Copenhagen weekend ... or longer?
 

I just discovered an amazing-looking impressionism exhibition will be at the Glyptotek from early October to late January. I'd been thinking of Copenhagen as a weekend trip from London anyway, but now there is a good timeframe in which to do it. The problem is that the best I could do would be an early flight Friday/late flight Sunday, and this just doesn't seem like enough time:

Between the Glypto permanent collection and exhibition, there are loads of other museums I'd want to see: Ordrupgaard, Statens Museum for Kunst, Nationalmuseet, maybe Knstindustrimuseet, Frihedsmuseet, Den Hirschsprungske Smling, etc.

Couple these with Christianisborg, Radhaus, Amalienborg, Rosenborg, day trip to Helsingor and the two F castles, and just walking around the city ... obviously this isn't all going to fit. The other galling thing is that most sightes are open from only 10-4 or 11-3.

How should I make the most out of a possible weekend ... go to museums like crazy in the day and save the walking around, shopping for later? What sites should I skip out on?

Alternatively, maybe I could go in January when I'd have about 4-5 days, although this would mean missing a thought-of trip to Berlin, which is also very appealing and too big for a weekend.

If had to choose between Berlin and Copenhagen in January, which one?

Well, I haven't been to Berlin but was in Copenhagen this last winter from Dec. 28 through Jan 5. They had a huge amount of snow..in fact we flew from London and landed in a blizzard and then they closed the airport. I really really liked it. It was beautiful with all the Christmas lights up and all the snow on the ground. VERY cold, but I was dressed right so was never cold. All the stores were having sales..REA.was what the signs said..I thought they all had stomach problems when I saw REA, but figured out it was SALE!!! LOL New Years Eve was just nuts..so anyway, it was a very beautiful and fun time. Also NOT hugely crowded once the New Years visitors left the city.

Thanks; if I skipped Berlin and did Copenhagen, it would probably be around January 10; so hopefully New Years crowd would have passed. Otherwise, it'd be a weekend in October or November.

ttt

JoeTro,
I was thinking of going to Copenhagen this winter too. The deal-breaker for me was the Tivoli Gardens winter season between November 15 and Dec. 30. If I do go this year, I'd love to see Tivoli dressed up for Christmas. Thanks for the info on the Impressionism exhibit - you have thrown fuel on the fire!

You can see a lot of Copenhagen in 2 days - for choice I would do 4 or 5 days, with 1 or 2 being day trips. (However, missing Tivoli is a pity - we went there every night - it may be childish - but on vacation I love the freedom of being as irresponsible and childlike as I wish.)

I unfortunately don't think I could go between the Nov and Dec period when Tivoli is open. Drats!

What's the Impressionist exhibit? Sounds wonderful. Wasn't Gylptotek closed for remodeling? Sounds like you already know your way around.

ozarksbill

I was in Kobenhavn, returning yesterday! No, 2 days won't do it justice, but if that's all you have, then I'd spend one day running around the city and one day out of the city. I'd recommend a walking tour with Sir Richard (all dressed up as Hans Christian Anderson), a canal boat ride, a museum, Changing of the Guards (which is right near the Little Mermaid) and then one day outside the city. (We went to Hillerod and saw the Frederiksborg Castle). Very nice.

Thanks. I think I'd have 3 days, so maybe 2 in the city and one outside ... unless I go another time and can squeeze in more days. I think it would be too cold for the canal ride, but that sounds like a nice idea. Where does one pick up the walking tour ... how much is it ... is there a website?

The impressionism exhibit is called Women and Impressionism, and sounds right up my alley. I saw some of the Glyptotek when it was under renovation and some pieces were in London, but that show really made me want to see the whole museum. I think it's been open since June of this year.

topping

We spent 7 days in Copenhagen and saw everything you mentioned but it was summer when it is light out until 10:30 or so. It will be really hard to get as much done in the few days you have planned because in winter it will be dark so much of the time. The sun doesn't really come up until about 9 and sets again around 4. I think that is why the hours of so many of the sights seem short.

I don't remember the Danish name but we also really liked the Resistance Museum, strolling around the shopping district and being by the old harbor. If you have access to a car, maybe drive down to Dragor for dinner one night, only about 20 minutes from Copenhagen.

I think you have to do Rosenborg- Amalienborg doesn't take that much time. It is only a 1 hour train ride to Helsingor. Helsingor is very different from the other castles-- our favorite part was the casements under the castle. From the train station in Helsingor you can take a 20 minute boat ride across to Helsingborg, Sweden. Nice to run over for few hours. We actually just went over to Sweden for breakfast and then came back and did the castle as it didn't open until 10AM.

We stayed in Copenhagen at the hostle Copenhagen City. It was very very close to everything, walking distance to most of the museums and the train station. We took buses to some of the farther out places but the bus stop was only a block away.
Copenhagen City hostel is also just across the street from the water taxi, which we also used often. You would need to check on that though, not sure the water taxi and harbor boat rides even run in January.

I just came back from Copenhagen a few days ago. If you want to go IN all the things you mention it will take a lot longer than you have. But I'm not sure why people feel the need to go in every palace, castle, museum, etc. You can pick and choose. I did the Glyptotek on a sunday morning (it's free on Sunday) and it's a very small museum (but one of the nicest I've seen). It doesn't take that long. I guess I'd suggest you do some research and decide which museums/palaces you want to tour and if you really want all of them, then go when you have a week or so. But you can certainly do some nice walks and "see" much of Copenhagen in 2-3 days.

I did both Kronborg (Hellsingor) and Frederiksborg (Hillerod) in one day. Took the train first to Hellsingor and then to Hillerod and then back to Copenhagen. I agree that the casements under Kronborg are a must - talk about spooky (I got there when it opened and was the only one down there at the time).

Regarding Tivoli - everyone of course has different tastes, but I choose to go to Copenhagen in the summer because I wanted to see Tivoli. And I'm glad I did, but now having done it, I wouldn't plan a trip around it again. It was OK, but nowhere near as "exciting" as I thought it would be. And I don't mean the rides, I wasn't interested in rides to begin with, just wanted to see the place. I can't imagine it would look much different at Christmas, it's already lit up to the hilt. I'll be posting photos of Copenhagen, including Tivoli when I get my act together, but as I said I just got back so it will be a few weeks probably.

Thank you. I think I have picked and chosen a bit, eliminating some museums. I'm now thinking about 4 days in January, which I think should make it possible to see most of what I want to. The problem will be with the daylight hours, as it may prevent me from walking around some. Glad the Glyptotek is small; that might save a little time. If I decide to do this, I'll post an itinerary for review.