Walking on water

Wherever new buildings rise in Copenhagen, canals and ponds are sure to follow. We like water in our cities in Denmark, maybe because we're used to having water around us all the time from an early age. Denmark is after all a country with a couple of thousands islands, and there's nowhere that is further away from the sea than an hours drive at most.

Get there early

The area of Christianhavn in Copenhagen is considered rather hip by many, maybe because of the alternative lifestyle at the freetown of Christiania, maybe because of the canals that cross through or maybe because of its many old and rustic apartments. When I go there I like to go early so I've got the views to myself. And the water in the canals is so much calmer and with so much better reflections before the local boats and canal tours are cruising.

Still sailing

 

Even though winter is here, the sightseeing boats of Copenhagen is still sailing. Only when the ice is closing the canals down, will they take a winter rest.

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From living room to boat

Fancy a boat right outside your living room? Then Sluseholmen in Copenhagen might be a good choice as many of the ground floor apartments are right next to the canals.

Harbour bus

 

When visiting Copenhagen many people opt to take the sightseeing canal boats to see a bit of the city from the water. For people on a budget the harbour busses might be an option instead. For the normal bus fare you can be sailed from Nordre Toldbod in the north near the Little Mermaid to the newly developed area of Teglholmen in the south, and you can even take along your bicycle or babycarriage. You'll miss the commentary from the onboard guide of the sightseeing boats, though. Well, maybe you won't actually miss it... 

For sale

 

 

Further down Frederiksholms Kanal lies this houseboat, a former lighthouse ship painted a very patriotic red and white, this being the colours of the Danish flag Dannebrog. At the moment a struggle between the harbour authorities and the owners of the houseboats are on, as the owners feel they're being forced out of the inner harbour and out to the outer harbours. The authorities on the other hand wants to tidy up inner harbour so it looks nicer for the residents and the tourists.

Canals

 

 

Around the Danish parliament of Christiansborg are canals like this one. Quiet and nice on an early spring morning, they are almost iconic for Copenhagen. Small pleasure boats and larger houseboats mingle with boats from the harbour cruises and old museum boats. This canal is called Frederiksholms Kanal and has Christiansborg on the left and the National Museum on the right.

Getting around in the winter

In the winter it is not unusual for the canals of the city to freeze up completely, even the ones leading to the sea from which most of the well-known pictures of Copenhagen are taken.

Even during the harshest winter public transport has to run and the waterbusses operate on the canals. These are a worthwhile alternative for tourists anytime of year as the same tickets you use for your metro, bus or rail transport is valid on these.

Today's word is is which means ice and also ice cream!

-RS

Explosion of Colours

The canals meanders through Frederiksberg Have through an explosion of colours.