Our final day in Copenhagen began with a morning walking tour of Rosenborg Castle led by a local guide hired by Rick Steves. The grounds around the castle were King Christian IV’s Garden. The King’s favorite summer home was built in 1606-34.
The Danish Crown Jewels can be found in the castle’s basement. The priceless collection may be worn by the current sitting queen for special events.
Rosenborg Castle’s Knights’ Hall displays the coronation thrones accented with narwhale tusks, and three life-size silver lions on guard. The walls are adorned with tapestries depicting Denmark and Sweden’s major battles.
After our educational morning tour, we were set loose on a beautiful day to explore Copenhagen’s streets and famous sights. This framework of rotating mirrors enables people to stand facing each other on opposite sides and view their combined bodies.
The fountain in Copenhagen’s City Hall Square has a large bull on top facing down a vicious dragon.
A street artist creates a globe filled with round flags from many countries using colored chalk.
LEGOS are a Danish creation. The Lego Group was founded at Ole Kirk Christiansen’s carpentry shop in 1916. The LEGO Store at Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, is decorated with objects made with over 350,000 LEGO bricks
This is the grand entrance to Tivoli Gardens, which opened in 1843. Tivoli Gardens is the second-oldest operating amusement park on the planet. The oldest is Dyrehavsbakken, which opened in 1583 and is also in Copenhagen.
Tivoli Gardens boasts 25 attractions. Visitors may enjoy roller coasters, water rides, assorted gardens, and 64 restaurants.
Walt Disney designed Disneyland after visiting Tivoli Gardens in the 1950s. He was enchanted by the family atmosphere, cleanliness, and exceptional layout Tivoli offered to its guests.
We were parched and hungry after running around Tivoli Gardens’ 15 acres of eye candy and chose Proud Mary Pub for refreshments.
Tattoo Ole, the world’s oldest operating tattoo shop, was not open the first time we visited the venerable establishment in the Nyhavn district near our hotel. Owner Magpritt Petersen said, “People come here wanting something personal to take home with them.” We loved the shop but left with no tats.
Trolls permeate Scandinavian folklore and appear all over Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. This troll in Nyhavn is guarding dried fish in front of a market. Copenhagen is a vast collection of great architecture, cool neighborhoods, interesting eateries, and picturesque canals. The entire city is walking and biking-friendly.