From Aalborg to Skagen

“What shall we do in Aalborg?” was my wife’s reaction as I explained the travel route I chose for our trip to the north of Denmark. For a while we are living in Copenhagen and so we try not only to discover the main spots in the whole world but also take our time to discover the beautiful sides beside the main paths within our host country Denmark. So my wife had the plan to visit the northernmost city of Denmark Skagen. Skagens distict Grenen is the northernmost part of Denmark. Here you can find a beach where the North Sea and the Baltic Sea meet each other. This should be the final destination of our trip. But I start at the beginning.
So my wife was not happy with my decision to start the trip in Aalborg but I thought it will be worth to see the fourth biggest city of Denmark if we are around. And we were not disappointed. Actually far from it and so the mood of my wife were getting better and better and as we had to leave she wanted to come back. But I start at the beginning.

Jens Bang´s House: The most beautiful house of Denmark

Aalborg is a really pretty city at the Limfjord with a really charming inner city. We felt really welcome here. One of the first things we recognized was the many pubs in the city. Especially in the Jomfru Ane Gade you can find lots of restaurants and cafes in the daytime which turns to nightclubs and discotheques at night. That is the reason why the Danes call it "The longest Bar in Denmark". No surprise: You can find the biggest Danish distillery in Aalborg which produces the famous Aalborger Aquavit and the Gammeldansk. Of cause it is possible to visit the distillery. But not only in the field of leisure, Aalborg inspired us. There is so much different to see and everything is fitting together so well. Especially I like the composing around the Østerågade. First you can see the nice cityhall beside the Jens Bang's House, which is voted as the most beautiful house in whole Denmark. A few steps further you pass the beautiful Jørgen Olufsens House before you are arriving the impressing waterfront at the Limfjord. I have rarely seen a waterfront where the change from a former industrial use to the new public use is done so well. Because of this the city is really turning its face to the Limfjord. Here you will find nice restaurants and bars in old but renovated buildings, a really nice promenade and lots of spare time activities for example a well designed open air pool in the fjord in the summer. A few meters down the promenade you reach the next highlight.

Aalborghus Castle from 1550

The Utzon Centre, an art, architecture and design centre. It is a tribute from the city to its famous son Jørn Utzon who was the architect of the opera in Sydney and of cause also of the Utzon Centre. You just have to cross the street and you reach the old Aalborghus Castle which was built in 1550 by King Christian III. and is now used by the government. As you might have noticed we have been stoked by Aalborg and we will definitely come back, maybe to visit the famous Aalborg Carnival. It takes place each year in the week 21 in the end of May and it is the biggest Carnival in Scandinavia.
But as I told you before we are on our way to Skagen and we had some kilometres to drive. But of cause didn´t I take the fastest but the most interesting way and so after a short drive we reached the beautiful town of Hals where the Limfjord is meeting the Baltic Sea. The town is more or less important because there is a ferry over the fjord and some use it as a short cut on their way north or south bound. And so the harbour is also the most interesting spot in the town where you will find some restaurants and a marina. I decided to visit Hals because it is the southern end of a very wanted coastline to spend holidays in Denmark. And the beach of Bisnap a few kilometres north of Hals was voted as the best beach in Denmark. We followed the road to the north further on in direction of our destination Skagen.

Nice sandy dunes and beaches in Sæby

The lovely church of Sæby

On our way to our next stage finish Sæby we are passing beautiful seaside villages like Voerså with lovely red and white painted fisher houses at the harbour and the possibility to rent canoes or pedal boats for a ride on the small river through the village. But we are now heading Sæby with the white sculpture Fruen fra Havet at the entry of the harbour. A really good view on the harbour and the Fruen fra Havet do you have from the nice restaurant Frank´s. We enjoyed here the really good fish and seafood buffet, the good bread and a really good service. After this rest we had new power to discover the harbour and the rest of this little town. The harbour with the marina is very nice and is just a few steps away from the nice sandy beach. I the area of the streets Algade and Strandgade the houses in are nearly all traditionally yellow painted. Some of them are nearly 500 years old. This makes a really nice Scandinavian street view. Just beside you will find the white painted church near the harbour. We enjoyed it here pretty much.

