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

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