About the tour
This tour will take you to some of the main sites in the center city, and is a great way to get to know the area around DIS. It will take about 1.5 hours to complete, and is 6 km long.
A. DIS
Meet at the DIS Student Hub (or wherever works for you).
B. Studenterhuset
Literally ‘the student house’. Situated just a five minute walk from DIS, Studenterhuset offers a wide selection of sandwiches, coffee and beers. This hang-out has been a DIS tradition for years, largely due to the free wifi, cozy atmosphere, and young student vibe. Throughout each month Studenterhuset hosts a number of socials including Quiz Night, Hygge Nights, and International Night. Studenterhuset is also known as one of the best live venues in central Copenhagen – be sure to take in a cozy concert of a local group!
C. Christiansborg
To say that Christiansborg Palace is a pretty important place would be an understatement. Besides being used by the Danish royal family from time to time, it is also the only building in the world that houses all three of the country’s branches of government in the same place – Danish Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Prime Minister all take care of business here. Originally this area was water with a small island, but in 1167 bishop Absalon (a powerful bishop and warlord of Roskilde, who has a statue on Højbro Plads) decided to build the first construction/fortress on this small island. Today, the area is still called “The Castle Island” (Slotsholmen) – and though it no longer protects the ‘small town’ of Copenhagen, it is an integral part of the city and country.
After the introduction of absolute monarchy in Denmark in 1660, the King Christian 6 did not find the small swampy area worthy for an absolute monarch, and decided to take it all down and build the biggest and most magnificent castle in Northern Europe. He accomplished this goal, and to make matters even more impressive, the castle had to rest on 9.252 oak-pillars due to the ground not being solid. The castle that exists today was built in 1918, and still rests on the pillars.
The surroundings:
– The statue on the square in front of Christiansborg: Frederik 7, who was the last absolute monarch who signed the first democratic constitution in 1849.
– Holmens Kirke (The Naval Church) – originally the blacksmith of the navy but made into a church by Christian 4th around the year 1600.
– Børsen (the old stock exchange) built by Christian 4th 1619-23 in Dutch renaissance style. It is especially known for its dragon-spire made of three dragon tails.
– Den Røde Bygning (The Red Building) – build around 1700, originally hosting the total bureaucracy of the absolute monarchy. Today the Ministry of Finance (The Treasury).
– Nationalbanken (The Danish Central Bank) is just down the street. It is a modern building designed
D. Gammel Strand
During the Middle Ages, the fishwives used Gammel Strand as a trade market. In 1940, the granite statue “The Last Fisherman’s Wife” was unveiled in the street in memory of them. Today the statue is stored because of the metro construction but it will return afterwards.
Gammel Strand is an old street located in beautiful surroundings at the Slotsholmen Canal across Christiansborg Palace. The street begins at Højbro Plads and ends in the square at Nybrogade where you find the great cocktail bar Ruby. It is rumored that the sun shines longer at Gammel Strand, so you will find many locals sitting outside by the canal, enjoying a cup of coffee or a beer late into the Copenhagen summer evenings. Throughout the year, The Art Association Gl Strand has many great exhibitions to check out, and if you are up for a burger, you should pop into the popular burger restaurant Cock’s & Cows.
E. Storkespringvandet
The water fountain Storkespringvandet was donated to the Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Queen Louise´s silver anniversay in 1894. The water fountain is located in Højbro Plads, a Square established in 1795 after one of Copenhagen’s great fires, which made 6000 surviving Copenhageners homeless overnight. Several narrows streets where demolished to give more space to prevent similar big fires.
Almost all houses in the area built after the fire were built in neoclassical style – a style which is also seen in Christiansborg Castle, the Danish Parliament, just up the street.
F. Torvehallerne
Torvehallerne (“The Glass Markets”) are situated right by Nørreport Station, and offer more than 80 shops with food and groceries.The area has functioned as a vegetable market since 1889. It used to be farmers from the outskirts of Copenhagen who came into the city to sell their homegrown vegetables, bread etc. Torvehallerne as they look now opened in 2011. The area outside is very popular when the sun comes out to just eat, drink or hang out.
G. Botanisk Museum & Botanisk Have
The Botanical Garden of Copenhagen is a collection of plants and flowers from all over the world, which dates back to 1600. The museum and garden give fantastic insights into the amazing world of traditional herbal medicine and the numerous functions of many of the plants found on the grounds. The garden is open to the public, and is a very popular hangout place to study, explore the exotic flowers and plants in the big greenhouse, or just go for a walk.
H. Søerne: Sankt Jørgen Sø, Peblingesø & Sortedams sø
”The lakes,” as the three lakes surrounding downtown Copenhagen are called, are man-made and date back to the Middle ages. They were constructed to defend the city from enemies as moats. Later, in the 1700s, the lakes functioned as a water reservoir, and continued to do so until 1959. Today the lakes are a popular hangout place. The minute the sun comes out the vast area around the lakes fills up with strolling couples, panting joggers, brunch devotees, kids feeding the ducks, and best friends sipping thermos coffee while taking in the best views of the city. Do an early morning jog on the paths surrounding the lakes (6km), or head for one of these fine cafés for delicious coffee with excellent views: Kaffesalonen at 6 Peblinge Dossering, Café Front Page at 21 Sortedam Dossering, and Den Franske Café at 101 Sortedam Dossering.