The silted church: Today only the tower is visible

North Sea beach at Gammel Skagen

Afterwards we drove to the city of Frederikshavn. The city is a traditional base of the Danish navy and an important harbour for the traffic to Sweden and Norway. We were not able to find any attractions which seem to be interesting to us and so we got after a short break back on road to our destination Skagen. So if you don’t need to: Don’t stop here!
But just before we reached Skagen we turned right to see one of the main attractions of Skagen, the silted church. The church was built in the second half of the 14th century. In the early 17th century there started a large sand drift in the region. The citizens were fighting against the sand for years but finally they were not able to safe the church. So in 1795 the church was closed by the Danish king. Today is only the tower of the former church which was later used as a seamark visible.
Afterwards we visited Gammel Skagen, which means old Skagen. But this place does not seem anyway old to us. It seems to be a typical weekend house area for the more upper class but very nice. Here at the North Sea side of Denmark the beach and the sea were very impressive for us. The waves are much higher and the sea seems to be wilder. We liked the place pretty much but we had to go on to Skagen. Here we first went to the harbour. He you will see the centre of the Danish fish industry. It is really impressive how big the modern fishing boats or should I say swimming fish plants are. Really amazing! This made me really a bit scared. So I was glad as we found some smaller fishing boats. Those who are hungry will find lots of fish restaurants in the old pack houses at the harbour. We were not and so we first went into the city centre, which does not flashed us anyway. But the architecture and the atmosphere in the small residential areas around did. We found really nice little houses, made of wood and with lots of stories to tell. Here can you breeze old sailor adventures in the air. We enjoyed it a lot. And so the disappointment about the city centre was gone and we made the last few kilometres to Skagen Grenen where the Baltic Sea and the North Sea have their rendezvous. And this place is really amazing with its large dunes, nice beaches and a terrific view on both seas. Fantastic! Really strange is, that the water of the North and the Baltic seas have different colours and you can see where it mixes up.

Look over the dunes of Grenen to the Lighthouse

We sit down in the sand, opened a bottle of wine and watched the sunset at a really perfect destination! Forget about New York, the Maldives, Thailand and all the other dream destinations. In this moment this most northern tip of Denmark was the perfect place to be!

Sandy Beaches at Denmarks top

Aalborgs city hall

View from Aalborgs waterfront into the city

The ferry in Hals

Fisherboats in the harbour of Sæby

Housing area between the harbour and the city centre of Skagen

Beach at the North Sea side of Gammel Skagen

Kuching: Orang-utans and nearly the best mattress in the world in Borneo

Amazing beach in the Bako national park in Malaysia

My favourite mattress in the world is the one we have at home. It is always a pleasure to sleep here and is a reason way I do not miss travelling so much when I am at home. But there is another mattress I fell in love with. And that one I found last year at the Pullman Hotel in Kuching/Malaysia. 
My wife and I had just 10 days for a quick vacation and decided to flight to Southeast Asia, because we are so in love with it and we had never been to Borneo. So I made my way from Hamburg, my wife came from Hong Kong and we were excited to discover the foreign world of Borneo. When I thought of Borneo before, I thought of jungle, exotic people, jungle, jungle, jungle, orang-utans, jungle and jungle. And then we arrived at the new Kuching airport: Fully air-conditioned, officers at the passport control asking for your passport in perfect English and the cab-driver driving us along the highway to the newly built Pullman Hotel. I was not really disappointed about that, but a little bit disaffected. Even Borneo seems to be not wild and full of secrets anymore. But that was just my first thought. Soon I was really fascinated by Kuching.

Pullman in Kuching

The bed with my second favourite mattress

It started on the taxi ride to the hotel and as we arrived at the Pullman I felt really happy and welcomed by a different Kuching and Borneo than I had expected. But it felt good.

The Pullman in Kuching is really a nice hotel and even if it is of course not one of the most luxurious hotels in the world, it is one of the hotels were I felt most like home. Hotel experts will answer that it is not a real five star hotel and objectively they might be right. I think it is a European 4 star and the rates are often like a European 2 star. But I don’t mind at all: I had one of my best hotel experiences in my life.

