Copenhagen city breaks score top marks on the scenery front, thanks to the Dutch capital’s colourful waterfront spot.

A watery city

Copenhagen started off as a teeny Viking fishing village. Nowadays, it’s Denmark’s capital, but it hasn’t strayed too far from its waterside roots. Nyhavn Harbour’s still jam-packed with vintage boats – and its backdrop of paintbox-hued cafés have nudged it into prime Insta-snap territory. Turn your attention to dry land, however, and you’ll uncover a buzzy arts scene and tonnes of history.

This and that

To really get to know Copenhagen, you’ll want to go neighbourhood-hopping – each district’s got something different to show off. Vesterbro’s arguably the coolest of the bunch – think nightclubs, galleries and street art. Retail therapy tops the to-do list in Østerbro. And Christianshavn takes a leaf out of Venice’s book – it’s made up of a pint-sized cluster of islands twined together by canals.

A whole lot of history

Castles, palaces, museums – you name it, Copenhagen’s got it. History buffs won’t know where to start here. The Museum of Copenhagen might be a good choice – it shows off stuff like Viking artefacts dating back more than 800 years. Then, totter over to Glyptotek for a mooch around ancient art.

Art everywhere

From the famous Little Mermaid statue to in-your-face street murals, Copenhagen’s got art all over. If galleries are more your cup of tea, pop into Copenhagen Contemporary to eye up massive installations. Or, hop in a cab and hightail it over to The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art – must-see pieces by the likes of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein call this place home.

At a Glance

  • Trot around Nyhavn’s pretty canal-side streets
  • Go bar-hopping in the Vesterbro district
  • Eye up ancient artefacts in the Museum of Copenhagen
  • View hotels in Copenhagen

Best time to go to Copenhagen

The weather in Copenhagen’s pretty mild – summer temperatures tend to bob around the early 20s and it’s almost always a little cloudy. Rain makes a regular appearance all year round, too, so don’t forget to pop an umbrella in your suitcase. In winter, it’s nippy, but flurries of snow make the city even easier on the eye. And spring and autumn can be summed up as cool and grey.

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Top things to see and do in Copenhagen

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