Copenhagen & Praesto – Denmark
Invited to a friend’s wedding in Praesto so decided to make a weekend of it doing 2 days in CPH then 1 day in Praesto/Tappernoje then another 2 days in CPH. Departed Heathrow at 0650 on BA812 on time going to CPH Kastrup Airport. Flight was uneventful 1 hour 25 minutes of flying with the usual 20 minutes of faffing around Heathrow and CPH. Pastrami croissant for breakfast on board. Cleared customs and retrieved baggage then headed to the train station. Google maps got us to the Copenhagen Island Hotel (albeit on the wrong side of a dual carriageway in the rain), we were 4 hours early. Paid 200 DKK to upgrade room to a harbour view that meant we could check in straight away!
Hotel is a nightmare for anyone scared of heights (like me) as the corridors from lift to the rooms are ‘jump offable.’ Restaurant and bar area are very comfortable with an outdoor area on the Harbour full of smokers. Food was excellent and beer was expensive at 80 DKK for half a litre of Kronenbourg (approx £9.14!!)
Off we went on our first excursion into the city. 15 minute walk and we were at Tivoli Gardens, a theme park in the centre of CPH. The main square, where City Hall is located, currently is undergoing renovations, so photo’s of the buildings were obscured by large cranes. There are lots of bars and restaurants (and those horrid fast food joints) with bars from around the world. English pub, Scottish Pub, the obligatory Irish Pub(s) and an Aussie pub, where, again beer was expensive.
Day 2 saw glorious sunshine and a day where we ventured into the heart of Copenhagen. There are 3 main squares, all quaint and filled with cafe’s and bars where you can sit and watch the world go by. Had a wonderful lunch, the Danes certainly know how to make a tasty sandwich. Picked up the car from Avis parked it at the hotel and went back to the centre.
Checked out of the hotel, and asked for a ground floor room for the reservation on Sunday. Drove to Tappernoje got there 3 hours too early and the hotel would not let us check in. So went to Praesto, the closest bit of civilisation, and walked straight into a Bric-a-Brac market day. Quickly found a pub and had some lunch. The hotel was the Hotel Fjordkroen that unsurprisingly overlooked Praesto Fjord, with stunning views. Coach picked us up, off to the wedding we went.
Woke up with a mouth like Ghandi’s flip flop and a sore head. Showered and headed back to CPH for the remaining 2 days. Got our ground floor room with a view of the road. Did the usual and always recommend to do, open top bus tour. Hopped off at Christiania the hippy commune that is supposed to be a state within a state. Overhyped! Stayed there for about 30 minutes and went for lunch. Hopped off at The Little Mermaid, and, my word, she is little too. Continued round and hopped off at other places that looked interesting, one in particular we almost missed, Nyhavn. A beautiful canal street with restaurants and bars filling the streets and al fresco dining. A really good atmosphere. This lead up to another square, again, undergoing redevelopment where the National Opera/Theatre was. Stunning buildings.
Last day was mostly faffing around the places we’d already seen, we were booked to leave on BA821 to Heathrow at 1950 where we picked up a Hertz car drove to the Holiday Inn Ariel and had a kip.
In summary: Well worth a visit, but be prepared to spend money like there’s no tomorrow!