It started with a free upgrade to a junior suite at the check in. I like those surprises and as we entered the room even more. The room was really big, with a walk-in cupboard and a really nice bathroom with shower and a bathtub overlooking the whole city and the river from the 12th floor. Really nice! After enjoying the room we started to discover the city. We just went downhill to the river and by chance we just arrived at the promenade shortly before the last rivercruise started. So we bought some water and some fresh fruit and hopped on the boat. The tour took 2 hours and was maybe a little bit too long but it was nice to be on the river and get a first view of the sights. Afterwards we strolled down the promenade and tried some of the local delicacies from the street kitchens. Back in the hotel we fell asleep, because we had to get up early for our tour to the Bako National Park. 

Amazing views, ...

... nice beaches, ...

... and more nice beaches! - In the Bako national park!

So we got up early and that was really hard because I fell in love. Not only with my wife but also with this nice bed in the Pullman with a perfect mattress and a amazing view over the city of Kuching, the river and the hills around. Perfect! But finally I made it and so we catched the local bus to Bako Bazaar. Even when we do not have much time we always try to travel with local busses and trains. We think it is the best way to get a real insights to a city or a country. Yes the bus did not have a proper air condition and yes we would have enough money to take a taxi or a private transfer, but that is for me not fun because everyone can do that. After about 90 minutes we arrived at the harbour of Bako Bazaar. Here you have to pay the entry fee to the park (10 RM= 2 €= 2,6$) and you will be grouped with some others because you have to charter a boat from the fishermen to get into the park (50 RM=10€= 13$ return for a boat with up to 6 people). After we arrived in the park we had a drink in the only and really basic restaurant. Here you will also find a ranger station and some simple bungalows for an overnight stay. They are pretty basic but wanted so if you want to spend the night there do make a reservation.

The harbour of Bako Bazaar

After our drink we had to decide for one of the many tracks in the park. It is really important to sign you and your track into the book at the ranger station and of course sign out when you are back. It is always possible that you get lost or injured  and so it is possible to send a search party if you will not come back on time. We went for one of the shortest and were pretty happy with it. It is really exhausting to hike first uphill in the jungle, then over a dry and hot high plateau and then in a dry river bed even if it is only one kilometre or two. The description said: 1 hour per km and we first made fun of it. But finally it was true. First we followed the really beautiful wooden way at the coast line before we turned into the jungle and even if you know that you are not far out in the jungle you get a good feeling for it. It is also possible to do the tour with a guide. I am sure you will learn a lot and see things we were just passing by. But we decided this time to do the trip on our own. Sometimes it is good to do things together as a couple without help. In the jungle the clime is suddenly very humid even if you are just a few steps from the coast line and you will need a lot of water. Even more then we expected. We had about 3 litres with us and soon we learned that it will be not enough. The way was much longer and took much more time than we expected. And on our way we had some small crisis because sometimes we thought we got lost and the water became fewer and fewer. But finally we arrived at a really beautiful bay and took a bath in the warm sea. Even if it was not refreshing because the water was too warm we enjoyed it much. But we were not able to solve the water problem we had. 90 minutes back through the hot jungle with just a sip of water? Impossible! Luckily we met fishermen at the beach who took us back to the ranger station. And we were really lucky because so we had the chance to see the park with its jungle, beaches and the rocks that remembered us of Halong bay in Vietnam. So we went again to the little restaurant and had as many drinks as we wanted. Of course we signed out at the ranger station and then we took a boat back to Bako Bazaar and the public bus to Kuching.

After a shower and a nap in the hotel we went to the Filipino restaurant “Pinoy”. Due to the reason that a tropical rain started it was not that crowded. But I had great spare ribs and some cold Carlsberg. Afterwards we went to the Lime Tree Hotel. At the beautiful rooftop bar we had some great Lime Tree mojitos and a nice Lime cheesecake for dessert and were thinking about our two days in Kuching. We were pretty happy with it and but until now we didn’t see any orang-utans. But that changed the next day as you will read in part two next week. 

View over Kuching from the Pullman

Large and luxury bathroom with shower and bathtube

  

The bathtube was decorated with roses

Coastline between sea and jungle

The wooden parth guides you to the jungle

Beware of the roots!

Jungle from the seaside

The view over the sea as a reward for the hart hiking tour

Rocks like in a small Halong bay

And a nice lonely beach to relax

More Halong bay feeling...

,,, more beaches!

Always amazing! Do visit Bako!

