Nyhavn, Copenhagen, Bezoekersgids & wat te doen in de buurt

Nyhavn is a 17th-century canal harbour in the centre of Copenhagen, Denmark, lined with brightly painted townhouses, restaurants and old wooden ships. It was dug as a busy trading port and sailors' quarter and is now one of the city's best-known waterfront scenes. The address Nyhavn 17 sits right on the quayside.

The story behind it

Nyhavn, meaning New Harbour, was built in the early 1670s under King Christian V. The canal let ships sail from the sea right up to Kongens Nytorv, the big square at the heart of the city, so goods could be unloaded close to the market. For a long time it was a rough working harbour, full of sailors, taverns and cargo rather than café tables.

The area is also tied to the writer Hans Christian Andersen, who lived at several addresses along the canal, including number 20, number 67 and number 18, and wrote some of his early fairy tales while living here. Today the old cargo quay is a promenade, and the ships moored along it are mostly historic vessels.

What to look for

• The row of tall, narrow townhouses in different colours along the canal, each with its own gable and window pattern, which gives the street its famous look.
• The historic wooden ships moored in the water, with their masts and rigging standing against the painted façades.
• The plaques and house numbers linked to Hans Christian Andersen, which show where he once lived along the canal.
• The view along the canal towards the open harbour at one end and towards Kongens Nytorv at the other, which shows why the canal was cut here.

Tips for your visit

• Nyhavn is an open street and quay, so you can walk it for free at any time. Allow 20 to 30 minutes for the canal itself, longer if you stop for a meal.
• Go early in the morning for quieter photos, or in the evening when the lights come on and the water reflects the façades. Midday can be crowded.
• Kongens Nytorv and the Royal Danish Theatre are at the inland end, and the harbourfront and the Amalienborg area are a short walk away. Canal boat tours also leave from this part of the city, so check current times.
• The houses are mostly restaurants, bars and homes, so you see Nyhavn from outside. Check current opening hours if you want to eat at a particular place.

See it on a quest

Nyhavn works well as one stop on a longer walk through the area. Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Indre By, Copenhagen is a murder mystery quest that passes through Indre By, the old centre of Copenhagen. You reach Nyhavn on foot as part of the route, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle in the streets in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group. You start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.