From Canals to Castles: Copenhagen With Your Grandchild

Orientation: 5:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. This program is staffed with a Group Leader who will accompany us throughout the program and deal primarily with logistics; a Study Leader who will lecture, conduct field trips, and serve as an information resource on program-related topics; and a Children’s Coordinator who will lead grandchildren’s activities. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

In the hotel dining room.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

In the hotel dining room.

We’ll begin today with a lecture in the hotel given by a local expert, during which we’ll learn about Danish culture and language. Following this, we’ll walk to nearby Nyhavn — “new harbor” – a 17th-century waterfront area. Then, we’ll set out on a relaxing canal boat ride, discovering the beautiful city of Copenhagen from its waterways with expert commentary from our Group Leader.

At a Danish street food market, we’ll have vouchers to select food and drinks from a variety of food stalls, which we’ll enjoy together at the seating area in the center of the market.

Following lunch, we will take the local boat known as the Harbour Bus to Toldboden, then walk past Amalienborg Palace and through the King’s Garden to Rosenborg Castle. Set in the heart of Copenhagen, the castle contains over 400 years of beautiful history, artistic treasures, and delightful gardens. On site, grandparents will receive an expert-led look at the interior, whilst grandchildren will explore the castle grounds with our Group Leader. Our Group Leader will lead us on the short walk back to the hotel after our field trip. Those of us who wish to remain in the area close to the castle and return independently are welcome to do so.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

At the hotel this morning, we’ll meet with an expert who will tell us all about the life and works of Hans Christian Andersen, the influential author of fairytales including “The Little Mermaid,” “The Princess and The Pea,” and “Thumbelina.” The children will try their skills with paper cutting, just as Andersen did. We’ll then set out on a walk around the city’s historic center to see the sights that inspired his famous stories. Andersen spent much of his life in Copenhagen, after moving to the city from Odense at the age of 14 to try to work as a ballet dancer. We’ll finish our walk outside the Royal Danish Opera.

On your own to sample more of the local fare.

Following lunch, we’ll regroup and explore the Royal Danish Opera during a Road Scholar exclusive behind-the-scenes field trip. We’ll see where stage workers ply their trade, as well as marvel at the work of the in-house tailors amongst many other aspects that go into producing world-class stage operas.

At a local restaurant.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll travel by motorcoach to beautiful Frederiksdal Fribad, a lakeside park with a small sandy beach, perfect for exploring the enchanting environment of Furesø by boat or canoe. Furesø is Denmark’s deepest lake, and its waters and the surrounding forest trails are popular destinations for Danes indulging in “friluftsliv” — the Nordic love of outdoor living. Our Group Leader will select suitable vessels and we’ll set out onto the calm waters in small groups with local experts, to enjoy the majestic scenery and have a taste of friluftsliv for ourselves.

On the shore at Frederiksdal Fribad.

We’ll continue to enjoy our time at Frederiksdal, with continuing boat rides and games, before we board the motorcoach to travel back to Copenhagen.

On your own.

We’ll regroup after dinner to visit one of Copenhagen’s vibrant board game cafes. The Danish concept of “hygge” — which translates loosely to “cozy togetherness” — has captured the world’s imagination in recent years, and we’ll experience it firsthand in the friendly environment of this café dedicated to bringing people together through play.

At the hotel.

We will walk to the nearby train station and board a train to travel through beautiful countryside to the historic port city of Helsingør (Elsinore) where the 16th-century Kronborg Castle – the setting of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – stands. Upon arrival, we’ll walk along the harbor from the train station to the castle where we’ll explore the interior with a local expert. The UNESCO inscription states, “The castle itself is a Renaissance building with four wings surrounding a spacious courtyard. The bright sandstone facades are characterized by horizontal bands and the front walls are balanced by towers and spires. The castle is extensively and richly decorated with sandstone ornaments in unique and imaginative designs. The Great Hall (the banqueting hall) is one of the most exquisite rooms from this time – and the largest of its kind in Northern Europe.” After exploring the castle, we’ll take a walk along the quaint cobbled streets and try some of the famous local ice cream.

At a local restaurant.

We’ll board a train and ride to Humlebaek for a field trip at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Grandparents will set out on an expert-led exploration of its eclectic exhibitions, whilst grandchildren will accompany their Group Leader to the terraced sculpture garden to play. The museum’s founder, Knud W. Jensen, intended it to be a home for Danish modern art when it opened in 1958. However, he quickly broadened his geographical scope and the museum now holds a significant international collection, making it Scandinavia’s leading museum of modern art. We will then return to Copenhagen by motorcoach.

At a local restaurant.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We will take the metro to the central station, where we’ll board a train and ride to Roskilde to experience life as Vikings. Roskilde was founded in the 10th century by the Viking king Harald Bluetooth, and was Denmark’s capital from the 11th century until 1443. We’ll first explore the Viking Ship Museum, led by docents who study archaeology and history at local universities. During our visit, we’ll see the museum’s preserved 11th-century ships and the boatyard where replica vessels are constructed using traditional shipbuilding techniques and tools. We’ll also see the completed vessels in the harbor and watch the Viking craft at the outdoor workshops. After exploring the museum, we’ll board a faithful replica Viking ship that was built at the museum’s boatyard. We’ll then take to the water to try our hands at rowing and setting the sails, imagining how it may have been to do this a thousand years ago.

At the museum café.

We’ll continue to navigate the waters around Roskilde, learning from our captain about skills the Vikings would have needed to dominate the seas. Once docked back at the museum, we’ll return to Copenhagen by motorcoach.

On your own to enjoy what you like.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll begin today by walking or taking the metro to Christiansborg Palace, a palace and government building located on the tiny island of Slotsholmen in the center of Copenhagen. The three branches of Denmark’s governmental system are all located within this building, which makes it unique because no other building in the world holds the executive power, the legislative power, and the judicial power of a nation, all in the same place. While here, we’ll discover the Royal Reception rooms of the Queen, and the children will pay a special visit to the Royal Stables with the white horses. These rooms are still used by the Danish Royal Family for official duties, but they are usually open to visitors when no events are scheduled.

On your own to sample more of the regional cuisine.

Following lunch, we’ll board the metro and head for the fairytale atmosphere of Tivoli Gardens for a full afternoon of exploration. Our Group Leader will introduce us to the gardens, then we’ll have some time to explore and test rollercoasters and other activities them for ourselves. Tivoli is one of the world’s oldest operating amusement parks and pleasure gardens, and since its foundation in 1843 has played a central role in Copenhagen’s city life as a venue for cultural events including theater and musical performances.

At Tivoli Gardens. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

After some more time for independent exploration at Tivoli Gardens, we’ll return to the hotel by the metro. The remainder of the evening is at leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel, depending on flight departure times. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!