Copenhagen, Denmark
The most touristy part of Copenhagen is Nyhavn. Pronounced “New-hown,” the area translates as “New Harbor” in English, and was constructed as a new sea harbor for Copenhagen from 1670 to 1675. Today’s seagoing ships are much too large for Nyhavn, but the colorful houses along the waterfront provide a backdrop for the most touristy section of Denmark’s capital city. The area is also important for literary reasons, as Hans Christian Anderson lived and wrote his first stories here in this neighborhood.
The first time that we arrived at Nyhavn, it was at night. Many of the touristy locations were closed, so the harbor was rather peaceful. People were still moving around, but the area was rather deserted when compared to the daytime crowds.
The second time we returned to Nyhavn was a few days later during daylight hours. The area was much busier, as the colorful houses of Nyhavn were on full display. We walked through lots of crowds, almost making you think that every tourist in Copenhagen was visiting Nyhavn at that exact time. We hung out for a little bit during the day, but I had watched enough travel videos before our visit that I knew that the highest prices for food and gifts in Copenhagen were in Nyhavn. If anyone is visiting, I encourage them to heed the same advice. The locals you may see with a drink here will buy a beer from a convenience store a few blocks away and bring it here, rather than paying a much higher price at one of the area bars. As there are no open container laws in Denmark, as you find in many parts of the United States, this would probably be the best way to share a beer with the Danes who love their city, but have been priced out of living in this section of town.
Nyhavn is a touristy section of Copenhagen, but the harbor is a great place to take photos of the famous houses. The area is a little pricey compared to the rest of the city, as the restaurants and stores are designed for tourists. Rick Steves describes the restaurant scene on Nyhavn best in his ‘Snapshot: Copenhagen & the Best of Denmark’ book when he writes, “Here, thriving crowds are served mediocre, overpriced food in a great setting” (p. 96). For someone who likes traveling, I’ve always appreciated areas with fewer crowds, so my favorite time to visit was at night, although my photos were much better during the day. The best take-home message for other travelers is that all cities have touristy areas, but they have usually earned their reputations over the years through many previous travelers. It was worthwhile to visit Nyhavn, as the area is pretty and offers plenty to see and do on a sunny day. If you decide to hang out in the area, just remember that food, drinks, and souvenirs will be more expensive thanks to the location. Also, if you are using the Copenhagen City Card, the harbor tour from Nyhavn is not included; instead, you would need to catch it from Ved Stranden 26. Despite its high prices and touristy location, Nyhavn is still a great place to visit in Copenhagen.
