The Port of Copenhagen

This guide is tailored for cruise passenger visiting Copenhagen.

About The Port: The port of Copenhagen receives about 85 cruise ships and 840,000 passengers annually. It has two passenger piers - Langelinie and the Freeport Terminal. These piers are a 10 minutes’ drive from the city center. Copenhagen airport is 20 minutes away by car.
The port facilities include Internet connection, restrooms, Tourist Information Center and so on. The terminals are close to the S-train and bus stations that connect visitors to the Copenhagen downtown. You can also catch a taxi near the terminal.
By the way, Copenhagen was named as "Europe's Leading Cruise Destination" at the World Travel Awards in 2004 and 2005.

About the City: Copenhagen has been the Danish capital for around 600 years and is located on the Eastern coast of the country. Its population is 1,213,822 (as of 2012), which makes Copenhagen the largest Scandinavian city.
The Danish capital is one of the best eco-friendly cities perfectly adapted for cyclers. Safety and social equality are at stress.

Climate: As Denmark is surrounded by water, the weather is mainly changeable here. Summer temperature rises up to 20°C. July and August are the wettest months with a high chance of rain on a sunny day. The average winter temperature is -2°C. December and January are the darkest months and receive only about 45 hours of daylight each.

Language: The Danish language is very similar to Swedish, Norwegian, and Dutch. It’s very difficult to learn, so a few words from a dictionary will be enough to please the locals. The majority of local population speaks English fluently.

Things to Do

• Tivoli Gardens is an amusement park opened in 1843. It features a number of roller-coasters, restaurants and parks. The park is popular both in summer and winter. It holds indoor events in winter months.
• Amalienborg Palace Museum is housed in the residence of the Danish royal family and offers a collection of royal fans, medals, fashion, and other items related to the Danish monarchy. The ceremony of the Changing of the Guards takes place in front of the palace every day at 11:30 am.
• Christiansborg Palace is one of the most important buildings in the city. It is the seat of the Parliament, the Supreme Court and is also partially used by the royal family.
• Egeskov Castle is a 2-hour drive from Copenhagen. The castle is built on a pile of wood logs sunk in the lake. It even has a ghost of a young girl, who was buried alive in a wall by her father. She is said to haunt the rooms even today. The castle includes splendid décor and design that are centuries old, museums, gardens, a gift shop and a cafe.
• The Little Mermaid is one of the most photographed sites in Copenhagen. The stone statue stands in the sea, featuring the character of the mermaid from Hans Christian Andersen tales. In fact, it’s the first thing you’ll see, if your ship docks at Langelinie harbor.
• Nyhavn (New Harbour) Street features a line of beautiful and historic buildings, some of which, together with the canal, date back to the 17th century. The scene has become the symbol of Copenhagen and Denmark, in general. The street has many waterfront cafes and trendy shops.
• Carlsberg Brewery Museum is home for beer fans, and especially those of Carlsberg. The label was established in 1847 and today offers tours to a non-operating factory, where you can learn about the brewing process and taste a pint or two.

Culture
Denmark is a constitutional monarchy. In fact, it’s the oldest surviving monarchy in the world. Queen Margrethe II is the Danish queen and resides in Amelienborg Palace, where you can still watch the Changing of the Guards. The Danish music includes the overwhelming sounds of fiddle and accordion and majestic female vocals.

The Danes were claimed to be the Happiest Nation in the World in 2007. The reason for such happiness is that the government and social system of the country are extremely efficient.

Eating and Drinking
Open-faced sandwiches, also known as smorrebrod, are a great hit in Denmark. The lower classes of early Danish population created these sandwiches with food leftovers, where bread served as a plate. Today, there are nothing less than food art. Danish pastry is a temptation not to miss. Combine it with coffee, which is consumed by the Danes all day long.

History
Copenhagen was a small harbor village before 1167, when it received the status of a city and was fortified. Bishop Absalon is the city founder. Denmark supported France in the Napoleonic war, which is why Copenhagen was severely damaged by British bombing. Copenhagen was the first city to host trams in the streets in 1863. In 1948, the city was renewed and green spaces were created.

Hans Christian Andersen
Denmark is the home country of Hans Christian Andersen, one of the greatest storytellers of all times. He has written numerous fairytales and stories for children - the little Mermaid, Tin Soldier, the Princess and the Pea, and others. While the Danish culture is sprinkled with his imagination, the true place to find Andersen spirit is Odense, his hometown.
Andersen is buried in Assistens Cemetery, Copenhagen.

Shopping
The local currency is the Danish Krone. Denmark has extremely high prices on everything, and if your salary is not high like that of the Danes, you may have to spend your savings as well.
The best souvenirs are anything related to Vikings, miniature statues of the Little Mermaid, books by Hans Christian Andersen, and other great items that can be purchased from museum gift shops.

Transportation

Public transport consists of metro, bus and train. The metro arrives at intervals of 4-6 minutes and has 17 stations around the city.
You can buy a single-trip ticket or a 10-trip ticket, which can be used for metro, bus or train during an hour. The city is divided into 7 zones, and you can use the 10-trip ticket for up to 2 zones. Copenhagen Card is valid for 24 hours and gives free access to more than 60 museums and all means of public transport.
You can also rent a bicycle and travel the whole city on two wheels, bikes are allowed into S-train carriages that have the appropriate sign. However, avoid doing so during rush hours, when all S-trains are full.
Harbor buses are a great way to cruise around the city, from the Black Diamond to the Little Mermaid.