Denmark

The Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen is one of Europe’s best-known amusement parks and pleasure gardens. Situated conveniently in the centre of the city, between the Central Train Station and the City Hall, Tivoli has been one of Copenhagen’s best-loved treasures since its opening in 1843 – which makes it the second oldest amusement park in the entire world.

Tivoli’s age doesn’t mean that it’s stuck permanently in the past, however. Lovers of thrill rides will be delighted to know, for example, that as recently as May, 2009, a new sensation known as Vertigo was unleashed on the public. Having said that, Tivoli is proud that one of its favourite attractions is still Mountain Track, the wooden roller coaster, built in 1914, which, somewhat un-nervingly perhaps, has a ‘brakeman’ to keep control on the steep downhill sections. Other terrifyingly popular attractions are The Demon and The Golden Tower- both of which will test the strongest nerves – and stomachs. Slightly less daunting is Himmelskibet, which was introduced in 2006 as the tallest carousel in the world and affords terrific panoramic views across Copenhagen.

Copenhagen Tivoli Gardens is not just about the amusement park, though – exciting as that might be. Obviously the famous gardens themselves are a great attraction, especially during the warm summer months they they are in full bloom. There are over 110,000 flowers to wander through – and during the most popular season, guided tours are available in English each afternoon at 3 pm. At nights, 120,000 lights illuminate the garden, giving it a magical, ethereal atmosphere, especially around the enchanting Tivoli Lake.

Tivoli is also one of this exhilarating city’s major cultural destinations. The Tivoli Concert Hall, which although built in 1956 was radically overhauled in 2005, is one of Copenhagen’s major classical music venues in an auditorium seating over 1600 people. The recent upgrade means that there is now a delightful gardenside foyer with a two storey bar and lounge and also, in the theatre’s lower levels, an impressive saltwater aquarium. As well as concerts from visiting performers such as the New York City Ballet, there is a prestigious international piano competition each year.

The impressively original Chinese styled open-air Pantomime Theatre, which has daily performances of classical commedia dell’arte, also hosts regular dance and ballet productions during the summer. Indeed, the summer is a wonderfully thriving time for the Gardens, as a live music series, known as Fredagsrock – Friday Rock – takes place here. In addition to top Scandinavian acts, during recent years musicians such as Sting, the Smashing Pumpkins and the Pet Shop Boys have played Fredagsrock.

Tivoli Gardens is all of these magical things and much more besides. Although not enticing from the outside – you might even walk past it without being aware of what it was – once inside the gardens you are in a magical environment. With puppeteers performing on the paths, entrancing water fountains, fabulous open-air cafes – in addition to the fact that a Michelin-starred restaurant is in here – it’s easy to see why, at day and at night, the Tivoli has such an important place in the lives of the Copenhagen residents.

Always famous as a summer venue, more recently the Tivoli Gardens has started to become well-known for its Christmas activities as well – when even more lights enthral the visitors and a thriving Christmas market operates throughout the day and evening.

Copenhagen has long been a popular tourist venue, with its memories of Hans Christian Andersen and Little Mermaid statue prime reasons for visiting. The airport was voted the World’s Best in 2002 and has a good deal of international traffic although many visitors like to arrive by sea. The Tourist Board’s own website has a considerable amount of information about accommodation and possible ways to reach the city.

For ten days in July every year, Copenhagen becomes the jazz capital of Europe with the celebration of the Copenhagen Jazz Festival. This huge music fest comprises of a series of concerts all around Denmark’s capital, featuring both local talents and international luminaries in the world of jazz. The festival is among the best reasons to visit Europe, particularly the Danish city, in the summer. Jazz fans and other music lovers from Denmark, Europe and other parts of the world gather in Copenhagen each year to witness the performances.

A small group of jazz enthusiasts started the first jazz festival in Copenhagen in 1979. The events have since then grown steadily each year, and now after thirty years entertains audiences of about a quarter of a million people. The Copenhagen Jazz Festival has become so big that it has already recorded hosting almost 900 concerts and performances in about a hundred venues within the 10-day period, and with the participation of close to 800 musicians.

