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How to reach famous Copenhagen landmarks with the new City Ring Metro

We've checked out journeys from Copenhagen Central Station to some of the city's most famous tourist attractions using the new City Ring. Is travel through town easier and faster than before?

How to reach famous Copenhagen landmarks with the new City Ring Metro
Passengers try out Copenhagen's new City Ring. Photo: Philip Davali/Ritzau Scanpix

Using travel app Rejseplanen.dk, we put in journeys from the central station — which now has its own Metro stop following the opening of the new M3 line — to various landmarks in the city.

We also looked up journey times without the Metro, to see how much of a difference it has made for the trips we've picked out.

Before continuing, please note — this not a comprehensive study of the efficiency of the Metro, but rather a fun look at some hand-picked journeys to popular sights in Copenhagen.

The Round Tower

Photo: Søren Bidstrup/Ritzau Scanpix

The 17th-century tower with its distinctive cobbled walkway was originally built as an observatory, and remains a great way to see central Copenhagen from above.

City Ring: To get there, take M3 from Copenhagen Central Station two stops to the east, to Gammel Strand. From here, walk around 500 metres along Købmagergade, a busy shopping street, and you can't miss the Round Tower looming on your right. This will take a total of 16 minutes including walking within the Central Station to access the Metro, according to Rejseplanen.

Alternative: Take a suburban S-Train from the central station directly to Nørreport station, and walk from there. Nørreport is closer to the Round Tower than Gammel Strand, so this journey is actually faster at 10 minutes.

The Little Mermaid


Photo: Benoit Tessier/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

The diminutive but popular Edvard Eriksen statue, depicting Hans Christian Andersen's famous, Disney-adapted character, is located a short distance outside of central Copenhagen at the Langelinie harbourside area.

City Ring: The M3 comes into its own here, as it quickly brings you close(ish) to the Little Mermaid and allows you to see another, arguably more spectacular, sight, on the way. Take the underground train to the Marmorkirken (The Marble Church) Metro station. Here you can see the splendid, domed Frederik's Church, which lends its name to the new station. From here you'll have to walk 1.3 kilometres to reach the Mermaid, but most of that walk will be very pleasant, weather permitting. Total journey time: 28 minutes.

Alternative: Several minutes can be shaved off this trip by taking the S-Train to Østerport station and then bus no. 26 to the Søndre Frihavn (Kalkbrænderihavnsgade) stop. This has the advantage of getting you a lot closer to the Little Mermaid, so you save time, but miss out on the Marble Church and harbour walk. Journey: 20 minutes

Assistens Cemetery


Photo: Nikolai Linares/Ritzau Scanpix

In the heart of multicultural Nørrebro, Assistens Cemetery is the resting place of many famous Danes, including Andersen himself along with physicist Niels Bohr, pop singer Natasja Saad, philosopher Søren Kierkegaard and many others. It often doubles as a park, with Copenhageners taking a run, walk or picnic in its quiet, leafy confines.

City Ring: Take the Metro to the west, heading eight stations through Vesterbro and Frederiksberg to Nørrebros Runddel, which is at the northern end of the cemetery grounds. Rejseplanen puts this journey at 21 minutes, but it will be shorter if you don't walk around the cemetery to the main entrance.

Alternative: By taking a regional train or S-Train from Copenhagen Central to Nørreport station, then switching to bus 5C, you can get to the cemetery in as little as 17 minutes, provided connections are well-timed.

Christiania


Photo: Asger Ladefoged/Ritzau Scanpix

Anarchist enclave Christiania was founded in the 1970s when squatters took over an abandoned military barracks, and the community is still going strong. It is a draw for visitors who are keen to experience its alternative lifestyle and contrast with the more regal surroundings of Christiansborg and Amalienborg palaces across the harbour.

City Ring: This destination gives you the experience of switching from the new Metro line to the old one. Take M3 to the now-expanded Kongens Nytorv station and then switch to M1 or M2. One station down the line is Christianshavns Torv. From here, there's a 500-metre walk to Christiania. 24 minutes, according to Rejseplanen.

