Visit Hundested

Hundested is a town and a former municipality (Danish, "kommune") in Region Hovedstaden in the northern part of the island of Zealand ("Sjælland") in eastern Denmark. The former municipality is surrounded by water on three side: to the north is the Kattegat, to the west is the channel leading into the Isefjord, and to the south is Roskilde Fjord and the channel leading into it from the Isefjord.

The area
A ferry connects Hundested to the town of Rørvig in Frederiksværk i municipality. For many years the municipality had two other ferry connections, one to Grenå in Grenå municipality on the Jutland peninsula from the town of Hundested which began service July 14, 1934, and the other to Kulhuse in Jægerspris municipality from the town of Sølager. These have, however, in recent years been disbanded, to the great dismay of residents. The ferry to Rørvig celebrated its 75th anniversary of service on May 16, 2003. Ferry service in the area has a long history. When Lynæs Inn, south of the town of Hundested, was established in 1804, it was licensed as an inn catering to ferry passengers, although in those days service was highly irregular.

The area is characterized by sand and dunes, especially on its northern side facing the Kattegat, but also found in the central areas and in the south. Kikhavn on the northern side of the peninsula, not far to the east of the town of Hundested, is the oldest fishing village in the area. Hundested municipality

On January 1, 2007 Hundested municipality ceased to exist due to "Kommunalreformen" ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007). It was merged with Frederiksværk municipality to form the new Frederiksværk-Hundested municipality. The name was changed to Halsnæs municipality on January 1, 2008. This created a municipality with an area of 120 km² and a total population of 30,253. Origin of name

The name Hundested is thought to come from royal seal hunts on a stone reef known as the "dog (seal) reef" (Danish, "hund sted", lit. "dog place"). This reef has now disappeared, the stones having been used for harbours in the nearby Øresund ("The Sound"). Today, the dog seals live further out at sea on the reefs around the island of Hesselø. Attractions

The Knud Rasmussens house in the town of Hundested was the home of polar explorer Knud Rasmussen, who lived there between his many expeditions to Greenland. The house is situated 30 metres above the beach, and offers a beautiful view of the Kattegat. It has been turned into a museum dedicated to the explorer and his work. It is full of photographs and paintings of Greenland.

One of Denmark's largest dolmens, "Grønnessedyssen Karlstenen", can be seen at nearby Grønnesse Wood.

The area boasts several interesting churches, including Torup church, which dates from the 12th century. It has, among other things, a granite Romanesque baptismal font, frescoes from about 1250, a crucifix from about 1300 and the nave from 1750.

The former municipality offers two harbours to pleasure boaters and sports fisher: Hundested Harbour, in the center of the town of Hundested, and Lynæs Harbour, located south of the town near the entryway into the Roskilde Fjord.

Visit Copenhagen City

Copenhagen, the premier capital of Northern Europe, is Scandinavia's most fantastic city and the centre of the most dynamic region in Europe, the Øresund Region. The city is one of Europe's oldest capitals with a royal touch - the monarchy in Denmark is the oldest in the world!

A slogan for new houses “There's something modern in the state of Denmark”, a paraphrase on the well-known Shakespearian quote from Hamlet, somehow encapsulates the spirit of the youthful dynamism present in Copenhagen. Discover it, mirrored in the walls of Black Diamond, but pay also attention to all those historical architectural pearls such as the Royal Castle Amalienborg, and our special favorite the - Church of Our Saviour.

The Little Mermaid is just now out on a trip, but take instead a walk towards the Gefion Fountain, Copenhagen's own Fontana di Trevi, or go to Louisiana, Arken and - Glyptotek - all among the best art museums in Europe. Or why not visit famous Tivoli, the amusement park with class, in the middle of the city.

There is more: have a Carlsberg beer (the best, obviously) in one of many beer cafés by the canal in Nyhavn, or visit the Carlsberg Brewery, to learn about the origins of the world famous Danish beer.

These are truly exciting, cool and very enjoyable places to visit.

