COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
Exchange rate 2004: $1.00 US = approximately 6 Danish Krone

A beautiful city and well worth extra time pre or post cruise. Ships leave from Langelinie pier there are many shops on the pier. Also in walking distance from the pier is the Little Mermaid statue and the grounds of the Kastellet (old fort) which house the resistance museum (10 minutes).

Directly from the ship to the airport for embarkation or the airport to the ship for disembarkation: The cab fare between the ship and the airport was $30.00. The ship charges $25.00 per person for a transfer so you might as well take a cab.. You can put your fare on a credit card right in the cab. The cabs stop right at the ship to board the ship and right where the luggage is off loaded from the ship, so it is very easy.

Recommended Hotels in Copenhagen: Radisson SAS Royal – 5 stars and close to Tivoli or Marriott, a little further away 15 minutes walk to Tivoli but more modern, nice rooms also 5 star. I have heard good and bad reports on a smaller more boutique hotel, 71 Nyhavn street. Some really love it.

Cab fare: The cab from the ship to downtown was about $30. You can walk most of the key sights of Copenhagen if your hotel is near Tivoli and the Pedestrian Boulevard. The cab from downtown to the airport is about $25.

GETTING AROUND
There is a “hop a bus” system that leaves from many pick up points one is right on the pier and one is right outside the Marriott. It is a red or purple double decker bus they are the same company. The cost is 140 K if you buy the ticket that lets you ride all three lines, red, green and yellow. The tickets are valid for two days if you come into Copenhagen early. This is an inexpensive and easy way to see most of what Copenhagen has to offer. It would work better if the buses ran more frequently. The buses are not great, they use headphones to share information about the city and they work okay although the equipment is old. The little Mermaid is one of the stops. The bus stops here for just five minutes for picture taking. There are multiple stops and you can get off if you choose and catch the next bus, which comes along in about 30 minutes on the red line and one hour on the green and yellow lines that go further out of the main downtown area. All the different lines leave only from two stops, the terminal that is across from the Town Hall in the heart of downtown or directly across from Tivoli’s main entrance.

Canal Tours
There is also a “hop a boat” non-guided canal system that you can use to get around. They have two different routes. We chose the bus but the canal may be a good way to go also. The boats run hourly for each route. Ticket for one day for both routes is 45 Danish Krones ($7 US). For 75 Danish Krones ($12 US) you can buy a two day ticket for the “hop a boat” system that also includes two guided tours.

Tivoli: The entrance fee is 65 Danish Krones ($11 US) and you can pay with a credit card. The rides cost extra, but you can get an unlimited-ride pass for about $35 US. This is the oldest amusement park in the world. The Travel Channel rates Tivoli the number one park in the world, above Disneyworld. Although much smaller than I expected, the park is very beautiful with lots of flowers and gardens, and especially pretty at night. I personally would not rate it above Disneyland by any stretch of the imagination though. On Wednesday night they have a big fireworks show. The rides are basically roller coaster, thrill type rides. They also have the games where you shoot water guns and rifles to win prizes, typical state fair type things. The grounds and numerous restaurants from upscale to casual are for adults and the rides and attractions are for the children.

The Stroget - (Pedestrian street for shops and restaurants) and Nyhavn: There are a lot of restaurants and cafes in the Nyhavn area (the old red light district.) There are horse-drawn carriages for 200K for 30 minutes that leave from here. The Stroget and Nyhavn areas are only a few blocks apart. There was an incredible art exhibit of aerial pictures from around the world in the square where Nyhavn and Pedestrian meet; hopefully, there will something equally as interesting when you visit. The Stroget starts at Nyhavn and ends at Tivoli; along this stretch you will find upscale shopping, restaurants and street performers.

Rosenborg Palace
This palace was built in 1606 to 1634 as a summer residence for King Christian IV. This was far superior an attraction that I had originally imagined. The entrance fee is 60 Danish Krone ($10 US). The palace is quite spectacular and the ceilings are incredible. There are many ornate and furnished rooms. The palace also houses an incredible collection of interesting items, from china to jewelry and swords with ornate gold and precious stone handles. In the basement are the Danish crown jewels. The grounds are also very attractive with gardens and flowers. I would recommend a visit here I really enjoyed this attraction. The changing of the guard takes place starting at 11.30am at the Rosenborg Palace and the guard marches with band to the Amalienborg Castle.


The Marble Church
A mini St. Peters dome and an attractive church. Also interesting on the outside with statues around the parimeter. No entrance fee for admittance to the church.

Major Attractions I did not visit
Amalienborg Castle
Unfortunately I did not have time to visit this castle.

Frederiksberg Castle
On the yellow line on the hop a bus is this castle. Unfortunately I have not visited it yet and will do so on my next trip. The grounds look spectacular. I think it will be well worth a visit.

Carlsberg Brewery
Tours and beer tasting is offered free of charge. I did not have time to visit but did talk to passengers who did visit and they said it was well worth a visit.

Churches, Museums and Palaces: There are many Museums, Palaces, Churches and attractions in Copenhagen. However I have not had the time to visit any more than are mentioned above, everything else will have to wait for my next trip.