The name Copenhagen is derived from the Danish for merchants' harbour, which accurately reflects the city's position on the Baltic coast. This maritime character is further exaggerated by the surrounding lakes and canals. Although Copenhagen is a predominantly a modern and up to date city, it still maintains much of its old world charm, while its compact size and flat terrain make it an ideal city to explore on foot.

It is a city with a long and detailed history and offers visitors a wide array of cultural attractions. There are more than enough world class museums and galleries to satisfy even the most dedicated art and history lover, while the city's long list of castles and palaces provides a fascinating insight into the country's royal heritage. If you are travelling with children, you are unlikely to be disappointed by Copenhagen's extensive list of child-friendly attractions. The unique experience of Bakken Adventure Park and the world-renowned Copenhagen Zoo are just two that your children will not want to miss.

Shopping and dining opportunities in the city can be found in abundance. The Strøget area of the city centre is bursting with high quality shops, boutiques and restaurants, while lovers of antiques will be spoilt for choice in the Bredgade and Læderstræde districts. Copenhagen offers a dining experience that rivals many of Europe's more famous culinary capitals. There are around 2000 establishments serving up a mouth-watering mix of local specialties and international dishes. 

Visitors to Copenhagen will find a wide range of accommodation on offer. Inexpensive hostels can be found next to five-star luxury hotels. Top-class hotels are all located in the area around Rådhuspladsen and Tivoli Gardens. The Nyhavn district, which was once home to sailors' bars and tattoo parlours, is being transformed into one of the trendiest areas in the city. Many of the canal-side 18th century buildings have been converted into attractive hotels and apartments. The third area that is home to many places to stay is the former red light district, which is located behind the city's central station. Much of the area has been cleaned up and restored to its former glory. This is the best place to look for good quality hotels charging reasonable prices.

The city of Copenhagen was originally founded when Bishop Absalon built a castle in the area in 1167. It was, however, to be many years before it became the important settlement that it is today. The city remained under the control of the church until the 15th century when it was finally put under the king's jurisdiction and given capital city status. With this major change of authority, the city rapidly became the most important city in Denmark. The army, navy and most of the administration departments moved here in the following years. 

The 17^th century saw the city ravaged by disease and disasters that threatened its very existence. The Black Death wiped out almost half the population between 1711 and 1712 and two catastrophic fires at either end of the century destroyed large areas of the city's infrastructure. The city did, however, manage to survive and once again began to prosper, at least until the early 19th century. It was at this time when Denmark allied with Napoleon in the war against England and to gain vengeance, the English attacked the city, causing extensive damage. 

Despite this setback, the 19th century saw the city expand rapidly as the country's population began to shift from the rural areas to the industrial cities in search of work. Like most of Europe, the 20th century saw Copenhagen struggle through two world wars, including a five-year occupation of the city by German forces between 1940 and 1945. In the years following WWII, Copenhagen set about regaining its identity, with several years of development and expansion that have led to the modern and attractive city that stands today.

Copenhagen's position in northern Europe leads many to believe that the area is generally cold and rather miserable, however, in reality, the city is fortunate to receive cool and cloudy winters and warm bright summers. 

Due to the generally mild climate, Copenhagen is popular with visitors year round, with the most popular time being the peak summer season, which runs from about May to August. During the summer months, the average temperature hovers around a pleasant 20˚C with long light evenings because of the city's northern position. 

Rainfall in the city is generally quite moderate with showers evenly spread throughout the year. The wettest time of year is the autumnal months of September and October. Visitors to the city during the winter months of January to March shouldn't be surprised to see a snow shower or two.