21 PHOTO LOCATIONS IN COPENHAGEN

1 | NY Carlsberg Glyptotek

Blend of tropical conservatory meets art gallery with winding white spiral staircase and scattering of statues. This is the personal artwork collection of Mr Carlsberg himself. He even brought the palm trees from his own garden. After exploring the ground floor, venture up to the rooftop terrace overlooking Tivoli Gardens.

Entrance to the garden is free, the conservatory is €15.50 for over 27s

2 | Our Saviours Church

This beauty has a black and gold helix of a church spire which is open to the public. The last 150 of the 400 steps are on the outside and are what make it such a great photography opportunity, with 360° views. Entrance is €7 for adults.

3 | Historical Streets

Magstaede and Snaregade Street are picture perfect and the two oldest streets in Copenhagen. Both streets date back to the 16th century. Make sure to explore the backstreets for a unique perspective.

TIP… the most beautiful backstreets can be found on Pistolstræde, a 9 minute walk from Magstaede Street.

4 | Olufsvej Street

The most colourful street in the city. This gem looks a lot like the mews houses tucked away in the corners of London.

P1010561.JPG by d.o.w.n is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

5 | Circle Bridge

This pedestrian bridge is made up of 5 circular platforms, each with a central mast meant to resemble ships. May not sound very interesting, but the minimalist red sails set against the over-the-top white masts and the deep blue of the harbour make a stylish photo. Come at night for that something extra.

6 | Bridge Tower

An unusual tower sits on one of Copenhagen’s many bridges. The copper turret is little known even to Danes who see it everyday on the 200 kroner bank note. The tower, officially known as the Kulturtårnet is actually a cafe and community event space with 360° views of Copenhagen’s harbour.

7 | Botanical Gardens

It doesn’t get more extravagant than this. The city’s botanical gardens are home to 27 glasshouses. That’s right, glasshouses, not greenhouses, that wouldn’t do it justice. The oldest of which, is the Old Palm House. Its central atrium is 16m high, allowing for the cast iron staircase to spiral up to the viewing walkway. If this wasn’t extravagant enough for you, there is also a beautiful Butterfly House and an unexpectedly a special greenhouse where the temperature is maintained to suit Arctic plant life.

Entrance to the garden is free, the Palm and Butterfly houses are between €5 – €8

8 | Palads Theatre

While this is a functioning cinema and a good one, it is just as well known for its exterior. This brightly coloured retro theatre makes a gorgeous backdrop to any photo, in its many shades of pink, turquoise and orange. Nip in for a film, its gorgeous inside too.

9 | Elephant Gate

This bridge at the Carlsberg Factory is held up by the backs of four life-sized elephants! The tower above is pretty impressive too. Look out for the two observers at the top. The elephants were chosen by the owner to bring luck, as he was going into business against his father. He also occasionally kept elephants at the brewery! You can see this beautiful bridge and the equally impressive architecture of the brewery without buying a brewery ticket. Entrance and a self guided tour is free, the guided tour is €11.

TIP…There is a new branch of Aire luxury thermal baths in the cellars where Carlsberg once stored its kegs. (About €30 for time in the baths and a massage)

10 | Christianhavn

They’re all beautiful, so I am setting you free with Christianhavn’s best streets in your pocket… Sofiegade, Larslejsstræde, Larsbjørnsstræde.

TIP… Sofiegade is home to the most colourful house of all. Just keep an eye out for number 4! You can add it to your list of accidentally Wes Anderson.

11 | Tivoli Gardens

The garden’s biggest claim to fame is as inspiration for Disney World, after being visited by Walt Disney in person. The best time to come here for photography is in the evening when the fairy lights begin to flicker on and accentuate the bizarre colliding diversity of culture and scale of the park’s attractions. For a great aerial view of the park , invite yourself to the glamorous roof top bar of Hotel Nimb.

Entrance is €17.50

12 | Freetown Christiana

Christiana hippie commune, or more politely, intentional community (oh god, dissertation flashbacks) has been an autonomous district since the original squatters in the 1970s. Not really a photography spot, as you can’t take photos everywhere. However, the detailed wall murals (luckily the most beautiful one is before the no camera sign) and less obvious photography spots make it worthwhile (from a photography point of view). Make time to forget your camera for a bit, and appreciate how quirky and cool this place is, explore and see something different. Obviously, respect the residents’ privacy (this is not an open-air museum) and be aware that you must not take photos on ‘Pusher Street’, also subtly known as ‘Green Light District’. There is a lot more to Christiana, for example, one of the city’s most famous skate parks (ALIS Wonderland), concerts, bars and great street food. Don’t limit yourself!

TIP…One of my favourite places in Christiana can be seen from the river, a house made entirely out of spare windows and doors.

13 | Cisterne

Inside a dark damp cavern under the city park is what looks like a large hall crowded by pillars. What was previously a water reservoir for the city, is now an extensive underground art gallery. It also hosts an unusual microclimate, bringing nature into its underground world. It’s seriously worth a visit. Entrance is about €9 for adults.

If you like the look of this art gallery, check out Lisbon’s underground reservoirs too.

14 | Little Mermaid (New & Old)

Waiting around for her life to begin on a lonely rock at Langelinje Pier is a girl who is 106 years old. A girl who stole our hearts in 1990, Ariel. Though she isn’t actually anything to do with Disney, but with the original fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson, which Disney used. Because of the movie, this rock and girl has become the number one attraction in Copenhagen. Ariel, not Ariel , was commissioned by none other than the owner of Carlsberg Beer after he was captivated by The Little Mermaid ballet in 1909. I know, we all wanted to see Ariel and Flounder, but this isn’t that girl.

