denmark.

I had been working around Europe and had a one day layover in Copenhagen. After a delightful summer day walking around town (and it really is a pretty place), I was walking past a Mexican place on Stroget, and then started to crave tacos. For some reason, the little voice in my head failed to say "What are you doing thinking you can get good Mexican food in Denmark?!!?!??" Needless to say, it was pretty bad food.

More on topic... check out Stroget (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Str%C3%B8get). It is a pedestrian-only street that runs through the shopping district. Lots of bars, street performers, etc. Kind of touristy but a nice walk that connects other more fascinating landmarks.

[Anne Neville]

One thing not to do.... eat Mexican food in Denmark.

I had been working around Europe and had a one day layover in Copenhagen. After a delightful summer day walking around town (and it really is a pretty place), I was walking past a Mexican place on Stroget, and then started to crave tacos. For some reason, the little voice in my head failed to say "What are you doing thinking you can get good Mexican food in Denmark?!!?!??" Needless to say, it was pretty bad food.

Also don't eat sushi in Denmark. I saw a restaurant that had it, and I had to ask Mr Neville: "Is my math with the exchange rate way off, or are they charging $9 for an avocado roll?" My math was fine.

[Panurge]

Thanks for the offer! You wouldn't happen to be a gorgeous Danish supermodel who happens to be wildly attracted to pudgy, white-haired 50-something Americans, would you? (In which case, I'll buy the beer!)

As we get closer to the dates (June 13-18), and I find out who else among my colleagues will be attending the conference that is my ostensible reason for going, I'll have a better idea of my free time. But if we can get together while I'm in town, that would be great.

And thanks to everyone else for the suggestions.

BTW, what's going on in Copenhagen June 9-11? I tried to book during those days, and every hotel in town was completely sold out.
I am sorry to tell you that I am not a supermodel. Instead you get to have a beer with a 30 year old man with wife + kid. At least I should be more interesting to talk with (as if you would be interested in talking with the supermodel..).
Let me know when you have time off and let's try to meet up.
I have no idea what is happening on June 9-11 - I haven't been able to find any information online about special events. I'll check out a few city guides and try to find out if something interesting goes down while you're here.

Also don't eat sushi in Denmark. I saw a restaurant that had it, and I had to ask Mr Neville: "Is my math with the exchange rate way off, or are they charging $9 for an avocado roll?" My math was fine.
What!? I must admit that I find that hard to believe. It's true that Copenhagen isn't much of a sushi town but we do have some pretty good places. Even the most expensive ones I've been to have been cheaper than that.
We do actually have a very fine selection of excellent restaurants, the best (and most expensive) is probably Noma (http://noma.dk/), recently votes 3rd best in the world by Restaurant magazine right after El Bulli and The Fat Duck.

[Anne Neville]

What!? I must admit that I find that hard to believe. It's true that Copenhagen isn't much of a sushi town but we do have some pretty good places. Even the most expensive ones I've been to have been cheaper than that.

All I remember was that it was in an area that we were walking around, so it couldn't have been too far from the tourist areas. It could well have been a tourist trap. This was in 2006, and ISTR the krone was high relative to the dollar, which probably didn't help either.

I generally try to eat more local food when I visit somewhere, anyway. Sushi and Mexican I can get at home.

[Teacake]

Definitely local food. Combine an evening in the Tivoli with something really good. Can't remember the name in Danish (Panurge can help you out, perhaps!), but it translates as the Ferry Inn and is a microbrewery by the lake in the Tivoli Gardens with some of the very finest Danish food I've ever tasted (and I've been going to Denmark since I was very small, though never before to Copenhagen) and beer which made me smile a lot.

[jdc]

It has been a long time (1984) since I visited, but I really enjoyed Tivoli and also the Circus. Tivioli is a lovely small park, imagine if Frederick Law Olmstead was Walt Disney's boss and they only had a small piece of land to work with.

The Benneweis Circus evening show was excellent, and more for adults than children. The only small drawback is that there will be parts you don't understand (such as comedy bits). Just laugh along with the crowd unless the clown is pointing right at you.


http://www.benneweis.dk/program-2009.aspx

[Lamar Mundane]

There's this woman, Lola. She used to be a showgirl with yellow feathers in her hair. Music and passion are always in fashion at the hottest spot north of Havana!

Oh, wait. Nevermind.