 

A- like Amsterdam

Gracht in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is always worth to travel, even if it`s always packed with tourists and the people who are living in the city centre, especially in the Grachtenbelt start to complain about it. But never the less: Amsterdam is amazing and has attractions for every kind of interest and every age.
To get a good insight into Amsterdam I recommend a three night stay. The pricelevel for the accommodation in Amsterdam is pretty high. So do maybe look for alternative options like airbnb, 9flats or for people who like it, homeswapping.
If you plan to explore the city by public transport (which is very comfortable and safe) do buy an ov-card when you arrive at the airport or the train station. You can use this card to pay in all trains, trams, busses and on public ferrys. When you board the bus etc just check in and when you get out, check out. The price with the ov-card is much lower then buying a single ticket. Another option is to buy day tickets.
Now you are ready to explore good old Amsterdam. Even if it´s a bit “touristy”: Do start with a grachten and harbour tour by boat. Most of them will start near the main station in the street Damrak. Don´t use the greyline tour - I was not very satisfied with their tour. They promised a 1 hour tour, it was 40 Minutes, they promised the explanations in different languages which they finally didn`t do all. Besides there were just very little and short explanations. A lot of interesting sights were not explained and the tour was 10 € instead of 8.50 € at the competitor next door.

Hustle on the Albert Cuyt market

 A definite recommendation is the Albert Cuyp market (open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Do visit this place! I love it! It is the longest open-air market in the whole Netherlands and the people use it to do their everyday shopping. Fish, vegetables, meat and sweets are offered as well as clothes, cosmetics and other things you will need or not. It is great to see, smell and feel all the different offered things. Of course do try some original Dutch food. Salty haring, crunchy fries with sauce “Special” (mayonnaise, ketchup and onions) or sate sauce or Poffertjes (little dutch Pancakes) are my favorites and are all offered at the market. If I need more than a snack, I visit the restaurant De Duvel, just next to the market at Eerste van der Helststraat 59/61. Here I get really tasty food (do try the fish) and really good service. Do also take a walk through the neighbourhood around here. This part of the city, called De Pijp is in a huge transformation process - from a previously a bit shabby place to a very cool and trendy neighbourhood. In some areas like the Ferdinand Bolstraat the process is nearly done, in other areas like the Van Woustraat the process is just starting. So do take a walk and enjoy.

One of the nine Straatches

Another area which is worth taking a walk in are the 9straatches (9 little steets). These streets are in Jordaan. Here you can discover little nice cafés and small designer shops with nice shoes and clothing as well as a traditional cheeseshop or stalls where you can buy chocolate. Do find a place on one of the terraces with water view for example and watch the people passing and enjoy the special atmosphere at the water and the old Grachtenhouses.
Beside all the tourist spots every guidebooks recommends you should visit, there are some things you have to do in Amsterdam. One is to pull some food out of the wall. That really sounds strange for most of us, but it is common in the Netherlands. You will find a lot of Delis called “Fritture” were you can get known food like fries and burger as well as some Dutch food - for example Krokette or Frikandel. Often you can not only buy these things at a counter, but you can buy it also (or sometimes only) out of a machine, which is in the wall between the diners kitchen and the street. So the cook fills the machine all the time with freshly prepared food from one side and the clients are buying the things out of the machine from the other side. Its always good fun, even if the food is often not of a high quality.
The other thing some might want to try is marihuana. As commonly known, consumption of this drug is allowed in the Netherlands in special coffeeshops and my experience is that the whole city smells like of it. I do not like marihuana and so I didn´t try, but friends told me, that you have to be very careful because the quality in the Dutch coffeeshops is much better than in other countries. So don´t try to hard, even if you might be used to it.
So do travel to Amsterdam!

Asparagus madness in Germany

Fresh asparagus from Nienburg (c) Mittelweser-Touristik GmbH

Every year when the Easter days are coming closer and closer, one question is getting more and more important for a lot of Germans: Will it be possible to get German asparagus for Easter dinner? To achieve this, it is necessary to have some warm springdays in the weeks before, so that the asparagus is growing and is ready to be harvested.
This year it was possible like nearly every year. And so Easter was again the start of a very special and typical season in Germany: The asparagus season or "Spargelzeit" in German is starting in April and will last until the day of the 24th of June, called Johanni. The whole country is going crazy for this white and long vegetable especially in the first weeks. Foreigners often make fun of them like in this article. 
Most restaurants in whole Germany serve asparagus dishes or even have whole esparagus menues and the people love it in all kinds. There are salads, soups, main dishes (served often with potatoes and ham) and even desserts with the Queen of vegetables, as the Germans call it. And thats the reason why every German eats in average 1,6 kg asparagus during the about 10 weeks lasting "Spargelzeit".

