After all of the articles describing it as the “Food Capital” of Europe, I just had to go and explore. This was my first time to explore, see Danish design which I have been a fan of for years and to try some great “Nordic Cuisine”. I bought a Copenhagen card valid for 72 hours which is a great way to access public transportation, the many museums and historical sites. Here is what I found and suggest doing:
Tivoli Gardens: I went to the Gardens, at Vesterbrogade 3, during the day and felt it was very touristy; but at night, when I returned, it was magical. The lights were amazing. There was a dance performance and outdoor concert going on and the cafes were full. What a difference four hours makes. Avoid the daytime and go at night and feel like a local. There are many restaurants, amusement rides, entertainment venues, shops and ice cream and candy vendors to choose from.
NY Carlsberg Glyptoteket: At Dante Plads 7, next to Tivoli Gardens, this is a major art museum that is a must on your itinerary. There were Rodin and Degas sculptures and wonderful French paintings in the contemporary new wing with works by Degas, Gauguin, Renoir, Cezanne, van Gogh, Manet and Monet. There is an attractive café that overlooks the indoor winter garden.
Dansk Design Center: At H.C. Andersens Blvd 27, this is Denmark’s knowledge center for design. The exhibitions ranged from the history of some Danish design and products to shows about new materials that are being created for use in products and architecture.
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art: This is a leading museum of modern art located in Humlebaek, a small village north of the city. You go the Central Station and take the S-train B,C, or E to Hellerup and then switch to trains to Helsingor. Check with the information booth, as the transfer was due to work on the tracks and it may not be necessary in the future. The museum, along the water, is quite stunning. There was a major exhibition that I enjoyed on Nordic Architecture. I also liked a number of contemporary works, particularly those by Danish artist Asger Jorn and Picasso, Warhol and Rauschenberg, plus the sculptures by Calder, Giacometti and Henry Moore. There is a café with a full buffet or other ala carte items. The views overlooking the water and sculpture garden were incredible.
Rosenborg Castle and Museum: King Christian IV built Rosenborg in 1606-34 as a summer castle. It is really worthwhile to visit; you can see the state rooms which have remained intact from the early kings who lived there. There are wonderful paintings, furniture and tapestries to see.
Statens Museum for Kunst/National Galley of Denmark: I thought this was an outstanding art museum, located at Selvdade 48-50. I saw an amazing Matisse exhibition as well as a great show of Degas bronzes. There are other great collections of Rodin sculptures and Danish art. The new wing is really excellent with some interesting French art including works by Matisse, Andre Derain and Georges Braque.
Torvehallerne KBH: After visiting the Statens Museum for Kunst and the Rosenborg Castle, this market at 21 Fredericksborggade is the perfect place for lunch. Opened in 2011, this permanent market has many small food stands and restaurants. You can grab a sandwich, coffee, chocolate or pastries. I had a great seared tuna, shrimp and orzo pasta salad from HAV.DK.
