I was really hoping that Copenhagen would make up for the bad weather in Stockholm, but I was so wrong. Almost constant rain and cold wind accompanied us during the entire 2.5 days in Copenhagen. But again, other than a small setback (more like a complete meltdown by 3 pm on the first day :)), we were up for the challenge.

Similar to Stockholm, we started with a boat tour. The guidebook recommended to use Netto, which has only open boats – big mistake! Half way into the tour it started raining and as we moved into more open water, a cold wind started blowing. I was freezing, I was ready to tell the driver to drop us next to the nearest museum. The tour guide wasn’t volunteering too much information anyway, maybe he was cold too 🙂

The sun was shining before we got on the boat.
The sun was shining before we got on the boat.
Sightseeing from under the umbrella
Sightseeing from under the umbrella
A lot of construction equipment everywhere in the city - they are undergoing major improvements to the metro system.
A lot of construction equipment everywhere in the city – they are undergoing major improvements to the metro system.

After the boat tour, we made our way to Thorvaldsen museum which houses sculptures by Bertel Thorvaldsen, a renowned Danish sculptor.

Early morning in front of Thorvaldsen museum  - no people, only pigeons
Early morning in front of Thorvaldsen museum – no people, only pigeons

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For lunch, we tried smorrebrod, which are open faced sandwiches with shrimp, chicken salad and roasted pork. Pretty good, but too heavy.

Smorrebrod - pork, chicken salad and shrimp
Smorrebrod – pork, chicken salad and shrimp

After lunch, we were already feeling exhausted. The time difference and the cold finally caught up with us. We went to the National museum and Glyptoteket, which is an art museum and has a nice winter garden, but we were walking like zombies, not really appreciating anything around us anymore. We decided to call it a day and turn in for the night.

Glyptoteket
Glyptoteket
Sculpture in front of the Glyptoteket
Sculpture in front of the Glyptoteket

The next day, feeling refreshed and rested, we started the walk through the old city ending at the over-photographed little mermaid.

Preferred  method of transportation in Denmark
Preferred method of transportation in Denmark
Streets of Copenhagen
Streets of Copenhagen
On the way to work
On the way to work
Streets of Copenhagen
Nothing opens until 10 am in Copenhagen
Streets of Copenhagen - they looove their bikes!
They looove their bikes!
Streets of Copenhagen
Streets of Copenhagen
The little mermaid
The little mermaid
Looks like it's snowing but it's raining and the sun is shining at the same time.
Looks like it’s snowing but it’s raining and the sun is shining at the same time.

Next we stopped at the Amalienborg Palace, where the queen resides, and Rosenborg castle, where we saw the crown of one of the Danish kings.

Guard in front of Amalienborg Palace
Guard in front of Amalienborg Palace
Crown of King Christian the IV at the Rosenborg castle
Crown of King Christian the IV at the Rosenborg castle

The Rundetårn or Round Tower is very unique. There are no stairs to go up to the top!

Ramp in the Round Tower
Ramp to the top in the Round Tower
The windows in the tower make nice picture frames
The windows in the tower make nice picture frames

City Hall is a beautiful building.

Ornate ceiling in the city hall
Ornate ceiling in the city hall
They also looove their flag :)
They also looove their flag 🙂

Christiansborg palace has a very interesting free guided tour in English. The palace houses all three branches of the government: judicial, legislative and executive.

Tapestries room
Tapestries room
Modern tapestry depicting the history of the 20th century
Modern tapestry depicting the history of the 20th century

Even though we were not planning on going on any of the rides, we had to visit Tivoli Gardens, Denmark’s famous amusement park. It felt like there were more restaurants than rides in the park.

Customized manhole cover for Tivoli
Customized manhole cover for Tivoli
Tivoli in the evening
Tivoli in the evening
Tivoli in the evening
Tivoli in the evening

On the last day in Copenhagen, we had a few hours before the flight so we squeezed in two more sights: Grundtvig’s Church with very impressive gothic architecture (thanks pinterest!) and Carlsberg brewery, which was a waste of time and money, except for the cool elephants at the entrance into Carlsberg.

Grundtvigs Kirke
Grundtvigs Kirke
Grundtvigs Kirke was under construction and we were lucky they let us in
Grundtvigs Kirke was under construction. We were lucky they let us in.
really cool elephants in Carlsberg
Really cool elephants in Carlsberg
Beer tasting at 11am - it's 5 o'clock somewhere :)
Beer tasting at 11am – it’s 5 o’clock somewhere 🙂

With our glasses of Carlsberg beer, we said “Skål and Cheers!” to our trip to Sweden and Denmark and off we went to catch our flight back home.

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May 18, 2014

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