Fed up with rectangular order and straight lines? Here are five suggestions to spectacular buildings, that have everything.....but squareness.

Teitgenkollegiet. The rotunda in Ørestad North is one of the most praized new buildings in Copenhagen. The spectacular shape is inspired by the traditional Tolou-buildings in Southeastern China, providing equal space for private and common life for its 360 studying residents. Through passages in the façade, check out the common facilities from the central yard in the middle of the building. See more.
Rued Langgaards Vej 10-18, Ørestad Nord

Bispebjerg Bakke. If you take a close look at this residential building, you´ll get struck by the amount of details and quality. It was originally modelled by the sculptor Bjørn Nørgaard and bears strong evidence of the point of departure: music. The roof is the rhythm. The walls are the bass, and the differently shaped windows are the treble. See more.
Bispebjerg Bakke 20, Copenhagen NV

The Lido of Kastrup. Like a conch, this Lido emerges from the water to occupy a central position along the beach looking over the Øresund Sound. The Lido's circular shape with an exterior screen has the distinct advantage of protecting bathers from the wind. Even if you´re not in for a winterdip the lidos beauty is definitely worth a visit the whole year through. See more.
Amager Strandvej 301, 2770 Kastrup

The VM-Buildings. Seen from above these two buildings are shaped like the letters V and M. This way they provide the greatest amount of light and the best view to the largest number of residents. Feel the futuristic drama move you when you pass the pointed, triangular balconies and the enormous windows, that may challenge any one with hidden voyeuristic tendencies. See more.
Ørestads Boulevard 57-59, Ørestad

Korsgade Sportscenter. Built into the hill, it´s literally springing up from the ground. What was formerly a flat plot has been transformed into a hilly landscape with new plantings and facilities for new kinds of activities. In the winter you may sled down the hill's gentler slopes. In the summer take a nap on the hilltop while the local youngsters in the multi-cultural Nørrebro play ball underneath you. See more.
Korsgade 29-31, Nørrebro

For the Danes, cycling is an integral part of daily life. We cycle to work, to school, when we bring the kids to kindergarten, to keep in shape and not least - we cycle because it is fun. Therefore, there is a vast network of cycle paths and routes throughout which makes life easier and safer for cyclists.

You can comfortably explore Copenhagen by bike on your own. Many of the main sights of Copenhagen are situated in the inner city, so it is easy to get from one place to the other. The harbour front is also close by with all the new, exciting buildings from Islands Brygge and the new Amager Beach Park to Langelinie where you find the Little Mermaid and the Gefion fountain, or for example to the 'bridges', i.e. Nørrebro, Vesterbro and Østerbro which is the 'real' Copenhagen to many of its inhabitants.

Compared with many other capitals Copenhagen is a small city. It makes it easy to get to the forests and beaches around Copenhagen by bike. There are many good excursion paths, e.g. Vigerslevstien connecting to Vestvoldstien and the popular tour runs north through Østerbro, Hellerup and along Strandvejen (The beach road) to Klampenborg and Jægersborg Deer Park. - If the legs are getting tired or you have a flat tyre, it is good to know that you can bring along the bike on the regional trains and S-trains on return, but remember to get a ticket for both yourself and the bike.

Guided tours
If you don’t like to go on your own, you can join a guided cycle tour, where you can see and learn more about the capital, its sights and the history behind. Some tours are theme tours, e.g. "Danish Design tour", "Green oases" etc. And then there is the extremely comfortable tour - on a rickshaw, where others do the pedalling for you while you sit back and relax. Read more about guided tours in Copenhagen on VisitCopenhagen.com.

Rent a bike
I Copenhagen you can rent good bikes with or without gear for one or more days, and during the summer season you also have 'free' city bikes, i.e. free in accordance with the shopping cart-principle: You deposit a 20 krone coin which you get back when you return the city bike. Read more on Bycyklen.dk.

Read more about biking in Denmark on VisitDenmark.com.

Other relevant links: Copenhagenize and Copenhagen Cycle Chic.  

VisitDenmark is the national organisation for marketing and development of Danish tourism. 

If you visit Copenhagen in bad weather (which is likely), here is a top 5 over new architecture to experience. Here you will find warmth:

1. Danish Jewish Museum. Twisted corridors in the shape of letters of the Hebraic word mitzvah. The American architect Daniel Liebeskind has designed the new museum with the twisted angels and demanding atmosphere. Enter the museum from the Royal Library´s garden See more  

2. The Playhouse. Warm and spectacular. Situated on Kvæsthusbroen the inner-harbour, the new Playhouse in Copenhagen provides a marvellous view over the waterfront. The Playhouse contains three stages and has already been announced as a masterpiece.Opens in February 2008 See more 

3. Holmbladsgade Sports- and Culture Centre. It feels like entering a comic-book. Covered by a gigantic, transparent canopy the new hallmark in Amager is providing scope for both organized and casual sports and athletics. Inside a green indoor landscape meanders over several levels. See more   

4. Hippopothamus House. At the Zoo the hippopothamus have recently moved into their new indoor basin – a warm and cosy place, where the audience can watch the large animals under the water through a large  - and thick – glasswall.

