Travel Nerd Story

“Denmark is the happiest country in the world” have you ever heard this before? If yes, ever wondered why? What makes the Danish people so happy? Is it the wealth, social equality, good governance or just drunk people merry-making about. Their might be spate of reasons but here I’m sharing what made me grin like a  Cheshire cat in Denmark.

Danes love their bicycles: When you’re in Copenhagen, it might come as a shock to see that there are sparse number of cars on the roads and plethora of bicycles. The aforementioned premise is bolstered by the statistics indicating that 55% of the population prefer to commute to work by the latter mode of transportation. Be it middle class families or politicians, there’s one bike in every home. Furthermore, to facilitate the cycling, there are separate lanes and lights for the cyclists in Copenhagen. At least, someone cares about the mother nature and something to learn from the Danes.

Man made Beach: Copenhagen has a two kilometer long artificial beach offering a spectral view of the windmills and the Øresundsbroen bridge, which connects Denmark and Sweden. It’s one of the cleanest beaches I have ever seen. You can just sit here or take a dip in water on a sunny day (Skinny Dip) ;). 

Europe’s longest shopping street: Yes longest and tax-free. If you’re looking for some good shopping which includes luxury brands as well,  Copenhagen is a shopaholic paradise. Størget street is a no car zone and is a very famous and busy street. It not only has haute couture, but some really cool cafe, restaurants and street artists as well.

Freetown Christiana: So this one apparently is our favorite place in Copenhagen. This place is a small commune which has its own rules and laws. It’s also the most controversial part of Copenhagen. There are three rules to enter the place i.e NO PHOTOS, DON’T RUN AND HAVE FUN. It’s a no camera zone because there are Cannabis stalls inside, which people sell with a MASK ON (stoner’s paradise).  We were lucky enough to  enjoy a concert with people of every age , literally 6 year olds to 60 year olds.

The Little Mermaid: There’s a very famous statue of a mermaid in Copenhagen which is the most visited site of this place.The sculpture of a mermaid is made of granite and bronze and was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale about a mermaid called, as “The little mermaid” . I am sure most of us have read / heard about it as a kid. 

The Lego Group: The  foundations of the famous company Lego emanated  from a small Danish Carpentry workshop in Denmark. In fact the word ‘Lego’ also came from Danish word ‘Leg Godt’  which means play well. Who would have thought back in 1932 that one day Lego would be such a big name in the construction toy market. In 2012, 45.7 billion LEGO bricks were produced at a rate of 5.2 million per hour.The number of LEGO bricks sold in 2012 would stretch round the world more than 18 times. How awesome is that!!  

Tivoli: It is  not only the most visited amusement park in Scandinavia, but also the second oldest park in the world. If you like to have an adrenaline rush or want to get your  kids thrilled, it is a must visit. Tivoli not only has rides, but other attractions such as  theater, aquarium, open air stage, jackpot etc. as well. Trust me your whole day will pass having fun and  you wouldn’t even know it. 

The Spiral Tower:  “Church of Our Savior” is a baroque church in Copenhagen, most famous for its helix spire with an external winding staircase that can be climbed to the top, offering extensive views over central Copenhagen. There is a long-lived urban legend stating that the architect killed himself by jumping from the top of the spire, when he realized that the spiral turns anti clockwise. MYTH OR FACT ?  

You can get the panoramic view of Copenhagen from top of the Spiral Church

Some useful tips:

1. A day pass in Copenhagen will cost 80 Danish Krone’s (10 Euro), and is valid on all public transports. You can also buy it online, check out the link.
2. For panoramic view of the city, go to the top of spiral tower, it costs 10 Euro.
3. If you are a student always carry your identity card, as tickets for the students are at a discounted price in Copenhagen and most of the places in Europe.
4.  Check out the Copenhagen card and get a lot of good offers which includes, free admission to 73 museums and attractions, free public transport and many more.

-Travel Nerd Story-