Two Nation Vacation

Kronborg Castle 2

Visit Kronborg Castle or Hamlets Castle, immortalised by Wiliam Shakespeare, situated at Helsingør or Elsinore and built by King Frederik II of Denmark in 1590. and Holder Danske are watching - The Danish tourist attraction - Tourist Attractions in North Sealand  Denmark
Welcome to Kronborg Castle- Hamlets Castle Elsinore   immortalised by William Shakespeare Visit Elsinore tour Excursions map PDF  What's in Elsinore and the surrounding area Visit Elsinore
Hamlets Castle / Kronborg Castle in Elsinore, at the seaward approach to The Sound Øresund, is one of northern Europe's most important Renaissance castles. Known all over the world from Shakespeare 's play Hamlet, it is also the most famous castle in Denmark and the Danish tourist attraction is visited each year by about 200,000 tourists. King Frederik II's Kronborg Castle Elsinore is both an elegant Renaissance castle and a monumental military fortress surrounded by major fortifications with bastions and ravelins and a great Danish tourist attraction. Some of the historical rooms house collections of Renaissance and Baroque interiors, and among the most important attractions are the 62-metre long ballroom, the wonderfully preserved chapel and the statue of " Holger the Dane ". Development of Kronborg Castle Hamlets Castle Elsinore During the period 1998-2010, Kronborg Castle Elsinore is undergoing extensive development to turn it into a modern exhibition centre and visitor attraction. The restoration of the buildings and fortress areas go hand-in-hand with the development of the historical presentation of the castle to the public. Read more about individual periods in the history of Kronborg Castle Elsinore: A brief history of Kronborg Castle The medieval fortress of Krogen The Renaissance Castle of Kronborg Castle Kronborg Castle completed Christian IV's Kronborg The more recent history of the Castle   Renaissance Castle of Kronborg 1733 The great Knights Hall at Kronborg Castle is 63 metre long, and the floor is decorated with Swedish marble.
Kronborg Castle Elsinore - Hamlets Castle and Danish tourist attraction
Kronborg Castle is surrounded by a fortress area near the port to Elsinore city and the harbour is near the entrance to the narrow Sound between Sweden and Denmark.   Visit Kronborg Castle Elsinore Kronborg Castle or Hamlets Castle, immortalised by Shakespeare, is situated at Helsingør or "Elsinore" and built by King Frederik II in 1590. After the fire in 1629 his son the great builder among Danish Kings Christian IV completed the building of Kronborg Castle in 1638. Kronborg Castle lies at the entrance of Øresund, which was the ideal position to collect Sound Duties from ships entering Øresund to secure taxes and revenues. The chapel at Kronborg Castle Elsinore with the original .interior and the pew on the gallery for the King and Royal family is from the period of King Frederik II. The baroque organ is from the period of his son King Christian IV. King Frederik II inspecting the building of Kronborg Castle with a plan of Kronborg on his lap painted by Nikolaj Abildgaard. The great Knights Hall at Kronborg Castle is 63 metre long, and the floor is decorated with Swedish marble. The big renaissance door on the left leads to the Queens private chambers. World Heritage List Kronborg Castle Elsinore was added to the World Heritage List year 2000, by the UN organisation UNESCO, and is now a member of the world's cultural legacy. and a great Danish tourist attraction Holder Danske - The Legend of Kronborg Castle. Holger Danske or Holger the Dane is an important national symbol for all Danes and his statue is placed in the dark Casemates of Kronborg and is visited by several hundred thousand tourists every year. The myth from the Danish history around 1495 is, that Holger Danske will wake and defend his country if Denmark ever should be in danger. One of King Christian IV's private rooms with furniture and original ceiling. of the sleeping Danish hero Holger the Dane in the dungeons of Kronborg. The legend is, that he will wake and defend his country if Denmark ever should be in danger.
Hamlet and Kronborg Castle Elsinore The legend’s association with Elsinore and Kronborg did not begin until Shakespeare, presumably due to Elsinore’s status as one of the world’s most important towns in the 1600s. Thanks to the Sound Dues which was a special toll that all passing ships had to pay in the town, Elsinore had become a traffic hub for international shipping. The town was also regarded as a cultural centre due to the newly built royal castle, Kronborg. It is unknown whether Shakespeare actually ever visited Elsinore. It is known with certainty, however, that a number of English and Scots players from his retinue performed as visiting actors at Kronborg and in the town of Elsinore. They could have been the source of stories about the illustrious castle on the Sound that reached Shakespeare and which inspired him to set the play here.
“Hamlet” is one of the most famous and frequently performed stage plays in the world. Since the 1600s, countless theatrical productions at the castle and many other venues have endeavoured to keep the legend of Hamlet alive. That is why Kronborg is now known all over the world as Hamlet’s castle, and Elsinore is known as the Town of Hamlet.
Hamlet´s Castle this summer
It will be one of the world's largest theaters, guests Kronborg castle courtyard.
If you think you've seen Hamlet - think again, Australian Stage - A total wild production, Der Tagesspiegel, a coup - The Sydney Morning Herald. To read the fantastic reviews in the international press when it comes to Schaubüne Berlin setup of Hamlet, which toured worldwide. This summer comes the idea to play Hamlet on stage in Kronborg Castle From 17th to 22 August, Hamlet scene Lars Roman Engel has chosen this unique setup as summer performance at Kronborg Castle and the audience might begin to rejoice.
It will be one of the world's largest theaters, Schaubühne Berlin guests Kronborg castle courtyard. The acclaimed director Thomas Ostermeier has created a superb production at every level, from idea to execution. The bold new interpretation of Marius Von Mayenburg and the use of expressions from everyday life has created a rebirth of a classic. The crew consists of six star actors who play all roles. They make it agile and competent with endless surprises. Thomas Ostermeier presenting a rebellious and dynamic Hamlet, who is fighting for his right not to fight. Familiar scenes are unexpected or new meaning. Music and video is an important factor in the show and the actors argue pop songs with great professionalism. Tickets can be purchased at: www.billetten.dk  or Phone 7020 2096
Sightseeing North Sealand - Historic Places - Elsinore
One day trip to Kronborg Castle Elsinore - Karen Blixen Museum and Louisiana and great Danish tourist attractions
Transport to Kronborg Castle from Copenhagen. Kronborg Castle is situated 50 km from Copenhagen near the city of Elsinore or "Helsingør" in Danish, Train Take the coastal train from Copenhagen Central Station to Elsinore Station. From Elsinore Station you will see the Castle Images and the walking distance is about 15-20 minutes. By Car Take the E-47 to "Helsingør" or drive along the cost of North Sealand to the Castle. Opening Hours May-September: 10.30-17 October-April: Closed on Mondays visit The Maritime Museum Same opening hours as the Castle   Kronborg Castle - 1590 Danish tourist attraction Hamlets Castle To Elsinore from Copenhagen When you visit Denmark, Kronborg Castle Elsinore,  is á must "To be or Not to be" You have to visit Hamlet the play by William Shakespeare Visit Kronborg Castle - Elsinore – North Sealand Visit Kronborg Castle from 1590 (Hamlets Castle) by train and then take the ferry to Helsingborg – Sweden. One day trip. Karen Blixen Museum and Louisiana Museum of Modern Art The train tour up to Elsinore will take you trough the countryside of the east coast of Sealand and follow the coast line of Sweden on the other side of the Sound. You can make a stop at Rungsted Station and then walk down to the Karen Blixen Museum (Rungstedlund) within 10-15 min. - or stop at Humlebæk Station and visit the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, which is within a walking distance of 10 min. The train to Elsinore from Copenhagen Central Station takes 45 min. - and the ticket price p.p. is DKK 85,00 one way. The Ferry to Helsingborg – Sweden takes about 20 min. and the ticket price p.p. is DKK 33,00 one way. There is 48 km from Copenhagen to Elsinore. By car - just follow the senic coastline to Helsingør (Elsinore)
DID YOU KNOW?  The historic Elsinore Theater in Oregon Elsinore received its name from Shakespeare’s immortal tragedy, Hamlet. The design is based on the historic Elsinore Castle in Denmark which is believed to be the setting William Shakespeare chose for Hamlet.	Read abour Elsinore Elsinore Theatre Oregon
A brief history of Kronborg      Kronborg Castle was named after King Frederik II in 1577, but its history goes right back to the 1420s, when Erik of Pomerania built the strongly fortified castle known as "Krogen" ("The Hook"). From here the king’s men controlled the shipping in the Sound and collected the unpopular Sound Dues. Frederik II's Kronborg In the years 1574 to 1585 Frederik II carried out the crucial renovation of the site. Over the outdated castle he built a magnificent Renaissance castle with towers and a spire, adorning it with columns and sculptures. He was influenced by the European princes, for whom wealth rather than military might had become the symbol of power. Kronborg burns down But Kronborg was to experience several dramatic events. On the night of 25 September 1629 the castle was ravaged by fire and only the chapel survived. Christian IV rebuilt the castle, carrying out modernisations and extensive new decorations in the Baroque style. In September 1658 Kronborg was shelled and captured by the Swedes, who took many valuable art treasures as spoils, including a fantastic ornamental fountain from Frederik II's time. The Crownwork In the years that followed, work was carried out on the outer fortifications, and in 1690 Christian V built the Crownwork as an advanced defence against a land attack. From this time on the castle was not generally used as a residence by the royal family, and in 1785 the army converted it into barracks. A number of rooms were rebuilt, but after the army left the castle in 1923, it was thoroughly renovated and restored to how it had been in the days of Frederik II and Christian IV.
The medieval fortress of Krogen In the 1420s, Erik of Pomerania, King of Denmark, built a castle on Ørekrog - a tongue of land jutting out into the water across from Helsingborg at the narrowest point of the Sound just north of Elsinore. It was no coincidence that the castle was built at this location. The King had just introduced a customs duty to be imposed on all foreign ships passing through the Sound. The ”Sound Dues” would be of great importance for the King and for Denmark's economy for more than 400 years and were not abolished until 1857 on the initiative of America. The castle was named after the place and called 'Krogen' ('The Hook'). Surrounded by a very thick ring wall and with an 80 x 80 m ground plan, the castle was very large by the standards of that time. Within the ring wall were three corner houses of stone: In the north-eastern corner the King's residence, in the south-eastern corner a combined brew-house and kitchen that may also have served as a chapel, and in the south-western corner a vaulted banquet hall. Approx. 70 per cent of these stone houses are part of the modern-day Kronborg Castle.
The Renaissance Castle of Kronborg While Krogen was a strong castle, due to the emergence of new attack techniques it became obsolete as a fortress by the mid-1500s, and as a royal residence it did not meet the standards of the Renaissance period. The fact that Frederik II had married his young cousin Sofie of Mecklenburg in 1572 only increased the need for a residence more consistent with their position, as she was the daughter of wealthy duke and used to having the best of everything. The King was not lacking in inspiration for a new castle as he had seen several examples of princely Renaissance residences on his travels around Europe. Frederik II started modernising the medieval castle in 1574, and the first step was to reinforce the outer defences. Under the management of Hans van Paeschen, the fortress architect, corner bastions were constructed and connected by tall ramparts, and moats were established to the south and west. A huge square cannon tower was erected in the south-western corner, perhaps even at an earlier time, to make it possible to fire on the land side. In 1577, the reinforcement of the fortress was completed, and Hans van Paeschen resigned. Concurrently with the reinforcement of the fortress, the residence was modernised. The King's house to the north was extended and a storey was added. Apartments were fitted up for both the King and the Queen. The wings of the castle to the west and south were also heightened and connected. Rather than following an overall plan, this was more likely the result of a gradually increasing level of ambition. After van Paeschen another Dutch master builder, Anthonis van Opbergen, was engaged to be in charge of the construction work. The buildings were in red brick with grey sandstone decorations after a Dutch pattern until 1580 when the King decided to face the castle with sandstone - possibly due to its exposed location by the water or to distinguish the King's residence from the manor houses of the nobility.
Kronborg completed In 1585, Kronborg was completed as a well-proportioned four-wing building that was three storeys high and faced with greyish-yellow sandstone. With oriel towers on the outer corners, octagonal stair turrets facing the courtyard, columned portals, and copper roofs with attics and imaginative gables. In the middle of the courtyard there was a magnificent fountain with water-spouting bronze figures surrounding the sea god Neptune. Kronborg had become a mighty Renaissance castle unequalled in Northern Europe and a residence worthy of the King and Queen of Denmark. The chapel in the south wing was converted into a castle chapel. Above the chapel on the third floor, a great hall extended throughout the length of the wing. This hall, called the Ballroom, was lavishly decorated with a series of 40 tapestries portraying the Danish kings. The tapestries were finished in 1584, and the absolute culmination of the decorative scheme was produced from 1585 to 1586: the Royal Couple's table canopy with its backpiece of Flemish wool and purple gold and silver-wrought silk and with an allegoric decoration emphasising the status of the King of the Sound. Fourteen of the 40 King's Tapestries have survived, seven of which are kept at Kronborg and seven at the National Museum in Copenhagen. The table canopy was removed by the Swedes as spoils of war in 1658 and is now exhibited at the National Museum in Stockholm. It was temporarily returned to Kronborg in 2006 as part of the celebration of the Renaissance Year in Denmark.
Christian IV's Kronborg On the night between 24 and 25 September 1629, Kronborg was destroyed by fire. The walls remained, while large parts of the castle's interior perished. The chapel was saved because the vaulted ceiling was strong enough to withstand the falling, burning beams. Christian IV the king of Denmark wanted to rebuild his father's castle immediately and his argument that once a country no longer appreciates its own architectural treasures it is really impoverished persuaded a reluctant National Council. The Sound Dues were increased, and reconstruction was commenced in 1631 under the management of the King's master builder, Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger. Six years later rebuilding of the castle was completed. Kronborg's exterior was reverently recreated in accordance with his father's castle; Christian IV only made the towers taller. The stair turrets, which used to have spires, only got a dome-shaped copper roof, while the distinguished towers were extended above the roof and fitted with multi-storey spires. The King took the opportunity to modernise the castle's interior. The floor-to-ceiling height of the Ballroom was increased by a couple of metres, and the original coffered ceiling replaced by a series of ceiling paintings with Danish historical motifs. The series was commissioned from Dutch artists from Utrecht, notably Gerrit van Honthorst and Salomon Koninck. A good many of these paintings have survived at the castle. Combined with the replacement of fireplaces and various ornaments, they reflected the introduction of early Baroque at Kronborg.
The more recent history of the castle The Dano-Swedish wars in 1657-60 were very hard on Kronborg, which was bombarded and captured in September 1658. When the Swedes left the castle, they took a number of the ceiling paintings from the Ballroom, the fountain in the courtyard as well as the table canopy back to Sweden as spoils of war. The outer fortifications were reinforced with a crownwork in the late 1600s. The interior of the north wing was renovated for Frederik V in 1760-63, but eventually the castle was no longer used as a royal residence. The military moved in, and Kronborg served as a barracks until 1924. Over a period of years up to 1935 the Renaissance castle was then restored under the management of J. Magdahl Nielsen, Royal Inspector of Listed State Buildings. Since that time the castle has been an exhibition site and a tourist destination. Kronborg Castle was inscribed on UNESCO's List of World Heritage Sites in 2000. Visit Elsinore

The King Tapestries

Around 1580, Frederik II commissioned about 40 tapestries featuring no fewer than 113 Danish kings.

He had been provoked by the Swedish king, Erik XIV, who had presented a proposal for a similar series featuring no fewer than 143 Swedish kings. Erik XIV had reached this high number by laying claim to Noah as the progenitor of the Swedish royal line. In the end, Erik only managed to produce four tapestries.

Frederik II was far more successful and produced the whole series of Danish royal tapestries. They were specially woven for Kronborg by Hans Knieper of Antwerp. All the kings on Frederik II's list are included in the series, including Frederik II himself and his son, who was to become Christian IV. To reach such a high number, Frederik II included all sorts of legendary kings.

Fourteen of the 40 King's Tapestries have survived, seven of which are kept at Kronborg and seven at the National Museum in Copenhagen

The tapestries are on public display during Kronborg's hours of opening.

The Black Diamond

History

This is the main points of a story about two libraries, which became one.

University library has existed for more than 500 years and has been split a few times. The Royal Library has existed for more than 300 years but has mostly been kept together.

In 2005 become University Library and the Royal Library at one institution with the name "The Royal Library, National Library and Copenhagen University." The aim was - and is - to strengthen and coordinate library services of the University of Copenhagen. That the two libraries were merged into one large institution.

Read more about the Royal Library's exciting history (pdf)

The green countryside

The green countryside

Visit Fredensborg Castle

Fredensborg Slot

Fredensborg Castle is by Danish large. It has 1142 rooms and has a park on 120 acres - with nearly 45 acres lawns, making it suitable for summer parties with many guests. Alone at Fredensborg Castle may 70 Royal guests stay overnight. In addition, comfortable space at the nearby inn for more guests.

The reason to Fredensborg Castle was built already in Frederick 3th. in the 1600s. is that Queen Sophie Amalie court servant Jacob Pedersen built a "Dutch House", from where there was established the seven avenues, which also today beginning at peaceful citizens Star Square. Near the present inn the queen had a farmyard, Østrup, by Frederik 4th. later took over and tore down. Instead built he is a country house and in 1722 a one-story palace - the first phase of the current Fredensborg Castle. Fredensborg Palace was built by J.C. Krieger, who also drew the Fredensborg Palace Church in Dutch Baroque influence. Under Christian 6th. and Frederik  5th. Fredensborg Palace was expanded both in height and extent. There was established hunting trails along the seven ancient avenues. Marble Garden with sculptures of J. Wiedewelt and Nordmandsdalen with sculptures of J.G. Site was established.

From end of 1700 lost royal family interest Fredensborg Palace and it was rarely used. Fredensborg Palace began to decay, and was used to offices, the Chancellery was used as aftægtsbolig for retired officers and for a time was part of Fredensborg Castle even used as barracks. However, the park was transformed into English style in this period.

