The Saturday after our delicious pork dinner began once again in the cold winter air of Copenhagen. The city was still quiet in the morning, with only a few people out on the streets. Soft winter light made the colorful buildings look even gentler.
That day, we decided to explore several of Copenhagen’s well-known landmarks.
Copenhagen City Hall
Our first stop was Copenhagen City Hall.
The building already looks impressive from the outside, but stepping inside was truly surprising. The high ceilings, the warm light coming through the large windows, and the rich decorative details gave the space an atmosphere almost like a palace.
Because it was the weekend, we even saw a couple who seemed to be there for their wedding. Apparently, it is quite common to hold wedding ceremonies at City Hall here.
A few months later, I heard that a couple living in the same apartment building as us in Berlin had actually gotten married at this very City Hall. It felt like a small and unexpected connection, and somehow it made me smile.
The building was completed in 1905 and designed by the Danish architect Martin Nyrop. It is said to have been inspired by the city hall of Siena in Italy.
Copenhagen is often known for its charming streets and colorful houses, but buildings like this remind you that it is also a city with a strong sense of history and civic pride.
The Round Tower
Next we headed to the Round Tower.
What makes this tower unique is that instead of traditional stairs, you walk up a gently winding spiral ramp. As you circle upward, the climb feels gradual and almost effortless.
Long ago, the ramp was designed so that horse-drawn carriages could carry books up to the library at the top.
Walking along it feels a bit like slowly ascending through a long tunnel.
From the top, the view of Copenhagen was peaceful and beautiful, with red rooftops stretching out into the distance.
While walking through the city that day, we also happened to see the Royal Guards marching through the streets. Their perfectly synchronized steps and distinctive uniforms were quite impressive, and many tourists stopped to watch them pass.
The Royal Guards are closely connected to the Danish royal family, whose residence is the nearby Amalienborg Palace.
The Little Mermaid
After that, we walked along the waterfront to see the Little Mermaid statue.
People often say that it is “smaller than expected,” but when I saw it in person, I didn’t feel that way at all.
Sitting quietly on a rock and gazing out over the sea, the statue blends beautifully with the harbor scenery.
It is a bit of a walk from the city center, but the seaside path was very pleasant. As we strolled along the calm waterfront, it felt less like a busy tourist attraction and more like a peaceful harbor town.
While wandering around the area, we also came across what looked like old military barracks and even a windmill. The quiet presence of these historical structures added a special charm to the landscape.
The Tower of the Church of Our Saviour
One of the most memorable sights of the day was the tower of the Church of Our Saviour, which we happened to pass by after sunset.
The tower is famous for its dramatic spiral staircase that wraps around the outside of the building. Even from the ground, it looks quite striking.
My husband and children decided to climb it, but after a long day of walking I chose to stay below and wait.
Later they told me the climb was actually quite terrifying.
The higher they went, the narrower the staircase became, and the railing was lower than they expected. The wind was strong, and the height felt very real. On top of that, there were many people climbing, so they sometimes had to stop and wait along the staircase, which made it even more nerve-wracking.
At one point they even thought they might fall.
Hearing that story, I felt very relieved that I had decided not to go up. Since I’m not particularly fond of heights, waiting below turned out to be the right choice for me 😅
Still, they said the view from the top was spectacular. If you enjoy a bit of thrill along with your sightseeing, it might be worth trying.
While walking around the city, we also passed by Rosenborg Castle, surrounded by a quiet garden that looked beautiful in the winter light.
Dinner by the Harbor
That evening we wandered along the harbor looking for a place to eat.
Several restaurants were lined up by the water, and one of them caught our attention — a modern restaurant with large glass windows. I believe it was called Pate Pate.
It had a calm, sophisticated atmosphere, quite different from the grill bar we visited the night before.
Unfortunately, I didn’t take any photos there. What I do remember clearly is the excellent service from our Dutch waiter and the delicious wine we enjoyed.
Strangely enough, I can’t quite remember what we actually ate.
Travel memories sometimes remain like that — just fragments of moments.
Lunch at Nyhavn
On our final day, we had lunch at a terrace restaurant along the famous harbor street Nyhavn.
Even though it was still winter and quite cold, many people were sitting outside enjoying the sunlight. It seems that as soon as there is a bit of sunshine, people here like to spend time outdoors — a very Nordic scene.
We decided to follow their example and sat outside as well. But I still remember how cold we were, shivering as we ate. People in the Nordic countries must be very tolerant of the cold!
At the restaurant we ordered smørrebrød, the traditional Danish open-faced sandwiches, along with beer. Drinking beer in the cold winter air was surprisingly enjoyable 😉
The beautifully arranged plate looked almost like a work of art, and it tasted wonderful.
Since Nyhavn is one of the most famous spots in the city, the price was probably a bit higher than elsewhere, but enjoying lunch with the harbor view made it completely worthwhile.
Every corner of Copenhagen seemed photogenic. The city felt calm, surrounded by nature, and full of quiet charm. History and modern life coexist naturally here, and the people we met were kind and welcoming.
As we finished our short weekend trip, we found ourselves saying that next time we should visit in spring or summer and explore Tivoli Gardens, the famous amusement park that first opened in 1843. We were told that it even inspired the idea behind Disneyland.
From Berlin, Copenhagen is only about an hour by plane, making it an easy destination for a weekend trip. Living in Berlin, I truly appreciate being able to visit cities in different countries like this over just a few days.