Time for the harvest (c) Buschmann & Winkelmann

Some of you will wonder why I write so much about asparagus in a travel blog. And you are right - but there is a travel theme about it. Due to the asparagus some parts of Germany are getting worth to travel because of this culinary reason. And so I would like to introduce four parts of Germany that are famous for asparagus and wich are worth to travel to during the German "Spargelzeit". 

The first region is in the Southwest of Berlin and home of the famous Beelitzer Spargel. Here you can follow the Beelitzer Asparagus route between the towns of  Schönhagen und Lehnin. On  a lenght of 34 km you can visit asparagus farms, fields and even a museum. You can buy asparagus directly from the farmers or taste it in one of the restaurants. Especially on the Spargelfarm Klaistow you can get a lot of information about the cultivation and tradition of asparagus in this region. Sometimes there is a aparagus festival with music and lots of activities on the farm. During the season the restaurant is always open to taste the queen of vegetables. 
Another queen you can meet in Nienburg, in the northwest of Hanover. On the Nienburger Asparagusmarket in May they elect a young girl to be the Queen of Asparagus for one year.This market is the highlight in Nienburg and the whole town is out on the streets and everybody celebrates. Those of you who like to run can participate at the Asparagusrun that goes 10 km through the town. A really good deal in the region is the Nienburger Spargelteller in a lot of restaurants. For a price of 14 € you will get 300 g asaparagus, 100 g ham with potatoes and butter. A list of the participating restaurants will you find here. Enjoy your meal!

Asaragus harvest in the early morning (c) Buschmann &Winkelmann

A different expirience you can enjoy in Effeld, close to the Dutch border. Here you can try a cross border cycling tour to discover the special vegetable. The tour is starting in Wassenberg, between the city of Mönchengladbach (well known for the famous German football club Borussia Mönchengladbach and the only European city with two mainstations) and the city of Heinsberg (well known in Germany for its asparagus). You just follow the way beside the small river Rur and after a few kilometers you will reach the village of Effeld, the important asparagus village on our tour. Every year on Ascension Day the inhabitants are celebrating the Effelder Spargelfest, a huge party to honour this amazing vagetable. But also on all other days can you taste the famous Effelder Spargel in the restaurants and buy it along the roads directly from the farmers. The tour continues to the Netherlands, where you can have a nice cup of coffee in an old castle, which is now the beautiful Hotel and Restaurant Kasteel Daelenbroeck. After your tour through the beautiful landscape the tour will conclude in Wassenberg again, where you have agin the chance to taste asparagus in one of the restaurants. 

Time for a coffee break (c) Kasteel Daelenbroeck

These three regions are not the only ones where you can discover the secrets of the German asparagus madness. Of course there are many other like Schrobenhausen in the north of Munich, Braunschweig between Hanover and Wolfsburg or Schwetzingen near Mannheim. It doesn´t matter where you are in Germany during the Spargelzeit. There are many opportunities to taste the queen of vegetables and the important thing is, that you will try it. So do travel to Germany and taste the German Spargel. It is delicious! And for all of you who do not travel to Germany during the asaragus season I do have a link to a typical german asparagus recipe. So have a safe trip and enjoy your meal!

Eat them in the restaurant... (c) Buschmann &Winkelmann

... or buy them fresh from the farmer... (c) Mittelweser-Touristik GmbH

... but do try asparagus! (c) Mittelweser-Touristik GmbH

(c) Mittelweser-Touristik GmbH

(c) Buschmann &Winkelmann

Trip around the world in Bangkok

I can´t say that I love shopping centers. Yes, they are nice if its a rainy Saturday in autumn or winter in Europe and you have nothing to do. But normally I avoid them. For some reasons this is changing when I am in Southeast Asia. I would not say I gravitate to them but I like to visit for example the Siam Paragon in Bangkok, the Pavilion in Kuala Lumpur and the ones at the Orchard Road in Singapore. The biggest difference for me between Asian and European shopping centers is usually not the shops - sad to say that nowadays, those are the same all over the world. You have the ususal brands in different price ranges, be it Zara, Esprit, H&M, Adidas or Nike or be it Louis Vuitton, Tiffanys, Prada and Gucci. The biggest difference for me is the people - the people in Asia are really into shopping and there is nothing better to do on the weekends then to meet with some friend and go to a shopping center!
To give these shopping addicted crowds something new and fancy is not so easy. Every few months, a new center opens somewhere and drags the crowd with them. So I was really amazed to see a totally new concept of a shopping center in Bangkok in the brand new Terminal 21.
Ladies and gentleman - fasten your seat belts! And also make sure your seat back and folding trays are in their full upright position. We are ready to take off to your trip around the world!

