© OpenStreetMap contributorsThe second day started early in the morning with a walk to Kastellet, one of the best-preserved star-shaped citadels in Europe. During these early hours, while the city is still asleep, it’s a pleasure to stroll along its high earthen ramparts, check out the old red windmill, the neat barracks, and the quiet canals without the usual bustling crowds.
Afterward, I headed over to Kødbyen, the former Meatpacking District, which is known as a hub for Copenhagen’s nightlife and dining scene. During the day, however, it’s pretty uninteresting: industrial functionalist buildings, empty paved squares, and closed venues look entirely different without that evening energy.
Realizing there wasn’t much to do there, I changed plans and went to explore the inside of Rosenborg Castle. The very same royal palace whose gardens I walked through the day before turned out to be a true treasure trove inside: lavish interiors from King Christian IV’s era, tapestries, carved furniture, and, of course, the underground vaults housing the royal regalia and the Danish crown jewels.
