A Day in Copenhagen
Flynn Marr 15 January 2026
The entrance to the Copenhagen harbour runs past a long line of wind turbines. We later learned that Denmark generates a large portion of its electrical requirements through wind power.
Never stop looking for interesting pictures. As we watched the ship appraoch the city I looked down to watch the longshoremen pull the ship’s lines to the dock in preparation for docking.
First stop on our Baltic cruise was Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. If you think about it, what can you see in a few hours. By the time we have breakfast, dress and get in line to leave the ship it is 10:00 in the morning and usually we have to be back on board around 4:00 in the afternoon. Not much time to do anything of consequence.
We got up early to watch the ship dock in the city and it was worth the effort. We sailed in past a long line of power generating wind mills that was impressive. The ship continued into the port to tie up within sight of the old city and the dome of the Marble Church, otherwise known as Frederiks Church.
When we came on deck about 7:00 it was misty but as the sun rose that burnt off to reveal a beautiful sunny day. We quickly had our breakfast and then made our way down to the gang plank and the city beyond.
Walking away from the Eurodam she towered over us giving us an impressive view of her size. Walking into town she was visible from a long distance away.
The walk was beautiful. It seemed to be gardens and monuments all the way. We wandered along the water through beds of flowers, past the “Little Mermaid”, towards the center of the city.
Susan stands looking back at the massive Eurodam towering over her.
Walking along the water we almost immediately came upon a small yacht basin and beautiful gardens. We were not thinking about Copenhagen’s famous “Little Mermaid” but there she was sitting on her rock. We stumbled upon her quite by accident. She is a small statue in bronze only about one and a quarter meters high. She was unveiled in 1913 and has been at the waterside almost ever since. She was removed in 2013 to attend the World Expo in Shanghai and once or twice for maintenance. Small in size she has become a major tourist attraction in Copenhagen.
Just past the Langelinie Yacht Basin we stopped by these splendid flower pots and a fellow tourist took this picture for us. That is the Eurodam in the background over my shoulder.
Right on the dock in front of a little souvenir shop was our first monument. She was certainly …. monumental!
Walking along the waterfront with the Eurodam in the distance.
The next monument we came to was truly impressive. There is a mythical story of how the island of Zealand, on which Copenhagen is located, was created by the Norse godess Gefjon. She apparently was promised as much land as she could plough in a day and so she turned her four sons into oxen to plow land she was promised and the earth she turned over formed the island.
The statue and fountain is called the Gefjonspringvandet and is a beautiful sight. The statue of the godess driving her four oxen was donated to the city by Carlsberg, the beer empire, on their 50th anniversary, and the fountain was completed in 1908.
Next to it is St. Alban’s Church, Sankt Albans Kirke, which is next to the Churchill Memorial Park which contains bust of Winston Churchill commemorating his contribution to the Second World War.
Continuing our walk into town we pssed through more gardens and public art works. The walk was most entertaining and the artwork fascinating. A good guide book is a must on this stroll!
This little bronze statue of Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid has become a world famous tourist destination.
This small bridge takes us from the waterfront to the Gefjonspringvandet or Gefjon’s Fountain. St. Alban’s Church, Sankt Albans Lirke, is behind it.
Another tourist took this picture for us sitting below the Gefjonspringvandet. The powerful statue of the godess and her oxen is above us.
The statue of the godess Gefjon is impressive. Installed in 1908 it has been an attraction in the city ever since.
This statue of Wnston Churchill, the British Prime Minister during the Second World War, is in the park beside the Sankt Albans Kirke on our walk into town.
Susan in front of one of the garden beds we passed on the way into town. In the background is the Ivar Huitfeld Column and beyond it the Eurodam.
We were walking along the waterfront and so we passed many very beutiful private yachts. This one was particularly lovely.
Nyhavn, or New Harbour, is a colorful 17th century port known today for its pubs and restaurants and 17th century architecture.
Nyhavn, New Port in English, was created in the 17th century as a port near the old city center. King Christian V was extending the city fortifications to the east and thus expanding the city. Just inside the new walls he created the Kongens Nytorv or Kings New Square which today is the largest open square in Copenhagen.
