Well, add it to the list… Milan, Paris, and you guessed it, Copenhagen! In the heart of the old city you will find one of Europe’s longest pedestrian streets known as Strøget. Beginning from the City Hall Square to Kongense Nytorv Square, you almost can’t miss stumbling onto to Strøget at some point during your trip, even by accident! (Which happened in my case).

A Success Story

In actuality, Strøget is the name of a collection of streets that have always been located in the heart of this city. The layout dates back to 1728 when the area known as Frederiksberggade was designed following a fire. Most buildings on this street date to the late 19^th, early 20^th century, though the oldest dates back to 1616.

For much of its history, these streets have always been known as some of the most fashionable of the city, so its no wonder why they would be considered the perfect candidate for conversion to fully pedestrianized once it became apparent that cars were beginning to dominate the old city.

The new pedestrian streets in Germany following the war inspired City officials, and during the 1950s they would close them temporarily during the Christmas time. In 1962, however, the change was made permanent and first section of Strøget was turned into a total pedestrian area. Initially, this decision faced harsh criticism, but after time the project quickly proved successful and the area welcomed more shoppers, cafes and a renewed street life. The network continued to expand to what it is today.

Shops on Strøget

This 1.1 km stretch of car free heaven is line with more shops that one could even imagine! From the typical budget brands and chains such as H&M or Zara to the international luxury brands like Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, Strøget has literally any shop for any budget. There are also a lot of local shops featuring Danish brands.

Eating on Strøget

Naturally, shopping is an exhausting activity. Refueling is a requirement and luckily that is no problem on Strøget. For a sweet tooth, you can find a wide variety of options from delicious cafes to famous patisseries such as Conditori La Glace (home of delicious cakes and baked goods) to perhaps Europe’s best cheesecake from DAILY.

If you’re feeling like you need a little more sustenance, check out some of the many restaurants with a variety of international options or perhaps one of Copenhagen’s most traditional options: the hot dog. Get fancy at the award winning DØP, where they serve only organic meat, with whole grain breads.

If you’re on a budget (as in can spend less than 5 euros per meal) then check out many of the Kebab shops on the street or, probably an even better idea, head off the main drag to a smaller side street which is less populated.

What Else to See on Strøget?

Especially during the summertime, Strøget is bustling with people going for a stroll, busy shoppers and many street performers. As well, going down the many little side streets will bring some more interesting, unique shops and most likely a path to some of Copenhagen’s other attractive and popular sites.

[Visit Copenhagen]

The culture has a rich heritage with ancient roots, which predate the arrival of the Romans. Historians estimate that the genetic uniqueness of the Basques even predates the arrival of agriculture in the Iberian Peninsula, dating back at least 7,000 years.

The fact that the Basque community is present today after thousands of years, while many other cultures have simply disappeared, is just one distinctive factor of their culture. Some consider the Basques to genetically represent the indigenous people that first inhabited the European continent, while other studies have shown that they are not significantly genetically different from others in the Iberian Peninsula (modern day Spain).

The Basque Language

The traditional Basque language is indisputably considered one of the most distinct aspects of their culture, as it has no roots in Indo-European languages. It is believed to be one of the only surviving pre-Indo-European languages in Europe (developed before the Romance languages such as Spanish), and the only in Western Europe. In Basque, the language is known as Euskara, with various dialects. For Basques living in Spain during the rule of Franco, it was considered an act of dissent to speak Euskara, rather than Castellano, and the culture was deeply repressed.

The Basque Culture

In the autonomous community known as Basque Country in northern Spain, one can see that the Basque people continue to be extremely proud of their heritage, if not more due to their lengthy suppression during the 1900’s. They are also one of the most economically strong regions of Spain with a significant amount of industry.

A prime example of their cultural pride is the annual Basque Fest that takes place in the prominent cities of Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz at the end of March and beginning of April. During this time, the Easter festivities such as street processions coexist with aspects of Basque traditions such as gastronomy, sports and customs.

The festival is based on the linking of tradition and modernity through five pillars of Culture, Music, Market, Sport and Gourmet, united together by the icon of the “Lauburu”, the traditional symbol of the Basques.

A Famous Basque Festival

When we visited Bilbao, it was actually coincidental that the festival was going on at the same time. However, it was truly a great experience as there were not many tourists there and we could get a first hand view of deep cultural traditions. Scattered throughout the city were various art exhibitions, dances, street theatres, craft fairs and children’s entertainment that were free to join.