5. The Neighborhood Centre. Library, café and culture. In Jemtelandsgade an old factory building has been enlargened by a spectacular assembly hall. Like a grotto among the trees, the hall is located at first-floor height atop a ’forest’ of lopsided concrete columns and with walls of large panels of glass. See more

Photo by Morteno

Crossing Knippelsbro you arrive at Christianshavn, a pleasant and now quite fashionable part of town. A little Amsterdam, one might call it.

Photo by Morteno

Take a walk along the canals, enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the many cafes along the waterfront and visit the well-known Christiania. Main entrance is located in Prinsessegade.
Christiania was founded in 1971 when a group of hippies took over an abandoned military barracks and developed their own set of rules, completely independent of the Danish government.

 
Photo by Morteno

The free city in the heart of Copenhagen has always been known for its human diversity but also for being a location where hash was sold openly on Pusher Street. In 2004 the Danish government succeeded in closing the permanent stands. Christiania has been described as a place where art thrives. There is art everywhere and often very good live-music in one of the many concert venues. 

 
Photo by Morteno

A walk in Christiania is a unique experience – everywhere you go, you will see art in the shape of sculptures, paintings and even houses. All are individually constructed do-it-yourself houses and so, greatly varied and interesting to behold. Take a walk or join one of the guided tours. Christiania should definitely be on your Copenhagen to-do-list.

 
Photo by Morteno

Visit Christiania´s website for more information: http://www.christiania.org

Good places to eat in Christianshavn/Christiania

Nice and simple breakfast, amazing coffee, juice and chocolate. Yummy...

Sweet Treat, Sankt Annæ Gade 3A
www.sweettreat.dk

Gourmet dining in Christianshavn:

Noma: www.noma.dk
or
Era Ora: www.era-ora.dk

Louisiana

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is not only a museum with an impressive permanent collection. It offers world class special exhibitions as well. And the building itself it a triumph of architecture, fitting perfectly into its natural surroundings.

The trip alone to the beautiful museum makes it worthwhile. Louisiana is located 35 km north of Copenhagen and is rapidly reached by the freeway E47/E55.

But you are strongly encouraged go drive via “Strandvejen”, along the coast of Øresund. Or even better, go by train. It takes only 36 minutes from Copenhagen + a 10 minute walk from the train station Humlebæk/Louisiana.
You can buy a combined transport and museum entrance ticket with a discount in every train station in the metropolitan area. Trains leave from Hovedbanegården (Central Station), Nørreport, Østerport, Hellerup and Klampenborg every 20 minutes, even more frequently during rush hours.

The museum is situated in an old park on the North Zealand coast, with a fine view of Sweden across the Sound.
Louisiana is not merely an experience in modern and contemporary art, but a congenial reflection of the interplay between art, architecture and landscape.
The park serves as an ideal setting for displaying the museums collection of modern sculptures.

The relaxing atmosphere, the museum’s permanent collection, changing art exhibitions, films, concerts, the children’s wing, the café service indoors and outdoors, the museum shop with its large selection of books, art reproductions, graphics, posters, postcards, design and classical CDs - all combine in making Louisiana a pleasure to visit.
The café offers a wide selection of Danish lunch classics, coffee and tea. And as a novelty, you can have a “Wednesday-dinner” every Wednesday evening for only 128 DKR.
It houses an exquisite collection of modern art by international artists such as Arp, Francis Bacon, Calder, Dubuffet, Max Ernst, Sam Francis, Giacometti, Kiefer, Henry Moore, Picasso, Rauschenberg and Warhol.

Every year, the Louisiana Museum shows six to eight major exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, including classical masters of modern art as well as new and up-and-coming international artists.

In the fall of 2007, September 5 – December 2, we particularly recommend the exhibit of the works of the immensely successful young Danish artist Tal R.

Similarly, the prominent museum buildings, constructed between 1958 and 1998, offer a fascinating background for the permanent collection of twentieth century art.

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art,
Gammel Strandvej 13,
3050 Humlebæk
www.louisiana.dk

Istedgade by Night

True Copenhagen atmosphere. We give no guarantees, but we ought to think you will be quite safe, even though it is a rocky neighborhood. Hanging out on the corner of Istedgade and Abel Cathrines Gade at 10 P.M. on a Friday night is an experience in itself. Prostitutes and their clients making their arrangements right in front of you, Gambian dealers screaming their discontent into their mobile phones. The tattoo shops with ongoing business in the window and all the sex shops in the middle of young local café latte drinkers strolling by in high heels and slim pants. In front of the church, Mariakirken, the drug dealers solicit and hang out in the company of dogs...
Istedgade is more than hookers and beggars; it is also a very popular neighborhood with young people and families with small children. 

Af Mette Lomholdt & Katrine Salomon