Don’t stop your sculpture tour there. A 10 minute walk away, is this mermaid’s genetically altered sister. It doesn’t look like a mermaid, but that’s kind of the point. The sculpture in question is accompanied by a pregnant man, Adam and Eve, Jesus and of course Mary Magdalene. This strange group of friends are known as ‘The Genetically Altered Paradise’ and can be found at Langelinie Allé 17. Another sculpture nearby is the The Metal Man, a mosaic of used metal scraps.

Copenhagen Denmark by martin_vmorris is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Just encase you felt deprived of odd sculptures, I have one more for you. Agnete and her Merman below Højbro Bridge. Based on an old Danish folk story, it tells of a young girl who met a charming merman one day and gave up her life on shore to join him below the waves. After having 7 children together she decides to visit her family, promising to return, but she never does. The sculpture shows her merman and their 7 children awaiting her return.

15 | Superkilen Park

Superkilen Park has three distinct areas: The Red Square (modern urban space which looks as though someone spilt an enormous bucket of paint everywhere); The Black Market (a psychedelic optical illusion covers the entire park in black and white lines) and The Green Park.

I could spend hours here taking photos. The park is littered with random objects from all over the world, things you will never notice if you don’t download the Superkilen App. Just to give you an idea of the multi-cultural diversity of the park, there is a slide from Chernobyl, a giant doughnut from Pennsylvania, Bulgarian chess tables and a mound of soil from Palestine. These pieces and all the others were chosen by people living in the neighbourhood to represent the diversity of the community’s origins.

16 | Nyhavn

This is the street that you will see on every piece of advertising ever made for Denmark’s capital, and with good reason. Its street lined canal is bursting with vibrant pastels on either side. Together with the undulating roofs, it feels a lot like Amsterdam. It’s also the street where the gifted storyteller Hans Christian Anderson lived for most of his life. His most popular stories include The Emporer’s New Clothes, The Princess and the Pea and The Little Mermaid. The original tale is worth a read, and far more emotional than Disney’s version. That’s not easy for me to say, as this was in my top 2 films as a child.

Back to Nyhavn,if you can bring yourself to leave the cafe table by the canal, go for a climb up to the top of Nyhavn’s round tower. For a small entrance fee of €3.50 you will have a beautiful view of Copenhagen’s old town. There is also a glass floor for those not scared of heights, which is clear all the way don to the base of the tower. There is also a library in the core of the tower which Hans Christian Anderson used to frequent!

The tower was built as an astronomical observatory, the lack of steps mean delicate astronomical equipment could be transported to the roof without damage. When light pollution started to interfere with the readings the tower found other uses. Many of them involved racing up and down the ramp. Peter the Great of Russia raced his horse to the top, while another man, Thomas Olsen raced up and down the ramp on a unicycle in less than 2 minutes flat.

17 | Munchies’s Waffles

Munchies’s bubble waffles have made the little store the most instagrammed shop in the country. You can find this sugary heaven at Torvegade 55 in Christianhavn.

18 | Rooftop Bars and Parks

For rooftop bars, try the Nimb Hotel opposite Tivoli Gardens, which has a rooftop pool with a pretty view. Other good spots include Gro Spiseri, a rooftop farm and bar on top of a car auction house, similar to the Rooftop Lobby Bar and Vineyard. For something different, there is always Konditaget Lüders. An outdoor gym/ park on top of a multi-storey car park, fully furnished with an awesome climbing spiral and trampoline. No it’s not a bar, but it is meant for adults and you can BYOB.

19 | Relaxing Summer Bars and Cafes

Not being someone who wants to be surrounded by Scandi minimalism (I know it’s stylish, but I want Hygge!)I found it hard to find a bar in Copenhagen that felt right. After a little searching, I found a few cosy spots in the inner city, Andy’s Bar, Torvehallerne Market and Kayak Bar. A little further afield, in the newly trendy district of Refshaleøn, I found La Banchina and Halvandet Beach Bar. Sorry to disappoint those of you who thrive on minimalist decor!

20 | Drinks Bars and Clubs

Borghaven Warehouse in the former meat packing district, which has unsurprisingly turned into one of the best alternative districts, is a great place to hang out. For those of you needing a taste of home(assuming you’re a Brit) the Barking Dog Bar has a london vibe to it that will cure any longing. Fermentoren is a low key bar, lit almost entirely by candlelight, creating a cosy atmosphere as you settle into the corners and enjoy some privacy.

21 | Thomas Danbo’s Trolls

These playful sculptures made from recycled wood collected from around the city and its businesses were an instant success and have earned a place in many resident’s hearts. The six of them now comprise an open-air troll hunt throughout the six districts of Copenhagen. They each have their own names to help you find them, Hill Top Trine, Thomas on the Mountain, Little Tilde (my favourite), Sleeping Louis, Oscar under the Bridge and Teddy Friendly, the Grandpa troll. They are lovely reminders of childhood wonder and exploration.

Secret Extra | Abandoned Pool used by Netflix

A 50 minute drive north of the city, on Lake Arresø is Naturlejren Auderød. The site is an abandoned training barracks for Navy Seals. What’s amazing about it is, its an abandoned site which is open to the public. Most abandoned buildings are patrolled and have fences, but not this one. It was even used in a scene of the Netflix series ‘The Rain’. While the entire site is worth an explore, it’s the swimming pool reclaimed by nature which steals the show.