Copenhagen is a child-friendly city, and a recent baby boom has
meant that places without facilities for children are few and far
between - even the more exclusive cafés and restaurants now have high-chairs
and children's menus. The low level of traffic makes the city easy and
relaxing to explore with kids , while if your children are into cycling,
there are cycle lanes throughout the city, and it's generally very safe.
Boat trips around the harbour and canal are also a surefire hit.
Most of Copenhagen's museums cater for children in some way, so
travelling with kids doesn't mean you have to miss out on the city's
cultural side. Some, like the National Museum, have made a special
effort to involve children and make sure they have a memorable
experience. A number of galleries, such as Louisiana and the Royal
Museum of Fine Arts, also have good children's sections where you can
unload your children while you go off and do your own exploring.
Fælled Park is especially popular with kids, and its wide, open areas
are ideal for relaxing and letting the children loose. Kongens Have is
also very child friendly, staging free puppet shows every summer (June-Aug
daily at 2pm & 3pm) on the Kronprinsessegade side of the park; on the
other side, by the Hercules Pavilion, there's a novel children's play
area complete with dragons for clambering on. During winter, ice skating
is a favourite pastime for the city's children - there are free outdoor
rinks at Kongens Nytorv and Frederiksberg Rundel (skates can be hired at
both).
Attractions
Copenhagen Zoo Bus #28, #39 or #550S. March Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat & Sun
9am-5pm; April, May & Sept Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat & Sun 9am-6pm; June-Aug
daily 9am-6pm; Oct daily 9am-5pm; Nov-Feb daily 9am-4pm; adults 70kr,
children 35kr. In addition to its fine selection of exotic animals, the
Copenhagen Zoo has an excellent children's "stroking zoo" section where
kids can touch young rabbits and deer. Pony rides are also available,
and there's a playground if your kids get fed up with animals.
DGI-byen Bus #10, #550S or Central Station. www.dgi-byen.dk Mon-Thurs
6.30am-9pm, Fri 6.30am-7pm, Sat & Sun 9am-5pm; adults 40kr, under-14s
25kr. The city's flashest swimming complex, with pleasantly warm water,
geysers, bubble columns, wave machines and diving platforms spread
around three unusually shaped pools.
Museums
Children's Museum at the National Museum Bus #5 or #28. www.natmus.dk
Tues-Sun 10am-5pm; 40kr, free Wed and for under-16s. Aimed specifically
at children between 6 and 12, with a variety of attractions including a
full-size model of a Tuareg camp in the Sahara; copies of a Viking ship
(kids can dress up in Viking costumes too) and a small medieval castle;
and an "aroma" section with exotic spices where kids can learn where the
different smells come from.
Experimentarium Bus #6, #21, #650S or S-Tog to Hellerup or Svanemøllen
then a 10min walk. www.experimentarium.dk Mon & Wed-Fri 9am-5pm, Tues
9am-9pm, Sat & Sun 11am-5pm; adults 79kr, children 3-14 years 57kr,
under-3s free. This fascinating, hands-on science centre lets children
explore the laws of nature by performing their own experiments. There
are over 300 experiments in total, using easy to follow guidelines -
helpful instructors are on hand if you get stuck - and covering topics
such as magnetism, aerodynamics, anatomy, astronomy and environmental
science. Regular scientific demonstrations are given throughout the day,
and there's a special kids' pavilion for 3-to 6-year olds, with
mechanical bubble-making machines.
Post and Tele Museum Bus #5 or Nørreport S-Tog www.ptt-museum.dk Tues &
Thurs-Sun 10am-5pm, Wed 10am-8pm; adults 30kr, under-12s free, free on
Wed. The children's section of this informative museum has old postal
uniforms for kids to dress up in and telegraph equipment and bits of
other antiquated telecommunications equipment for them to play with,
including a morse-code transmitter. For older children, the museum's
"B@lkony" section is dedicated to computers and the Internet, with lots
of fun programmes to fiddle around with. There's also a children's
playroom in the rooftop café.
Amusement parks
Bakken Klampenborg S-Tog. www.bakken.dk April-Aug daily noon-midnight;
free. The world's oldest amusement park, Bakken's attractions include
Denmark's longest and highest big-dipper, assorted merry-go-rounds and
many other fun and breathtaking rides (8-15kr each) including a ghost
train and a waltzer. There's also a free children's play park (look for
" børnelegeplads ") with seesaws and swings. All rides are half price on
Wednesdays from mid-June to early August. It's also located on the edge
of Dyrehaven park - a great picnic spot.
Tivoli Bus #1, #2, #6, #8, #28, #29, #550S, #650S, Vesterport S-Tog or
Central Station. www.tivoli.dk Mid-April to Sept & first three weeks of
Dec Mon-Thurs & Sun 11am-midnight, Fri & Sat 11am-1am; 39kr, mid-June to
mid-Aug 49kr. An absolute must for families with children, this famous
amusement park offers everything a child could ever want: 26 fun rides
(10-20kr each), sweets of all descriptions, spectacular fireworks at
midnight, and plenty of opportunities to win colourful and completely
useless plastic gadgets.
Sights and shops
Changing of the guard at Amalienborg Bus #1, #6, #9, #10 or #29. Daily
at noon; free. The changing of the guard at Amalienborg is always a big
children's pull, as one set of splendidly costumed guards marches off
and another arrives, sometimes to the accompaniment of a band. At other
times, kids can have fun trying to outstare the mannequin-like guards as
they stand to attention outside the palace.
Sømods Bolscher Nørregade 36. Bus #5 or Nørreport Station. Mon-Thurs
9.15am-5.30pm, Fri 9.15am-6pm, Sat 10am-2.30pm. Confectionery-loving
kids will enjoy a visit to this famous sweet shop, where you can watch
the skilful process of traditional sweet-making before sampling some of
scrumptious, rainbow-coloured end-products.
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