[One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day One Thousand Characters] A Glimpse of the Past and Present of the City, Copenhagen Downtown Walking Trail

Visiting Copenhagen, the World's Most Walkable City③

From City Hall to Palaces, Observation Decks, and Markets
A Comprehensive View of Royal History and Citizens' Daily Life

Copenhagen is a city with a history of over 900 years, founded in 1167, and became the capital of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1445, around the same time as Seoul. As it has been the capital for a long time, there are spaces filled with various histories related to the royal family, as well as many places where citizens can enjoy their daily lives together. The course introduced today is a walking path that weaves through the city center, allowing you to feel both the past and the present.

The starting point today, Copenhagen City Hall, was completed in 1905 by architect Martin Nyrop, inspired by the Siena City Hall in Italy. The golden statue on the front is of Bishop Absalon, who built the first castle in Copenhagen in 1167 and founded the city. The City Hall tower, which serves as the height limit reference point for buildings in Copenhagen, rings its bell once every 15 minutes and chimes the hour on the hour. You can tour the interior of the City Hall and the tower by applying for a separate tour.

Copenhagen City Hall, Denmark

If you turn your head from the City Hall Square, you can see the Tivoli amusement park, which opened in 1843, across the main road. It is said that Walt Disney was inspired by this park to create Disneyland, but Tivoli originally started as King Christian VIII’s policy to distract people from politics. The world’s oldest wooden roller coaster, built in 1914, is the park’s main attraction. However, it operates seasonally during summer (April to September), Halloween, and Christmas, so when the reporter visited in early spring, entry to the park was not allowed. If you plan to visit Tivoli Park, you need to time your visit to Copenhagen accordingly.

If you miss the timing, you can soothe your disappointment by visiting the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek art museum, which houses a private collection assembled by Carl Jacobsen, the son of the founder of Carlsberg Brewery, located nearby.

Christianborg Palace, Copenhagen, Denmark [Photo by Lee Chunhee].jpg

From here, if you head northeast, you will come across Christiansborg Slot (Christiansborg Palace). Although the king does not currently reside here, it was the most representative royal residence. Many official royal events are still held here, and it is the center of Danish politics and royalty, housing the Danish Parliament, Supreme Court, and Prime Minister’s Office. The site was originally a fortress built by Bishop Absalon, laying the foundation for Copenhagen. After becoming Christiansborg Palace, it endured two major fires in the medieval period and was rebuilt in the early 1900s to its current form.

The highlight of Christiansborg Palace is the tapestries hanging in the banquet hall and 'The Tower (T?rnet)'. The Great Hall displays 17 large tapestries along the walls, depicting not only Denmark but also humanity’s past, present, and future. They were created in 1990 to commemorate Queen Margrethe II’s 50th birthday. The palace’s spire, The Tower, is open to the public free of charge, offering a panoramic view of Copenhagen city.

View of downtown Copenhagen from the spire of Christianborg Palace
Photo by Lee Chunhee

Leaving Christiansborg Palace and turning northwest, you will reach Stroget Square, the midpoint of Strøget, a pedestrian-only street established in 1962. Strøget is 1.2 km long, making it the longest pedestrian street in Europe and a symbol of Copenhagen, known as one of the best cities in the world for walking. Not only the main street but also the surrounding areas are designated pedestrian zones, making it a great place to experience the cityscape.

While strolling along the street, you will encounter Rundet?rn (Round Tower), which also offers a panoramic view of Copenhagen. Unlike typical European towers that require climbing steep stairs, Rundet?rn features a unique spiral ramp. This was designed so that the king and queen could ascend without leaving their carriage. After winding up the passage, you reach the observatory, which provides a full view of the Strøget area.

Citizens are shopping at Torvehallerne Market in Copenhagen, Denmark.
[Photo by Lee Chunhee]

After descending from the observatory and continuing along the path, you will arrive at Torvehallerne, an organic market mainly dealing in fresh food. After the vegetable market that was here moved in 1958, the space was left unused until the market was re-established in 2011. It is a popular spot in Copenhagen for both citizens and tourists, offering fresh, high-quality food through direct transactions.

Uniquely, the market is neither fully outdoor nor indoor; it is structured with a central open-air market flanked by greenhouse-like buildings on both sides. The philosophy is that the market should be freely accessible to everyone, so the buildings are made with glass walls and multiple doors to blend indoor and outdoor spaces. You can enjoy a variety of foods like fruits, meat, cheese, seafood, as well as smørrebrød, bread, and coffee in a food court style. There are also food trucks selling fusion hotteok (Korean sweet pancakes) with fillings like bulgogi and cheese, and bibimbap, allowing you to taste Korean food after a long time.

The final destination is Rosenborg Castle. It was the main royal residence until 1710 and was used as a temporary royal palace when Christiansborg Palace burned down or when the British invaded Copenhagen. Inside the castle is a museum displaying a splendid collection of royal crowns and various ornaments used by past kings, offering a glimpse into the grandeur of the kingdom. The nearby Kongens Have (King’s Garden) is also worth a stroll.