Many of the restaurants are a bit steep - buy a beer from a store nearby instead, and enjoy the view from the quay.
Much of Copenhagen’s Old Town was destroyed by a terrible fire in 1728: Nyhavn survived the conflagration. Home to beloved Danish author Hans Christian Andersen for 18 years, it was once rather a seedy dockland, notorious for its prostitution and rowdy sailors.
After the advent of bigger ships in the early 20th century, Nyhavn’s use as a port began to dwindle; in the 1960s a rejuvenation campaign was begun, and the quay, once used as a parking area, was pedestrianised in 1980. The waterfront’s beautiful houses were renovated and its historic importance recognised; today it is popular with locals and tourists alike.
Nyhavn’s painted townhouses and sumptuous mansions now overlook many a good quayside restaurant, bar and outdoor café - as well as an excellent ice cream and waffle parlour.
The harbour is particularly lovely in summer when its colourful northern side is bathed in sunlight, making for great photo opportunities; at Christmas it’s a top destination for yuletide Danish delicacies, with festive market stalls galore. A waterside stroll down Nyhavn is the perfect end to a day of Copenhagen sightseeing.
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