Copenhagen is continuously ranked as one of the best cities to live in in the world. In most recent surveys it comes in between the first and third best city to live in.

Copenhageners are EASY GOING, FRIENDLY and international-minded people. While some people live to work, it is often said that Danes work to live. Copenhageners love their city and are proud of its history, heritage and culture, and most tourists find that the people in Copenhagen will go out of their way to help with directions or a suggestion for a local place nearby to eat or have a cool beer.

CRIME in Copenhagen is one of the lowest in any capital city in the world and in Europe. While pick-pockets do exist, especially in crowded areas, violent crimes directed at tourists is almost unheard of. Copenhagen is a city where you will feel safe and have no worries walking the streets day or night.

Copenhagen has one of the highest number of RESTAURANTS AND BARS per capita in the world. The Danes are often referred to as the Italians of Northern Europe and will grab any chance to venture out and drink coffee, wine and have their meals in the sun. On their balconies, rooftop terraces or in the many outdoor restaurants and cafés. Copenhagen is a lively city with a large number of bars and NIGHTCLUBS that stays open until 5 or 6 in the morning, but it is also a city in which it is never difficult to find peace and tranquility. A new smoking legislation makes sure that the main part of the bars, restaurants and clubs are now smoke-free, while the avid smoker will still be able to find a select few bodegas where smoking is still allowed.

EATING OUT in Copenhagen can be a top class experience. Although, down through history, Scandinavia was never world reknown for its fine cuisine, the last 10-15 years have seen a surge of both moderately priced, quality eateries and top-notch Michelin-star gourmet restaurants, fill the streets of the city. The most famous of Danish dishes is probably the SMØRREBRØD, which is eaten at lunchtime. Smørrebrød is rye bread topped with meat, fish, pates and vegetables, and Copenhagen is without a doubt the best place in the world to experience this delicious lunchtime course. Denmark is also known for its BAKERIES. Just look for the pretzel-shaped sign in the streets of Copenhagen and you will find a huge number of small bakeries serving mouthwatering 'Danish' - oddly enough called Wienerbrød (Vienna-bread) in Denmark. Last, but not least, you can not go to Copenhagen without trying the local version of the hot-dog in one of the many, easy to spot, hot-dog stands that are found throughout the city.

In recent years, Copenhagen has become a major FASHION center, and is by many considered the fifth most important European fashion city after Paris, Milan, Rome and London . It is undoubtedly the fashion capital of Scandinavia and Northern Europe. The yearly fashion week takes place in the beginning of August.

Copenhagen is a city filled with MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT . The city has a famous JAZZ SCENE , although it is perhaps no longer the European jazz capital it was in the sixties when jazz giants like Ben Webster, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Thad Jones and Richard Boone either lived permanently in Copenhagen or visited frequently. There is still a famous jazz festival taking place all over the city (both indoors and outdoors) for 9 to 10 days in the middle of June and clubs like La Fontaine that continue to feature great jazz names. Free entertainment is always available at STRØGET - Europe's longest and oldest pedestrian shopping street - which in the afternoons and evenings is a bit like an impromptu three-ring circus with musicians, comedians, jugglers and other street performers. Add to that a continuous number of international superstars playing at Parken, Forum or in KB-Hallen and you have a city that loves music and entertainment.

Danes are crazy about SPORTS. Denmark's two biggest FOOTBALL clubs are both situated in Copenhagen. FC Copenhagen plays its home games in Parken ('The Park') on Østerbro and rivals Brøndby IF play at Brøndby Stadium some 15 kilometers south of the city center. Notable Copenhagen teams playing just below the Superleague are Frem, B93, AB, HIK and Fremad Amager. Most games are played on Sundays at 15:00 or 17:00 with a few being moved to Saturdays or Mondays for television coverage. Like in southern Europe, football is a great passion for many people, and you will often see people discussing the latest game in the bars and on the benches and sidewalks of the city. While football is by far the most popular sport in the country, you will also be able to find quality venues in HANDBALL, HOCKEY, BASKETBALL AND BADMINTON.

Few major cities in the world have an AIRPORT that can be reached in 15 minutes from the city center, but Copenhagen does. Kastrup Airport, voted best airport in the world several years in a row by international travellers, is the main hub of SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) and is the gateway between Scandinavia and the world. Copenhagen's new METRO SYSTEM now extends all the way to the airport, so travellers can walk directly from the arrival hall, into the noise-free, fully automatic metrotrain and get off right at Kongens Nytorv in the city center 15 minutes later.

While Denmark's (and Copenhagen's) most famous ATTRACTION may be THE LITTLE MERMAID, the real major attraction of Copenhagen is its people, its atmosphere and its way of life. Home to fairytale writer HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN, Copenhagen truly is a real life adventure. You don't need to be in the city for much more than a few hours to see that Copenhagen is not your ordinary big city.

Notable Copenhageners:

Hans Christian Andersen (writer) - Allthough born in Odense

Søren Kirkegaard (Philosopher)

Niels Bohr (physicist and Nobel laureate)

Karen Blixen (Writer)

Victor Borge (Entertainer)

Arne Jacobsen (Designer and architect)

Lars von Trier (Movie director)

Jørn Utzon (Architect - designer of the Sydney Opera House)

Michael Laudrup and Peter Schmeichel (Football players)

Helena Christensen (Supermodel)