During Christian 9 beat Fredensborg Palace, however, a new heyday. The king, through his daughters delivered queens for both England, Greece and Russia, gathered his international family at Fredensborg Palace, which thereby became one of the most popular royal palaces in Europe. There are stories of these day about how the Russian Czar Alexander d. 3 enjoyed being away from formal obligations in Sct. Petersburg. Allegedly some of the other royal complaining about naughty children's behavior, which proved to be the Tsar's playful work. During the many celebrations was a tradition that visitors kings and presidents wrote their name with diamond palace windows the park. This tradition still kept alive. Last In particular, U.S. President Bill Clinton signed his name on one of peaceful citizens panes.

Among the Royal celebrations which are held at Fredensborg Castle is the engagement between princess Dagmar and the Grand Duke, heir to the throne of Russia on 23 June The 1866th Queen Margrethe, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim have all had our wedding at Fredensborg Castle, and Queen have celebrated their silver wedding at Fredensborg Castle. Last baptized Crown Prince couple's newborn princess in the chapel, with subsequent party at Fredensborg Palace.

As Dowager Queen Ingrid lived at Fredensborg Castle in his last year when she was not at Amalienborg Palace or Gravenstein. Here she lived in the Chancellery, which was subsequently refurbished and taken over by Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary. They live here with Prince Christian and the newborn prinsessse.

Visit Elsinore shopping

Visit Helsingør / Elsinore Denmark  Hamlet s Home Town

Get Elsinore City Map here

Visit Elsinore tour Excursions map PDF
Helsingor, also known as “Elsinore” lies about 45 kilometres (28 miles) north of Copenhagen. Elsinore has 60,000 inhabitants and is surrounded by the The Sound (Oresund) - the stretch of water between Denmark and Sweden. Helsingør is the closest Danish city to Sweden. The Cities of Helsingør / Elsinore, Denmark and Helsingborg, Sweden are separated by a mere 4,000 metres (2.5 miles) of water and a short ferry ride of twenty minutes. Take á look at Bjarke Ingels new bridge Elsinore to Sweden

Helsingor / Elsinore is a very historical place with richly coloured, well preserved architecture and cobblestone streets. It has a small-town . There are castles, museums, churches, woods and golden, clean beaches to see.

Once the home of  Vikings, today’s Danes resemble little of their forefathers - only in stature. They are modest, reserved and straight-at-you sort of people. Danes are very helpful to tourists and most speak proficient English. They are strong believers in equality and fairness.

HISTORY
The City of Elsinore / Helsingør s history can be traced back to 70 AD. In about the 12th century, the first settlers arrived at the narrowest point of the Sound. Prior to the Middle Ages it was a marketplace where people sold goods. In ca. 1200 its first church (St. Olai Church) was founded and still stands today on St.Olai Street, a minute’s walk from the centre of Elsinore town. In ca. 1601 Shakespeare wrote Hamlet with Elsinore / Helsingør s Kronborg Castle as its setting and in 1816 Elsinore Theatre opened.

Helsingør has some of the best golden, brown beaches in Denmark and unlike many other European countries, they aren’t overly crowded. Helsingor’s beaches start at Kronborg and stretch from Nordhavnen towards Hotel Marienlyst.

Visit Restaurant Cafe Olai offers traditional Danish meals and the famous Danish open sanwich and pastry, Restaurant Cafe Olai is located centrally in Helsingor. The portions are overwhelming and you get great value for money. It’s best to reserve ahead.
Sct Olaigade 19,
3000 Elsinore / Helsingør,
TEL: 49 20 16 07
Cafe Olai.dk
Open from 11.00 - 23.00.
Kitchen closes at 21.00.

SHOPPING
There are many quaint stores in Helsingor / Elsinore all within walking distance of one another between Stjernegade and Stengade streets. The downtown area is very harmonious and charming. “The Bycentret’ shopping centre has approximately 33 shops. Fotex, Netto and Fakta are discount grocery stores. (Try “melt in your mouth” Lurpak butter.)

There is a world-class 18-hole golf course. If you are an adventurer interested in hiking or cycling, Elsinore is the best. There are user-friendly bicycle paths over most of Denmark. Opportunities for sailing and swimming abound. Don’t be surprised if you see Danes swimming in the winter months. Brrrr!

WHEN TO GO ELSINORE / Helsingør
The best time to visit Elsinore / Helsingør would be in June, July or August. Denmark has a temperate climate. This means that it never gets extremely cold or extremely hot. Denmark s coldest month is usually February, with an average temperature of 31 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 degree Celsius). The warmest month is July, with an average temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit (17 degrees Celsius) degrees. A breeze blows clean salt air almost every day.

GETTING TO ELSINORE / HELSINGØR

Visit Elsinore By Air
Most major airlines fly to Copenhagen Denmark. Delta, American Airlines, Air Canada, British Airways, Air France all offer flights. There are trains that run every twenty minutes from Kastrup Airport, Copenhagen directly to Helsingør. Travelling to Helsingør by train takes about an hour and costs about 80 crowns. There are also car rental agencies at the airport of course.

Visit Elsinore By Sea
Scandlines sails from Elsinore to Sweden.
TEL: 45 3315 1515
scandlines.dk Helsingør
Open: 24 hours/day
COST: Ca. 500 crowns/return with vehicle.

HH-Ferries sail between Elsinore and Helsingborg.
TEL: 45 4926 0155
hhferries.dk Helsingør
Open: varies
COST: Ca. 30 crowns/return without vehicle.
Or ca. 360 crowns/return a day with vehicle

GETTING AROUND
Like most things in Denmark, public transportation is orderly and efficient.

Busses
TEL: 45 3613 1415
rejseplanen.dk
COST: varies - ask about a “clip card (klippekort)” to save up to 50% on a ticket. It can be used on both bus and train. Trains run to Copenhagen, Kastrup Airport and Malmo, Sweden every 20 minutes.
Tel: 45 7013 1415

A vehicle rental can cost about 500 crowns a day and rules vary as to how long you’ve had your driver’s license etc.

Visit Tivoli Copenhagen

Tivoli is Copenhagen's Pride and Joy
Tivoli is the pride and joy of Copenhagen. For over 250 years tourists have been flocking here to visit and enjoy the various amusement rides and games. Children will be delighted with the merry-go-round where Viking ships take the place of the standard horses and other animals. No matter what day of the week, there always seems to be some sort of musical event taking place at the Tivoli whether it's a rock concert or a parade. The Arabian-style fantasy palace houses numerous restaurants in addition to a beer garden. The opulent gardens are bursting with color as tulips are everywhere one looks. During the evening hours the scenery is just as amazing with over 100,000 Chinese colored lanterns lighting up the Chinese pagoda and main fountain. On many evenings brilliant fireworks light up the sky. Copenhagen is also renowned for its many fine dining and shopping establishments. After a delicious Danish meal, tourists can head out to any of the numerous jazz clubs or opt to dance the night away under the stars at any of the city's happening night spots. 

Smiling Denmark

It’s official: Denmark is the world’s most contented country. The diminutive nation tops most happiness studies with Scandinavian reliability. It’s easy to see why: standards of living are sky-high. Transport runs on time; summer houses on the beach are the norm (there’s an abundance of sandy shores); cycle paths thread through the cities, forests, dales and wetlands; restaurants in Denmark serve up some of world’s best (and freshest) grub. Cafe-cruise in laid-back Copenhagen, Copenhagen restaurant Noma has been named the best restaurant in the world. Book your table at Noma. canoe the fjords of North Jutland or hire a bike to tackle the 11 national cycle routes, and find out what they’re smiling about.
June to August boasts good weather and many open-air festivals; Roskilde (www.roskilde-festival.dk), the biggest, is in early July.

Christiania

Christiania Copenhagen

Across the bridge Knippelsbro is Christianshavn, a quite fashionable area of Copenhagen. Take a stroll along the canals, enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the many cafes along the waterfront and visit the famous Freetown Christiania.

Hippies with their own set of rules

Christiania was founded in 1971 when a group of hippies took over an area of abandoned military barracks and developed their own set of rules, completely independent of the Danish government.

One could say that Christiania is an alternative society within society, which also means that the darker sides of modern life are represented. Some parents advise their teenage children not to go there after dark, and tourists are advised not to take photos in Pusher Street.

Art everywhere in Christiania

The freetown in the heart of Copenhagen has always been known for its human diversity, but also that the independent community was a place where hash was sold openly on Pusher Street; but in 2004 the Danish government succeeded in closing the permanent stands. Christiania has been described as a life surrounded by art. There is art everywhere.

Human diversity makes the freetown so special

Many of the houses, which have been built by the present or previous inhabitants and which nobody owns, are works of art in themselves. Everywhere you go in Christiania there are paintings and sculptures, and there is always live music or theatre playing somewhere. The art and the human diversity of Christiania are what make Christiania so special. and it is definitely worthwhile a visit.

Christiania Works

Christiania’s self-management is built on, that every individual has a responsibility for his/her own life and his/hers home.

The resident’s in an area have a common responsibility for the area’s development and condition.

All Christianit’s, about 650 grown up’s and 200 children, have to take responsibility and action, if there is to be development in the local community. Through the individual Christianit’s self-discipline and the community’s close network have we created a district, almost without crime, violence and fear, and the responsibility is not only for the psychological environment.
Self-management also means, that if a resident is not keeping up his home, there will be no authority to come and do it for him/her.
In the individual areas the self-management work in the same way.

Another important element in Christiania’s self-management is, that we work with a flat and manageable decision structure, there support’s and strengthens the grassroots foundation. This way it is reasonable easy for a group, there is burning for an idea, to describe it and seek support and economical support from the community, for a realisation of the project.
After that, it is the responsibility of the group to use, manage and maintain the project – this is activism and self-management. That way we avoid an elite and top-managed development of our town. Here there is room for dream’s and fire-soul’s, with social and physical free-room to develop new idea’s and initiatives.
The starting point is always, that the resident’s decide for them self, why, when, and how we will develop our town.

Democracy is a long and difficult process, there sometimes can be exhausting, when every participant has the right to participate in the discussions. Manny problems are often so full of conflicts, that it is impossible to reach an agreement in one or a couple of meetings.

Therefore it takes some decisions processes month or even years, but that dos not mean that the quality is less.

Decisions that are forced through, will not be respected and lived by anyway, and have therefore poor value. That everyone participate in the discussions  sometimes make the meetings chaotic, but it has the effect that the structure has spaciousness and prevent the social marginalizing and expulsion that we usually se in the rest of the Danish society.

In Christiania you are never cut of from influence on the development in your local environment, even if the social status for example is alcoholic, foreigner, physical or psychological handicapped.

The value in being held as a participant in decisions processes lessen the risk of “falling out” of other society functions and thereby be further marginalized.

