One of Northern Europe's most populated cities, Copenhagen was the second stop on our June Disney cruise.
Located on two islands (Zealand and Amager) and several islets, the city is known for being environmentally friendly and having a high quality of life. According to Wikepidia, 36% of its citizens cycle to work. This is definitely something that we witnessed. The number of bicycles was astounding and very different from the U.S. Most of the streets are lined with bike paths and every corner has bike racks, making it possible for bicycling as a form of transportation.
We decided to visit Tivoli, the second oldest amusement park in the world. Tivoli is actually more than just rides - it also has gardens, theatres and restaurants. In fact, the park was an inspiration for Walt Disney, who visited before creating Disneyland. The influence is apparent when you visit. Its international theme reminded me of Epcot.
Our tour took us into the park before it opened to be public, giving us the opportunity to view the gardens before the crowds came. The gardens and architecture are beautiful and create the perfect setting for relaxation and fun.
After touring the grounds, we were able to go on some of the rides, including one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the world. The roller coaster only has hand breaks, so one of the staff rides with you and applies the breaks as the cars head downhill. Despite feeling a little weird about the hand break, we really enjoyed the ride. The kids begged to go on it again and again.
While some of the buildings and rides in the park as original, much of the park was destroyed during WWII. The Nazis actually entered the park and set off 5 fire bombs. Some of the buildings were rebuilt, and new buildings and rides have been added over the years.
The second part of our tour took us out of the park and onto a canal boat where we viewed the city. The architecture was breathtaking.
Boating is another popular mode of transportation and entertainment in Denmark. Many boats are docked along the canals, including small house boats, and of course many more were in the harbor. The tour guide shared that some live on the house boats in the canals during the summer. In fact, this is so popular that there is a 25-year waiting list for a space for your houseboat. Better sign up now!
I would definitely recommend visiting this amazing city full of beautiful architecture and culture. Home of Vikings, Hans Christian Anderson and a long history that dates back to the 1100s, you will find much to enjoy in Copenhagen.
