Copenhagen

Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, located on the eastern shore of the island of Zealand (Sjælland) and partly on Amager, facing the Øresund strait. The Øresund Bridge links the city with Malmö, Sweden, making Copenhagen a major cross-border hub for the region.

Copenhagen began as a small fishing village in the 11th century and grew into a fortified town. It became the capital of Denmark in the 15th century and developed into the country’s political, economic, and cultural center.

The city houses the national government and university institutions, including the University of Copenhagen (founded 1479). Notable cultural venues include the National Museum, the National Gallery, the Copenhagen Opera House, and landmarks such as Christiansborg Palace, Tivoli Gardens, The Little Mermaid statue, Nyhavn, and the Round Tower.

The municipality covers central parts of Zealand and Amager, with districts such as Indre By, Vesterbro, Nørrebro, and Østerbro. The city is traversed by canals and parks and is known for preserved historic architecture and contemporary design.

Economy and transport: Copenhagen is a major financial and business center, hosting corporate headquarters, the Nasdaq Copenhagen stock exchange, and strengths in information technology, life sciences, and design. It has a comprehensive public transport network, including a driverless metro, frequent trains and buses, and a large bicycle network.

Demographics and culture: The city proper has about 800,000 residents; the wider metropolitan area has roughly 2 million. Copenhagen is noted for high quality of life, gastronomy, and cultural institutions such as the National Museum and the Copenhagen Opera House.