Visit Hundested

Hundested is a town and a former municipality (Danish, "kommune") in Region Hovedstaden in the northern part of the island of Zealand ("Sjælland") in eastern Denmark. The former municipality is surrounded by water on three side: to the north is the Kattegat, to the west is the channel leading into the Isefjord, and to the south is Roskilde Fjord and the channel leading into it from the Isefjord.

The area
A ferry connects Hundested to the town of Rørvig in Frederiksværk i municipality. For many years the municipality had two other ferry connections, one to Grenå in Grenå municipality on the Jutland peninsula from the town of Hundested which began service July 14, 1934, and the other to Kulhuse in Jægerspris municipality from the town of Sølager. These have, however, in recent years been disbanded, to the great dismay of residents. The ferry to Rørvig celebrated its 75th anniversary of service on May 16, 2003. Ferry service in the area has a long history. When Lynæs Inn, south of the town of Hundested, was established in 1804, it was licensed as an inn catering to ferry passengers, although in those days service was highly irregular.

The area is characterized by sand and dunes, especially on its northern side facing the Kattegat, but also found in the central areas and in the south. Kikhavn on the northern side of the peninsula, not far to the east of the town of Hundested, is the oldest fishing village in the area. Hundested municipality

On January 1, 2007 Hundested municipality ceased to exist due to "Kommunalreformen" ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007). It was merged with Frederiksværk municipality to form the new Frederiksværk-Hundested municipality. The name was changed to Halsnæs municipality on January 1, 2008. This created a municipality with an area of 120 km² and a total population of 30,253. Origin of name

The name Hundested is thought to come from royal seal hunts on a stone reef known as the "dog (seal) reef" (Danish, "hund sted", lit. "dog place"). This reef has now disappeared, the stones having been used for harbours in the nearby Øresund ("The Sound"). Today, the dog seals live further out at sea on the reefs around the island of Hesselø. Attractions

The Knud Rasmussens house in the town of Hundested was the home of polar explorer Knud Rasmussen, who lived there between his many expeditions to Greenland. The house is situated 30 metres above the beach, and offers a beautiful view of the Kattegat. It has been turned into a museum dedicated to the explorer and his work. It is full of photographs and paintings of Greenland.

One of Denmark's largest dolmens, "Grønnessedyssen Karlstenen", can be seen at nearby Grønnesse Wood.

The area boasts several interesting churches, including Torup church, which dates from the 12th century. It has, among other things, a granite Romanesque baptismal font, frescoes from about 1250, a crucifix from about 1300 and the nave from 1750.

The former municipality offers two harbours to pleasure boaters and sports fisher: Hundested Harbour, in the center of the town of Hundested, and Lynæs Harbour, located south of the town near the entryway into the Roskilde Fjord.

Copenhagen Hop On Hop Off

Wonderful Copenhagen?

In case you are wondering about exactly what is so wonderful about Copenhagen, the city's motto is taken from the Frank Loesser song Wonderful Copenhagen featured in the 1952 film Hans Christian Andersen. Sung by Danny Kaye it's a bit of an evergreen, and not accustomed to Hollywood attention the city has stuck to it ever since — what also seems to have stuck is the pronunciation, but don't listen to old Danny, it's koh-pehn-HAY-gehn not koh-pehn-HAH-gehn.

Visit Nordsjælland

Sea, beach and healthy air, Visit Zealand Along Kattegat coast, there are many good and child friendly beaches with shallow water. The widest beaches found in Hornbæk Tisvildeleje and Liseleje where sand is fine and white, and large dunes providing shelter, but the Kattegat may show teeth by onshore wind.

Sound coast is gentler, and small beaches. There is often put piers up in summer on public beaches, and they are freely available. In Ice Fjord and Roskilde Fjord, see also part small and good beaches with shallow waters, including by Lynæs.

Experiencing nature in North Zealand North Coast exchanger beaches with steep slopes and cliffs at particular Vejby and Gilbierg head, which is Zealand's northernmost point. From Gilbergstien that runs along the edge of the cliff, there are beautiful views over the Kattegat to Sweden. And especially at Vejbystrand you get a good impression of nature, for which eats into the sea to the shore with fast approaching - despite massive coastal defenses.

Behind the coastal beaches and dunes are important protected natural areas, including Tisvilde Fencing with Troldeskoven, the beautiful heather-clad Tibirke Bakker and Basketry, Denmark's largest lake.

Gribskov is one of Denmark's largest forest areas with many lovely walks, as there are some good cards. Along the east side of the forest lies Esrum Lake, which is Denmark's second largest lake. A nice walking path goes eg along the lakeshore at Nøddebo to Esrum overlooking the lake to Fredensborg Castle.

At Nordsjællands northwestern tip of the peninsula lies Halsnæs surrounded by the Kattegat Ice Fjord and Roskilde Fjord. There are many beautiful outlook over land and water, and in summer sailing a small ferry from Sølager to Kulhuse. From there, only briefly to Jægerspris Nordskov with old oak trees, some up to 1,000 years old.

Visit Cities - big and small in North Zealand

Elsinore / Helsingør located in North Zealand at the entrance to the Sound and is hub with ferries to Sweden. But the city is primarily home to Kronborg Castle, the stage for Shakespeare's Hamlet. There are also many old half-timbered houses, charming cobbled streets, a cathedral and a peaceful monastery in the busy city.

In Frederick is the royal family spring and autumn residence, Fredensborg Castle. Nordsjælland There are many paths in the big park and fine views of Esrum Lake.

Hilleroed / Hillerød landmark is the large Frederiksborg Castle, which is home to the National History Museum with particular portrait gallery. Frederiksborg Castle was royal palace for many years, and then there was easy access to major hunting forests that surround Hill, and the heart of North Zealand

On the North coast of Zealand are bathing and coastal towns in a row, eg Hornbaek Gilleleje Rågeleje, Tisvilde and Liseleje. Several of them have a past as a small fishing villages, it applies in particular Hornbæk which today is considered the most exclusive of all beach resorts, while Gilleleje still has a vibrant fishing port. From here and in other coastal cities along the Sound and Kattegat helped fishermen during the second World War II many Danish Jews to come to safety in Sweden, but went Gilleleje wrong in October 1943, when 75 Jews who were hidden in the church limit was specified and captured. Gilleleje Museum tells about it.

In Hundested has the small fishing village evolved into a busy fishing port. At Skansen over town polar researcher Canute Rasmussen's house , and north of Hundested find Kikhavn, a of the region's oldest fishing villages. Today fishing village with many thatched Houses protected.

Between Roskilde Fjord and Arresø lies the old industrial city Frederiksværk where a cannon foundry and a gunpowder plant is part of Design Frederiks work. Apart from the fjord is Frederikssund located toward the inlet, and is home to the painter JF Willumsen's Museum . On a headland in the fjord, you can experience the formidable Vikings game in the summer months and visit a Viking village.

North Sealand / Nordsjælland is packed with golf courses, and most are guest players welcome. By Gilbjerg Head on the north coast there are fine opportunities for hang-gliding, and windsurfing meetings good challenges in particular Lynæs.

Nordsjælland have always had an important place in history and for centuries been the Danish kings favorite playground. It demonstrates the many castles on. Kronborg Slot , Frederiksborg Slot and Fredensborg Castle is the most famous, but also Jægerspris Slot and Selsø Slot is worth visiting.

Also artists and writers were attracted to area's natural and there are many exciting museums in North Zealand. Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebaek is Denmark's most visited Museum of Danish and international art and frequent special exhibitions. Close then lies Nivaagaard painting sessions with older art, and in Rungsted visit Karen Blixen Museum , which is decorated in the author's home on Sanctuary. Here she wrote his famous stories, including 'The Africa '.

In Middle Ages, Esrom Abbey one of Denmark's largest. Today, only a single building back with the old Esrum Møllegård . Exciting exhibitions, talks about monastic life then and in June you can experience a huge medieval market by Monastery.

Elsinore Cruise Ship Harbour

Port of Call Elsinore cruise ship Harbour

Elsinore cruise ship Harbour, the Jewel in the Crown

A remarkable port of call for all

Passengers get an extraordinary experience!
There are few harbours in the world that can boast a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Elsinore Harbour neighborhood, which re-opens in 2012 after extensive renovation, is certainly one of them.
From the quays, visitors can enjoy the many harbour attractions and explore the historical city of Elsinore, with its mediaeval buildings, cathedral , cloisters and extensive pedestrian shopping and restaurant facilities. With services and facilities to handle even the largest groups, Elsinore Harbour provides cruise ships and their guests the best kick-off for a visit to Denmark.

Wake up to Elsinore Castle / Shakespeare’s Castle

Proudly guarding the entrance to the harbour is one of Northern Europe’s best renaissance castles.
Kronborg Castle, which is known to the English-speaking world as Elsinore Castle, is home to Shakespeare’s timeless Hamlet and serenely commands the entrance to the harbour. Set in impressive and extensive grounds, moats and ramparts that are easily accessible from landing stages, the visitor-friendly castle provides a fascinating insight into Denmark’s military, maritime and royal history.

Culture Yard and Maritime Museum

Modernised quays provide access to the striking architectural novelty of the Culture Yard – an eldorado of facilities tastefully built into the converted buildings of the former shipyard and bordered by the Danish Maritime Museum, itself exquisitely built into a dry dock. With its vast collections of artifacts and innovative exhibitions, the museum provides an impressive interactive insight into the maritime world for visitors of all ages.

A cruise ship paradise

A new cruise liner quay for vessels of max. 150m and a 6.5m draft.
Ample anchorage for larger vessels of any size in the roads only 0.25 nautical miles out, and with a water depth of 20m.
Reception facilities at an approved ISPS transit quay for launches entering the exciting harbour provide visitors with the extra attraction of a boat trip from the roads into the striking complex. Comprehensive, quick and comfortable services allow visitors to extend their visit to nearby Copenhagen, Helsingborg or other neighboring attractions, including the renowned Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, the home of Karen Blixen of Out of Africa fame, the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle and Fredensborg Palace, Queen Margrethe’s Royal Summer Residence.

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You are our guests

We welcome the royal family and our cruise guests in royal style, with red carpets and musicians from our sweet girl Guard, and we say goodbye with a salute from Schakespears famous Kronborg Castle.

If you would like us to schedule a tour, Mail to Elsinore tourist office

Elsinore is the center of Denmark´s most famous National Park "National Park Kings Playground" (Danish: Nationalpark Kongernes Nordsjælland)

Call of cruising
Cruise Ships Port of Call Elsinore.

Elsinore Port is ISPS approved.
The quay has been extended, so there will be room for approx. 5000 m2 for parking area.
Tourist office 300 meters from the Cruise berth.
Train station next to the port. Only 40 min. by train to Copenhagen International Airport.
Only 30 min. by train to Copenhagen City Center
Ferry crossing to Helsingborg / Sweden - takes only 20 minutes, 3 departures per hour.
Banks, hotels and most shops accept credit cards.
Three of Northern Europe's most famous Renaissance castles in a radius of 20 Km.
Distance from Elsinore to Copenhagen by see appx. 20 Nautical Miles

Technical Information
Port Facilities:
Minimum 7,0 m of water depth at berth
Tug service
Supply of freshwater
Pilotage Service
Bunker Service
Slop Service
Waste Containers
Ordering Service
Passport / Police Service 6

Larger cruise ships can anchor at the smooth southern breakwater just appx. 0.20 nm / 400 m from the new two-sided pier at King quay and with  a spectacular view of Shakespeare's Kronborg castle from the ship.

