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]

Orientation

If you are walking down Las Ramblas from the north (Plaça Catalunya) there are opportunities to veer off to various other neighborhoods in the city including two of the oldest in the city, Raval and Barri Gòtic. On the right side is the Raval area, a diverse immigrant section full of bars, nightclubs and cabarets and on the left the Barri Gòtic (or Gothic Quarter), the center of the old city of Barcelona.

What To See On Las Ramblas

In all honesty it’s hard to answer this question. The possibilities are endless! The central area of the street is pedestrian, with two small lanes on either side. Each day you’ll find thousands of locals, tourists and all that’s in between walking up and down Las Ramblas. There are tons of little stands selling anything from FC Barcelona football jerseys to small souvenirs to artwork to live flowers.

There are tons of little restaurants along the way, all advertising an enticing plate of tapas with an “authentic Spanish Sangria”. I would recommend not to eat on Las Ramblas, however, no matter how good the food sounds. The prices are typically higher and the quality much lower. If you venture out a little in either direction you can find tons of little places with a higher value for lower cost.

A bit expensive, but a cool place to stop is the La Boqueria market. This is an authentic food market, dating back to the 1300s, which has tons of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, cheeses, grains, sweets and little tapas bars and places for a quick snack.

Also make sure to see the live statues that frequent Las Ramblas, especially on the south end. If you put a little money in their cup they will do a “performance”. Some really gather a crowd too!

Near the Liceu Theatre there is also a piece by Miró. It is a large circular colored mosaic tiling that is right in the center of the walkway. If you look closely you can find one tile signed by Miró himself.

Safety Along Las Ramblas

There are many kinds of people you’ll find along Las Ramblas. This includes pickpockets and thieves on the lookout for unsuspecting tourists excited about their trip. Keep your bags in front of you, even if you have a backpack. If someone comes to talk to you proceed with caution. Especially be careful in areas where it gets really crowded because the pickpockets can easily reach into your pockets without you realizing!

[Barcelona Tourist Guide]