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The City

Copenhagen is an ancient city, full of beautiful historic buildings and many points of interest. The ramparts and walls surrounding the centre of the city were demolished around the middle of the nineteenth century. This allowed the city to assume the peculiar architectural structure characterised by narrow stone streets that lead directly to the city centre and which are the background to numerous shops and bars.

In recent years, Copenhagen's historic architectural heritage has been enriched with modern and contemporary buildings. An example of these are those designed by the Danish and French architects Bjarke Ingels and Jean Nouvel, who gave a new touch to the old-fashioned style of the city. At the same time, many districts have been modernised as well.
Copenhagen is also known for its relaxing atmosphere. Citizens go to work by bike, they like to go out with their families, spend an afternoon in one of the city's many parks in the company of their friends, take a bath in one of the many pools in the harbour during the warmer months and take an active part in the events that animate the city throughout the year.

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Do & See

Copenhagen is an old city with historic buildings, royal castles, beautiful parks and harbours, and plenty of attractions and activities to keep even the most eager tourist busy. The city centre is characterised by charming architecture and narrow curving streets. But within recent years Copenhagen has supplemented its architectural heritage with new, world-class architecture. It is easy to explore the city and get around, and many sights are within walking distance from one another. You can always catch a bus or take the metro to get around, or rent a bike and travel the Danish way.

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Dining

Copenhagen is the leading gastronomy capital of Scandinavia. The city has more Michelin restaurants than any neighbouring country, 15 in total, and Copenhagen was until recently home to Noma, which was awarded as the World's Best Restaurant three years in a row.

Whether you are into bistros or Michelin-starred restaurants, there is plenty for you in Copenhagen. The restaurant scene is among the world's most distinct and innovative, and it caters to all budgets. When dining out, try the much appraised Nordic kitchen at least once. It is known for being of high quality and with a focus on using local and seasonal products.

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Cafes

Curious about Danish cakes and pastries? When in Denmark, you have to try a real Danish – or wienerbrød, as it is called here. They are sold in many varieties at bakeries and cafes all over the city.

The oldest patisserie in Copenhagen is La Glace which was founded in 1870. Amongst many mouth-watering cakes and pastries, you will find the classic Sports Cake, which mainly consists of whipped cream.

There is nothing better than to grab an ice cream cone to go on a nice day. Denmark is famous for its dairy products, and you can understand why when you try local ice cream. Did you know that Danes are one of the most ice cream-eating people in the world? The average Dane eats 10 litres of ice cream a year!

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Bars & Nightlife

Whether you want to dance till the sun comes up or just have a beer or two with some friends, Copenhagen has plenty of establishments to choose from, ranging from laid-back bars to posh upscale clubs.

Copenhageners love to go out – especially on the weekends. Cocktails are popular, and you will find several bars where you can enjoy a skilfully crafted drink. If you are more a beer person, Copenhagen offers various pubs, bars, and breweries, too. Each neighbourhood has its own favourite spots, and, apart from downtown, Vesterbro and Nørrebro are the places to be after sundown.

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Shopping

Copenhagen is great for shopping, both because of the variety of the shops and because the city is compact. Start your shopping trip in the inner city. On Strøget, you will find most of the big chain stores and more exclusive shops.

Stroll down the small streets parallel to Strøget and Købmagergade where you will find vintage shops, Danish designers such as Wood Wood, Malene Birger and Henrik Vibskov, and small jewellry and ceramics shops.

Streets outside the inner city that are worth checking out are Istedgade, Gl. Kongevej, Elmegade, Jægersborggade and Østerbrogade. Enjoy, and remember your walking shoes.

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Tourist Information