No limit for length and Draught.

Largest ship at berth
Max length 150 m
Max Draught 6,5 m
Max width 30 m
NO height restriction
NO tides
NO compulsory pilotage
NO compulsory use of tugs
Tender Fee incl. ISPS

Larger cruise ships can anchor appx. 0.25 nm. SSE of the southern breakwater. Passengers can be tendered to a new two-sided pier at King quay. 

Frederiksborg Palace Castle

Frederiksborg Castle / Palace - Frederiksborg Museeum Hilleroed

Frederiksborg Castle was built between 1600 and 1620 by Christian IV.
To make room for the new Renaissance palace, the bulk of an older building complex that Frederick II had acquired in 1560, demolished.
The Building complex is located on three islands in the lake. The buildings on the southernmost island comes from Frederick II's time.

Frederiksborg Palace is inspired by traditional Dutch building styles, like many other Christian IV buildings, for example, Rosenborg Castle and Exchange.
Walkway makes it possible to walk around Castle Island.

In 1622, the great Neptune fountain was erected. the Bronze figures was made in Prague by sculptor Adrian de Vries.
Swedish soldiers took the figures as war booty in 1659 and led them to Stockholm.
In 1888 the fountain was reconstructed with casts of the original characters.

The Square in front of the audience hall was used for tournaments and ring jousting.
The beautiful wrought iron balustrade in the ring jousting sport performed by Caspar Fincke. King Albert C4 is seen in the middle.

The Baroque Garden at Frederiksborg Castle was built in 1720erne led by the architect Johan Cornelius Warrior. The garden is completely symmetrical and follow the castle's central axis with a perspective into the landscape.

Frederiksborg Castle's baroque garden changed through the following centuries, but in the 1990s, the original baroque garden was restored with cascades and parterre beds.

Branden 1859

17. December 1859 large fire destroyed a majority of Frederiksborg Castle interior. Only the Audience Hall and the majority of the church escaped the flames.

In the subsequent years, Frederiksborg castle was rebuilt. In 1864, the work on the Frederiksborg castle's exterior was completed and the chapel could be used.

Carlsberg Brewery founder J.C. Jacobsen offered to finance the restoration of Frederiksborg castle's interior, if Frederiksborg Castle was converted into a museum. In 1878 established the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg as an independent department of the Carlsberg Foundation.

Interiør

Frederiksborg Castle chapel, whose interiors was limited destroyed by fire, is a´ testimony to the splendor of the original Frederiksborg Castle.
In Frederiksborg Castle church's south end, over the altar and pulpit, says Compenius. Every Thursday between 13.30 and 14.00 is a concert with music from the Renaissance.
The chapel is also working chapel for the Danish knight orders: Elephant and the Danish Order of Dannebrog.

Secret passage leading from the main palace into the Audience Hall. The interior is from the 1680s and inspired by Italian and French baroque. The walls of the secret passage is contemporary Italian and Dutch paintings from the 1600s. The portraits in the Audience Hall depicting the Oldenburg kings, while war scenes above are from the Scanian War 1675-1679. Both the secret passage as Audienssal one of the few well-preserved royal interiors of the old absolutism.

The Great Hall was restored after the fire. The tapestries show scenes from the Kalmar War, 1611-13, and Christian IV's coronation. Knight Hall portraits showing members of the glüksborgske royal family, who had occupied the Danish throne since the 1863rd

Frederiksborg Castle Museum is Denmark's national gallery of portraits and covers the period from 1400-century to the present day. The museum also has a significant collection of decorative arts. The objects on the ground 48 rooms represents the Rococo and originates from Frederick vs. time in the mid 1700's.

Portraits of famous personalities from the early 1900-century to today are exhibited in the Modern Collection. The museum owns a large collection of portrait photographs, presented in changing exhibitions.

Frederiksborg castle museum is equipped with disabled facilities such as lifts and toilets.

Portrætter
The Danish royal family is well represented in the collection. The portrait of Christian IV, 1577-1648, painted by Pieter Isaacsz approx. The 1611th The picture shows the confident king on top of his power.

Jens Juel was the leading portrait painter in the latter half of the 1700s. The portrait of writer Thomasine Buntzen, 1773-1856, representing the bourgeois women from 1700-century last decade.

The portrait of Hans Christian Andersen, 1805-1875 performed by Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann in 1850 and was one of the depictions as storyteller himself enjoyed most.

The painting of Karen Blixen, 1885-1962, conducted by Kay Christensen in 1955. The writer became world famous with novels like "Seven Gothic Tales"and "Out of Africa".

Entertainer Victor Borge, 1909-2000, photographed sitting on an imaginary piano by Ole Haupt in 1995.

History Paintings

History painting has a prominent location at the Frederiksborg Palace Museum. Brewer Jacobsen wanted to visualize the history of Denmark by large narrative pictures. One striking example is Otto Bache painting from 1882 "The conspirators riding from Finnerup after King Erik Klipping homicide in 1286".

After the Kalmar War 1611-13 Christian IV commissioned a series of tapestries in Delft, which turned the king's farms and victory over the Swedes. One of the motivations to beat the Danish fleet at the entrance to Stockholm. The original Tapestries were lost by fire in 1859, but a part of the series was later restored.

Adam Oehlenschläger, 1779-1850, introduced romanticism in Denmark. Constantin Hansen s photo from 1866 depicts Oehlenschläger in 1829, where he was garlanded in laurel grove of the Swedish poet Esaias Tegnér as an expression of Dane s great importance for the Nordic poetry.

Painter Niels Simonsen manufacture of the retreat from Dannevirke performed in 1864 is a fine example of a contemporary history painting. The scene with the six soldiers who pulls a gun forward along a snowy road, is one of the most famous motifs, which describes the Danish defeat by Prussia in 1864.

Thomas Kluge "A short stay" from 1998, depicts Danish UN soldiers on patrol in Bosnia in 1995. History painting as a genre is still present in the Frederiksborg Museum´s collection.

Art industri  

Among Frederiksborg Castle Museum s distinguished collection of furniture seen this fracture coffin from 1605. The coffin is a typical Renaissance furniture. It belonged to Hans Johansen Lindenov to Fovslet and daughter Margaret Otte Rosenkrantz. The coffin is believed to have been on Børglum Monastery.

One of Frederiksborg Castle Museum s major attractions is the Gottorp celestial globe, which was constructed for Duke Friedrich III of Gottorp in arteries 1654-57. Inside the globe, which was restored in 2001, seen the sun in the center as a polished brass ball.

Frederiksborg Palace Museum s exhibition of porcelain and glass, you can see the original Flora Danica porcelain, conducted at the Royal Porcelain factory from 1790 to 1802.

Farmers in Norwegian national costumes from a series performed at the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory around 1785 after JG Land Nordmandsdalsfigurer in Fredensborg Palace Park.

Frederiksborg Castle Museum houses a significant collection of fabrics and embroidered tablecloths from the 1600s. They show contemporary advanced sewing and embroidery skills. The embroidered family arms express the nobility strong family consciousness. Other motifs are taken from the Bible and nature.

Furniture Group subscribed in 1830 to the sculptor HE Freund for his own home. The inspiration for the furniture is picked up in the ancient world.

Visit Fredensborg

Visit Fredensborg

Fredensborg is a station town in North of the Capital Rigeon,  between Hillerød and Elsinore with 8,329 inhabitants (2010). Fredensborg Palace is located in the city, the castle was named. The town has a railway station, Fredensborg Station which is located in the city. Fredensborg has over time been visited by prominent politicians, royal persons and athletes including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, and FC Barcelona's soccer team as it was to play against Arsenal FC in the UEFA Champions League.

Fredensborg Palace Fredensborg Castle is wonderfully located in Fredensborg, north of Copenhagen. The square castle with its grand dome was built in 1721, during the reign of Frederik IV, under the supervision of architect C. Krieger. Since then the castle has been rebuilt several times, by architects Eigtved, Jardin, Thura and Harsdorff. Fredensborg Castle is the place where Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik live during spring and autumn..

How to get to Fredensborg

If you are visiting Copenhagen, there are several coaches who offer tours in North Zealand, including tours to North Sealand many castles and museums, Fredensborg Palace is almost always include.

Arrival by Rail

From urban Copenhagen - Elsinore and Hilleroed is a train connection. approx. 20 min.

Visit Hilleroed / Hillerød

Visit Hilleroed / Hillerød

Hilleroed / Hillerød is a town with 29,951 inhabitants (2010) located in North Zealand. It is the administrative headquarters for the Capital Region and the third largest city in this part of Sealand after Copenhagen and Elsinore.

Hilleroed grew up around the old farm Hillerødsholm (Hylderødsholm referred elder at the later of arms) which was owned by Herluf Trolls and Birgitte Gøye. The farm was located at the medieval village Hilderød (Hilde clearance), which is believed to come from 1200-century. Frederik 2 took over, however Hillerødsholm farm land and built instead of Frederiksborg Castle, which his son Christian IV out later and rebuilt. Frederik 2 made many efforts to make the city into the region's commercial center..

Frederiksborg Palace Frederiksborg Castle is situated in the centre of Hillerød on three islets in the Castle Lake surrounded by Frederiksborg Castle Gardens. Frederiksborg Castle is named after King Frederik II who built the oldest parts of the castle in 1560. His son - the Danish architect King - Christian IV, was born here in 1577, and he later pulled down many of the old castle buildings to give space for his new renaissance castle which was built in the beginning of the 17th century. During the years the castle has been used as a royal residence and the setting for many important ceremonial events, for example it was here new kings were crowned.In 1859 a fire broke out and destroyed many of the castle buildings, but the castle was rebuilt from 1860-1884 with financial support from the founder of the Carlsberg Breweries, J.C. Jacobsen. It was also his idea that the castle should since then accommodate a Museum of National History, and it is today regarded as a national monument of great historical importance.I really enjoyed my visit to the castle. Inside numerous magnificent rooms like the Audience Chamber, the Great Hall and the Rose (the Knights’ Room) and outside very beautiful surroundings with the Castle Gardens and the Castle Lake. If you are interested in history, palaces and castles this is a great place to visit on a daytrip from Copenhagen.Read also my few other tips about Frederiksborg Castle…

In Hilleroed s eastern outskirts lobbies exist Æbelholt Abbey Ruin. Every year Æbelholt Abbey Market at Abbey ruins in the middle of June to mark the monk St. Wilhelm s feast day.

