Copenhagen on a Cruise: what to see and do
Cruising Journal, the international portal for cruise ship reviews, takes you to Copenhagen! What you can do to enjoy your stay in Copenhagen during a cruise stopover in the Cruising Journal tips.
Science, fiction, history, aesthetics – Copenhagen has it all! A wonderful destination to relax and enjoy the beautiful landscape of the canals or take a stroll in a garden while nibbling on some good food.
Copenhagen has a beautiful and variegated landscape which reflects its history, filled with glorious moments and strained relationships. The city offers a unique experience to its visitors thanks to its historical buildings and modern entertainment, in between history and fairy tale settings.
How to get to Copenhagen
Copenhagen is included in many itineraries that explore Northern Europe, such as the cruises offered by MSC Cruises. For a luxury experience, Seabourn offers multiple itineraries to discover various regions in the area.
Disney Cruise Line is the best choice to keep the fairy tale theme alive, with entertainment up to Broadway standards and an unfolding story you become a part of as soon as you step on board.
Tours of the City
There are many ways to experience Copenhagen, and they all have their pros. However, if you’re after an authentically Danish experience, you should hop on a bike and tour the city accompanied by Nova Fairy Tales. They will make sure you explore all the most significant landmarks, and you’ll do it as the Danish would.
If you want to enjoy the beautiful sights Copenhagen has to offer without the hassle of cycling, Stromma offers boat tours through the city’s canals, departing from Ved Stranden or Nyhavn. With their hop-on and hop-off service, there’s no time schedule pressure; you can step off the boat, take a tour of any area that strikes your fancy, and then get on the next boat to continue the tour.
Controversial Christiania
A visit to the area of Christiania is certainly worthwhile. This part of the city was originally intended for military purposes, but after World War II was used less and less, until it was completely abandoned between 1967 and 1971. The people in the surrounding area reclaimed it and declared it open later that same year.
The particularity of Christiania is its controversial history between the commune and the government, which reached a climax between 2004 and the 2010s and has since normalised. Although Christiania currently operates under Danish law, it retains its feel of a “rebellious borough”, with its ramshackle and colourful buildings, art galleries and homes covered in colourful murals.
In Christiania, nature is mostly left to its devices, which leads to interesting sights of verdant bush and decaying trees. One of the main tourist attractions is certainly Pusher Street, the Green Light district – an open market for marijuana, which it is legal to sell and smoke. The only rules are no photos and no running because people might think there’s a raid coming, and chaos would ensue.
Observatory
The Rundetaarn, or Round Tower of Copenhagen, was built in the XVII century to honour Tycho Brahe’s achievements in astronomy research. The tower was used by astronomers as an observatory and as a library for their studies. The particular design of the tower – with a ramp instead of stairs – was meant for horses to pull carts full of books from the base of the tower to the library on the top floor.
H.C. Andersen used to visit this library and found inspiration for his writing there. The tower is now open to visitors and amateur astronomers, with the addition of a glass floor that allows the visitors to look at the tower’s structure from above.
Tivoli Gardens
If you enjoy theme parks, you can’t miss the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. Here you will find multiple entertainment options, for children and grown-ups alike. Tivoli features many rides, from adventurous rollercoasters to the relaxing Ferris Wheel, which will allow you to enjoy a view of the gardens from above. Depending on the season, the park also holds concerts and shows. Many different options are available depending on the season and yearly programme, but the park is enjoyable all year round. If you just want to enjoy a snack and a stroll, Tivoli has got you covered with their selection of restaurants, varying from Danish to international cuisine – to go or to enjoy on the spot.
This city is sure to entertain even the most demanding of visitors. Don’t forget to leave a comment or review on Cruising Journal and tell us about your experience in Copenhagen.