Nyhavn Copenhagen The Reality
Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens and Nyhavn
Both Tivoli Gardens and Nyhavn seem to be on every must-visit list that you see on the internet and social media. Eye-catching colors and photos void of people make it look like the perfect backdrop for a selfie. But we all have seen the Instagram vs. reality posts.
That is what you should expect at both places. We went in September, and for Denmark, it is still prime travel season.
Tivoli Gardens
After a day of castles, palaces, and art museums, we headed to Tivoli Gardens in the evening. Billed as the third oldest amusement park in the world. It opened in 1843.
There is a lot packed into 20 acres of land. Something seems to be hiding around every corner. It’s a place you could spend an entire day and a paycheck exploring. Plus, it’s an excellent place for people-watching. You can find a bench tucked up in the corner and just observe.
Seems better to go just before evening. You see the place as the sun sets and the lights come up.
NyHavn
We came up on Nyhavn mostly by accident while we were walking from Rosenborg Castle back toward our hotel. This is a place that will only look like the pictures at around 6 AM. Even September is still a busy season.
It looks awesome. But if you start to wander through Copenhagen on the side streets, you can get a better feel for the city. And you can get an idea of how the people living in the city actually live. Must-see hotspots are nice to visit. But you must remember that those places are what the folks in charge of the tourist council want you to see. Through well-placed ads on travel sites, paid-for blogs, and the multitudes of social media influencers, these places end up on top ten lists everywhere.
Must-see sites are fine. Go see some. No one should be calling you out as a rolling-luggage tourist. But get off the main path. Wander through a city like it’s your first day moving in. See how the working folks live, not the fiction that old royal families and monied interests want you to see. You’re a lot more likely to see how much most of our lives are similar.