Hilleroed / Hillerød is also an industrial center in the neighborhood and has good shopping facilities, primarily in the form of pedestrian streets (Elsinore Street and Castle Street and Hill Square) and shopping centers named Slotsarkaderne (extended 2007), galleries and Herluf Trolles Square (under construction). Meanwhile, new center projects at Monk Meadow and Stauns Corner, in Hilleroed center in the pipeline. In the south-western city, Hillerød business two heavyweights, Novo Nordisk and Biogen. Other major jobs include ATP and Hill Hospital, which employs almost 2000 staff.

How to get to Hilleroed / Hillerød

If you are visiting Copenhagen, there are several coaches who offer tours in North Zealand, including tours to North Sealand many castles and museums, Fredensborg Palace  ond Frederiksborg Palace is almost always include.

Arrival by Rail

From urban Copenhagen - Elsinore and Hilleroed is a train connection. approx. 30 min.

The best way to get there is with the suburbian trans(S train).
it tkaes 30 minutes to get there.
An ordinary ticker costs 10 danish kroner per zone.
my guess is that it´s 4 or 5 zones so it will cost you 40-50 kroner.
you can buy a klippekort that is good for 10 times 2 zones and that will save you some money.
if you are travelling to and from the airport, then you can use the klippekort for that too, both on the S train and on the metro.

By bus

Almost all cities north of Hillerød are served by buses from the train station, below are some of the more useful lines for tourists.

* Roskilde Line 600S runs between Hillerød and Hundige via Roskilde, for access to the world heritage site Roskilde Cathedral, and the Viking Ship museum
* Frederikssund Lines 325 and 307 leaves about every hour on weekdays to Frederikssund by Roskilde Fjord.
* Rungsted Lines 382E Runs on the highway between Hillerød and Rungsted station near Øresund, on the kystbanen line, the Louisiana art museum is two stops on Kystbanen from Rungsted.

Poet Hans Christian Andersen Denmark

Hans Christian Andersen Denmark

Hans Christian Andersen (Danish poet), referred to using the initials H. C. Andersen in Denmark and the rest of Scandinavia; April 2, 1805 – August 4, 1875) was a Danish author and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", "The Snow Queen",  "Thumbelina", "The Little Match Girl", and "The Ugly Duckling See Videoclip

And of course Hans Christian Andersen s The Little Mermaid which is Copenhagen's landmark at Langelinie.See Videoclip

The Emperor's New ClothesSee Videoclip

During his lifetime Hans Christian Andersen was acclaimed for having delighted children worldwide, and Hans Christian Andersen was feted by royalty. Hans Christian Andersen s poetry and stories have been translated into more than 150 languages. Hans Christian Andersen have inspired motion pictures, plays, ballets, and animated films.Hans Christian Andersen and Walt Disney

In Hans Christian Andersen s footsteps.
Hans Christian Andersen s hometown, Odense has changed much since Hans Christian Andersen was a child. But there is preserved buildings and areasin the city that still looks like they did when the poet Hans Christian Andersen entered its infancy here . Around the Odense city, see the sidewalk thirteen square granite stone that marks the places associated with Hans Christian Andersen. The stones are decorated with Hans Christian Andersen clips solhovedet. On the map of the Odense city are the places marked and linked to a small town historical footsteps - all in Hans Christian Andersen s spirit.

The little house in Odense, where H.C. Andersen lived with his parents from the age of 2 to 14, was opened as a museum in 1930. The house contains the very humble rooms which comprised the home of the great fairy-tale writer, and to which his dearest memories of childhood are attached.
The Hans Christian Andersen Childhood Home is free for children under 18.

Munkemøllestræde 3 - 5
5000 Odense C
65514601

Visit the Hans Christian Andersen museum in the old city precinct and learn all about the fantastic life of  Hans Christian Andersen. The Hans Christian Andersen exhibitions give an indepth impression of  Hans Christian Andersen as a person as well as the world he lived in from 1805 to 1875. Admire a large selection of the writer's papercuts and drawings as well as a comprehensive book collection from the whole world.

Bangs Boder 29
5000 Odense C
65514601

A fabulous house for children who are invited into the fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen through storytelling (during summer also in English), drawing and music.
They can make their own plays after having been made up and dressed up in costumes.

Fairytale shop and café.

Close to the Hans Christian Andersen Museum Odense.
Groups have to register in advance. Opening hours: call The Tinderbox.
Hans Jensens Stræde 21
5000 Odense C
66144411

Victor Borge (1909 - 2000), the famous Danish-American entertainer and pianist, was also a big fan of  Hans Christian Andersen and appropriated Hans Christian Andersen, the very popular Danish song, "Denmark, my Native Land"("In Denmark I was born ") - where the starting word as we know, was also valid poem of Victor Borge himself.

Dear Hans Christian Andersen ...
You were close to my childhood in Denmark, you were near when I landed in New York in 1940. And now, in a heavenly Elysium, you probably listen to Mozart and Mendelssohn your friend play Bach, or perhaps you are telling your adventures in the great shape that you only speak. We mention your name with pride, as it stands forever chiseled in the stars.
In devotion,
Victor Borge - Another Dane

Hans Christian Andersen - Meetings with Charles Dickens
In June 1847, H. C. Andersen paid his first visit to England and enjoyed a triumphal social success during the summer. The Countess of Blessington invited him to her parties where intellectual and famous people could meet, and it was at one party that he met Charles Dickens for the first time. They shook hands and walked to the veranda which was of much joy to H. C. Andersen. He wrote in his diary, "We had come to the veranda, I was so happy to see and speak to England's now living writer, whom I love the most." Ten years later, H. C. Andersen visited England again, primarily to visit Charles Dickens. H. C. Andersen stayed at Charles Dickens' home for five weeks. Shortly after H. C. Andersen left, Charles Dickens published David Copperfield, featuring the obsequious Uriah Heep, who is said to have been modeled on H. C. Andersen.

Death
In the spring of 1872, Hans Christian Andersen fell out of bed and was severely hurt! Hans Christian Andersen never fully recovered, but he lived until August 4, 1875, dying of insidious causes in a house called Rolighed (literally: calmness), near Copenhagen, the home of  Hans Christian Andersen s close friends Moritz Melchior, a banker, and his wife. Shortly before his death, Hans Christian Andersen had consulted a composer about the music for his funeral, saying: "Most of the people who will walk after me will be children, so make the beat keep time with little steps." Hans Christian Andersen s body was interred in the Assistens Kirkegård in the Nørrebro area of Copenhagen. At the time of Hans Christian Andersen s death, he was an internationally renowned and treasured artist. Hans Christian Andersen received a stipend from the Danish Government as a "national treasure". Before his death, steps were already underway to erect the large statue in Hans Christian Andersen honor, which was completed and is prominently placed at the town hall square in Copenhagen.

The Wonderful World of Hans Christian Andersen
See and listen to Hans Christian Andersen's many fairy tales in colourful tableaux with exciting light and sound effects! in Copenhagen, where H. C. Andersen died August 4, 1875,  Experience the entire story of his life - from his childhood to his adult life and his many travels world-wide.

The Wonderful World of Hans Christian Andersen is Copenhagen’s newest top attraction. Your price of admission to this attraction is reduced if, at the same time, you decide to visit Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, Guinness World Records Museum and/or The Mystic Exploratorie. For further information on admission prices, please refer to the pricelist, visit www.hcandersen.com or enquire at the booking office.

As Dane and the author of this text, I am sorry to admit that the published leaflets prepared by the Danish tourist association, about our world famous Danish writer and poet Hans Christian Andersen, is outrageous and it is difficult to make head or tail of the message to our tourists . but I can highly recommend a visit to the new Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Copenhagen and Odense.- - - not even address can be found in the confused leaflets, but here it is.

Open every day from 10 a.m.
Rådhuspladsen 57 • Copenhagen (City Town Hall)
Phone +45 33 32 31 31 • www.hcandersen.com
Just in the Copenhagen city center Town Hall

Visit Elsinore and Hamlet´s Castle

Helsingor / Elsinore Denmark: Hamlet s Home Town

Helsingor, also known as “Elsinore” lies about 45 kilometres (28 miles) north of Copenhagen. It has 60,000 inhabitants and is surrounded by the The Sound (Oresund) - the stretch of water between Denmark and Sweden. Helsingor is the closest Danish city to Sweden. The Cities of Helsingor / Elsinore, Denmark and Helsingborg, Sweden are separated by a mere 4,000 metres (2.5 miles) of water and a short ferry ride of twenty minutes.

Helsingor / Elsinore is a very historical place with richly coloured, well preserved architecture and cobblestone streets. It has a small-town . There are castles, museums, churches, woods and golden, clean beaches to see.

There is a world-class 18-hole golf course. If you are an adventurer interested in hiking or cycling, Elsinore is the best. There are user-friendly bicycle paths over most of Denmark. Opportunities for sailing and swimming abound. Don’t be surprised if you see Danes swimming in the autumn months. Brrrr!

You can find the historic Café Olai in the beautiful St. Olaigade Elsinore and enjoy traditional Danish open sandwiches or Danish pastry

Get Elsinore City Map here

Visit Elsinore tour Excursions map PDF

Once the home of Vikings, today’s Danes resemble little of their forefathers - only in stature. They are modest, reserved and straight-at-you sort of people. Danes are very helpful to tourists and most speak proficient English. They are strong believers in equality and fairness.

HISTORY
The City of Elsinore / Helsingør s history can be traced back to 70 AD. In about the 12th century, the first settlers arrived at the narrowest point of the Sound. Prior to the Middle Ages it was a marketplace where people sold goods. In ca. 1200 its first church (St. Olai Church) was founded and still stands today on St.Olai Street, a minute’s walk from the centre of Elsinore town. In ca. 1601 Shakespeare wrote Hamlet with Elsinore / Helsingør s Kronborg Castle as its setting and in 1816 Elsinore Theatre opened.

WHEN TO GO ELSINORE / Helsingør
The best time to visit Elsinore / Helsingør would be in June, July or August. Denmark has a temperate climate. This means that it never gets extremely cold or extremely hot. Denmark s coldest month is usually February, with an average temperature of 31 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 degree Celsius). The warmest month is July, with an average temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit (17 degrees Celsius) degrees. A breeze blows clean salt air almost every day.

Visit Vejby North Zealand

Visit Vejby North Zealand

Vejby is a small town in North with 1,036 inhabitants (2010). Vejby is located three miles east of Tisvilde, three kilometers south of Rågeleje and seven kilometers north of Helsinge. The city belongs Gribskov Municipality and is situated in Vejby parish. Vejby Church and Vejby Station is located in Vejby.

Just near Vejby, running alongside Tisvilde Hegn, Denmark's fifth largest forest, stretches a kilometre of white, child-friendly sandy beaches lapped by clean salty waters, and fringed by dunes and forests.

The 30 km coastline between Tisvildeleje and Hellebæk has been dubbed the Danish Riviera, while it may be hard to see why in the winters rain and ice cold wind, the well heeled guests and part time residents that descend on the coast line come spring and summer, makes the nickname much more obvious. The 10 or so villages on the coast, have practically been joined together by long swaths of summer cottages - tripling or even quadrupling the population during the summer months, where at times it seems half the population of Copenhagen is here.

