Hello from “Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen!” (That’s an allusion to a hit Danny Kaye song, for those who’ve never seen the classic movie, “Hans Christian Andersen”) I arrived this morning for a quick visit before heading to central Europe for the next two weeks. Tomorrow, I’ll fly to Warsaw, spend a few days in Poland, then head to Prague, followed by a Viking river cruise on the Elbe, ending with a couple of days in Berlin.
I’ll talk about Copenhagen in a moment, but first let me go over some details. The EU just instituted a new Entry/Exit System (the “EES,” cleverly enough) that will replace passport stamping with biometric data. The rollout has been rocky in some places and smooth in others; I’m happy to report Copenhagen appears to be among the latter.
I stepped off my SAS flight at 10:15 this morning, walked to passport control (less than ten minutes), and was eighth in line for the baseline biometric scan. I reached the front of the line in five minutes, and the baseline scan took all of 30 seconds. All told, a non-event.
The easiest way to get to central Copenhagen from the airport is to take the metro. It’s a 15-minute ride (30 Kr., about $5 US) to the main downtown station, Kongens Nytorv. I’m staying at the Admiral Hotel, which is well-located and comfortable, if a bit dark – it’s in a converted warehouse. (The hotel is 15 minutes by foot from the metro station. Most streets and sidewalks have cobblestones, so be prepared to jounce your roller bag along the way if you decide to hoof it.)
This is my second trip to Copenhagen; the first was in 2013 with my then-15-year-old son. I’d planned to spend the day visiting some of the city’s wonderful museums, but the fine weather persuaded me otherwise. Instead, I passed several pleasant hours strolling the city’s lanes, admiring the architecture, catching the changing of the guards at Amalienborg Palace, and laying in a store of Vitamin D to see me through any dreary, drippy days to come.
As an interlude between walks, I took the “classic Copenhagen canal tour” from Nyhavn harbor (around $25 US), which I strongly recommend. It’s a delightfully scenic and relaxing way to see the city. In one hour, you float past many of Copenhagen’s charming neighborhoods, the modern Opera House, the Little Mermaid statue, and several striking churches.
Among Americans, I think Copenhagen lacks the cachet of Amsterdam, but it’s well worth visiting in its own right. It’s just as handsome and cultured as Amsterdam, and the bicyclists in Copenhagen are more considerate of pedestrians than their Dutch counterparts, significantly reducing the chance of suffering grievous bodily harm.
Having not slept in 32 hours (but who’s counting), I’ll resist Danny Kaye’s urging to “clink and drink one down” in honor of this “salty old queen of the sea.” My bed awaits.
I’ll post again after my time in Warsaw. Thanks for stopping by – see you soon!
PuffinlessTravel 