Story of Nyhavn in Copenhagen
Nyhavn is one of the most cozy canals in the center of Copenhagen and the perfect place to experience the Danish atmosphere "hygge". This is definitely a must see in Copenhagen!
The canal is known for its many colorful buildings and buzzing atmosphere. It is a outstanding place to end a long day with a cold beer on one of the many restaurants or bars along the canal.
In the 19th-century the famous danish author, known for his fairy tales, Hans Christian Andersen lived in Nyhavn for 18 years. You'll find his two former houses on the side of the canal.
From the beginning of November the Nyhavn Christmas market starts and turns one side of the canal into a winter wonderland.
Copenhagen are known for being a go-to place for foodies. Nyhavn is no exception. In Nyhavn you can find Apollo bar which is one of the coolest cafés in Copenhagen at the moment. You can also find a good pizza place - Gorm's pizza and the locals favorite sandwich place Chil-ee.
The History of Nyhavn
Nyhavn was established by King Christian V in 1670-1673 - as a gateway from the sea to the old inner city. Nyhavn in Danish means 'New Harbour'. At that time the canal reached right up to Kongens Nytorv (The New Kings Square) established around 1670 - where the ships unloaded and loaded their cargo - and the fishermen their daily catch.
The "sunny side" was once the "red light district" of Copenhagen. A lot of sailors and workers went to the bars on the sunny side and ladies of pleasure took advantage of the sailors lusts.
The red light district faded during the 60's and Nyhavn is now a top tourist attraction in Copenhagen
Is Nyhavn a tourist trap?
The honesty answer is yes. It is packed with tourists during the summer, making it rare for locals to visit. There is simply too many people at once. Sadly, because it is very beautiful so it is understandable why it has become such a classic landmark.
Still worth a quick visit and a photo for the records. But this isn't the place where you will mingle with the local Copenhagen crowd. 🙂 Copenhagen has during the last years evolved and there are so many other vibrating areas and places to go see.
How to Discover Nyhavn
To explore Nyhavn can be a bit stressful. So prepare yourself on seeing more tourists gathered in one spot than you would see in any place in the rest of the city.
Everything in Nyhavn is also a bit more pricey than other places, so if you don't want to spend those extra 10kr on a cup of coffee then buy it beforehand.
Nyhavn can be discovered by simply walking down one of the sides of the canal. It's only a couple hundred meters long.
To get a good overview of Nyhavn and the rest of the city we recommend to take a canal tour. You can join the big hordes of tourists on the big canal tours departing from Nyhavn or go one block away and take the cozier and more exclusive Hey Captain tour.
We, in Hey Captain, are locals who have specialized in showing Copenhagen from the water. We know the city by heart and we take a genuine interest in showing what we believe are the most important places and things to see in Copenhagen.
Many of these are located around the water and below you’ll find some of our favorites.
Enjoy!
Boat tour from Nyhavn
Copenhagen has water all around the city, which is one of the main reasons why Copenhagen dates back to the Viking time. It was important for transportation of goods and for doing international business. This leads us to one of the most common misconception that Copenhagen was built for biking – it’s not – it’s build for sailing. Therefore, you’ll find more of Copenhagen’s landmarks than just Nyhavn around the water.
In newer time the harbor and water around the city has changed into an area that people can enjoy by being in the water - swimming, next to the water - hanging out or, our favorite, on the water - in a boat. Therefore, you’ll also find a lot of hidden gems around and landmarks as Nyhavn around the harbor. So do as the locals and see the city from the water!
An Alternative to the Traditional Nyhavn Canal Tours
The by far best way to get a good overview of the city and see Nyhavn is to be on a boat and see the city from the water. In Copenhagen there are several canal tours and ways to do it. You can rent your own boat without a guide, book a tour on the huge boats departing from Nyhavn like all the other tourists or you can do it the local way on a smaller boat and with a more personalized tours. The Hey Captain boats are small, cozy and only have room for 12 guests. This makes the tours intimate, very comfortable, and you get a chance to have a dialogue with your captain. Our personalized style has given us the #1 ranking on Tripadvisor out of +200 tours in Copenhagen. So, if you need some more convictions, ask the almost 1000 other guests that has reviewed us. Learn more about our tours here.
We are also well prepared for the cold weather. We have a canapé for when it’s windy or rainy and blankets and hot drinks so you don’t get cold.
