WhereaboutsPhoto

Undoubtedly, one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in Copenhagen is the small canal in Nyhavn, with its colorful attached houses and its magnificent sailboats docked next to some great local restaurants.  This part of the city is easily reached within a 10-minute walk from the famous pedestrian shopping district of Stroget.  The entire neighborhood is anchored at one end by a small square and the majestic Hotel D’Angleterre, with its imposing white facade, and at the other by the Royal Danish Playhouse with its imposing architecture.

But it is what’s in between these two great Danish institutions that will catch the attention of most mere mortals.  Just walking around the canal in the early morning hours when the orange sun begins to bounce off the multi-colored buildings will give you the impression that you are in one of the traditional rose gardens that seem to dot this wonderful city.  This is a great place to watch the city come alive in the mornings, and you can do it all while enjoying a cappuccino at any of the many restaurants lining this colorful canal.  Finish your coffee and your Danish pastry and then hop on to one of the boats to take a canal tour of the many waterways surrounding the city and its adjacent islands.  Later, walk north along the waterfront until you reach the Museum of Danish Resistance (Frihedsmuseet) with its displays depicting the Nazi occupation of Denmark during WWII.  This whole area is indeed a testament to the diversity and great history of the Danish people.