Another really cool part of the festival was the Basque sport competitions. As the Basque people were historically farmers or fishermen, their traditional sports are based on these lifestyles, known as “Basque rural sports”. Examples include wood chopping, stone/anvil/bale lifting, cob gathering, tug-of-war, weight carrying and dragging games. These games are obviously very physically demanding, and it was so exciting to see them taking place live!

[Basquefest.com], [Basques in Spain], [Wikipedia], [Discover Magazine]

What Can You See at the Plaza Mayor Today?

Today, the Plaza Mayor is an expansive space in the heart of the city center. Compared to the labyrinth of small, winding streets that lead up to the Plaza from many different directions, the open space is a welcome relief and literally, a breath of fresh air.

The Plaza is formed on all sides by three story buildings that serve a variety of purposes, from residential to business to the central Madrid tourist office. On the upper floors you will notice balconies, good for catching an afternoon breeze or checking out what’s going on below.

On the ground floor of these buildings there are typically a variety of Spanish-style restaurants with interior dining spaces. More popular, however, is to sit out at one of the outside tables admiring the atmosphere and watching the many different characters that entertain for money in the Plaza.

Though sitting out in the Plaza and enjoying a meal, some tapas or even a drink may sound like a great idea, it is actually super overpriced and from my experience the quality was definitely lacking. I would recommend instead spending a little time walking around the Plaza, then heading out one of the entrances towards less touristic neighborhoods with more reasonably priced tapas such as La Latina.

The Rich History of Plaza Mayor

The conceptions for the construction of the Plaza date back to 1577 when Philip II asked renowned Classical architect Juan de Herrera to remodel the existing Plaza del Arrabal. Construction did not begin until 1617, and was finished by Juan Gómez de Mora in 1619.

As the Plaza Mayor has been around for nearly 400 years, you can imagine it has seen its fair share of historical events. The first ceremony to take place was the beatification of San Isidro Labrador (San Isidro the Farm Laborer), Madrid’s patron saint.

From there, it served as the location for bullfights (typically in celebration of marriages or other events), as well as the autos-da-fé (the ritual condemnations of heretics during the Spanish Inquisition, followed by executions such as burning at the stake or hangings. The burnings turned out to not really be a great idea, when a fire largely destroyed the plaza in 1790. The Plaza Mayor that we see today is from the architect Juan de Villanueva, who reproduced it in 1790 following the destruction.

Throughout the years, the Plaza Mayor has also gone under a variety of names such as Plaza de la Constitución, Plaza Real, Plaza de la República and back to the Plaza Mayor.

Events in the Plaza Mayor Today

Today, the Plaza serves as a location for events such as a holiday market, concerts and other traditional parties and festivals. We went to a delicious Jamón (Spanish Ham) festival a few years ago that definitely didn’t disappoint!

[Go Madrid]

While the New Town and coastal areas are thriving sections of the city, my personal favorite part is the original, medieval Edinburgh’s Old Town. Kings and queens, invading armies, the condemned and the celebrated have walked through these streets for hundreds of years and in 1995 the Old Town has been an official UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995.

The Start Of Edinburgh’s Old Town Begins With The Edinburgh Castle

The layout of Edinburgh’s Old Town runs similar to many of the old quarters of northern European cities. It begins with the fortification, in this case the picturesque Edinburgh Castle perched on top of a rocky crag (rocky or steep cliff) that has developed from a long extinct volcano.

This crag, known as Castle Rock, was the earliest section of the city to be developed. It is unknown when the earliest fortification was built there, some evidence suggests early settlements to the late Bronze Age, but it is widely accepted that some sort of castle was first erected in the 11^th century.

The Royal Mile

From the Edinburgh Castle, the layout of the Edinburgh’s Old Town slopes down towards the east on the tail of land from Castle Rock. During the 12^th century, Holyrood Abbey was built at the foot of the hill, which created the spine in which medieval Edinburgh grew. This connection between the two is commonly referred to as the Royal Mile. Today there are only ruins of the Holyrood Abbey, but it is a spot not to be missed. Along the Royal Mile, small alleys and streets come from each side, forming a fishbone shape and each offering a cool new place to explore.

During the development of the residential area of the Royal Mile, it was very advantageous to live inside the defensive walls. Since the street area itself is so narrow, the homes had to be built in a multi-story fashion and are considered some of the first “high rise” residential buildings.

