What part of the day you think is the best?

A lot of people might answer evening since it is the time when they have a chance to rest their tired bodies and sleep their problems away.   For some, it would be the morning, when they can organize and plan their schedule ahead.

If you ask me, morning is the best part, not because of the planning and organizing, but because they always excite me about the things unknown. Picture this: you’re sitting in a café, musing over a cup of coffee, and munching on a cupcake. In front of you is a view worthy of all the treasures in the world. You don’t know what will happen; you’re just admiring the beauty of the moment. Then suddenly, a man trips or a band of musicians passes by, playing a song you haven’t heard before. You’re thrilled and filled with joy.

 

Then you stand up and walk around, not knowing where to go. An establishment catches your eye, you go inside to look, then you find yourself learning more interesting things about the world.

You see what I mean? There’s an adventure brought by the unknown; by not fearing but anticipating what will happen. And it’s just early in the morning. What more can the day bring as it continues to pass, unraveling experiences way beyond the ordinary. Believe it or not, this kind of day does not only occur in fairy tales and movies. It happens in real life, in a real place, and in a real time.

You can find this in Denmark, a country bordered by Sweden and Norway. It comprises of Denmark and its two autonomous countries, Faroe Islands and Greenland. The country’s name was greatly debated until the 9th century, when people first used “Denmark” or “Danmark” (meaning the border district of the Danes). Filled with historical landmarks and modern attractions, the country is now popular to many travelers around the world.

A Cup of Coffee

For the first time travelers, it’s always a good way to start your day with a sumptuous breakfast in the Nyhavn Canal. It’s a 17th century waterfront neighborhood located in Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital and largest city. The area is basically an entertainment spot filled with hotels, restaurants, bars, boutiques, and coffee shops. These are set in 17th and 18th century townhouses, which complete the rustic ambience.

The oldest house known in the area is No. 9, which dates back to the year 1681. Meanwhile, No.20 is popular among the locals, since this was where the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen wrote the famous fairy tales, “The Princess and the Pea”, “Little Claus and Big Claus”, and “The Tinder-Box”.

Also found south of the area is the Royal Danish Playhouse, a theater designed by the Lundgaard & Tranberg firm to house different performance. Renowned as a heritage port, Nyhavn also showcases harbor ships-turned museums, such as the Lightvessel XVII Gedser Rev (built in Odense in the year 1895) and the two-masted schooner “Mira” (built in 1898 and hailed as the finest ships in the Danish channel). There’s also the Memorial Anchor that commemorates the courageous officers who died in the Second World War.

Aside from the water buses that allow tourists to see the waterway, there are bike rentals available for a much better and faster way of moving from one landmark to another. While wandering the city by foot or on a bike, why don’t you take some time to check out the street musicians and entertainers who roam around and amuse pedestrians?

An Abundance of Palaces

Just like many European countries, Denmark also prides itself of majestic castles that abound the area. Two of the most popular are the Christiansborg Palace and the Rosenborg Palace of Copenhagen.

Once used as a royal residence from the 1400s until 1794, Christiansborg Palace was first set in a baroque architectural style headed by architect Elias David Häusser in 1733. However, the castle did not live long as it was ruined by a fire on 1794, with only the showgrounds surviving the tragedy. In 1803, the resurrection of the second palace begun, headed by architect Christian Frederik Hansen. Patterned after French Empire style, the reconstruction included a newly built Hansen’s Chapel. Unfortunately, the new palace met the same fate as the first, and was burned down in 1884. Only the showgrounds and the chapel endured.

 

What people will see today is the third Christiansborg Palace, constructed between the years 1907 to 1928. Tourists can roam the royal reception rooms, the throne room, palace chapel, and court theater. There’s also the riding ground complex, which was the only part of the first chapel that didn’t caught fire. Other aspects of the castle that are hard to miss are the marble bridge, pavilions, and the parliament wing (found on the lobby on the first floor), as well as the equestrian statue of King Christian IX situated on the showgrounds.

