Copenhagen anyone?

[dreilly]

Well, I got a great break at work. "Reilly! We need 1000 images of Copenhagen and Denmark. Take 6 days and shoot as much as you can."

It didn't really happen like that, but that's the end result. In two weeks I get to play photographer in Copenhagen. I can't wait.

I've got to go totally digital for this. I know, don't tell me. How much would I love to shoot my Flexaret through there? But not this time. My gear will be a new Olympus E-1 (with the nice 2.8 zoom lens) and a backup Sony W-5 in case the DSLR gets wonky on me.

The images will be used for a series of short videos we'll make about Denmark to help prepare our students for studying there; hence the advantage of shooting digital...

But anyway, my question is: what are the "must sees," and "must dos" in Copenhagen? Also, since our office has been before and we have good coverage already of the core of the city (the Palace, Nyhavn, some in Christiana), is there anywhere outside of the capital I should visit to see a more traditional version of Danish daily life, a small town perhaps?

I know we've a few members from Copenhagen...and a lot of avid travellers. What do you love about the Danish city? You can even post your favorite Copenhagen image for all of the arm-chair travellers out there.

Incidentally, like an army, I travel on my stomach. What's the "must eats" of Denmark?

 

[Pherdinand]

It was a great fun to sit behind the little mermaid for an hour and watch/photograph all the chimping tourists.

You can go north of Copenhagen, it's full with small beautiful places.
Danish have great herring 😀
Their "sandwiches" are a full meal and more. Drinks are expensive, though.

The girls are beautiful.

 

[dreilly]

It's only 6 days, not 14! I leave in about two weeks, however. I'll have to really pack it in there. Keep it coming!

 

[rxmd]

Copenhagen is great. I got married there and spent an amazing time there afterwards.

There are lots of opportunities for good food. My personal favourite was a very good and cheap Turkish restaurant in Krystalgade where the excellent all you can eat buffet costs about $10, if you get fed up with Danish food (which is unlikely).

Must reads include useit.dk, I would say. It's a good guide to the quarters and attractions, to places to eat and to stay.

If you want to see something different, you can go north to Klampenborg and visit the Bakken amusement park (great for street photography, it's rather lower and middle class) or the Jægersborg Dyrehave park. Or you can take the train over to Sweden over the amazing Storebælts(EDIT: Oops. Got that wrong. :bang🙂 Øresundsbroen bridge and take a good look at Skåne, the southern province of Sweden, with cities such as Malmö or Helsingborg.

Philipp

 

[Jeroen]

6 days is enough, as well. I've been in Copenhagen many times and know the town quite well.
Go to the office of Use-It (http://www.useit.dk/) and pick up one of their low budget travel guides to the city. Great tips for students, but also nice ideas for sights and neighborhoods to visit. My favourite area is Nörrebro.

 

[EmilGil]

[...]
Or you can take the train over to Sweden over the amazing Storebæltsbroen bridge and take a good look at Skåne, the southern province of Sweden, with cities such as Malmö or Helsingborg.

Philipp

Well, for what it is worth, Storebæltsbroen crosses Store Bælt ("Big strait") between the islands of Fyn (west) and Sjælland (east, where Copenhagen is situated) on the road between Copenhagen and Odense. The bridge between Denmark and Sweden is called Øresundsbroen and half of it is a tunnel, half of it is a bridge, crossing Øresund just south of Copenhagen and Malmö. It does make some intresting photo opportunities when the weather's right.

Don't miss Louisiana though, in Humlebæk about half an hour drive north of Copenhagen city. It's a fantastic art museum with a huge sculpture park. You also got the Carlsberg art museum, near Tivoli (which is also a great place, lots of neon and happy people). Strøget is the main shopping and touristing street, lots of street and candid photography opportunities there. There is a church with a spiral tower which is quite nice, and also the Gun tower with a spiral slope (not stairs!) up to the top. Nyhavn is also beautiful, as is the new opera house. Many of these places are standard tourist sites, but you might find some of them attractive anyway.

Have a nice time, and enjoy the beer!

 

[nksyoon]

If you want photos of old farm houses and other rural buildings, there's an open-air museum just outside central Copenhagen where they've transplanted old buildings from all over Denmark. A bit touristy but something to bear in mind.

http://www.nationalmuseet.dk/sw20384.asp

 

[rxmd]

Emil, you're right, of course. I got a bit carried away and got the wrong bridge 🙂 Kinda stupid because the bridge is clearly labeled on every city map and even on railway timetables.

Philipp

 

[sleepyhead]

Hi dreilly, I work in Copenhagen and live in Roskilde, a very nice town about a half hour train ride west.

Roskilde was the most important city in Denmark like 1000 years ago, and is where all the dead Danish kings are buried. It has a nice Cathedral, currently covered in scaffolding due to roof repair, and a viking ship museum with both indoors and outdoors exhibitions. Up til 30 September it's possible to go out for a sail on roskilde fjord in a very authentic reconstructed viking ship. I've done this, and let me tell you, if it's at all windy, it's VERY exciting. See attached photo courtesy of the museum web page. Otherwise, Roskilde has a University, a main pedestrian shopping strip, a viking-living research centre close by (Ljere), and not too much more.

The tips given by others above for Copenhagen are good. Cogenhagen, and Denmark in general, isn't so much a city/country of sites or attractions, but rather a laid-back friendly place to hang out and relax and enjoy. I would get pictures of cafe's, bars, night-clubs, etc. That would be sure to attract your sudents attention!

Feel free to send me a PM if you think i can be of any further assistence/advice, or if you'de like to meet for a beer while you're here.

Regards, yaron


PS I went to university in Ithaca by the way - I miss the beautiful finger lakes sometimes...

 

[chenick]

I was there last year for a long weekend and loved it.

Attached is a photo of the church with the spiral spire as mentioned above.

More photos are Here!

Cheers

Nick

 

[dreilly]

Chenick,
That's a great photo...I'd totally vomit. My penchant for heights isn't so developed. Yaron...that sounds great. I'll suggest the viking boat ride to my director, see if he likes the idea. Roskilde was already on our list. If it works out and we'll add that to our itinerary, I'll let you know.

cheers
doug

 

[Larss]

If you go to Jylland (Jüttland) ind Denmark then let me now, I live in Sønderjylland (south Jüttland) near the German border so if you are interested in danish history you just tell me and I will tell you a lot of wars betwen Germany and Denmark, Sønderjylland was on german hands from 1864 to 1920 we have a carstel full of this history and Dybbøl Mølle (Dybbøl mill) and we are building the finest universerty in this country, my city is visit worth but bring som ekstra memory cards!