On the Royal Mile, you will find the heartbeat of Edinburgh’s Old Town. Not only is it one of the main sections of the world famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe, but it is also full of the oldest visitor attractions and tons of shops, bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

St Giles’ Cathedral

Also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, the Cathedral has been the focal point of the Church of Scotland and the principle place of worship for nearly 900 years. The present church dates to the 14^th century, with a famous crown spire and stands in the center of the Royal Mile between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

[Edinburgh Guide], [Time Out]

And did you know that the story is actually inspired by the fairy tale of the same name written by the famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen?

Perhaps you did.

But did you also know that this story by Hans Christian Andersen also served as inspiration for one of Copenhagen’s most famous sights and one of the world’s most famous little ladies?

The Little Mermaid

In 1909 Carl Jacobsen, the son of the founder of the Carlsberg brewery, was fascinated by the ballet depicting the fairy tale story written by Andersen nearly 85 years earlier performed at Copenhagen’s Royal Theatre and aptly named “The Little Mermaid”. He was equally as enthralled with the ballerina, Ellen Price and was thus inspired to cement (or, in this case bronze) the memory in the form of a statue.

The young sculptor Edvard Eriksen was commissioned for the piece and Ms. Price was asked to pose. She agreed to model for the head, but refused to the model the rest in the nude. Thus the sculptors wife, Eline Eriksen was used for the body.

The statue is made of bronze, 1.25 meters high and weighs 175 kilograms. It was first unveiled on August 23, 1913 in one of Copenhagen’s most frequented outdoor recreational spots: on a rock by the waterside at the Langelinie promenade.

Visit Her Today

Seems as though her prince isn’t coming. She’s been waiting over 100 years at this point, but nonetheless, The Little Mermaid remains one of Copenhagen’s most loyal figures. It is also one of the most famous sites for the city’s tourists. And it’s the most photographed statue in Denmark, with over 5 million annual snaps.

She sits just off the shore from the promenade, a short walk from the also famous Nyhavn area. Even on a cold winter day there were about thirty or so people standing by the windy waterside snapping photos of her. One guy even tried to stand on the rock next to her (someone that is strongly discouraged by the city as it could damage the statue) and he fell in.

Really… right before my very eyes.

Sad for him that he was now soaking wet in negative temperatures and sad for me that I didn’t get a photograph of that…

There are some ideas to move The Little Mermaid from her perch so close to the shore to discourage vandalism. Since she first took her place in 1913 she has been decapitated a few times, her arm cut off, paint poured on her and even blown off her perch (possibly by explosives). Each time, however, she is restored to her rightful spot, sitting on the rock, welcoming visitors to Copenhagen Harbor and patiently waiting until the day her prince arrives.

[Wikipedia], [Copenhagenet]

11. Hohenschwangau Castle, Bavaria

Located directly opposite of Germany’s most famous castle (the last on the list here) is the Hohenschwangau Castle. The original structure was built in the 1100s as a fortress by the Knights of Schwangau and controlled until 1535. After this time, he began to fall into ruin until the Bavarian Crown Prince Maximilian bought the land in 1832 and built it as a family home, where he raised his son Ludwig II (you’ll hear more about him later). Consult the Hohenschwangau Castle website for more information.

12. Cochem Castle, Rhineland-Palatinate

Dating back to the 1100s, Chochem Castle is a true time passage into medieval life. The small village is located along the banks of the Mosel River, with colorful little historic homes dominated by the castle’s Gothic Tower. Although it was restored in the 1800s, there are still large sections that date back to the original structure. Today, visitors can have guided tours inside, partake in a rustic medieval banquet, known as “Knight’s Meal”, join the medieval castle festival, the gourtmet festival, the Sparkling Wine gala, Cochem Castle Christmas and cultural events. Plus you can even stay in the Burghotel, complete with medieval-themed rooms! Consult the Cochem Castle website for more information.

13. Wartburg Castle, Thuringia

The Wartburg is one of, if not the, most historical castles in German history. Built in 1067, it was one of the most important castles of the time. Many famous poets and personalities spent time in the castle such as Goethe, who famously sketched the castle. In 1521 the religious icon Martin Luther stayed in the castle for a year, translating the New Testament of the Bible into German. You can still visit the room today where Luther lived and worked. The Wartburg is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, complete with a museum, medieval banquet hall and countless frescoes. Consult the Wartburg Castle website for more information.

14. Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria

Germany’s most famous castle (and many times considered most beautiful) and the inspiration for Walt Disney’s iconic “Cinderella’s Castle” is an absolute must-see on any visit to Bavaria. No matter what season you visit, Neuschwanstein is sure to impress. I went in the winter and although there wasn’t so much snow at the time, it was still beautiful against the backdrop of the rolling hills and mountain peaks. As I wrote about in an earlier article about the infamous castle, Neuschwanstein was actually built in the late 1800s, and was not meant to protect, but rather a place of seclusion and leisure for Bavarian King Ludwig II. One of the best views of the castle is from Marienbrücke (Mary’s Bridge), which spans over a large waterfall behind the castle. Consult the Neuschwanstein Castle website for more information.

Spending only 36 hours in the Danish capital was certainly not enough time to get a thoroughly developed idea of the city, however, I am quite proud of the amount of things I was able to see in such a short time!

My First Impressions of Copenhagen

1. It’s really expensive.

This is an understatement and frankly the first thing that smacked me in the face when I arrived and ordered a tea that cost me 5 Euros. I spent an average of four Euros per coffee or tea, 10-15 Euros each for meals (typically the cheapest I could find that wasn’t Kebab), 5-7 Euros each for beer and even 7 Euros for an order of French Fries! I’m sure there are more budget friendly options outside of the city center, but you may have to scope them out.

2. It’s very cold.

Shocker, right? Luckily, the sun was shining all day, but it was still super cold. I suppose that’s exactly what I get for heading up north in January. Which leads me to my next point…

3. You should visit in the summer.

From what it appeared, Copenhagen is a great city to visit in the summertime. With tons of water, a beautiful harbor area (Nyhavn) and lots of outdoor spaces it would be ideal to visit when you can relax and enjoy the warm sunshine.

4. Copenhageners are very cool.

Perhaps it’s the way they casually zoom past you on the bicycle, or the way they speak perfect English with hardly an accent or maybe even the way they make winter wear look so damn chic- there is just someone about the people of the city. Oh, and did I mention they were super friendly and helpful too?

5. It’s one of the world’s most livable cities.

Cold weather and high prices aside, Copenhagen is one of the world’s most livable cities- fact. Voted the European Green Capital in 2014, Copenhagen has planned and implemented great measures to make life easier for its citizens as well as cement itself as a pioneer of the sustainability movement including an ambitious goal of being carbon neutral by 2025.

6. It’s a great place to shop.

With one of the longest shopping streets in Europe (Strøget), Copenhagen is a shopper’s paradise. There is everything from low budget brands such as H&M to luxury ones like Louis Vuitton.

7. The food is delicious.

You almost don’t mind paying 7 Euros for a basket of fries when they taste so good! I didn’t eat a single thing that that wasn’t absolutely delicious, and that definitely includes this mouthwatering Black Forest Cheesecake from DAILY (also a whopping 7 Euros per slice).

8. The Monarchy is still a large part of the culture.

This may not be true for the daily lives of residents, but it did appear that there were lots of references to the Royal Family throughout the city. From the Changing of the Royal Guard at the Amalienborg Palace to the Exhibit to the Queen’s Birthday at the SMK (National Gallery of Copenhagen) to the various royalty-related sculptures and statues throughout the city, you still felt the presence of the monarchy throughout.

For English speakers, it can be difficult to pronounce…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=six6HllA4Gk

Slovenia Is Actually Pretty Old…

Slovenia is one of the “youngest” countries in Europe, only gaining independence in 1991. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have history, however. People living in the Ljubljana Marshes, just south of modern-day Ljubljana, have inhabited the area since 2000 BC.

Ljubljana’s central, strategic location has also allowed it to develop into the cultural, economic, gastronomical, political and educational hub it is today. Plus, you can take great day trips in just a few hours to sites such as Lake Bled or the Karst.

The central part of the city is built around the Ljubljanica River, which cuts through the city center. Development was emphasized along the river and you can find tons of cool bars, restaurants and shops- all with a beautiful view!

Both day-

-and night!

What To Do In Ljubljana

Visiting there on a warm sunny day, you can also see that the riverside is a favorite hangout place among the locals. There were tons of people just hanging out, having some drinks and relaxing along the grassy banks. There is also a Sunday Market that opens along the river from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm where you can find antiques, interesting postcards and fun memorabilia to remember you time in this cool capital city!

One of my favorite parts about it, however, was just being able to stroll around the streets. Ljubljana is so beautiful! Each turn of the corner brings a new discovery of a mix of Roman, Boroque-style and more modern architecture, trendy artistic bars, boutique shops selling handmade products and, of course some super delicious food!

We went during the summer time, so the streets were lined with umbrella-covered tables, and many people sitting out enjoying food and the warm weather. The main section of the old city center is also pedestrian zoned, so you can totally just lose yourself in the magic that Ljubljana has to offer as well as visit the famous bridges such as the Triple Bridge and the Dragon Bridge.