Alternative: Bus 9A towards Refshaleøen drops you off right outside Christiania and therefore saves you a bit of walking, cutting the journey to 17 minutes.

Tivoli


Photo: Lasse Salling, Tivoli

Perhaps the biggest tourist attraction of all in Copenhagen, Tivoli is just across the street from Copenhagen Central Station — so save your Metro, bus or S-Train fare and spend it riding a rollercoaster instead.

READ ALSO: In pictures: A look at Copenhagen's new City Ring Metro line

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TRAVEL

Explore Austria: Mauer, a charming wine-hiking spot on Vienna’s outskirts

Catch the very tail-end of the wine season and autumn foliage in one of the lesser-explored corners of the Austrian capital: Mauer.

Explore Austria: Mauer, a charming wine-hiking spot on Vienna’s outskirts
Beautiful views and cosy taverns await you on the edge of Vienna. Photo: Catherine Edwards

Wine-hiking is an autumn must-do in Austria. There’s the official Wine Hiking Day (Weinwandertag) that usually draws in big crowds, but it’s also possible to follow the routes through beautiful scenery and wine taverns on your own.

Mauer in the southwest of Vienna is one of the routes that is mostly frequented by locals.


The footpath takes you through scenic vineyards. Photo: Catherine Edwards

You can reach this part of the 23rd district using Vienna’s public transport, and you have a few options. From the Hietzing station on the U4 line, you can take the tramline 60 or bus 56A. The former will take you either to Mauer’s central square or you can get off earlier at Franz-Asenbauer-Gasse to start the hike. If it’s too early in the day for wine just yet, you could start your day at the small and charming Designo cafe (Geßlgasse 6).

Otherwise, the residential area itself doesn’t have much to see, but keep an eye out as you wander between the taverns later — there are some beautiful buildings.

To start the hike, head west along Franz-Asenbauer Gasse, which will take you up into the vineyards, growing some red wine and Vienna’s specialty Gemischter Satz or ‘field blend’, which as the name suggests is a mixture of different types of grapes.

Photo: Catherine Edwards

The paved road takes a left turn, but the hiking route follows a smaller path further upwards. Here you’ll have magnificent views over the whole of Vienna.

If you stick to the official hiking route (see a map from Weinwandern here) you can keep the whole route under 5 kilometres. But more adventurous types don’t need to feel limited.

You can also follow the Stadtwanderweg 6 route (see a map here) either in full, which will add on a hefty 13 kilometres, or just in part, and venture further into the Mauerwald. If you do this, one spot to aim for is the Schießstätte, a former hunting lodge offering hearty Austrian meals.

EXPLORE AUSTRIA

In any case, you should definitely take a small detour to see the Wotrubakirche, an example of brutalist architecture from the mid-1970s built on a site that was used as a barracks during the Second World War.

Not far from the church is the Pappelteich, a small pond that is not only an important habitat for local flora and fauna, but a popular picnic spot for hikers. Its only water supply is from the rain, and due to climate change the pond has almost dried out in recent years, prompting the city to take action to boost its water supply by adding a permanent pipe.


The church is made up of over 150 concrete blocks. Photo: Catherine Edwards

What you really come to Mauer for, though, are the Heuriger or Viennese wine taverns. 

The most well-known is Edlmoser (Maurer Lange Gasse 123) which has previously been named as the best in Vienna. Note that it’s not open all year so check the website, but in 2021 it should be open between November 5th and 21st, and is also serving the goose that is a popular feature on Viennese menus this time of year.

Tip for translating Heuriger opening times: look for the word ausg’steckt, which is used by those taverns which aren’t open year round. They will also often show that they’re open by attaching a bunch of green twigs to the sign or front door.


Buschenschank Grausenburger. Photo: Catherine Edwards

Also worth visiting are cosy Buschenschank Grausenburger (Maurer Lange Gasse 101a), Heuriger Wiltschko (Wittgensteinstrasse 143 — located near the start of the hiking route, this is a good place to begin your tour) and Heuriger Fuchs-Steinklammer (Jesuitensteig 28).

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