Visit Vejby by train
The easiest entry points are Hillerød and Elsinore. Hillerød is reached with the E line of the S-train system (44 mins), from there you can catch a small local railway which runs to either Gilleje or Tisvildeleje/Helsinge once or twice an hour throughout most of the day.

Visit Vejby by Bus
Hillerød is also the main terminal for bus routes in the area. Another option is Elsinore at the end of the kystbanen railway from central Copenhagen (45 mins) from there you can another small local railway to Gilleje running along the coast. The whole trip from Copenhagen Central station to Gilleleje takes around 1,15 hours via Hillerød and and 1,45 hours via Elsinore.

Visit Vejby by Car
There are plenty of options for driving and routes naturally depends where exactly you are going in North Zealand, but generally you take the Hillerødmotorvejen (route 16) motorway towards Hillerød for destinations west of Gilleleje, while the Helsingørmotorvejen (route E47/55) motorway towards Elsinore is fastest for destinations to the east, and more beutiful with the osean to the right, all the way.

What to see when visit Vejby

Visit Lyngby Denmark

Visit Lyngby Denmark (Kongens Lyngby)

Kongens Lyngby (short forms Kgs. Lyngby or Lyngby) is the main city in the affluent Danish municipality of Lyngby-Taarbæk. Just north of Copenhagen, Kongens Lyngby city lies in the northern part of Denmark's largest island, Zealand (Danish, Sjælland). The city has two districts: Lyngby (east of Lyngby station) and Ulrikkenborg (west of the station).The municipality has a population of 51,611 (as of January 1, 2005).

Kongens Lyngby city is home to the Lyngby Boldklub football team, several large IT companies, financial institutions, the major international engineering firm COWI A/S, Bang & Olufsen ICEpower a/s, and the Lyngby -Taarbæk Philharmonic Orchestra.

Kongens Lyngby borders Brede, site of the Technical University of Denmark, the municipality of Gentofte (the most affluent in Denmark), Sorgenfri, where the Danish Prime Minister's official residence, Marienborg, lies and the Gladsaxe municipality.

Commuter trains runs to and from Copenhagen and North Sealand least every 10 minutes during the daytime.

Movia buses connect Lyngby towns and attractions with S-Bahn.

Naerum course provides local traffic between Lyngby - Jægersborg and Nærum.

You can read about the different tickets and cards in a GUIDE, available on the railroad stations in the metropolitan area.

Wonderful Copenhagen

Visit Copenhagen / København,  and where to Go Copenhagen

Copenhagen ( Danish: København) is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,181,239 (2010) and a metropolitan population of 1,901,789 (2010). Copenhagen is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager.

Copenhagen is a major regional centre of culture, business, media, and science, as indicated by several international surveys and rankings (see International rankings below). Life science, information technology and shipping are important sectors and research & development plays a major role in the city's economy. Its strategic location and excellent infrastructure with the largest airport in Scandinavia located 14 minutes by train from the city centre, has made it a regional hub and a popular location for regional headquarters as well as conventions.

Copenhagen has repeatedly been recognized as one of the cities with the best quality of life. It is also considered one of the world's most environmentally friendly cities. The water in the inner harbour is so clean that it can be swum in, and 36% of all citizens commute to work by bicycle. Every day they cycle a total of 1.2 million km.

Since the turn of the millennium, Copenhagen has seen a strong urban and cultural development and has been described as a boom town. This is partly due to massive investments in cultural facilities as well as infrastructure and a new wave of successful designers, chefs and architects.

Visit Kronborg Castle Elsinore

Visit Kronborg Castle in Elsinore

Kronborg Castle in Elsinore, at the seaward approach to The Sound Øresund, is one of northern Europe s most important Renaissance castles. Known all over the world from Shakespeare s play Hamlet, it is also the most famous castle in Denmark and the Danish tourist attraction is visited each year by about 200,000 tourists.

King Frederik II s Kronborg Castle is both an elegant Renaissance castle and a monumental military fortress surrounded by major fortifications with bastions and ravelins and a great Danish tourist attraction. Some of the historical rooms house collections of Renaissance and Baroque interiors, and among the most important attractions are the 62-metre long ballroom, the wonderfully preserved chapel and the statue of " Holger the Dane ".

Renaissance Castle of Kronborg

While Krogen was a strong castle, due to the emergence of new attack techniques it became obsolete as a fortress by the mid-1500s, and as a royal residence it did not meet the standards of the Renaissance period. The fact that Frederik II had married his young cousin Sofie of Mecklenburg in 1572 only increased the need for a residence more consistent with their position, as she was the daughter of wealthy duke and used to having the best of everything. The King was not lacking in inspiration for a new castle as he had seen several examples of princely Renaissance residences on his travels around Europe.

Frederik II started modernising the medieval castle in 1574, and the first step was to reinforce the outer defences. Under the management of Hans van Paeschen, the fortress architect, corner bastions were constructed and connected by tall ramparts, and moats were established to the south and west. A huge square cannon tower was erected in the south-western corner, perhaps even at an earlier time, to make it possible to fire on the land side. In 1577, the reinforcement of the fortress was completed, and Hans van Paeschen resigned. 

Read more about Kronborg Castle in 1638

Concurrently with he reinforcement of the fortress, the residence was modernised. The King s house to the north was extended and a storey was added. Apartments were fitted up for both the King and the Queen. The wings of the castle to the west and south were also heightened and connected. Rather than following an overall plan, this was more likely the result of a gradually increasing level of ambition. After van Paeschen another Dutch master builder, Anthonis van Opbergen, was engaged to be in charge of the construction work.

The buildings were in red brick with grey sandstone decorations after a Dutch pattern until 1580 when the King decided to face the castle with sandstone - possibly due to its exposed location by the water or to distinguish the King s residence from the manor houses of the nobility.

Region Hovedstaden Denmark

Visit The Capital Region of Denmark

( Region Hovedstaden / Hovedstadsregionen )

The Capital Region of Denmark is one of five administrative units in Denmark. The region provides healthcare, mental healthcare, regional development and research for 1,6 mio. people – approx. 30% of the population.

The region consists of 29 municipalities from the island of Bornholm in the east to Hundested in the west.

The administrative headquaters of The Capital Region of Denmark is situated in Hillerød, 40 kilometres north of Copenhagen.

The region employs 36.000 people – mainly health care professionals – making it one of the largest employers in Denmark.

North Sealand

The many castles and forests are what make North Sealand so distinctive. Not surprisingly, this area north of Copenhagen has always been the favoured retreat of Denmark’s monarchs.
The 60km-long Kattegat coast from Hundested to Helsingør (Elsinore) not only has some of Sealand’s best bathing beaches, but also boasts a rolling landscape of steep hills, hardy plantations and fascinating shoreside forest.

Capital Region 
Together, the Capital Region and the Øresund Region have 3.6 million inhabitants. Denmark s capital, Copenhagen, is part of the Capital Region, which has 1.6 million inhabitants.

The Capital Region has a unique economic climate, and Denmark has been nominated by the Economist Intelligence Unit as the country with the best business climate in the world. The Capital Region is characterised by a flexible labour market, many strong research institutions and a well-functioning infrastructure. The labour force in the Øresund Region is the largest and best educated in Scandinavia, and the employees are some of the most highly motivated and flexible in Europe.

The Oresund Region has developed a unique model for growth by bringing together regional authorities, businesses and universities from the two different countries and combining the best of Denmark and Sweden. Øresund Science Region has won the European Region Star price for supporting clusters and business networks.

North European centre for transport and logistics
The region is Northern Europe s transport hub for both private and goods transport. Copenhagen Airport is one of the most efficient in Europe, and the entire region is served by a unique network of metro services, trains and roads. The Øresund Bridge, which is the fixed link between Denmark and Sweden, provides quick access to southern Sweden.

Medico- and Life sciences
The Øresund Region is the Medicon Valley of Northern Europe. Medico and life sciences constitute one of the region s distinctive strengths, and the Øresund Region is one of the world s main players within pharmacology and biotechnology. There is a high concentration of universities, hospitals and biotech companies. Danish and Swedish medico and biotech scientists are among the highest ranking researchers in the world.

IT and telecommunications
Many high-technology companies are located in and around Copenhagen. Especially within IT and telecommunications, the Capital Region is one of the most knowledge-intensive regions in Denmark. In collaboration with the region s many universities, knowledge institutions and research parks, innovation companies are achieving exceptional growth rates.

Creative industries
The Capital Region has a unique concentration of both creative and technical talent within the entertainment industry. Few regions can compare with the Capital Region when it comes to film production, computer games, fashion and design, etc.

Foreign investments
The Capital Region is one of the most important metropolitan areas in Europe for foreign investments, on a par with cities such as London, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid and Stockholm. There are numerous regional headquarters in the region, and its unique geographical location provides a central platform for all of Northern Europe and the Baltic region.

The attractive metropolitan area
The Capital Region is an attractive place to live and work in. Copenhagen is a peaceful city, offering a wealth of cultural and recreational options that are enjoyed by tourists and residents alike. Consequently, Copenhagen is also attractive for foreign companies and employees.

Find e-page and read much more about The Capital Region here

Visit the famous Tivoli Copenhagen

Smiling Globe® recommends a visit to Tivoli Gardens Copenhagen

Copenhagen s Tivoli Gardens -- an amusement park, restaurant Mecca, and cultural hot spot all tied up together in one package -- is the city's marquee attraction. And for good reason.

It's magical.

The 160-plus-year-old park is not only an icon of history but also the place that inspired local -- and equally legendary -- writer Hans Christian Andersen to write "The Nightingale." It also inspired an even more significant revolutionary: It is said that Walt Disney got the idea to build Disneyland, his first amusement park, after visiting Tivoli Gardens.

Tivoli opened in 1843, the brainchild of Georg Carstensen who at that time was required by law to request permission from Denmark's King Christian VII to build his "romantic amusement park." His mission wasn't entirely for the greater good; according to lore, he told the king that when people were amused they were far less likely to engage in political revolt. From the beginning his concept was to create a place where local folks could enjoy music, alehouses, restaurants and amusements. That concept lives on today.

The park is located in what was originally Denmark s countryside, just outside the fortified walls of Copenhagen (which no longer exist) and along the city's moat (part of which was used to create a lake in Copenhagen Tivoli). But by the 1880's, Copenhagen had outgrown its own walls and Tivoli became part of the city.

Today, Tivoli is location -- right in the heart of the city, between the central rail station and city hall -- is one of its charms. After all, how many amusement parks are located in the center of an urban metropolis, even if it wasn't planned that way?

Beyond its storied history, there are many more relevant reasons for today's travelers to experience Tivoli -- and on my series of visits in August it was apparent that Danes of all ages, from families with young kids to couples in love, also consider Tivoli a worthy hangout. By day (or, at least on weekdays), Tivoli is a mellow place. By night it becomes magically transformed.

