Known as the northern paradise and a top city characterised by modernity, elegance and style, Copenhagen is a place of superlatives. It is by far the most visited area in all the Scandinavia, host of the oldest monarchy in the world and stands alongside London and Oslo as one of the classiest capitals in the world.
Even though many people consider the climate summit held in Copenhagen in December 2009 as a political failure, in light of the event, the Danish capital reconfirmed itself as one of the greenest cities in the world. Instead of energy consuming skyscrapers, Copenhagen’s architecture is based around classy eco-efficient three to four story buildings with colourful roofs and facades; instead of motorways and overcrowded boulevards it has wide pedestrian areas (the number of parks and green areas exceed the world average) with low pollution and instead of cars there are thousands of bikes and boats cutting through the city. Due to its recent green revolution, the city is host to tens of kilometres of bike lanes and visitors can make use of the free to use city-bikes (or bycyklen) that can be found all over the city. Winner of the European Environmental Management Award in 2006 , Copenhagen is one of the few capitals that tops several rankings conducted by green organizations ( Grist.org, Thefourgreensteps.com).
Copenhagen is a historical city, surrounded by water and ingeniously built on two islands: Zealand and Amager. The city has one of the most beautiful promenades in the world: Nyhavn, the 17th century waterfront. Within the wealth of classic architecture two key masterpieces stand out through their perfection: The Rosenburg Slot (Castle) and the Christiansborg Palace. Well worth a visit is the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, an art gallery opened by the Carlsberg founder, Carl Jacobsen. The spiritual patron of Copenhagen is no other than Hans Christian Andersen, the famous children literature writer whose statues are spread in different parts of the town. Andersen’s character, The Little Mermaid has become a symbol of the Danish Capital and her famous statue facing the sea near the Nyhavn waterfront is one of the most popular attractions in the city.
Repeatedly awarded top positions in ‘best city to live in’ rankings, the atmosphere in Copenhagen is tranquil, with a somewhat provincial feel. This combined with the 17th century architecture gives the impression that Copenhagen is a fairy tale city. Even though Denmark is one of the most expensive countries in Europe, the Danish people are very modest and extremely friendly. They show respect for tradition, for monarchy and for nature, and are extremely switched on to the issues of climate change and the actions individuals can take to combat it.
Not surprisingly, Copenhagen is the host of a range of important international events. The first event of the year is the Copenhagen Carnival in May followed by the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, one of the biggest festivals of this type and then the Golden Age Festival, a beautiful combination of arts and music.
With hundreds of boutique restaurants, bars, shopping malls and picturesque alleys, and a relaxed but forward-thinking culture, Copenhagen is an ideal place for a city break. Getting there has never been easier with Zoombu, a travel search engine and innovative London based start-up, which can help you plan your journey. Discover the best route from your home to your destination in Copenhagen by browsing and comparing hundreds of routes involving flights, trains, driving, or even coaches. Zoombu picks out and chose the right one for you depending on your time, budget, or environmental views. Hurry up and join the green revolution in Copenhagen !
