Sights

Christianshavn & Christiania
One of the highlights of the canal-punctured district of Christianshavn is Vor Frelsers Kirke ('Our Saviour's Church'), topped by a 95m (311ft), 400-step spiral steeple which affords breathtaking views over the city. On the eastern side of the district is the self-labelled 'progressive' community of Christiania.
In Christianshavn's north is the Orlogmuseet (Royal Danish Naval Museum), where you can see over 300 model ships and naval knick-knacks from the last couple of centuries.
Christiania started life as a military camp before being abandoned and taken over in 1971 by ambitious squatters who proclaimed their own 'free state'.

Latin Quarter
Copenhagen's Latin Quarter surrounds the old campus of Copenhagen University and brims with pedestrians, cafes and bookshops. Kultorvet, a plaza just to the north of the Latin Quarter, is particularly busy during summer, when its beer gardens and produce stalls are well attended, and when buskers will endeavour to win your patronage.

Directly opposite the university grounds is Vor Frue Kirke, the city's striking neoclassical cathedral which was originally built in the late 12th century and then rebuilt three times after succumbing to various pesky fires. The interior is decorated with sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen's acclaimed statues of Christ and the 12 apostles. Good views of the city's rooftops are available from the summit of the Rundetårn (Round Tower), a 35m-high (115ft) pile of bricks a few blocks east of the Latin Quarter.

Nationalmuseet
The Nationalmuseet (National Museum) is a must-see for anyone who wants a comprehensive grounding in Danish history and culture. True to its name, the Nationalmuseet has the biggest collection of Danish historical artefacts in the country. On Sundays in summer the ambience is enhanced by free chamber music concerts.

Rosenborg Slot
Rosenborg Slot houses a museum and the treasury where the royal regalia and jewels are kept. Downstairs is a public viewing room where you can marvel at incredible jewellery.
It was built in Dutch Renaissance style by Christian IV to serve as his summer home. A century later Frederik IV, who felt cramped at Rosenborg, built a roomier palace north of the city in the town of Fredensborg.
The 24 rooms in the castle's upper levels are chronologically arranged, housing the furnishings and portraits of each monarch from Christian IV to Frederik VII. However, the main attraction lies on the lower level, where the dazzling collection of crown jewels are displayed.
These include Christian IV's ornately designed crown; the jewel-studded sword of Christian III; and Queen Margrethe II's emeralds and pearls, which are kept here when the queen is not wearing them to official functions. These items are considered such a national treasure that the queen is not permitted to take the royal jewels with her when she travels outside Denmark.

Amalienborg Palace 
Amalienborg is the residence of Queen Margrethe, her husband prince Henrik and her son the crown prince Frederik. Actually the royal palace is not one, but four different palaces flanking a square.
In 1794 the royal family moved into the four palaces around the square which is considered to be one of the great architectural masterpieces in Europe. The statue in the middle of the square was sculptured by the French artist Saly.
Every day at noon you can watch the change of guards in the court-yard. When the Queen is at home she flies her colours with her royal coat of arms.
 
Slotsholmen
Slotsholmen is a groovy island connected to the rest of Copenhagen by small bridges, it is the place that Denmark's national government calls home. Slotsholmen attracts large numbers of visitors who come to check out the palatial (literally) government office.
The original Christiansborg palace was constructed in the 1730s to replace the pokey Copenhagen Castle and several buildings, namely the royal stables and edifices surrounding the main courtyard, date from this time.
Folketinget, the parliamentary chamber, can be toured on Sunday year-round, as well as on weekdays over summer, and this includes a peek at Wanderer's Hall, which contains the original copy of Denmark's Constitution.

Tivoli & Strøget
Funsters will want to head to Tivoli, the popular amusement park-cum-flower garden in the heart of the city. The famed park has been operating for over 150 years and so has had plenty of time to figure out how to best cater to the hordes of tourists and locals, many trailing enthusiastic youngsters, who flock there between mid-April and late-September each year. There are all the usual fun-park attractions, such as a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, open-air performances, carnival games and food pavilions. For the more cultured fun-loving palates, there are also traditional folk dances and a large concert hall hosting international symphony orchestras and ballet troupes. Tivoli also opens up for a few weeks prior to Christmas for holiday festivities, a seasonal market and ice-skating on the lake.
Proceed in a calmer consumer-oriented manner up the world's longest pedestrian mall, Strøget. Strøget is a long chain of five streets that is replete with shops and eateries, as well as a myriad of entertainment options including street theatre.

Nyhavn
A cold draught beer in the sun in front of the pretty old houses and buildings by the waterfront, looking out at the old sailing ships and all the people promenading back and forth who have come to see and be seen. Join them and later perhaps embark on one of the Canal Tour boats which run from the Nytorv end of the harbour from late April to mid September. In recent years Nyhavn has seen the rise of a number of high quality restaurants. For a traditional Danish lunch, Nyhavn Færgekro is a good choice, with its open sandwiches and herring buffet, and for an organic alternative, Cap Horn offers a wide menu. After lunch, follow the Langelinie pedestrian zone along the canal until you reach Denmark’s most beloved landmark, the statue of The Little Mermaid.

Trelleborg
There are four Viking ring fortresses in Denmark, but Viking ring fortress purists will find that Trelleborg, which is situated 7km (4.3mi) west of the town of Slagelse in Southern Zealand, is the best preserved of all of them. Features of the site include a detailed reconstruction of a Viking house where you can imagine warriors feasting, sleeping and discussing hair-plaiting techniques, a museum containing pottery and other domestic items that have been excavated from the site and burial mounds up on the circular grassy rampart.

Frederiksborg Slot
This Dutch Renaissance castle looks spectacular enough from the outside - spread as it is over several small islets on a lake called Slotsø - but the interior of this former fortress and now national museum is no let-down either, with over 70 publicly accessible rooms boasting gilded ceilings, full-wall tapestries, paintings and antiques. Particularly impressive are the Riddershalen (Knights Hall) and the Slotskirken (Coronation Chapel), the latter being where Danish monarchs received their extravagant new head-gear between 1671 and 1840.