The city of Copenhagen in Denmark was recently ranked as number 5 in the New York Times’ list of “31 Must See Places in 2010.” Why?
According to the newspaper, “the Danish capital has already emerged as one of the world’s greenest – and maybe coolest – cities.”
After the UN Climate Change Conference took place in Copenhagen last December, it has become increasingly clear that the city of Copenhagen “walks the walk” when it comes to green living.
One of the most noticeable ways in which this is true is with the popularity of bicycling throughout Copenhagen. It’s not just for exercise- it’s the most popular way to commute. The city has miles of well kept bicycle paths, and bikes are even available for free for tourists. Yes, that’s right — you don’t even have to pay to use a bike here. That’s definitely cool.
Fashion bloggers have even helped to make cycling fashionable. You can check out the latest on Copenhagen pedaling at www.copenhagencyclechic.com/
Another manner in which Copenhagen has led the way in environmental advocacy is with the reformation of its previously polluted inner harbor. In Copenhagen you’re never far from the coast. No matter where you are, the coast is a maximum of about 30 minutes away.
The city is located on The Sound, called “Øresund” in Danish, which is a strait between the Kattegat and the Baltic Sea. After several years of concentrated efforts to improve the water quality on the Copenhagen waterfront, regular control has proven the water to be so clean that it is safe to use for bathing.
Two open air swim baths operate in Copenhagen from the first week of June to the first week of September. The most popular swim bath is called Copencabana, and is located near a shopping mall called Fisketorvet.
Three basins cover an area of about 2,100 square feet. This is a particularly friendly spot for families since there is a children’s pool as well as a diving pool and an ordinary pool for exercise and swimming. There are also always lifeguards on duty.
The second harbor bath is called Islands Brygge. This one consists of a total of five basins, two of which are specifically for children. (All children under eight years of age must be accompanied by an adult.) On weekdays, Islands Brygge opens at 7 am, and is a great place for an early morning swim.
These two swimming areas on Copenhagen’s inner harbor are major summertime hot spots. A third public bath is set to open at Osterbro this year.
With all that biking and swimming, you’re sure to get plenty of healthy, outdoor exercise on your trip to Copenhagen. But if exercise doesn’t get your pulse rate up enough, what you need is a trip to Tivoli Gardens.
Tivoli is one of the oldest amusement parks in the entire world, and it is actually the park that gave Walt Disney the idea for his own creations. Tivoli is the most popular tourist attraction in Denmark. It opened in 1843 and is also the second oldest amusement park in the world.
Tivoli is best known for its wooden roller coaster, called Rutsjebanen. But as a reflection of its many years of existence, it is also filled with a great number of other attractions, both on the daring side and those of the more leisurely form.
The Fairytale Garden attracts many visitors, both young and old, to its elegant atmosphere. You can take a ride on a carousel, or at night you can watch fireworks as they explode overhead and reflect in the waters of the lake below.
At Tivoli you’ll find the Pantomine Theater, a concert hall that contains Europe’s longest saltwater aquarium, the H.C. Anderson Castle, and a live summer music series called Fredagsrock. There is certainly no lack of excitement at Denmark’s number one attraction!
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