KONGENS NYTORV AND NYHAVN
Kongens Nytorv (King’s New Square) and Nyhavn (New Harbor) are two of the most picturesque areas in Copenhagen, although ongoing construction work around Kongens Nytorv has at times marred the view. The square was once outside the city gates and the site of the town gallows in medieval times. The Nyhavn canal was planned by Frederik III to connect the Inner Harbor with the square, enabling merchants to unload their goods.
Map of Kongens Nytorv and Nyhavn
NEED TO KNOW
Amber Museum: Kongens Nytorv 2; 33 11 67 00; open May–Sep: 9am–7:30pm daily, Oct–Apr: 10am–5:30pm daily; adm $4, child $1.50; www.houseofamber.com
Charlottenborg Slot: Nyhavn 2; 33 74 46 39; open 11am–8pm Tue–Fri, 11am–5pm Sat–Sun; adm $14, reduced $6, free after 5pm Wed; www.kunsthalcharlottenborg.dk
Magasin du Nord: Kongens Nytorv 13; open 10am–8pm daily; www.magasin.dk
Det Kongelige Teater: Kongens Nytorv; 33 69 69 33; guided tours available, book at the box office or in advance; www.kglteater.dk
- The restaurants on the south side of Nyhavn are good and usually not as busy as those on the north.
- Find a quick bite away from the crowds in Nyhavn Pizzeria at 8 Lille Strandstræde.
1. Nyhavn Nos 18, 20, and 67
These brightly painted merchants’ houses were built together with the harbor. Fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen lived in them—he wrote his first tale, The Tinder Box (1835), while living at No 20.
2. Charlottenborg Slot
An early example of the Danish Baroque style, this palace was built by Frederik III’s son Ulrik. It houses the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts as well as the Kunsthal Charlottenborg.
3. Nyhavn Canal
Running down to the Inner Harbor, this canal is flanked by houses that belonged to merchants. A large anchor, installed in honor of the sailors who lost their lives in World War II, marks the starting point of Nyhavn.
Nyhavn Canal
4. Hotel d’Angleterre
This is Copenhagen’s oldest hotel, and one of the oldest in the world (Kongens Nytorv 34). It has hosted royalty and celebrities, including Karen Blixen, Churchill, Grace Kelly, and Madonna.
Hotel d’Angleterre
5. Magasin du Nord
Originally the famous Hotel du Nord, this is Copenhagen’s oldest department store and is considered to be the city’s answer to London’s Selfridges or New York’s Bloomingdale’s.
6. Amber Museum
Set in a house dating back to 1606, this small museum displays an exquisite collection dedicated to Denmark’s national gem, amber (also called Nordic Gold).
7. Vingårdsstræde 6
At the age of 22, Hans Christian Andersen lived for a year in the attic of this building, one of the city’s oldest, built on the site of a vineyard (hence Vingårdsstræde). Its 13th-century cellars now host the Michelin-starred Kong Hans Kælder.
8. Equestrian Statue
The bronze statue in the middle of Kongens Nytorv commemorates Christian V (1646–99), who rebuilt the square in 1670 in Baroque style. Created by the French-born court sculptor Abraham-César Lamoureux, it shows the king dressed as a Roman emperor.
Equestrian Statue
9. Store Strandstræde and Lille Strandstræde
Once full of pubs and brothels, “Big Beach Street” and “Little Beach Street” are now home to art galleries and stylish designer shops.
10. Det Kongelige Teater
This Baroque-style theater is home to the Royal Danish Ballet and is the third one to stand on this site.
Det Kongelige Teater
“THE IMPERIAL ETHIOPIAN PALACE”
In the 1950s, Ethiopia’s emperor Haile Selassie, with his wife, family, and entire entourage, visited Denmark and stayed at the Hotel d’Angleterre. During their stay, all telephone calls to the hotel were answered with “The Imperial Ethiopian Palace”.
