Deciphering Denmark

This Scandinavian country can be as touristy as you want it to be—with beautiful walks, cobbled streets, open-air museums and city canals. Or you can choose to take the ‘time machine’ and visit the smaller towns that are the hubs of its culture.

- Anita Rao Kashi

Arriving into Copenhagen is a bit of a surreal experience. From the air, the city and the area beyond is like a giant jigsaw puzzle whose irregular-sized pieces lay scattered amidst a background of striking blue water. Canals and streams seem to wind their way around making for a beautiful image. On the ground though, Copenhagen is utterly charming with beautiful ancient buildings seamlessly juxtaposed against modern Danish design. More fascinating are the masses of bicycles, made easy by the flat landscape and over 500 km of cycle lanes. But Denmark beyond Copenhagen is even more charming. Viking history is a constant companion but cities like Aarhus and Aalborg have a rich history, delightful city centres going back to the Middle Ages, vibrant culture, delectable food and warm, hospitable people. Together with stunning beach side scenery and port towns that are so lovely they weave magic around the visitors, Denmark has so much to offer.

CAPITAL GAINS

It is difficult to escape Copenhagen’s major tourist spots, such as the Little Mermaid, perched on a rock in the water by the Langelinie promenade, or Tivoli Gardens, a 15-acre amusement park and gardens located almost in the heart of the city. It has the oldest wooden roller coaster and a clutch of other amusement rides but is also ideal for quiet walks and picnics, as well as some fabulous music every evening. Then there’s the bustling and colourful Nyhavn or New Harbour, a beautiful section of waterfront lined on either side by colourful 17th and 18th century townhouses. Most of them now house trendy bars, cafes, lounges and restaurants while the water is lined with wooden ships that are moored to the pier. It is a good idea to sign up for a heritage or culture walk, especially a quirky one led by a character dressed as Hans Christian Andersen, the iconic