New Harbor (Nyhavn), Copenhagen (must see)

New Harbor is a historical waterfront entertainment district famed for its picturesque alignment of brightly colored townhouses showcasing traditional Danish architecture from the 17th and early 18th centuries.

Originally constructed by King Christian V between 1670 and 1675 to facilitate trade with the Dutch, using Danish soldiers and Swedish war prisoners, back then it was a bustling area notorious for its beer halls and brothels.

The famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen lived here for 18 years, immortalizing the area's cultural significance. Between 1834 and 1838, he quartered on the second floor of the bright red-color building at Number 20, and over the next four decades, occupied two more canal-front properties, including one next door, at Number 18. His longest lodging stint, however, was at Number 67, where he lived on and off from 1848 to 1865.

New Harbor underwent significant transformations over the centuries. Post-World War II, the area saw a decline in maritime activity, leading to its near abandonment. The revitalization of New Harbor began in the mid-1960s. In 1977, it saw the opening of the Veteran Ship and Museum Harbor, and by 1980, the quay was pedestrianized, transforming it into a bustling tourist and local hotspot.

The harbor today features various museum ships, each with its own story. It also houses the Memorial Anchor at its end, a tribute to Danish sailors lost in World War II.

To the south of this gentrified sailors' quarter, you'll find a maze of trendy cafés, restaurants, jazz clubs, and tattoo shops. It is a great place to go for sampling traditional Danish dishes like open-faced sandwiches.

Tip:
If you fancy a drink, do as the locals do: take your beer or coffee from a nearby store out to the canal, rest your feet at the quayside, and enjoy the view. Otherwise, take a walk down the harbor all the way to the end, where you will find the Royal Playhouse (Skuespilhuset) and its reasonably priced bar/café, with good-quality service and one of the best views in town (of the harbor itself, the new Opera House, and other things too).

Those with tired feet may alternatively opt to take an hour-long boat tour, usually booked just at the entrance to the harbor.