Copenhagen

The coastal city of Copenhagen is packed with old-world charm alongside avant-garde architecture. It's a vibrant and modern city, with a long and fascinating history. It has been the capital of Denmark for nearly 600 years and is home to the oldest resident monarchy in the world.

Copenhagen is the biggest city in Scandinavia, occupying a pleasant and strategic spot on the Baltic east coast of Denmark's largest island, Zealand. Its harbour is overlooked by the world-famous statue of the Little Mermaid.

Visitors are often first struck by the cleanliness and orderliness of this busy and dynamic capital. This is epitomised in the suburb of Christianshavn, with its picturesque canals and old cobbled streets all in pristine condition.

Most of the myriad attractions for visitors are situated within about one square mile (3 square km) of flat terrain in the centre, making it easy to explore on foot or by bicycle, the vehicle of choice for locals.

Five streets in the heart of the city have been merged to provide the world's longest pedestrian mall of Strøget, running between Rådhuspladsen and Kongens Nytorv. It's packed with historic gabled buildings, dynamic department stores, numerous interesting little shops, restaurants, pavement cafes, theatres, and world-class museums and galleries.

Despite the condensed city centre, Copenhagen is not short on green lungs. Parks such as the ever popular Tivoli Gardens abound in this city, which prides itself on its strict anti-pollution laws and lack of glass and chrome skyscrapers.

The birthplace of beloved storyteller Hans Christian Andersen, the city seems like a modern fairytale town. Copenhagen retains a provincial charm and sense of history along with cutting-edge efficiency, offering an extremely high standard of living.