City Break Walk In Copenhagen

This walk will bring you through Downtown Copenhagen past the major sights and ends at The Little Mermaid. The walk should take about two hours, depending on how long you spend in a Nyhavn restaurant or cafe half way.

The Copenhagen Town Hall was built at the beginning of the 20th century by the architect Martin nyrop, who was somewhat inspired by the Siena Town Hall in Italy. The golden statue at the middle of the town hall front is of Absalon, the Copenhagen founder in 867 AD. Now go to the left and down the Strøget pedestrian street, Europe's æongest pedestrian street and the direct way through Downtown Copenhagen from West to East and the harbour.

When you reach Amagertorv you're two thirds through Strøget, the Copenhagen Shopping Mile, and at the truly Danish stores, Royal Copenhagen Porcelain and Georg Jensen Silver. The remainder of Strøget is the luxury brand store part and brings you to Kongens Nytorv, the large square that is the Eastern end of Downtown Copenhagen.

On Kongens Nytorv, cross the square and pass the large anchor and you're in Nyhavn, the Oldest part of the Copenhagen Harbour which for historical reasons is called the New Harbour. It is an entertainment center in Copenhagen and is the place Danes go when the sun shines, have a beer or two, look at people walking by and say hi to friends that happen to be in Nyhavn too. If you want to take a break, this is a great place with many restaurants and cafes.

When you leave Nyhavn, go North past the Skt. Annæ Square to Amalienborg Castle, the winter residence of the Danish royal family. The main change of the guard is at noon. From Amalienborg walk North til l you reach the Gefion Fountain. The next sight, the Kastellet Fortress and its entrance bridges is to the left behind the English Church.

The Kastellet Fortress was part of the Copenhagen fortifications and played an important part in the defences during the bombardments by the British in 1801 and again in 1807. Today the fortress is home to some army offices and is a popular excursion and jogging area for Copenhageners. Continue along the road from the South gate up to the North gate and out across the bridge, and turn right on the road up the stairs.

About a hundred meters down the road, just past the roundabout and at the water's edge, you arrive at The Little Mermaid statue, which has been sitting here since August 24 1913 and is celebrated every year on that day. The Little Mermaid is the depiction of the main character in the fairy tale The Little Mermaid by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. From here you can walk a few hundred meters further North to Langelinje cruise harbour and catch a bus back to Downtown Copehagen or walk past the North side of Kastellet Fortress to Østerport train station. Or you can return to the area South of Kastellet and its many restaurants and bars, especially along Store Kongensgade down to Kongens Nytorv.