To serve the commercial interests of the area he had a canal dug from the open harbour all the way to the Kongens Nytorv thus creating Nyhavn. As harbours will do it also attracted bars, rowdy sailors and brothels. But, as ships became larger the harbour lowly became sidelined and by the end of World War II it was largely devoid of commercial traffic.
In the 1960’s an effort was made to revitalize the harbour and create the tourist attraction you see today. The North side of the water is a pedestrian mall lined with shops, pubs, restaurants and 17th century architecture.
Susan standing on the Nyhavnsbroen, Nyavn Bridge, with the colorful 17th century buildings of Nyhavn in the background.
Susan is standing in the Strøget, a pedestrian mall that runs from Kongens Nytorv over a kilometer to the City Hall Square. It was converted to a pedestrian mall in 1962.
The Strøget runs through Amagertorv, Amager Square, which dates from around 1450 and at one time was the main market square in the city.
From the King’s New Square at the end of Nyhavn we walked into the Størget which is a pedestrian mall that runs for over a kilometer to the City Hall Square.
Created in 1962 it was, like many new things, resented and feared but it quickly proved to be a commercial and popular success. After that side streets and squares were added as pedestrian only and now it is a network of streets and squares to be explored and enjoyed.
At the end of the Størget we walk into the City Hall Square. This area was once the city’s hay market and the western city gate in the Copenhagen fortifications. When the old city walls were torn down around 1850 the area was used as an exhibition grounds. It was in the 1880’s that plans were made to build a new City Hall there.
In 1905 the present City Hall was inaugurated and the square in front of it began to take its current shape.
At the end of the Strøget lies the City Hall Square which is dominated by the City Hall. It is not that old dating from around 1905.
Susan standing at a fountain in City Hall Square.
Our last stop on our walking tour was the world famous Tivoli Gardens. This amusement park was first opened in 1843 and is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world.
The name “Tivoli” was taken from the Jardin de Tivoli in Paris which in turn took its name from the Tivoli gardens near Rome.
It has changed over the years but today it contains rides, restaurants, pubs, shops, and walks on a forested path along a lake. Looking around the park you realize where Disney got his ideas for his parks in the United States.
We walked around the perimeter of the park and stopped for a beer in a nice little pub by the lake. But we were running out of time by this point and we were a long way from our boat. Our walk back, along the same route, was much quicker with no stops for sightseeing!
The Grand Main Entrance to the Tivoli Gardens was inaugurated in 1890.
The Japanese Pagoda was designed in 1900. At night it has 2,800 lights illuminating it.
Across the water and under the white umberellas is the pub we stopped at for a beer.
Susan in the pub by the lake enjoying a beer before we start back to the ship.
Susan is standing by the fountain in the Tivolis Springvand, the Tivoli Concert Gardens.
Here is Susan returning to the Eurodam. In her hand she has her boarding card ID which she needs to reboard the ship.
Waiting for us on our bed was this little cephlapod and tomorrow’s schedule.
And that was our day in Copenhagen. About 3:00 in the afternoon we had to think about retracing our steps back to the ship. But when I look back at these pictures I realize that we actullay packed a lot into a small amount of time. But obviously we could spend a week here and not see everything.
We were lucky. The day had been sunny and warm which made our walk very enjoyable.
Back on board we went to our cabin for a nap before dinner and after dinner we went to the Ocean Bar to dance. A great way to end a beautiful day.
You notice that we did not take one of the many shore activities offered by the ship. We generally avoid those for a few reasons. We find that you get a better impression of a place while walking and it is better when you can stop
where you want and spend the time you want looking at something that interests you. You are not subject to the tour’s timetable.
Also, the ship sponsored tours tend to be expensive. With a little planning you can create your own tour for a fraction of the cost, or as we did today, at no cost.
There are exceptions of course. In situations where you really don’t feel comfortable, ship tours are safe and guaranteed to get you back on time. But, where the ship docks close to the city and walking is an option, walking is our preferred mode of transportation.
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