This morning (thank you very much jetlag!) at 5h30 I was awake in my bunk bed.
There is nothing worst in a dormatory, than one person rolling around over and over and over again, trying to get back to sleep. So I went downstairs to have breakfast. (and fix yesterday’s post)
Now, note that two days ago, I wasn’t sure yet if I would visit Helsingør. I knew I had to visit it someday, I knew it was probably worth visiting, but I didn’t feel anything special about the city. It is actually what I am doing tomorrow that made me book a cute little room, (really more of a flat, but I’ll have to make a post just on lodging, because otherwise, I’ll never go to sleep tonight LOL) and take the train.
But before that…
Bye bye Nyhavn (and Copenhagen, in general)!
Only 45 mintutes away from Copenhagen, and with a departure every twenty minutes, there is really no good reason, to at least give Helsingør a chance, right?
Right.
But before we get there, let me give you a little warning, just in case you fall in love with Helsingør too, and you suddenly want to travel there… Like Copenhagen, Helsingør is just a stone’s throw away from Sweden. But unlike Copenhagen, the name of the city just the other side of the Øresund isn’t completely different, like ”Malmö”. No… I guess someone back in the Viking days, thought ”Wouldn’t it be funny if we called the two cities almost the same??” And apparently, people thought it was a good idea, and so you have it… Helsingør and Helsinborg!
So when you start doing your research for lodging, or transportation, be careful. Because for some reason, Google often does not make a difference at all between the two cities, and I’d hate it for you, if you found yourself having to take the ferry back and forth, just to see Helsingør’s best spots!
First glimpse, from the train station.
No, this is not a church, it is Helsingør’s HUGE train station! I didn’t expect this.
The ferries between Helsingør and Helsinborg go back and forth all day (obviously carrying people that Google has messed with) at a rate of one every 20 minutes, or so. A great way to go see if the grass is greener on the other side. (it isn’t!! LOL) This is the view from the train station, so no worries about getting lost!
Still from in front of the train station. I just had to look to my left, to spot Helsingør’s main attraction: Kronborg! (see the teeny tiny castle in the back? Yeah, that’s Kronborg)
I don’t know if it was just the weather, but I doubt it. Helsingør’s heart is very alive, and people like to mingle in the street as they go shopping, are out for a drink or a bite, or just felt like waling around. As I joined the crowed, I discovered a very impressive and popular flea market going on…
P.S. First time I see a church with facing benches…
Just a word about the picture of the tree… I asked a lady working at the church, because the pamphlet was only in Danish, and she kindly explained that when children got baptised at the Domkirke, a little apple with their name embroided on it was hung to the tree. And after some years, there was a new celebration, where the children got their apple back! I thought it was a nice tradition!
Now for the second part of my little walk…
Just so cute (have you noticed the rainbow on the right?)
Arriving at the harbour
The Culture Yard
There only for a while, this (huge) traveling art piece is made of recycled items
The sculpture of Han (”He” in Danish), a clear reference to Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid.
Now here’s a funny story. For my first three trips to Denmark, my first night was always spent aboard the Hawila, a sailing boat stationned in Kastrup. This time, when I tried to book my bunk bed, I couldn’t find their add on Airbnb. I wrote directly to the crew, mentionning that, and a lady answered that they had started sailing and wouldn’t be in Copenhagen for my arrival… You can imagine my surprise, when I found it here in Helsingør!! What were the odds?
Han with the Hawila
The next pictures have been taken around Kronborg, and I won’t comment all of them, since I’ll be visiting the castle tomorrow. I’ll tell you all about it then. But this one, I just had to bring your attention to. Have I ever mentionned I love Danish humor? Can you see where it is on this picture?
Kronborg
Even if you don’t have the time or budget to visit the castle, take a walk around it. The path follows the shore, and you’ll find many many hyggelig spots where the locals come to relax, spend time with friends and family, and fish.
Herculese & the Hydra
It made me smile that Helsingør’s Street Food is actually indoors! But it is a great place to go if you have an empty belly and are looking for the cool place in town! The building is packed with foodtruck-like stands that offer all kinds of fast and delicious looking food. The choice is pretty eclectic, I would recommend going with some friends to order from many of the restaurants, and share your common loot!
The walk back ”home”
I just wanted to mention a couple of stores I’ve seen along my Helsingør wanderings:
Tiger! Because it is my favorite Danish store.
*Wink wink* to Harry Potter fans (I know it’s not his name… I am making an effort here!)
Paradis.. The paradise of ice cream lovers!
Yes, Helsingør’s shopping mall. Because it is not all about pretty pictures and funny stories.. It’s about tips not to spend your last dime in Denmark and swear never to go back again!! Anyone will be able to tell you where the Bycenter is, and inside, you have a huge Føtex waiting just for you…
Oh! Oh! Oh! and on a personal note (most people won’t understand, but I know Suzanne will…)
Woa Suzunne! Even the Danes do it!
The Turtle's Journey... 