Copenhagen's Soho

Vesterbro is a dynamic, youthful neighbourhood well worth a visit. Istedgade is

the main street to wander down. By the central station there are sex shops,
tourist hotels and a mini Chinatown, but continue on and soon lively middle-
eastern green grocers, trendy boutiques and wonderful cafes appear.

A high concentration of great and varied restaurants, fantastic coffee places and
an invaluable insight into the daily life of Copenhageners are to be found in this
old working class neighbourhood.

To the left of the Central Station on the map. Walk up Istedgade to Enghave Plads
(square). At an amble it'll take a relaxing 30 minutes.

Christiania

No guide to Copenhagen can fail to mention Christania. For many years it has
ranked as the most visited 'attraction' after Tivoli. In 1972 a group of people
squatted in an unused military area just south of the city. They established a self-
governing, independent community and it flourished. Many houses were built,
businesses set up and even daycare institutions established.

Often called Europe’s greatest social experiment and with big names like Bob
Dylan on the support list, Christiania is facing a bleak future. The right-wing
government has shut down the famous Pusher Street, which sold hash and pot in
colourful booths and is threatening to reclaim the area for development.
Development meaning expensive flats and offices on the prime real estate.

Nevertheless, Christiania soldiers on. Great cafés, restaurants and one of the
city’s hottest concert venues are to be found within her fences.

Located in the Christianshavn neighbourhood.

20 min. walk from the city.

Europe's oldest tea shop

Think you know everything about tea? Think again. Visit the legendary AC Perch's
Tea Shop and immerse yourself in scents and experiences.

It's a tiny shop and it's been there since 1835. Little has changed since then
which makes it fantastic. The current owners have had it for four generations and
the whole family is behind the counter on busy Saturdays. An amazing area of
leaves. Don't miss it, English person!

Kronprinsessegade 5 in the heart of town.

Their webshop can ship around the world, too.
www.perchs.dk/engelsk/index.asp

English bookshop

Right on the Town Hall Square you'll find Politiken Boghandel (Bookshop). They
have the largest selection of English books in town.
Town Hall Square. Look for the Politiken building - it's a national newspaper - and
you'll find the bookshop on the ground floor.

Copenhagen tips

Take a shopping trip strolling in Strøget and stop for a drink or a quick lunch at
Nyhavn and afterwards go to see the baroque style Marble Church
(Frederikskirke) just oposite the Amalienborg Palace.

Another place ideal for the whole family is the Zoo of Copenhagen in
Frederiksberg and the Tycho Brahe Planetarium. Another must is a visit to the
Statens Museum for Kunst.

Statens Museum for Kunst

Copenhagen is a truly wonderful city, if a little windy in winter.

One of my visits was during a weekend in mid-December 2001. The streets were
hectic with Christmas shoppers; my work colleagues went to Tivoli (which was
just an entertainment park, where everything was overkill; the lights, the stands,
the kitschy gifts).

In an anti-shopping mood, I seeked out a quiet spot, and visited The State
Museum of Art, a memorable building with both historical and modern art
exhibitions. I went in around 11.00 and was finished around 13.00 o'clock, just
when the crowds started to arrive.

Then I sat down for lunch in a tastefully designed cafe, and enjoyed pale winter
sun that came in through magnificent high windows...a quiet winter bliss in the
midst of the shopping craze. Highly recommended.

www.smk.dk/smk.nsf/docs/forside!opendocument

Rundetaarn

Rundetaarn (Round Tower) - It is an observatory; you walk up a tall, sloping path

to get to the excellent viewing point at the peak. Make sure you also go inside
the adjoining church.

52a Kobmagergade

Von Frelsers Kirke

A church with a black and gold spire, near Christiania - you can't miss it. It looks
like a giant cake decoration. The stairs go round the outside and you can climb all
the way to the top. Very scary, very memorable, great view.

Sankt Annoegade 29. Metro: Christanshavn.

Vesterbro, København

Vesterbro is the old working-class district of Copenhagen that starts just behind
the Main Railway Station. As Denmark is turning more and more xenophobic,
introvert and ‘American’ in its denial of its own weaknesses, Vesterbro still keeps
alive its reputation from World War II as a haven for tolerance and community
spirit.

Today it is a cultural melting pot with many good working-class and student
pubs/cafes. You can also find cheap (but not unfashionable) clothes shop and
some of Denmark's best ethnic restaurants - check out the Turkish, one of which
once received 4 chef hats in Politiken's (the main newspaper) restaurant reviews.

This is the Copenhagen that you don't hear about in the glitzy brochures but
where real Danes live and struggle to put food on the table. Enghave Plads is the
centre of Vesterbro.

Exit the Main Railway Station towards Istedgade (the waning red light district).

Brunch Tip #2 - Zakabona

This is my local so I won't be dissing it. Cosy cafe in the heart of the vibrant
Vesterbro neighbourhood. Award-winning brunch and a great menu in general.

