In 1160 Havn or Kobmannehavn (Merchants Town) came under the control of Bishop Absalon. In the years that followed the town boomed economically due to the enormous herring trade and the city grew tenfold.

In 1416 the King took over Copenhagen from the bishop and it became capital of Denmark. It continued to prosper as a Nordic trading centre, and was rich and powerful when Christian IV became king in 1596. The King expanded the city by adding two new districts, Nyboder and Christianshavn, which is modelled on Amsterdam. During the Napoleonic Wars the English saw the large navy of Denmark as a threat and bombed Copenhagen in 1807. This was the first terrorist bombing in history against a civilian population.

Art and culture flourished from 1800 and Copenhagen enjoyed its Golden Age. In the city streets and alleys characters such as the writer Hans Christian Andersen could be encountered. The citys citizens finally forced the king to introduce a free constitution in Denmark and the citys gates were flung open.

Today the city is still home to the Danish royal family. The present monarch Queen Margrethe II reigns over the world’s oldest kingdom. Copenhagen has a progressive youth culture and hip pub scene. In 1996 it became Cultural Capital of Europe. The city continues to expand and develop with projects for a new metro and a fixed link to Sweden.

Christiansborg Slot was a royal residence beginning in 1416 when Erik of Pomerania moved in. The royals lived here until fleeing to more comfortable quarters at Amalienborg Slott in 1794. Christian VI ordered that the entire castle be torn down in 1732: He didn’t like Frederik IV’s aesthetic tastes, finding Christiansborg “an eyesore.” But his new place burned down on the night of February 26, 1794.

What is left standing today is a granite-and-copper palace from 1928. It stands on Slotsholmen, a small island in the center of Copenhagen that has been the seat of political power in Denmark for 800 years. Today it houses the Danish Parliament, the Supreme Court, this prime minister’s offices, and the Royal Reception Rooms. A guide will lead you through richly decorated rooms, including the Throne Room, Banqueting Hall, and the Queen’s Library. Before entering, you’ll be asked to put on soft overshoes to protect the floors. Under the palace, visit the well-preserved ruins of the 1167 castle of Bishop Absalon.

There’s a huge selection of seconds on the top floor, and unless you’re an expert, you probably can’t tell the difference. Visitors are welcome at the factory at Søndre Fasanvej 5 (tel. 38-14-48-48), where tours are given Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm. (These tours can be arranged by contacting the Royal Copenhagen store at the phone number listed above.) Purchases cannot be made at the factory.

There are also various porcelain and silver retailers in this same location, as well as the Royal Copenhagen Antiques shop, which specializes in buying and selling antique Georg Jensen, Royal Copenhagen, Bing & Grøndahl Porcelain, and Michelson Christmas Spoons.

Today Rosendahl is one of the country’s leading producers of gifts for the home, each object from clear glass to bone china based on fine craftsmanship and practical design. The company is known for its innovative accessories for the table and its professional, easy-to-use kitchen utensils.

This is also one of Scandinavia’s leading fur shops. It has its own designer line, two well-stocked floors of inventory, and furs and fashions by some of the world’s leading designers, including Valentino and Oscar de la Renta. You can also purchase - cheaper than the furs - a selection of cashmere or wool blended coats with fur lining and fur trim, and conventional (nonfur) sportswear from Chanel, Yves St-Laurent, Marc Jacobs, and Prada. This is swank shopping and very, very expensive.

The city is the heart of Copenhagen not only for the historical architecture. It is also the district with the most shops, restaurants, cafes, yes – it has got everything, also people as this is the area where all of Copenhagen meets one another. There are both bourgeois and eccentrics, teenagers and elderly people all enjoying the city in each their own way.

We promise that beside a great shopping experience you will obtain an image of Copenhagen that is slightly different to the one most people would know after spending some time in Copenhagen. We look forward to sharing our knowledge on Copenhagen with you so that after the two hour in our company you will know everything about the best places to go for a meal whether a posh restaurant or just a quick bite, the secret cafes and the small cosy bars.

Nyhavn 17 Street
Copenhagen 1051 Denmark
+45 3312 5419

Open Hours
10a-2a Su-Th, 10a-3p F-Sa

Bredgade 63-65
Copenhagen 1260 Denmark
+45 33 11 4515

Open Hours
Noon-11p M-F, 6p-11p Sa

Gråbrødretorv 11
Copenhagen 1154 Denmark
+45 3311 0077

Open Hours
11:30a-1a M-Su