NEW! Icons of the Viking Age

Explore the landmarks of Copenhagen and learn about the city’s history during a walking excursion. With a local guide, you will stop to see the Little Mermaid statue sitting serenely in the harbor at Langelinie and visit the courtyard at the 18th-century Amalienborg Palace. Continue to Copenhagen’s largest monument, the Gefion Fountain, followed by Amalienborg Palace, the winter residence of the Queen of Denmark, the sovereign of one of the world’s oldest monarchies. Here, admire the royal rococo buildings and square, plus the stunning Marble Church, New Opera House and flourishing Amaliehaven (Amalie Garden) with its geometrical layout, colorful plants and centerpiece fountain. En route back to your ship, walk through the 17th-century Citadel—one of Europe’s best-preserved fortresses surrounded by eight moats, tall ramparts and cannon bastions.

Enjoy Copenhagen at a leisurely pace as you explore the city’s sights on foot. Set out on foot to the Little Mermaid statue sitting serenely in the harbor at Langelinie. Dedicated to the city’s most famous resident, fairy-tale author Hans Christian Andersen, it is considered a Copenhagen icon. Walk past the Citadel, one of the best-preserved fortifications in Copenhagen and constructed in the form of a pentagon with bastioned ramparts. Then, continue to the Amalienborg Palace, the Royal family’s winter residence consisting of four identical palaces. After time for photos, continue to the city’s largest monument, the Gefion Fountain, donated to the city by the Carlsberg Foundation to commemorate its 50th anniversary in 1908. After your walk, return to your ship by motor coach.

Uncover 850 years of remarkable history during a journey by motor coach through the colorful Danish capital. Meet your local guide and set out past Copenhagen’s key landmarks, including the City Hall Square, named for the National Romantic-style building that dominates the plaza, and Tivoli Gardens, one of the world’s oldest amusement parks. Continue through the elegant Frederiksberg district, home to the town hall and Frederiksberg Palace. See the opera house and drive through historic Holmen, before heading to the island of Slotsholmen. Here, view the impressive Christiansborg Palace, home of the Danish Parliament, Supreme Court and the Holmens Kirke, an excellent example of the Dutch Renaissance Style. Pass the royal winter residence of Amalienborg Palace, and Rosenborg Castle—home to the Danish Crown Jewels—before ending at the iconic Little Mermaid Statue.

See the major sights of Copenhagen and explore Denmark’s rich seafaring past at a former fishing village. You will join your guide for an overview of Copenhagen’s cultural and historic treasures, including the charming Little Mermaid statue, City Hall Square, Christiansborg Palace, the colorful Nyhavn area and the royal residence of Amalienborg. You will gain insight into the country’s medieval past in Dragør on the island of Amager, once a trading center for Hanseatic merchants in the market for herring caught in the Sound. Today, Dragør is a charming seaside hamlet with winding cobblestone streets and 17th-century brick houses with red tile roofs. Enjoy a guided stroll along its narrow warrens and past its lovely marina. After a stop at one of Dragør’s old inns for coffee and a Danish pastry, you will have free time to take in the village atmosphere on your own.

Visit Christiansborg Palace, seat of the Danish Parliament and house of the Queen’s Royal Reception Rooms. Explore its magnificent rooms, the setting for grand state dinners hosted by the King and Queen, and take a glimpse of the tapestries that don the walls and tell more than 1,000 years of royal history. Take a short drive to Tivoli Gardens, where you will spend the remainder of your day exploring its many delights. Your guide will provide a short introduction to the sights, and you will then be free to explore the grounds at your own pace. Amid buildings that evoke the exotic style of an imaginary East, you can stroll among its theater, bandstands and flower gardens. Bask in the traditions of the early 20th-century atmosphere and enjoy one of the iconic rides including the Roller Coaster (1914), the Ferris Wheel (1943), the Classic Carousel (1900) and the Vintage Cars (1959).

Venture into the rolling countryside to two of Denmark’s most fascinating castles on this full-day excursion. Join your guide for a scenic drive past thatched cottages. Your first stop is Hillerød, where you will explore the castle of Frederiksborg, a striking example of Danish Renaissance architecture. Built during the 17th century, it now houses the Museum of National History. View its historic portraits and paintings, and visit the chapel—home of the world’s oldest working organ, the 1610 Compenius Organ. After lunch at a local inn, continue to Kronborg Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take in the views across the Sound from the ramparts, and learn about the castle’s link to Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Ornately decorated, it earned its wealth from levies charged to passing ships. Enjoy a guided tour of the chapel, courtyard and imposing banquet hall, then return to your ship.

Relax as the strains of live classical jazz provide the soundtrack to a canal cruise through beautiful Copenhagen. Step on board your covered canal boat and meet the Scandinavian Rhythm Boys, an acoustic quartet of talented Swedish and Danish musicians whose performances are inspired by American music from 1850 to 1950. Cruise across Copenhagen Harbor into the canals of Christianshavn and Frederiksholm, lined with historic buildings. You will also pass by the Little Mermaid statue, Christiansborg Palace, the colorful Nyhavn Canal, Amalienborg Palace and the Marble Church. As you take in the city’s sights, the sounds of vintage jazz fill the air: ragtime, blues, gospel, swing, ballads and other timeless pieces. It is one of the most unique ways to see a city that has a rhythm all its own. Your lively jazz cruise ends just a short walk away from your awaiting ship.

Drive with your guide to Roskilde, where a remarkable repository of Viking artifacts preserves a lost way of life. During your visit to the Viking Museum, marvel at the five 11th-century Viking longboats, deliberately sunk a millennium ago to prevent enemy ships from entering the Roskilde Fjord. Continue to Museumsøen, or Museum Island. See the working Viking boatyard where skilled craftsmen create replicas of wooden ships using the same materials and techniques used by Vikings. You may also observe demonstrations of rune inscription, shield painting and coin striking. Afterward, drive to Roskilde Cathedral, the traditional burial place of Danish kings and queens for more than 500 years. One of the earliest examples of French-inspired Gothic architecture, the cathedral was added to UNESCO’s list of cultural assets in 1995. After time to explore, enjoy a scenic drive back to your ship.

Embark on a leisurely cruise across the extensive harbor and the Christianshavn and Frederiksholm Canals. After boarding your boat, settle in for a narrated overview of the city, an intriguing blend of pioneering modern architecture, historic landmarks and recreational quays. Pass the Christiansborg Palace, home of the Danish Parliament, and admire the distinctive spire of entwined dragon tails atop the old Stock Exchange. Pass the colorful Nyhavn Canal, lined with 500-year-old gabled houses; this neighborhood was once home to Hans Christian Andersen. You will also pass Amalienborg Palace, the Rococo-style royal winter residence, built in the 18th century. After pausing at the famous Little Mermaid statue, continue to the old naval base of Holmen. You will also see the Royal Library, nicknamed the “Black Diamond,” the Copenhagen Opera House and the Royal Danish Playhouse.