Expect to wait longer for your nosh than other cafes as they prepare it lovingly
from scratch. Spend the time enjoying a quality beer.

Zakabona is at Istedgade 88. Ten minutes from the central station. On the corner
of Dannebrogsgade.
Brunch is from 10:30-14 (weekdays) and 10-15 (weekends). 99 kroner.
Danish website:
www.zakabona.dk

ok so... this is what i did...

since i stayed with my friend very far away from the city center... we took the
subway until the little mermaid and pretty much walk our way down from there.
we got to see the bay, the new opera, the palace (the change of guards it's at 12
but no big thing anyway), the frederik's church (the one witht the beautiful
dome), a russian church near by... and then we went to the center of the city,
from there we walked towards the gardens of the king and the national art
gallery. i really liked it but then again i liked seeing crazy modern art! i guess u do
too... and most importantly... it is FREE!
actually my friend told me a bunch of museums are free on wednesday
afternoon. then we even got time to go all the way to christiania... which is
awesome!
just make sure u don´t take pics in the first street, the pusher's street... because
of the drug dealers and so. we walked quite a while inside it and it is worth it (i
think) some houses are crazy.
then well don´t miss the stork fountain... in there u can have a coffee in some of
the cafeterias and even a refill!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hahaha, near it is the town hall ;)
also nyhvan! it was sunny for us and it is beautiful! and the old opera is near by.

and about the food. dunno cause i ate with my friends most of the meals (in his
house)... but seeing prices and all... if you wanna eat cheap just get any falaffel,
kebab or pizza... it should be like 30-40 danish crowns. :)

and for the night life i just now my firends went to Vega and they realy liked it! :)
it was a bit expensive but it has some bars inside that are entrance free!

kiss kiss carrot!

good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Danie,

Tja ik kon niet ech punctueel alle dingen langslopen, het is gewoon te veel. Maar dan toch in
ieder geval een wandeloute waar je wel de leukste dingen vanzelf tegenkomt. Zie het als
paaseieren zoeken. De groene lijn naar boven van de kaart af heb ik niet gelopen. Als je de
Frederiksborgkade uitloopt kom je bij een joodse begraafplaats, vast ook wel leuk. Toen ik
daar naar links gign was het de no-go area, maar als je naar rechts gaat komt het goed denk
ik.

Veel plezier!
-Marjoleine.

Aanradertjes van Marjoleine, prepare to get fat and get painful feet.

(zie kaart)

Alle zwarte puntjes zijn de beste bakkers of kafétjes.

Alle blauwe zijn leuke aanzichten of musea. Die grote blauwe vlek dat lijkt op een
huis is jullie hostel.

De blauwe lijn kun je misschien beter in twee dagen lopen. Gaat langs het grote
vraagteken wat christiana heet en bovendien langs nog heel erg veel leuke
musea (net aan de overkant van het water en de haven). Slotholmen is ook goed
te doen. Loop door de hallen en ga dan naar de Koninklijke bibliotheek. Dan kom
je ook langs het oude gebouw. Steek na de bieb het water over en ga de trap af
naar beneden links, dan loop je langs nog een leuke oude haven. Niet echt leuke
kafeetjes tegemoet dus de bieb is dan tot nu toe het beste plekje om te zitten
misschien.
 Het tweede gedeelte (het noordelijkste) is tussen alle winkelgebieden
(Magasin) en Nyhavn. Ik kwam daar ook een theepot in de vorm van een
bloemkool tegen. De buurt van Nyhavn is goed om iets te gaan eten (Italiaans),
ook al kom je er niet onder 20 euro. Als je helemaal naar het noorden toeloopt
kom je in het oude kastelle. Dat zijn een paar rode huizen met een molen. niet
echt bijzonder. Ik zou zeggen: loop er niet in (want dan moet je ook direct de
ander kant er weer uit) maar ga naar links en loop de parallel lopende weg terug.
Daar kom je genoeg kafé’s tegen waar je smörrebrod kan kopen!

De groene stippellijn is een leuke drukke wandelroute waar je langs De Nationale

Gallery komt, waar ik zeker nog eens heen wil, dus zou het jammer vinden als
jullie niet zouden gaan (gratis). De botanische tuin is nog een beetje suf. Daar
tegenover zijn de koningstuinen met slot Rosenburg. Daarbij kan je het beste een
paar gebakjes bij kopen en rustig gaan zitten op een van de leuke bankjes met
uitzicht op de krokussen. Ideaal als je van een museum af komt.

Daarnaast kwam ik ook nog op de terugweg “pompe huset” tegen in de

Studiestreade. As je het station uitkomt helemaal links en dan met de bocht mee.
Vast leuk om iets te gaan doen in de avond.

Vergeet dus van te voren niet de kaart erbij te nemen en de mussee loper!