Let's Go Europe 2019. Harvard Student Agencies

reception open 24hr

      Copenhagen Downtown is a bustling, loud, whirlwind of a hostel smack in the middle of the city center. It’s a place for the weekend and weekday warrior alike with a lobby bar always filled with booming music covering everything from “Macarena” to “Africa,” and an outdoor seating area packed with people enjoying an afternoon beer or four. Live music twice a week, cheap beer (especially during happy hour from 8pm-9pm), and events like quiz nights and pong tournaments make this the best choice if you’re the kind of person who wonders why people limit themselves to just two nights of partying a week.

       i Dorms from DKK 200, privates from DKK 400; reservation recommended; BGLTQ+ friendly; wheelchair accessible; Wi-Fi; storage lockers provided; linens included; laundry DDK 40; breakfast buffet DKK 70

       URBAN HOUSE ($)

      Colbjørnsensgade 11; 33 23 29 29; www.urbanhouse.me; reception open 24hr

      Urban House is massive, loud, and just as raucous as you’d expect a hostel next to a strip club to be. This hostel-hotel hybrid has every type of room from singles to family rooms and ten-bed dorms, drawing a varied crowd accordingly. Though it can often be difficult to meet people in such a large setting, Urban House gives you plenty of opportunities. There’s a large guest kitchen and lounge area, and the restaurant and bar in the lobby are busy every night of the week. There are even events like walking tours and salsa dance nights, all free for guests. Each room has a private bathroom, but don’t worry if it’s occupied in the morning—there are extra showers on the third floor.

       i Dorms from DKK 190, singles from DKK 650; reservation recommended; BGLTQ+ friendly; wheelchair accessible; Wi-Fi; linens included; towels included; breakfast DKK 75

       SIGHTS

      CULTURE

       ROSENBORG CASTLE

      Øster Voldgade 4A; 33 15 32 86; www.kongernessamling.dk/en/rosenborg; open Jan 2-Feb 11 Tu-Su 10am-2pm, Feb 11-Feb 26 daily 10am-3pm, Feb 26-Apr 10 Tu-Su 10am-2pm, Apr 11-Apr 17 daily 10am-4pm, Apr 18-June 15 daily 10am-4pm, June 16-Sept 15 daily 9am-5pm, Sept 16-Oct 31 daily 10am-4pm, Nov 1-Dec 22 Tu-Su 10am-2pm, Dec 26-Dec 30 daily 10am-4pm, Dec 31 10am-2pm, closed Jan 1, Apr 24

      Don’t let Bernie Sanders come to Rosenborg and see what wealth inequality looked like in the Middle Ages. Rosenborg was built in the early 1600s by King Christian IV and became a place to showcase the Danish royal family’s wealth, mostly in the form of lavishly-decorated rooms and excessively ornate artifacts. See chess sets made of amber, Christian IV’s porcelain-paneled privy, and an entire model ship made of ivory. Downstairs in the windowless, concrete vault sit the most important artifacts from Danish royal history, from Christian III’s Sword of State, to Christian IV’s crown and the Danish Crown Jewels. The King’s Garden outside is a wonderful park in which to relax, after frantically googling how you can marry into the royal family.

       i Admission DKK 110, students DKK 70; guided tour DKK 45; guided tours daily at 2:10pm in summer season (check website for dates); no wheelchair accessibility in castle

       CHRISTIANSBORG PALACE

      Prins Jørgens Gård 1; 33 13 44 11; www.kongeligeslotte.dk/en; Royal Reception Rooms May-Sept

      This is actually the third Christiansborg Palace erected here and there were two castles even before that. Today, it’s the seat of the Danish government, and, while the royal family no longer lives here (not since 1794, when the first Christiansborg burned down), one wing holds the Royal Reception Rooms, which are still used for official business. This area is open to the public, where you can see lavish marble-floored and velvet-curtained rooms in which Queen Margrethe II greets her guests. Blue, surgeon-style shoe covers are provided to protect the floors from the filth on your commoner shoes. Underneath the palace, visit the ruins of the first two buildings that existed here, Absalon’s Castle (which was knocked down for fun by the Germans) and Copenhagen Castle (which simply went out of style).

       i Combination ticket, including Royal Reception Rooms, Royal Kitchen, Ruins, Royal Stables DKK 150, students DKK 125; tour of Royal Reception Rooms daily at 3pm, Royal Kitchen Sa 4pm, Ruins Sa noon; wheelchair accessible

       NYHAVN

      Open daily 24hr

      Nyvavn is Copenhagen’s prime people-watching area. Its name literally means “new harbor” in English, but there’s nothing new about this place. It’s one of the most historic areas of the city with ancient wooden sailboats moored along the docks and steep-gabled, brightly-colored buildings on both sides of the canal. The streets are lined with cafés, ice cream shops, and even a gentlemen’s club, but don’t bother with any of them unless you’re into getting ripped off; there are plenty of places to get better food and cheaper beer. Instead, bring your own, or just enjoy the boats and buildings of this little slice of Copenhagen.

       i Prices vary; wheelchair accessible

       TIVOLI GARDENS

      Vesterbrogade 3; 33 15 10 01; www.tivoli.dk/en; open summer M-Th 11am-11pm, F 11am-midnight, Sa 10am-midnight, Su 10am-11pm

      Tivoli Gardens is the second-oldest amusement park in the world, and it’s thriving. There are copies all over Scandinavia, like Gröna Lund Tivoli in Stockholm and Tivoli Friheden in Aarhus, but they can’t hold a candle to the king. See, Tivoli is a true cultural hub, with top notch rides, fine dining restaurants, and live music in every genre from big band swing to hard rock. And unlike Trix, Tivoli’s not just for kids. Sure, there are plenty of stroller-pushing dads, but you’ll also find elderly couples swinging away on the dance floor and teenagers just looking for a good place to rip through a pack of cigarettes.

       i Admission DKK 120, Friday after 7pm DKK 160, DKK 23 ride ticket; wheelchair accessible

       VISIT CARLSBERG

      Gamle Carlsberg Vej 11; 33 27 10 20; www.visitcarlsberg.com; open daily May-Sept 10am-8pm, Oct-Apr 10am-5pm

      “Probably the best beer in the world,” is Carlsberg’s famous tagline. Try the Carlsberg “exbeerience” (yikes). This museum and temple to all things Carlsberg is housed in the original brewery, where you can learn about the history of the company, including how the original beer was a flop and that there was a the long and incredibly petty feud between the founder, J. C. Jacobsen, and his son. The museum also holds the world’s largest collection of unopened bottles—to the confusion of every college kid, because why wouldn’t you just open the bottle? Best of all, every admission ticket includes a free beer!

      i Admission (includes one beer) DKK 100, students DKK 70; beer tasting DKK 75; guided tour DKK 50; beer tastings daily on the hour noon-6pm; guided tours daily on the hour 11am-6pm; last entry 30min. before closing; wheelchair accessible

      LANDMARKS

       CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOUR

      Sankt Annæ Gade 29; 32 54 68 83; www.vorfrelserskirke.dk; church open daily 11am-3:30pm, tower May-Sept open 9:30am-7pm, Su 10:30am-9pm, Jan-Apr, Oct-Dec M-Sa 10am-4pm, Su 10:30am-4pm

      Staying in shape is tough while traveling. Gym access is pretty much zero, so if you’re craving leg day, try climbing the tower of this church. It’s one