Find your directions at Terminal 21

The idea of the Terminal 21 is just terrific! The entrance of the shoppingcenter is build like an airport. The security staff and the ones at the information desks are dressed like pilots and stewardesses. (Please don´t tell this to the security staff at London Heathrow. Even if they think they are the most important people in the whole world of travelling they don´t have to look like that *lol*) But back to Bangkok. You will find the directions on a large display panel, like at the airport. Each floor has a the design of a cosmopolitan city in the world and the elevators are your flight from one city to the other.
So let us start our round-the-world shopping trip with a flight to Paris. Just arrived at this floor you really get a Paris feeling. Street lights and floors in french style and little shops with colourful window frames made me just expecting an old guy carrying a baguette home, but I didn´t see one. In little Paris you will find ladies and mens wear, shoes and accesoires in small shops. A really a-typical feeling for Asia, where the only European and American brands you find are usually well known brands in large flagship stores. This does not mean that you won't find these brands in this mall, you simply will find them in a different way.

Little Paris in Bangkoks Terminal 21

Our travel continues. And thank you, dear owners of the Terminal 21 for making us catch a fly for our way from Paris to London instead of the crappy Eurostar trains *lol*. So take off for our short flight from little Paris to little London. Of course the concept here is the same. Small shops with products more or less fitting to the London theme in a Camden Market surrounding. Not surprisingly, you will find a typical red telephone box, a red double decker bus and a bobby. But if you are now wondering if the atmosphere might seem artificial, I have to disappoint you. Yes, it is still a mall in Bangkok and geographically far away from Paris or London. But it is well done and really worth to visit - also because the set up of this center is completely new to the Asians. There a long queues where people wait to take a photo in front of the red double decker bus or other attractions. It is also very interesting to see how the Thais see the eight citys and regions that are shown in Terminal 21 and what they find typical.
Our travel will go on. On our trip around-the world - ehm, around-the-shopping center - we are stopping in Rome, Istanbul and Tokyo. All of them are unique, have a very special atmosphere and different things to explore.
A real highlight is the San Francisco area. Here will you find the Golden Gate Bridge, just hanging under the rooftop of Terminal 21. And when you walk nearly into the cable car, which is part of a restaurant, it is maybe time for a rest - thank god the San Francisco part contains some restaurants! Another possibility to take a break is the Hollywood area - it is not a big surprise that you will find a cinema here.

The caribbean Lighthouse at the Terminal 21

Loaded with new energy let's explore my favorite floor, the LG. This is the Caribbean floor, with palm trees, a beach area, and colourful houses that give you a real holiday feeling. The highlight on this floor is the gourmet market. Here will you find delicious food from all over the world. If you are abroad for a long time you might be to get some food from your home country.
So even if you are normally not a big fan of shopping malls, do visit the Terminal 21 if you are in Bangkok. It is a different shopping experience to be on a trip around the world during shopping, eating and simply having a good time!

British telephonbox

The asians love the red big double decker

Up to Istanbul

Welcome in San Francisco

Please be aware of the cable car

Enjoy Rome with nice paintings on the ceiling

Copenhagens Strandvejen: 42 kilometers worth to travel

The nice harbour of Rungsted

I am sure there a thousands of streets everywere in the world that are named Beachroad. And of couse there is also a Beachroad (in Danish Strandvejen) in Copenhagen. But I think that the one in Copenhagen is one of the most interesting ones in the world. Architecture, culture, sports, nature and much more are to discover on the 42 km long way from Copenhagen northbound to the city of Helsingborg. No matter if you take the car or - as the Danes prefer - the bike or maybe the boat for this journey. I am sure you will enjoy it! So do follow me on this short trip with lots of things to discover.

