Copenhagen, Denmark2-3 hoursMorning
Nyhavn
Copenhagen's colourful 17th-century canal with historic townhouses.
Ideal: Ideal for first-time Copenhagen visitors, photography, and city atmosphere.
The canal was dug between 1670 and 1673 by Swedish prisoners of war, with the aim of bringing cargo ships directly into the city. For centuries this was not a tourist spot but a rough sailors' quarter full of taverns and brothels; it only gained its reputation in the 1980s. Hans Christian Andersen lived in three separate houses on the canal and wrote his first fairy tales at number 20. The oldest building, number 9, dates from 1681.
Why go?
- To see Copenhagen's most iconic canal view
- For colourful historic houses and harbour atmosphere
- To start a city walk with a pleasant, photogenic stop
Travel tip
Go early in the morning to avoid crowds and get better photos.
