"A fairy-tale town deserves a magical funfair. Tivoli Gardens is one of the country’s most popular attractions, drawing more than four million visitors a year (in a country with a population of around 5.5 million). Youngsters will enjoy the rides, while their parents will appreciate the nostalgic charm and the wide range of dining options, from hot dogs and churros to "New Nordic" gastronomy."

"A Grand Entrance in Copenhagen As I arrived in Copenhagen for the first time, I followed the map from the subway to my hostel. All was going smoothly until a police officer who was directing traffic stopped me from passing. I stood there with my big pack on my front and back slightly annoyed and then I saw them coming - a beautiful row of soldiers marching in perfect unison emerging from what I came to learn was the Rosenborg Castle complex. They passed by me, and marched directly out on the street. I continued to follow them along the sidewalk as if they were the Pied Piper and I watched as the group of them stopped for stoplights and cars went by them as if this was an everyday occurrence I had no idea who they were or why they were marching, or where they were going - but all of a sudden I felt as if Copenhagen had given me the best welcome possible. It was unexpected, interesting, and suddenly I found myself excited about what else the city had to offer - how else could it surprise me? I later found out that the scene I saw was the daily changing of the Danish Royal Guard. They march from Rosenborg Castle at 11:30 daily through the streets of Copenhagen (stopping for stoplights!), and execute the changing of the guard in front of Amalienborg Palace at 12:00."

"Colorful harbor Last week we spent 5 days in Copenhagen , Denmark. October is, for me, the best time to visit. It's colder and there are more chances for rain but the number of tourists is drastically lower. I did not feel suffocated by them at all. Nyhavn harbor was almost empty every day. I love traveling in the shoulder season."

"Strøget - The Shopping Street Copenhagen's pedestrian-only shopping street, Strøget, stretches from the city square (Radhusplasn) to Nyhavn (Kongens Nytorv) and is lined by shops, cafes, department stores and restaurants. Walking the street from end to end is an absolute must as part of any visit to Copenhagen . Set aside some extra time to enjoy the street performers and skilled buskers that line the street year-round."

"Tree-lined Paths and Handmade Structures In 1971, squatters moved into the barracks on an abandoned military base and established Freetown Christiania, an autonomous district in the middle of the city. Later, many dwellers built their own homes on the 86-acre property. Although the Danish Supreme Court ruledthis year that the state owns the land, the area’s nearly 1,000 residents have yet to be evicted. Today, visitors can bike along tree-lined paths and check out the handmade structures before they disappear. christiania.org . This appeared in the July/August 2011 issue."

"Climb up a Church Steeple - On the Outside You can see the black and gold spiral steeple of the Church of our Saviour, or Vor Frelsers Kirke, all over Copenhagen . It's not until you are standing beneath it you realize that golden spiral is actually a staircase—on the outside. If you are among the brave, you can climb the stairs all the way to the top of the steeple, for a view over the lively Christianshavn neighbourhood of Copenhagen. If (like me) you are afraid of heights, you can admire the church from below and muster your courage... for next time."

"Copenhagen Canal Tour I'm usually not a fan of these types of tourist tours. In the case of the Copenhagen canal tours though, it's well worth making an exception. Not only do the boats show you a number of popular parts of Copenhagen, they'll also take you into areas that are extremely difficult to reach on your own while providing great historical context. While prices vary from company to company, most are extremely reasonable and leave from numerous locations all over the city. I suggest walking until you're ready to sit for a bit, then hopping on one of the canal tours before continuing your walking tour of the city."

"Better Than the Little Mermaid While the little mermaid is good for what she is, just about everyone who sees her finds her...well...small. It shouldn't be a surprise for something that is quite literally called the LITTLE mermaid, but somehow she often still disappoints. What makes the trip out to see her well worthwhile, however, is Kastellet, which is located immediately behind her. This star fortress dates back to the 1600s, still serves as an active military complex, and is one of the best preserved star fortresses left in Europe. No matter what time of year it is, a walk along the fortress's ramparts is well worth it. The views over the canals are gorgeous, and there are a number of old canons left lying about for photos. You'll also find one of Copenhagen 's only remaining windmills. Don't just explore the ramparts, also head down and look at the historic buildings that fill the interior of the fortress. With their brightly colored paint, tiny windows, and age-weary walls, they're perfect for a photo."

"Amalienborg Palace When you think of a royal palace, you usually think of one set building. In Copenhagen 's case there are actually four distinct buildings which surround a large central square. Why four? Apparently, because it was originally inhabited by four noble families. Only, when Christiansborg Palace burnt down in 1794 the royal family needed a new place to live. For the king and queen, it wouldn't do to live in the same palace lesser nobility had previous inhabited. The solution? Acquire all four noble houses and turn them into a super-palace. While the Queen still uses some of the buildings as her winter residence, others are open to the public or converted into a museum. This is also a fantastic spot to see the changing of the guard, and for a slice of history head to the corner facing the fountain (and opera house). Looking back into the square, you'll see a small patch of damaged stucco. That patch is an un-repaired piece of the palace that illustrates blast damage from WWII."

"A Wine Bar with a View Situated overlooking the canal with a partial view of the Danish parliament, this elegant little wine bar has clean decor inspired by Danish design and a relaxed but engaging ambience."

"This group of more than 30 cafés across Denmark are open early, so they’re great for breakfast. The tea, coffee, and sandwiches are all very nice, but what really sets Lagkagehuset apart is the quality of the cakes. It would take an iron will to resist one of their strawberry tarts or a slice of Christianshavnerkage, a hazelnut torte topped with strawberry-vanilla cream and berries. The café in Copenhagen overlooks the lakes, and when the water glitters on a sunny day, there are few places more pleasant for an impromptu afternoon tea."

"A Restaurant, Smørrebrød Shop and Snaps Bar These guys take a lot of pride in the food they prepare. Things are made from scratch daily, and they focus on sourcing high-quality ingredients based on taste and what's in season. Beyond just smørrebrød and the usual Danish lunch menu, Told and Snaps is a fully functional restaurant. They also have an assortment of traditional snaps, both purchased and homemade variations. As this is a traditional Danish lunch restaurant, it's not typically open for dinner."