Numerous music legends have performed at this prestigious festival over the years. Such names include Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins, Michel Petrucciani, Niels-Henning ?rsted Pedersen, Wayne Shorter, Ornette Coleman, Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett, Michel Camilo, and Dizzy Gillespie. Other artists who have performed in recent years also include Chick Corea, Cassandra Wilson, Jacob Anderskov, and Paul Bley. The list goes on.

The festival turns the spotlight on different types of jazz, especially since a lot of the musicians featured continue to contribute to the innovation of the music. Pulitzer Prize winner Ornette Coleman, who played in 2008, for instance, brought in his signature?now classic?style that revolutionized the music fifty years ago, while others like Anglique Kidjo and Cassandra Wilson have performed fusions of jazz with various kinds of music, including afro-funk, samba, salsa, gospel, blues, and folk. There are likewise ambient electronica acts like Cluster and Efterklang. Children’s concerts and musical plays have also been included on the list of festival events.

Venues are spread throughout the city and are quite diverse?from theaters and the opera house to outdoor locations and various establishments providing more intimate setups. The bigger acts, especially the international performers for the Giant Jazz category, typically play in places like the Copenhagen Opera House, Glassalen and the Royal Theater. Such performances usually require tickets.

You can check the schedules of performances to decide which concerts you want to catch, but it is also advisable to explore Copenhagen, on foot or on a bicycle if possible, to perhaps come across some other interesting show happening at any bar or street corner. Once the festival is in full swing, you will not have any trouble finding something great to watch anywhere around town. You’ll also find how Copenhagen is really suitable for hosting the jazz festival?the city is as cool and cosmopolitan as the music itself.

The Copenhagen Jazz Festival is an annual event that kicks off on the first Friday of July and lasts until the second Sunday after (ten days). You can go to most of the performances for free, but some special concerts require ticket purchase. More information is available on the official Copenhagen Jazz Festival website.

Roskilde Festival is one of the four major annual music festivals in Europe, along with the Glastonbury, Rock Werchter and Sziget festivals. It is held in the southern part of Roskilde in Denmark, on large fairgrounds that include almost 80 hectares of campsite for the festival-goers. Roskilde is Denmark’s first and most defining music event, started in 1971 by promoter Carl Fischer and a couple of then high school students, Mogens Sandfur and Jesper Switzer Muller. From its hippie roots, the festival now celebrates mainstream international music and is mostly attended by the youth of Scandinavia, as well as other European countries.

On the second year of the event, the task of organizing and promoting the Roskilde Festival was taken over by the non-profit Roskilde Foundation. Every year, proceeds from the event go to selected causes and charities. The festival also advocates environmental awareness, which is why cans, as well as plastic and glass bottles are not allowed to be brought into the festival site. Beverages are either sold in cartons or poured in mugs. Volunteers also collect thrown out bottles, which are later turned in for refund, with the earnings also donated to a cause.

Top international acts usually headline the four-day Roskilde Festival, attracting hordes of people from all over the continent. The 2007 shows brought in more than 100,000 people, including 3,000 artists and about 80,000 paying festival-goers. Some of the major names in music who have played in Roskilde include Coldplay, Jay-Z, R.E.M., Metallica, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The festival features several stages housed under different tents. The Orange Stage serves as the main stage that, unlike the others, is set in open space that can accommodate more than 60,000 people. The Arena tent, meanwhile, is considered the biggest in Europe, as it can house 17,000. The other stages are dedicated to particular genres of music, which vary from rock to world music, hip hop, R&B, electronica, as well as spoken word. Notable Danish bands are also featured in the event.

Getting to the festival venue is easy via public transport. From Copenhagen Airport, about 35 km from Roskilde, you can take the train and then transfer to a shuttle bus right at the Roskilde station. The bus will take you straight to the festival grounds.

