Nyhavn
The iconic canal of Copenhagen - a row of brightly painted 17th-century townhouses and old wooden ships lining a quay of cafes and bars.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
Nyhavn is the picture-postcard heart of Copenhagen, a short seventeenth-century canal lined with tall townhouses painted in cheerful reds, yellows and blues, old wooden ships moored along the quay, and a row of cafes and bars spilling onto the cobbles. Once a rough sailors' harbour, it is now the city's most photographed spot and the departure point for canal tours.
What you actually see
- The painted houses - the bright gabled townhouses along the canal.
- The old ships - the historic wooden vessels moored along the quay.
- The quayside cafes - the bars and restaurants on the sunny side.
- Canal tours - the boat trips through the city's waterways departing here.
When to go
Summer for the sunny quayside and terraces; December for a cosy Christmas market on the canal. It is lovely by day and lively by night.
Honest expectations
It is the most touristy spot in the city, so it is busy and the quayside dining is pricey for what it is. Its charm is the view and the atmosphere rather than the eating. It is small, an hour or so, best paired with a canal tour.
Nearby
The royal Amalienborg palace and the Little Mermaid are a short walk; the city centre spreads around.
What to pack for Nyhavn
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
