Denmark | Europe | The Grand Adventure 2018

The Grand Adventure: Day 30 – Denmark (Copenhagen)

January 14, 2020

30 May 2018, Wednesday

After “going local” yesterday, I decided to do the opposite today. It was my third and last day in Copenhagen so I wanted to see some sights and learn a bit about the city’s history. The weather forecast showed the temperature reaching a high of 26 degrees Celsius, so I knew it was going to be another scorching day today.

From Danhostel, I walked to the Rådhuspladsen (City Hall) building and arrived in time to join the 11am free walking tour, the Grand Tour of Copenhagen (click here). Today’s group had over 30 people and it was much bigger than the one I joined in Dresden. Our guide was a guy named Luis, who was originally from Peru. From the get go, he was very humourous and entertaining. After a round of self-introductions and breaking the ice, we set off at about 11:15am.

Look out for the guides holding the bright yellow umbrella
Our guide, Luis

Luis brought us to the house of J.C. Jacobsen, the man who founded Carlsberg – probably the best beer in the world. Probably. We then went to Magstræde, the oldest street in Copenhagen. The buildings here were painted in colourful shades just like in Nyhavn and the cobblestoned streets added to the old town allure.

The house of J. C. Jacobsen, who founded Carlsberg
Magstræde, the oldest street in Copenhagen
Kompagnistræde, a popular shopping and cafe street

After that, Luis brought us to Christiansborg Palace, located on the tiny island of Slotsholmen. The palace contains the Danish Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Ministry of State. Parts of the palace are also used by the Danish Royal Family for events.

The canal surrounding the island of Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace

We then had a short refreshment break and Luis recommended a popular hot dog stand. Apparently, Denmark is famous for their bacon so there is bacon in everything, including their sausages. I bought a hot dog to try (35 Kr / S$7.70). It was good, but a bit overpriced.

The guide recommended this hot dog stall so I tried it
Bacon wrapped around the sausage

Next, we went to Magasin Du Nord, which used to be a residential building but is now a huge (and expensive) department store. In fact, the celebrated Danish author Hans Christian Andersen used to live on the top level of this building. Before becoming a writer, he was an actor at the Det Kongelige Teater (Royal Danish Theatre) right across the street. But after his voice changed, he could no longer sing the soprano parts and he decided to focus on writing instead. He ended up being a prolific writer and penned several classics like The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Pea and many more.

Magasin Du Nord, where Hans Christian Andersen used to live
Hans Christian Andersen used to work at the Royal Danish Theatre, right across the street

We then went to Nyhavn before ending the tour at Amalienborg. Amalienborg is home of the Danish royal family and it consists of four identical palace buildings. In the middle of the large square is a statue of the founder of Amalienborg, King Frederick V, on a horse. We managed to catch the Changing of the Royal Guards just before we ended the tour at 2pm.

Back at Nyhavn
Amalienborg Palace
Statue of the founder of Amalienborg, King Frederick V
The guards at Amalienborg Palace
Changing of the guards

Overall, the tour was quite informative and entertaining, though I didn’t take down notes during the tour so I don’t have much to share here about the historical aspects. As it was a “free” walking tour, guests were encouraged to tip whatever amount they felt the tour was worth. I tipped Luis 50 Kr (S$11), which I know wasn’t a lot, mainly because I was living on a tight daily budget of S$80 (around 363 Kr), and you know how expensive Scandinavia is.

Today’s huge walking tour group pic. Such a bad photo…with the statue cut off

After the tour, I walked around the city centre on my own and visited a few record shops. It was really quite a relaxing day for me as I didn’t attempt to do much today, mainly just window shopping and observing how the Danes went about their daily lives. Here are some snapshots:

Fragments of niceness by an eavesdropping artist
More fragments of niceness
Accord music shop
Accord was very well stocked with good second hand titles, and each CD was going for 75 Kr (S$16.50), and 10 for 650 Kr. Had to seriously resist my temptation to splurge here. 
Beat-Bop vinyl record shop
The creatively named Round Tower, an observatory tower for astronomers
A late lunch
Bicycle sharing services here in Copenhagen – Donkey Republic
Another bicycle sharing company – GoBike
The cost is 30 Kr (S$6.60) per hour
Other charges and fees
Town Hall Square was hosting the annual Distortion festival concert. It’s a celebration of “Copenhagen Street Life and New Dance Music”, where apparently everyone gets drunk.
A statue of Hans Christian Andersen sits along the boulevard named after him, and he looks at Tivoli Gardens opposite
Hans Christian Andersen statue

Back at the city centre, I decided to pop in to Bertels Salon at Kompagnistræde 5 for a late dinner/early supper. Luis had recommended this shop during the tour. Apparently, Bertels Salon is famous for their cheesecakes and it is said to convert even the biggest cheesecake sceptic. Well, I love cheesecakes so no converting required here. I ordered a cookie cheesecake for 55 Kr (S$12.10). Maybe it was because I had very high expectations, but I felt that the cheesecake was only so-so.

Bertels Salon cafe
Cookie cheesecake

I ended the day at about 9pm and went back to pack my bags for tomorrow’s journey to Gothenburg. Overall, my stay in Copenhagen had been quite uneventful but it was nice to take it slow and relax a little after a month of being on the road. After all, I was less than a third of the way through my adventure…this was one of the days when I needed to conserve my energy (and money!) so that I could travel further down the road. More exciting times ahead!