Besides spending some time just walking around the city, there are also some important sights to see such as the Ljubljana castle (dating from the 16^th century), the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, the roman walls, museums such as the City Museum or Museum of Modern Art.

For a more alternative spot, check out the Metalkova City, an autonomous social area in the center of Ljubljana. This is a former military barrack where the Yugoslavia army was based. Once Slovenia gained independence artists squatted there and now its home to some really cool bars, clubs, hostels, live music and some super cool street art and graffiti.

[Travels of Adam], [Wikipedia], [Lonely Planet]

Like with all my trips, I don’t want to set a strict itinerary, but rather just a list of some of top places that I would like to see. Of course, I want to be open to heading off the beaten path too!

Nyhavn

One of the most iconic images of Copenhagen, this area used to be a commercial port packed with ships from all over the world. Today, Nyhavn is an ideal spot to hang during the summertime (sadly for me). However… I’ve read that it’s really beautiful around Christmas time as well, when the old homes have been decorated with twinkling lights.

The Little Mermaid

Located at Langelinje Pier, is a tiny little lady inspired by famous Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale about a mermaid who gives up everything to be united with a young, handsome prince on land. It was sculpted in bronze and granite by Edvard Eriksen and has sat in the same spot since August 23, 2013. For over a 100 years she’s been sitting by the water welcoming travelers into Copenhagen Harbor and I’m excited to see her!

Amalienborg Palace

This collection of four identical buildings (Christian VII’s Palace, Christian VIII’s Palace, Frederik VIII’s Palace and Christian IX’s Palace) is considered on of the greatest works of Danish Rococco architecture dating back to the 1700s. Though I probably won’t head inside, I may make it for the Changing of The Royal Guard ceremony which takes place each day at 12:00 noon. Depending on which members of the Royal family are home, the types of watches varies.

Tivoli Gardens

Founded in 1843, Tivoli Gardens is an iconic amusement park that is not only an national treasure but an international attraction. Sadly I won’t be going on any of the rides since I believe that section is closed for the season. However, I hope to check out some of the architecture and historic buildings. Also, during the Christmas and New Year season the park is super decorated, so maybe I can catch the end of that. In case everything is over, I guess I’ll have to go back in the summer!

Strøget Shopping Street

One of Europe’s largest pedestrian streets, Strøget is in the heart of the city, running from the Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square) to Kongens Nytorv (King’s New Square). While this section is most famous for shopping, I probably won’t be doing much of that. Instead, I plan to just stroll along, perhaps stopping on one of the side streets to check out some of Copenhagen’s beautiful sites.

Any suggestion for what is a must-see? Any tips or hints for places off the beaten path?

[Visit Copenhagen]

I’ve got an endless list of places I want to visit this year, mostly focusing on the ones I haven’t been before: Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and more of Portugal. Lucky for me, I can knock two places off my list in the next two weeks Copenhagen, Demark and Malmö, Sweden.

I land in Malmö around 1 pm and plan to spend the day walking around the city before crossing the Öresundsbron (Öresund Bridge), the bridge that connects Malmö to Copenhagen, to stay one or two nights in Copenhagen before heading back to Hamburg.

Though this will be a very short trip, it will be my first solo trip (something that I’ve been interested in for a while now) and after reading a little bit of info and checking with friends, here are some of my things to see in each place (starting with Malmö).

A Little Background Information About Malmö

This is Sweden’s third largest city with about 300,000 inhabitants. From what I’ve heard, it’s the perfect size to explore on foot. I don’t know too much about things to see or do there, so I’m planning to wing it a bit and just stroll through the popular neighborhoods and see what I can find.

My Plan Of Action

I’m especially excited about visiting the Old City, a usual favorite section in most places I’ve been. There are many interesting old buildings that have been preserved there especially around the areas of Stortorgret (Great Square) and Lilla torg (Little Square) and in Gamla Väster (Old West). As well, the historical buildings in the Saint Gertrud Quarter are supposed to be really beautiful.

Also on my list is the St. Petri (St. Peter’s Church), the oldest church in Malmö and the winner of Trip Advisors 2015 Travelers Choice Award. If the weather’s nice I may then head to the Kungsparken, a large park near the city center (but I don’t have very high expectations for Sweden during the wintertime).

Some photo inspiration that I’ve found of Malmö thus far:

The old…

…and the new!

Stay tuned for my next article about what I plan to do in Copenhagen! Suggestions are welcome and appreciated!