Explore the Quirky Side of Denmark: Top 11 Fun Facts About Copenhagen You Must Know!

1. Winter is Coming... With Beer

When in Copenhagen, one must always remember that winter is coming… but it's bringing beer: J-dag, or Christmas Brew Day, is a beloved Danish tradition that marks the start of the Christmas season on the first Friday of November, with the release of special, higher-alcohol Tuborg Christmas beers in bars and pubs across the country at precisely 8:59 PM, leading to a festive extravaganza of food, dancing around the Christmas tree, and responsibly enjoying those potent brews.
Source => visitdenmark.com

2. Architect-Free Hippie Wonderland

Where architects fear to tread, Copenhagen's rebels dare to dream: Christiania, the city's very own hippie wonderland, boasts a truly eclectic ensemble of buildings, designed and constructed without any professional architects, making for a whimsical and colorful cityscape.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know Oslo's winters are shrinking? With 21 fewer winter days in the past 30 years, Olaf and his snowmen pals might need to swap their skis for swimsuits soon! Discover how this change affects Norway's wildlife and landscape. 🏊‍♂️❄️

=> Fun Facts about Oslo

3. The Little Mermaid's Tale

While she's no Ariel singing "Under the Sea" and barely stands taller than your average Christmas tree, Copenhagen's fabled Little Mermaid still has an enchanting tail to tell: This pint-sized bronze statue, measuring in at just 1.25 metres, has graced the shores of Langelinie promenade since 1913 as a tribute to author Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 fairy tale. Commissioned by the son of the Carlsberg brewery founder and inspired by a ballet performance, this tiny tourist attraction has weathered the storms of vandalism and political protests but continues to serve as an unwavering symbol of the Danish capital.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Christiansborg Palace: A Fiery History

Talk about a real "Game of Thrones": Copenhagen's Christiansborg Palace just can't seem to catch a break from fire! The second palace was inaugurated in 1828, only to be burned down again in 1884, leaving behind the old stable complex and the new palace chapel.
Source => kongeligeslotte.dk

5. Sunbathing in the Cemetery

If graveyards could talk, Copenhagen's Assistens Churchyard would probably ask people to refrain from sunbathing on its occupants: Known not just as a resting place for the likes of Hans Christian Andersen, Søren Kierkegaard, H. C. Ørsted, and Niels Bohr, but also as a verdant oasis, this historic cemetery doubles as an urban park; attracting picnickers, joggers, and cyclists, a bizarre blend of life and death.
Source => visitcopenhagen.com

6. Nyhavn: A Port of Literary Inspiration

Back when sailors required barrels of beer to navigate: Nyhavn, or "New Harbour," was once a busy 17th-century port in Copenhagen, where fish and cargo arrived on the daily, accompanied by ample merriment and libations, inspiring the likes of Hans Christian Andersen, who made his home amidst the colorful buildings and classic ships that still line the historic harbor today.
Source => baldhiker.com

7. Embrace the Hygge Lifestyle

In Copenhagen, they don't just Netflix and chill, they hygge all year round: a Danish concept emphasizing coziness and warm atmospheres with loved ones, spanning from candlelit gatherings to outdoor concerts, and reaching peak hygge levels during Christmas with countless candles and snuggly oversized scarves.
Source => visitdenmark.com

8. Climbing the Summit of Sustainability

Who needs mountains when you can climb the summit of sustainability? Behold, the green giant among cities: Copenhagen is on track to become the world's first carbon-neutral capital by 2025, thanks to its innovative solutions in sustainable energy, waste management, and public infrastructure. Even toppling the likes of Stockholm and London in a study by the London School of Economics in 2014, this Danish dynamo is making the world green with envy!
Source => international.kk.dk

9. The Nautical Cirkelbroen Bridge

If a bridge could blow your zig when you zag, Copenhagen's Cirkelbroen would certainly steer you on the path of enlightenment – with a maritime twist: Designed by Olafur Eliasson, this 130-foot-long steel bike and pedestrian bridge boasts five interlinked platforms, each featuring its own mast held up by metal wires in a zigzagging pattern. Not only does this nautical marvel compel the 5,000 daily passersby to slow their roll, it also swings open to let boats sail through Christianshavn’s Canal without a hitch.
Source => atlasobscura.com

10. Love Locks on Bryggebroen

In Copenhagen, where lovers refuse to be 'locked down' by the weight of their commitment, they've created their own bridge of love without causing a Parisian-style collapse: The Bryggebroen bridge, since 2006, has become a favorite spot for couples to attach padlocks, symbolizing their love – with an estimated 5,000 locks added so far, yet officials remain unfazed, stating that the bridge's structure still has a long way to go before needing to worry about a padlock-induced catastrophe!
Source => thelocal.dk

11. Royal Guard's Musical Alarm Clock

Who needs an alarm clock when you've got the Royal Guard's musical lineup? Depending on the royal resident at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen, the Guard's performance varies from a full marching band to a flute and drum duo: In fact, they serve a 24-hour shift, with the Royal Guards music band being present when the monarch is home, the flutes and drums for Prince Henrik, Crown Prince Frederik, or Prince Joachim, and a silent march when the royals are away.
Source => changing-guard.com