Denmark

Copenhagen is a city of bicycles, clean harbour water and quietly brilliant design. The painted townhouses of Nyhavn are the classic image, but the city is just as much about the royal palaces of Amalienborg, the Tivoli Gardens, which opened in 1843, the free-spirited neighbourhood of Christiania and a food scene that has made Copenhagen a pilgrimage for chefs. Half an hour away, Roskilde has a cathedral where Danish kings and queens are buried and a museum of Viking ships.

Denmark is often the first or last stop on a Scandinavian trip. Our Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen rail tour links the three capitals, the Scandinavia private van tour covers Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland, and a 14-day self-drive route starts and ends in Copenhagen. If you have only a few days, a Copenhagen city break with a private walking tour is an easy introduction.

Food and drink

Smørrebrød, open sandwiches on dense rye bread topped with pickled herring, roast beef or prawns, is the lunchtime staple. Pastries, called wienerbrød here, are excellent, and the cinnamon swirl is worth seeking out. Copenhagen’s restaurants range from relaxed street food halls to some of the most celebrated tasting menus in the world, so book ahead if you have one in mind.

How to travel

Copenhagen is compact and walkable, with an efficient metro and trains straight from the airport to the centre. To see more of Scandinavia, rail is relaxing and scenic, while a private van tour or self-drive itinerary lets you include the coast and small towns along the way. Distances between the capitals are long, so allow enough nights.