People who attend the event generally prefer to set up camp in the allotted area. Various amenities and establishments are usually set up at the camp site, making it a fairly convenient place to stay for a few days. The camp traditionally opens on the last Sunday of June as a “warm up” for the festival, which starts the following Thursday. Even this warm up has become an event in itself, just like the activities at the camp are very much a part of the whole cultural experience of the Roskilde Festival.

Alternatively, you can just stay at any hotel in Copenhagen and commute daily to the event venue.

The Roskilde Festival is traditionally held for four days starting the first Thursday of July. Tickets are necessary to get access to the festival site, as well as the camp grounds. More information is available from the official Roskilde Festival website.

Although festivals in Denmark come in many different guises throughout the year, the main elements of many of them seem to be Vikings and Music – especially jazz. Throughout the summer, you’ll find Danish festivals celebrating their Viking heritage and, during the whole year, there are some great jazz festivals in this fascinating, friendly country. The major national holiday in Denmark is Independence Day, which is celebrated on June 5th annually and most towns and cities will have activities at this time. The Queen’s Birthday in April is also marked, especially in Copenhagen, by parades and ceremony.

But back to those Vikings. Festivals such as the Vikingespil in Frederikssund, the Sonderhodog Festival and the Viking Moot in Aarhus (‘at the bottom of Aar street?‘) celebrate everything associated with the ancient Danes. In addition to the expected revellers bedecked in traditional Viking garb – often with horrific looking long swords and axes – the entire cultural heritage is remembered. At Aarhus especially, a 10 day event which is by far the largest of its kind in the country, you will find theatre, concerts, gastronomy and sporting competitions galore. It is an absolute extravaganza of Viking activities. TheVikingespil Festival is particularly known for its theatrical performances and also its Viking markets.

Jazz Festivals abound in Denmark. The major ones during the summer are at Aalborg and Silkeborg (The Riverboat Festival) in June and then Copenhagen and Aarhus during July. Copenhagen also hosts a four day Autumn Jazz Festival and, to help aficionados through the cold winter months, there is a superb 10 day Winter Jazz Festival, which takes top class music to more than 50 different venues across the country.

The biggest pop and rock festival in Denmark – indeed, one of the largest in Europe – is held each July in Roskilde, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from all over Europe.

Another enormous festival is that held in Aarhus in late August and early September when it really does seem as if the city has been taken over by musical, theatrical and sporting activities. This is 10 days of truly festive magic in an enchanting city.

Very different is the Medieval Festival held in the city of Horsens at the end of August each year. Full of jousting tourneys, minstrels, markets and street theatre, the whole event has an incredibly vibrant atmosphere.

Copenhagen has an abundance of fine festivals throughout the year. The Jazz Festival has already been mentioned but there are many more. In May, the Copenhagen Carnival takes place; the Copenhagen Pride Festival is one of the highlights of August and there is a popular gay and Lesbian Film Festival in October. The Copenhagen Summer Festival in late July and early August is tremendously successful, with the performances of chamber music at the Charlottenborg Hall especially noteworthy.

Whilst not exactly qualifying for Festival status, an event in Copenhagen that is eagerly awaited by locals each year is the Spring re-opening of the oldest amusement park in the world, Bakken, eight miles north of the city centre – it’s a very busy and lively time. Similarly, the world famous Tivoli Gardens are amongst the country’s most popular attractions; it has some fine ‘white knuckle’ rides, the tallest carousel in the world, thousands of flowers and lights, an open-air Pantomime Theatre and some lovely places to sit and enjoy the scenery. Increasingly popular during recent years, the Tivoli Gardens Christmas Market is a fabulous festive season experience. One of Europe’s very finest family venues, the Tivoli Gardens truly contain elements to please everyone.

Denmark is perhaps the easiest Scandinavian country to visit – with excellent road, air and sea links and, with some of the festivals in Denmark being amongst the most exhilarating anywhere, it is well worth considering for either a long weekend or a full holiday.