When the Christiansborg Palace burned down, the royal family moved to Rosenborg Castle in 1794. This was built as a country summerhouse in 1606 and boasts of Dutch Renaissance appeal, designed by architects Bertel Lange and Hans van Steenwinckel.

One of the area’s great features is the Rosenborg Castle Garden, known as the King’s Garden and considered as oldest garden in Denmark. Inside the palace, tourists can find a vast collection of artifacts such as the Knight’s Hall (adorned by three life-sized silver lions), King Christian IV’s crown, Denmark’s globus cruciger, and tapestries representing the battles between Denmark and Sweden.

Just one other

If you haven’t had enough of castles, there’s another one that stands out among the rest. Located in the city center, Amalienborg Palace was constructed in a magnificent Danish Rococo style on the 1700s.

It is composed of four significant and matching buildings: the Moltke’s Palace, Levetzau’s Palace, Brockdorff’s Palace, and Schack’s Palace. Each of these buildings was vital in the country’s royal scene as they once served as a stately home for noblemen. In fact, Levetzau’s Palace once became a residence of Denmark’s Princess Benedikte and Prince Joachim for a period of time.

In the middle of the Amalienborg’s square stands a grand statue of King Frederik V. An impressive garden known as the Amalie Garden was assembled between the waterfront and Amalienborg Slotsplads as a present to the loyal inhabitants of Copenhagen. Also a must-see in the area is the Frederik’s Cathedral, designed by Nicolai Eigtved in 1740. The Cathedral is also popular among the locals as the The Marble Church.

From the cathedral, head off to the unique museum erected in honor of famous fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen. Opened to the public in 1908, the Hans Christian Andersen Museum showcases the life and works of the well-famed author, from his childhood days in Odense until his rise to popularity. Tourists will witness book readings, his artworks, as well as interactive videos showing his life experiences.

Political connection

See Copenhagen from a new perspective by visiting its city hall, where the offices of the Lord Mayor and municipal officers lie. Constructed in 1892 by architect Martin Nyrop, the structure was fashioned from the city hall of Sienna in Italy.

The city hall’s dominant features are the looming clock tower (which stands over 105 meters tall) and the statue of Absalon, a Danish archbishop and statesman who is considered by the locals as the foremost statesman and father of Denmark. The building is open for a guided trip every Mondays to Saturdays.

After visiting the city hall, feel the cool breeze as you pass Øresund Bridge, which connects Denmark to Sweden. Designed by architect Georg K.S. Rotne, it was opened for public use in the year 2000 and served both as a bridge and tunnel. An artificial island called Peberholmen is also part of the viaduct.

For Kids and Kids at Heart

Relive all your childhood memories and be a kid again in the Tivoli Amusement Park. It’s just a walking distance away from the city hall. Since its opening in 1843, the theme park has served its purpose of entertaining all its visitors.

Once called as Tivoli & Vauxhall (after the Jardin de Tivoli in Paris and Vauxhall Gardens in London) the park boasts of different extreme rides: roller coasters called Demon and the Mountain Coaster; a carousel named The Star Flyer; the Aquila giant spinner; and the thrilling Vertigo plane ride. Other attractions inside the amusement park include the Pantomime Theater, the Tivoli Garden, and Concert Hall. It also hosts the Tivoli Festival that runs from the months of May to September. The festival showcases opera shows, symphony concerts, and chamber music, plus pop and rock concerts.

Fireworks displays can also be seen on Saturdays and holidays. The park is open every day from morning until the evening.

Good Morning, Denmark!

Mornings are always the best. Not only can you witness the beauty of the rising sun, it also brings with it new opportunities to spend your life the way you want it to be. It makes you realize the miracle of spending every second of your life with contentment and happiness. This plasters a smile on your face even after all the problems and stress the other day brought.

And so have a good and happy morning filled with joy in Denmark. When you’ve witness it’s beauty, the moments will remain long after your stay.