A Photo Guide to Copenhagen
Tired of guided tours? Want to have the local experience in a foreign city? Well, a photo guide to the city is what you need.
Recently I went on a three-month trip through Europe where I retraced my grandfather's photos from 50 years ago. I had all of his images scanned into my phone and I went back to the same place and recreated the photo. It was a brilliant experience bringing history together.
One of the best parts about it was that it turned into a photo scavenger hunt. I didn't know where the places were, so I relied on locals to help guide me in the right direction. I met the best people and was able to learn so much history about the places I photographed.
For this series of photos in Copenhagen, I encourage you to upload these images, print them out, or bookmark this site and take a walking tour of the city. Show the locals the photos and ask them where they are and go! You can rely on a map to guide you in the right vicinity but if you have time to wander and make a wrong turn once in a while, I would suggest that. For me it was the way I found the most spectacular hidden gems of the city. Once you get to the place and snap the photo, send me your shots! I will be accumulating them from people around the world and adding them to my site.
City Hall
Located in the heart of the city, Copenhagen City Hall (Københavns Rådhus) was built between 1982-1905. It sits in the middle of The City Square where locals and tourists gather daily. The main focal point is the large clock tower which makes this building one of Copenhagen's tallest buildings.
Carlsberg Museum
The museum was founded in 1888 by Carl Jacobsen, the brewing mogul, and is home to Northern Europe's biggest collection of Mediterranean Art. Comprised of mostly sculptures, it is also includes a impressive collection of French Impressionist paintings.
Memorial Anchor
Set at the end of Nyhavn,The Memorial Anchor is in honor of the more than 1,700 Danish soldiers who lost their lives in WWII. An original statue made out of wood was erected in 1845 but then replaced by the current one in 1951. If you happen to be there on May 5th, Denmark's Liberation day, you can see the annual ceremony held every year at this location.
The Little Mermaid
Based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, The Little Mermaid (Den lille havfre) is a Copenhagen icon. The statue was unveiled in 1913 by sculptor Edvard Eriksen and modeled after a prima ballerina in the Copenhagen Royal Theatre. The statue has been the victim of vandalism over the years, having its head decapitated a few times in the past century.The statue was moved only once from its ledge in 2010 for the Shanghai Expo 2010.
Gefion Fountain
Gefion Fountain the the largest monument in Copenhagen and was first activated in 1908. The sculpture is of Norse goddess Gefion and four oxen. The legend is that the Swedish king told Gefion that she would be entitled to all the land she could plow through in one night. So she turned her sons into oxen and plowed the land creating Zealand which Copenhagen is partially located on now.
Tivoli
Located in the middle of the city next to City Hall, is Tivoli. The park opened in 1943 and is the worlds second oldest amusment park. This 21 acre destination is not only comprised of up of amusement park rides but beautifully landscaped gardens, theaters, lakes, countless restaurants, and 111,000 illuminated lights that transform the park at night. It is a must see for a day of child like fun.
Excited to take a trip to Copenhagen? Don't forget you can find top Copenhagen vacation rentals in one place on Tripping!
This photo guide to Copenhagen was a guest post by Tripper Dayna, a photo journalist living in San Francisco. You can contact her via her Tripping profile as well as her website, The Flip Slide. Get the inside scoop on her adventures in Copenhagen capturing shots 1-7 here and shots 8-9 here.