So much so that some cruise lines have incorporated late-night stays (and even overnights) in Copenhagen into cruise itineraries so passengers will have the opportunity to experience Tivoli. Ship-sponsored "tours" (generally just a shuttle service between the park and ship) are usually available, but plenty of taxis are also on hand, and park staffers speak English, so it's easy enough to explore independently.

A couple of tips:

During the summer, Tivoli typically opens at 11 a.m. and closes at midnight (later on weekends). Most of the entertainment -- concerts, Tivoli pantomime performances, etc. -- are held at night. Once you know your travel dates, you can check for more specifics about entertainment on Tivoli's Web site.

Tickets cost 85 Danish Kroner for adults, about $18 U.S. or 9.5 GBP at press time; check www.xe.net for the most recent currency exchange information. Kids under 12 get in for about half that. This price includes entrance for a full day and night and admission to regular entertainment, such as the pantomime or various music performances (but not special concerts).

What is not included? Rides require between one and four tickets (about $2.25 apiece). Also a la carte are meals, symphonic performances in the Tivoli Concert Hall Copenhagen, arcades and gambling.

Cruise lines calling in Copenhagen on a daily visit will offer tours to Tivoli that basically include transportation (a motorcoach shuttle) and the basic admission fee (Celebrity's is priced at $20 per person, for example; Holland America charges $29). But Tivoli is fairly easy to reach independently, and is a pleasant walk from downtown. From the ship's dock, it's a 10-minute taxi ride (and taxis are plentiful to return you to the pier).

As a result of spending a day, a night, and then another day (I'm mesmerized), plus a return visit in summer 2008 in Tivoli Gardens, here are 10 reasons why you simply must visit.

1. Feel Like A Kid Again

One of the first things you'll see when you enter the park is the historic, 19th-century Pantomime Theater, whimsically decorated in an Oriental style (when the park was designed, Oriental themes were wildly popular in Copenhagen). You'll walk down sandy pathways toward funky fountains (in one there's a bubbling water-in-tubes display) and lush gardens of wild roses along with much flora and fauna. There are twinkling lights (even during the day) and sidewalk cafes -- and puppeteers performing and dancers twirling. I suddenly felt as free and deliriously energetic as I had at the age of 6 -- and all before I even got to the arcade and amusement park rides!

2.Tivoli's Location

Despite its lofty reputation and central location, you could walk by the outside of the park and never know this it's there! I'll grant that it doesn't look too enticing from the outside, surrounded as it is by urban mini-skyscrapers of sorts and stubby hotels (not to mention the quite unromantic Hard Rock Café, which sits on a corner of the property). But don't let that dissuade you. And once you walk through the gates -- you're transported to another world.

3. The Demon and Other Rides

The park may be historic – and indeed features rides, like the merry-go-round, that are odes to tradition – but the Demon (Daemonen in Danish) is purely contemporary. Let's put it this way: Speeds register as fast as 80 kilometers as the cars shoot through three loops on a Denmark's highest full-circuit roller coaster. It's floorless so there is no brace for your feet. And you will be flipped upside down at least twice. Intrigued? It's not the only ride (and we paraphrase from Tivoli's Web site) that "will turn you upside down, throw you around, or drop you from a great height." Thrill seekers should also check out The Golden Tower (Det Gyldne Tarn); it's 63 meters high and exerts minus 1G-force as it descends from the golden cupola at the top to the ground below (and then rises again, in a series of bungee jumping-like moves).

Most of the people who got off after a ride on Dragon (Dragen), which swings you vertically, horizontally and flips you upside down, seemed exhilarated by the experience -- but a couple of women collapsed into the arms of friends, weeping in terror. Consider yourself warned.

For young kids, there are plenty of options as well; the Nautilus, new in 2008, is a virtual reality ride that takes travelers below sea level; there's also a classic Ferris wheel, dragon boats and more. And the park has even maintained its traditional roller coaster, a wooden ride that requires workers to sit in the last car to actively brake when it goes too fast.

4. The Romance

On my visits I spotted not a few smooching couples. Sure, this is a great date place for teens, but these folks were in their 40's and beyond! Best spots? By the lakeside or on the Ferris wheel.

5. The Pantomime Theater

Spectacular! Every day there are at least two scheduled performances of various pantomime productions, and it's worth arriving early as seats are limited (though you can also stand and watch). Pantomime is the art of "not speaking" -- at least verbally -- and as it's played here, the performances include over-the-topic makeup and fabulous music (there's even an orchestra pit below the stage complete with orchestra). On my visit, "Harlequin's Triumph" was accompanied by tunes from Strauss, Mozart and Gounod. Admission is free.


5. The Restaurant Scene

One big surprise on my first visit was that the park houses one of Copenhagen's many Michelin-starred restaurants -- and it is worth a visit to Tivoli for the culinary experience alone. The Paul, helmed by a British chef who married a Danish girl and brought her home, features Scandinavian classics with a lighthearted and contemporary touch. The restaurant, located in a big old conservatory, has an ambience like a summer getaway all on its own. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, and boasts a superb wine list. Plan to splurge, though; Copenhagen's prices aren't thrifty to begin with!

Otherwise, there are plenty of options from fast food vendors selling stand-up snacks to coffee bars. But what's intriguing about Tivoli is that, beyond The Paul, there are a number of very nice restaurants, perfect for a long lazy meal. I've tested out the tasty stone oven pizzas at La Vecchia Signora (there's an outpost in the city, too). You can also dine on Pasta and risotto here. Cafe Ketchup offers a Scandinavian buffet. Hard Rock Cafe has nothing whatsoever to do with Copenhagen -- but there's one here, anyway, if all-American fare fits the bill.

And there's one more: A newcomer to the scene is Nimb, an over-the-top, beautifully restored Moorish-style building on the edge of Tivoli, home of the park's first onsite hotel (13 gorgeous suites), wine bar, dairy, chocolate factory, gourmet shop and fine-dining restaurant called Herman's. ( one of the many famous Michelin star restaurants in Copenhagen ). My favorite nosh there, though, is Restaurant Nimb where you literally sit in the kitchen as chefs prepare your food. Try the chicken salad -- best ever. There's a nice wine list. And, if you're lucky, try to snare a table on the adjacent patio; it looks over the Tivoli Gardens and the Pantomime Theater. On my recent visit I got to watch a pantomime rehearsal as I sipped a glass of summery rose.

6. Gardens and Pathways

The 16-acre park has numerous gardens and pathways, not to mention Tivoli garden s Lake , that emerged from the original moat that was here (though, seriously, Tivoli should clean 'em up). The Tivoli park offers a daily guided tour among the some 110,000 blooms, for a charge, that's led by staffers. The English tour is available at 3 p.m.

7. Illuminations

At night, with all lit up, the park is at its most magical -- and if you can keep eyes prised until midnight, there's an evening fireworks display.

8. Cultural Arts

The Tivoli Concert Hall is the hub of the park's cultural scene and offers a huge range of options, depending on the timing of your visit (try to secure tickets in advance). In 2008, it served as a summer home to the New York City Ballet, hosted the annual international piano competition, welcomed soloists ranging from vocalists to pianists, and offered chamber music concerts.

The structure itself, built in 1956, is oddly gaudy from the front, with varied-colored panels. It's a strange look but you can't miss it! A refurbishment in 2005 incorporated an aquarium into a new foyer; to tour it requires a separate fee (and you don't have to stay for a concert!).


9. Shopping

While by no means would we suggest bypassing Stroget, Stockholm s mercantile hubbub, to browse at Tivoli, there are still some nice boutiques at the park selling touristy but fun souvenirs, like Scandinavian giftware and teddy bears. However, one boutique that is simply not to be missed is Illums Bolighus. The Denmark design chain (it has bigger stores in other locations in Copenhagen) offers representative wares from all the fantastic Scandinavian and Nordic designers, including Finland's Iittala, Sweden's Orrefors, Denmark's Minima -- and many more!

10. Christmas Market

Though TivoliTivoli is best known as a summer playground, it's also open at Christmastime, and is even more festive during December. It's ablaze in lights all day, seasonal decorations abound and a full-fledged Christmas market sells all manner of tchotchkes. Interestingly, in the past few years, cruise lines like the U.K.'s P&O and Cunard have been offering a handful of seasonal cruises to Scandinavian market cities in December.

Ultimately, we're not saying that you should bypass Copenhagen's fine historic attractions to while away the day at Tivoli (or are we?) -- it's just that I can't think of a more delightful way to spend a day or evening.

And here's a tip: If you are embarking or debarking your cruise in Copenhagen, it's a great place to pass a few quiet hours (the city's central rail station, which not only has a quick train to the airport but also will store luggage for a fee, happens to be right across the street!).

What do you love best about Tivoli? Or, if you haven't been, why can't you wait to go? Tell me at editor@smilingglobe.com.

The short story about Tivoli Copenhagen Denmark
From the very start, Tivoli included a variety of attractions: buildings in the exotic style of an imaginary Orient: a theatre, band stands, restaurants and cafés, flower gardens, and mechanical amusement rides such as a merry-go-round and a primitive scenic railway. After dark, colored lamps illuminated the gardens. On certain evenings, specially designed fireworks could be seen reflected in Tivoli's lake.

Composer Hans Christian Lumbye (b. 1810 - d. 1874) was Tivoli 's musical director from 1843 to 1872. Lumbye was inspired by Viennese waltz composers like the Strauss family (Johann Strauss I and his sons), and became known as the "Strauss of the North." Many of his compositions are specifically inspired by the Tivoli gardens, including "Salute to the Ticket Holders of Tivoli , "Carnival Joys" and "A Festive Night at Tivoli ". The Tivoli Symphony Orchestra still performs many of his works.

In 1874, Chinese style Pantomimeteatret (The Tivoli Pantomime Theatre) took the place of an older smaller theater. The audience stands in the open, the stage being inside the building. The Tivoli theatre's "curtain" is a mechanical peacock's tail. From the very beginning, the Theater was the home of Italian pantomimes, introduced in Denmark by the Italian Giuseppe Casorti. This tradition, which is dependent on the Italian Commedia dell'Arte has been kept alive, including the characters Cassander (the old father), Columbine (his beautiful daughter), Harlequin (her lover), and, especially popular with the youngest spectators, the stupid servant Pierrot. The absence of spoken dialogue is an advantage, as Tivoli is now an international tourist attraction.

In 1943, Nazi sympathizers attempted to break the Danish people's spirit by burning many of Tivoli's buildings, including the concert hall, to the ground. Undaunted, the Danes built temporary buildings, and the park was back in operation after a few weeks.

Tivoli is always evolving without abandoning its original charm or traditions. As Georg Carstensen said in 1844, "Tivoli will never, so to speak, be finished," a sentiment echoed just over a century later when Walt Disney said of his own Tivoli-inspired theme park, "Disneyland will never be finished as long as there is imagination left in the world."