Copenhagen by Foot

Today, Tim and I had booked a walking tour in Copenhagen. We had to take a shuttle to our starting point and made our obligatory first stop at the Little Mermaid statue. Like everyone warns you, she is very small!

The Little Mermaid

As we walked along the harbor front promenade, our guide talked about the history of Copenhagen. We passed numerous statues and monuments before turning into Amaliehaven, a small park with a fountain between the Amalienborg Palace and the waterfront.

Monuments and Statues of Copenhagen

Amaliehaven

We wandered around the courtyard at the eighteenth-century palace, which is the winter residence of the Queen of Denmark, the sovereign of one of the world’s oldest monarchies. The royal rococo buildings are certainly impressive. An equestrian statue of Frederik V marks the center of the courtyard.

Amalienborg Palace 

Amalienborg Palace 

We kept walking to view the Marble Church with its stunning dome and then made our way through the neighborhood of Nyboder, a historic district of former naval barracks. These row houses were so distinctive with their orange colors.

Marble Church

Nyboder

Next up was the Kastellet, or Citadel, a seventeenth century earthen fortress. The best-preserved fortress of its type remaining in Northern Europe, the Citadel is surrounded by eight moats, tall ramparts, and cannon bastions. Although the interior still houses various military activities, the area mostly functions as a park with beautiful natural features.

The Citadel

The Citadel

Our final stop in the Citadel was the Monument for Denmark's International Effort Since 1948. The monument consists of three spaces, defined by granite-covered walls.

Monument for Denmark's International Effort Since 1948

One of the things that surprised me on our walk was the number of modern landmark buildings that we could see across the water on the Christianshavn harbor front. Of course, the most recognizable was the Copenhagen Opera House, but we also saw interesting apartment buildings and a waste-to-energy plant.

Modern Landmarks in Copenhagen

Sarah and Tim and the Copenhagen Opera House

Tim and I decided to take the shuttle back to the ship for lunch, and I then planned to come back to the Old City to wander around. I have wanted to visit Copenhagen for some time because of my interest in Danish modern design. Unfortunately, it was starting to rain, and the wind had picked up, and I just couldn’t muster the energy to face the weather. I kept telling myself that a real visit to Copenhagen should take several days, not several hours. Some justification!

The only bright spot was a rainbow that I saw from our balcony. That didn’t make up for not visiting the city, but it was a nice end to the day.

A Full Rainbow in Stormy Skies and then a Clearing