Havnegade Harbour Promenade

The Old Customs House – Gateway to the City Our journey begins at the Old Customs House (Det Gamle Toldhus), once the threshold between Denmark and the world. Built in 1734, this stately Baroque building stood as a symbol of Copenhagen’s importance as a trading port. Here, ships from all over Europe docked to declare their goods, pay duties, and bring news from across the seas. The house watched over barrels of rum from the West Indies, timber from Norway, and silk from the East. Though its customs role is long retired, the building remains a cornerstone of the city’s maritime identity — elegant, proud, and weathered by centuries of sea air. As Freyja gently pulls away from the pier, you step into the same flow of water that once carried goods, kings, and ideas across the globe. This is where Copenhagen opened itself to the world — and where your journey begins.

Nyhavn

Nyhavn – The Postcard of Copenhagen Just around the bend lies Nyhavn, a canal so picturesque it barely feels real. The name means “New Harbor,” though it’s been here since 1673. What was once a rowdy sailor’s quarter filled with beer halls and brothels is now the city’s most beloved promenade. Colorful 17th-century houses lean slightly over cobbled quays, and old wooden ships nod gently on the water. Locals sip coffee on the docks, jazz floats from open windows, and bicycles clatter by in eternal rhythm. Hans Christian Andersen once lived here — in fact, three of these houses were his homes — and it’s easy to imagine the inspiration behind his fairy tales blooming right here. Today, Nyhavn is Copenhagen’s most photographed face, a joyful mixture of nostalgia, beauty, and the ever-present lapping of the harbor against the stones.