Nyhavn

Nyhavn's bright 17th-century houses in yellow, blue, and orange line a canal filled with old wooden ships and modern sightseeing boats. Swedish prisoners dug this waterway in the 1670s under King Christian V's orders, creating a port that later became home to sailor bars and three houses where Hans Christian Andersen lived - you can spot plaques marking his former residences at numbers 18, 20, and 67. Jazz music plays from restaurants serving open-faced sandwiches, and a large steel anchor at the canal's start remembers Danish sailors lost during World War II. In December, wooden stalls sell knitted goods and hot doughnuts dusted with sugar, with steam rising from cups of spiced wine. Boat tours leave from here daily, passing the Little Mermaid statue and the royal family's palace, while a bike bridge links to the nearby Christianshavn district.

Harbor Development and Historical Use

King Christian V needed a better port for Copenhagen and ordered canal construction in 1670. Swedish prisoners from recent conflicts dug the 1.3-kilometer channel manually, connecting the North Sea directly to Kongens Nytorv square. For centuries, cargo ships delivered spices and textiles here next to bars filled with sailors. The northern side kept goods in colorful warehouses like the 1681 building at No. 9, while the southern bank had cheaper taverns. Restoration efforts in the 1960s repaired peeling paint on buildings and turned Nyhavn into a cultural destination instead of a declining port.

Exploring the Waterfront and Major Sights

Begin at Kongens Nytorv square where the WWII Memorial Anchor stands, then walk along the canal's norther