We are starting in Copenhagen, just near Svanemøllen st‎ation. Here you will find the urban part of Strandvejen. Because this part is so close to the city it is a very popular housingarea. But before we take some time to discover the architecture of this part, we already reach the first stop on the way just after 500 meters. The Experimentarium. This museum is perfect for families. Natural science and technology can be discovered by the visitors. More than 250 interactive exhibits are waiting to be touched, looked at, tried out and experienced by kids and adults. They will love the great soap bubble show! But today we don't have time for that and simply proceed with our trip on Strandvejen. Less than 2 km further we have the chance to discover the next museum. The Museum Øregaard is open since 1921 and offers one of the largest topographic art collections with Danish art dating from 1750 through 1930. Additionaly there are two to three temporary exhibitions a year.
Our way continues to the Charlottenlund Slot og Park, the palace and palace garden, which was the Royal Danish residence from 1730 until 1930. For those who need a break: The Cafe Jordenrundt offers snacks and drinks and has the sea just infront.

Typical Danish bathing club at the Strandvej

After some relaxing here, our trip continues and we are passing the horse racing track before we take the chance to have a quick look to the house with the adress Strandvejen 259, a historic villa, build in 1885 with a little tower. During the second World War it was the residence of the German occupiers, since 1946 is it the residence of the ambassador of the United States in Denmark. We visit the small harbour of Skovshoved, before we are proceeding with the most important stop of this first part of the Strandvejen: the architecture of Arne Jacobsen. Here in Skovshoved in Kystvejen 24, you will find a gas station. But its not only a gasstation - it is maybe the only gasstation with the European Heritage Label. Arne Jacobsen build it in 1938 and it is a prime example of the functional design. Just the same is the residential complex Bellavista in Klampenborg, built in 1932. With 68 flats, a theatre, a restaurant and a bathing area is is like small village in itself.

Deer in the Jægersborg Deer Park

For those who are now keen to some nature or activity: The Jægersborg Deer Park (Dyrehaven) with over 2000 wild deer and some really nice outdoor restaurants and the oldest amusement park in the world Bakken with its 425 year long historie are waiting for you. All others continue Strandvejen that changes his face now. We are passing smaller villages like Taarbæk, Skodsborg, Vedbæk and Rungsted, with castles, palaces and manor houses with names like Miramare Rosenlund and Sølyst. 
Very interesting is the Karen Blixen Museum in Rungsted - don't miss it! The famous Danish author was born here 1885 and moved to Africa 1914. After years in Africa she returned 1931 to Rungsted, where she wrote her bestseller "Out of Africa" in 1937. Now its time for a break. And I would recomment to relax at the harbour of Rungsted. Here you can find several shops, restaurants and cafes. My favorite place to take a rest is the Fiskerikajen. In this stall you can sit at the waterfront and enjoy the scenic view together with some fresh fish and drinks. I would recommend the salmon wrap and the homemade fishburger. 

Nice lanes are waiting for you in the city of Helsingør

Now we are ready for the last part of our way and the famous museum Lousiana. I don´t want to spent much words about the art in this Museum because you have to see and experience it yourself. The museum is a perfect combination of modern art and nature in a typical danish way. I have never seen a museum where its usual to picknick on the meadows between sculptures and the sea and where you can take a rest during your visit and take a walk at the beach. So do visit the Lousiana!
Further on Strandvejen reaches Helsingør and ends here. Helsingør has also interesting places to visit. So take a walk through the cosy city with nice old houses and watch the Swedish tourists arriving and departing from the port to buy the much cheaper (!) Danish alkohol - yes, you won't believe it, the stuff IS more expensive over there!. The last attaction on our way also is one of the highlights: Kronborg Castle, one of Northern Europe's most important Renaissance castles and well-known all over the world  from Shakespeare's play Hamlet. But its not only the castle that is worth visiting - it is the whole site. Overlooking the Øresund, with a scenic view of the Swedish city Helsingborg. The fortifications of the castle are often used to relax, do a picknick, take a sunbath or fish in the Øresund.
Strandvejen has brought us to its final destination, but our journey continues. Maybe by train back to Copenhagen, by ferry to Sweden or by car further on following the Northern Strandvej to Hornbaek. Or maybe for those who are still under the charm Strandvejen - just turn around and take the journey back!