Charlottenborg was built in 1683 as a palace for the royal family. Since 1754 Charlottenborg has housed Det Kongelige Kunstakademi, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Its exhibition hall on the eastern side of the central courtyard features changing exhibitions of modern art by Danish and international artists.

A nexus of Scandinavian design, the Center is a work of art in itself with a double-glass wall of windows, originally intended to hold a layer of liquid crystal that would act as a huge LCD screen. For the hi-fi nut, the centre houses a history of the iconic and avant-garde audiovisual company, Bang & Olufsen.

Opening in 2000, the DDC has a dual function; it provides a meeting place for people in the field of design and offers a display space for exhibitions.

The ground floor holds an exhibit of classic Danish chairs, while upstairs displays changing exhibits on topics such as the development of fashion trends.

Tivoli caters for both wild and sedate fun-lovers. The famed park has been operating for over 150 years. There are all the fun-park staples such as a roller coaster, Ferris wheel and carnival games, as well as traditional folk dances and a large concert hall hosting symphony orchestras and ballet troupes.

Nationalmuseet (the National Museum) is a must-see for anyone who wants a comprehensive grounding in Danish history and culture. True to its name, Nationalmuseet has the biggest collection of Danish historical artefacts in the country. On Sundays in summer the ambience is enhanced by free chamber music concerts.

Nationalmuseet has dibs on virtually every antiquity found on Danish soils, whether it was unearthed by a farmer ploughing his fields or a government-sponsored archaeological dig.

The artefacts date from the Upper Palaeolithic period to the mid-19th century. Highlights include the Sun Chariot, which is over 3500 years old, and an exhibition of 3000-year-old bronze lur (Danish horns).

This exceptional museum houses an excellent collection of Greek, Egyptian, Etruscan and Roman sculpture and art, and more contemporarily, a notable Gauguin series. It was built a century ago by beer baron Carl Jacobsen, an ardent collector of classical art who generously bequeathed his collection to the public.

The museum's century-old main building, designed by Danish architect Vilhelm Dahlerup, is centred around a glass-domed conservatory replete with palm trees and Mediterranean greenery, creating an atmospheric complement to the antiquities collections it showcases.

The museum's extensive sculpture displays are arranged to depict the history of Western sculpture from 3000 BC to the end of the Roman Empire. Particularly notable is the Greek collection, which in terms of its breadth and calibre is the finest in Northern Europe.

The French collection is centered around the Gauguin works, which now number 50. These are displayed alongside pieces by Cézanne, Van Gogh, Pissarro, Monet and Renoir in a new wing of the museum that opened in 1996. This 'French Wing' also boasts one of only three complete series of Degas bronzes.

This is the city's leading jazz spot, featuring top Danish musicians and occasional international performers. The music runs the gamut from bebop to fusion jazz so there is something for every taste, and there's a large dance floor.

Jazz has evolved and morphed into new forms, made evident by the range of acts and artists that perform at Jazz House. Not limited to the high-art of Jazz alone, the large dancefloor gets put to heavier-duty use after 01:00 from Thursday to Saturday when the venue becomes a club.

Nørrebro's trendiest bar is a popular place for sampling the latest drink or chatting over a lethal cocktail and a plate of snacks. Whether it's the cheeky James-Bond-via-Monty-Python name that attracts them or the decor, Pussy's is popular with young Danish royals and the beautiful people. A great place for gazing.

This low-key student hangout near the Rundetårn offers some good, light meals to soak up all the cheap beer that's on offer. Not a bad spot to catch some live music either, or the eye of eager types who more than likely sport Che Guevara posters on their bedroom walls.

Just south of Strøget, this airy basement cafe will have you feasting on a Mediterranean-style vegetarian buffet that groans under the weight of felafel, pasta, hummus and salads. You can also order from the menu, which includes lamb kebabs, grilled fish or fried calamari for the meat lovers among us. A frequent winner of 'best and cheapest' awards.

Located on historic Gråbrødretorv, or Greyfriars' Square, Peder Oxe is a good choice for a pleasant dinner treat. The restaurant meshes Danish country ambience with affordable fine dining and top quality produce. Copenhagen's oldest monastery was built on this site in 1238 and the restaurant's wine cellar retains part of the old stone foundations.

A few minutes' walk north of Bakken, this quintessential Danish country restaurant occupies an historic thatch-roofed house and is good for a nice relaxing meal, with smørrebrød, venison specialities and other Danish food (including children's portions of frikadeller - meatballs - and chips). On sunny days it's a popular place to sit outside and watch the horse and buggy carts go by.