Copenhagen

Walt Disney visited Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens in the 1950s and left so inspired that he built Disneyland.

Tivoli opened in 1843, making it the world's second-oldest amusement park still running. But the city where it sits has a much wilder history than twinkling lights and roller coasters.

Copenhagen exists because a warrior bishop named Absalon built a fortress on a tiny island in 1167.

His mission: stop Slavic raiders called the Wends from raiding the coast. Traders gathered around the fortress, and the settlement became Købmandshavn, meaning Merchant's Harbor.

That island, Slotsholmen, remains the heart of Danish government today.

The city took serious hits over the centuries.

The Hanseatic League destroyed much of it in 1369. The Great Fire of 1728 burned 28% of Copenhagen in three days.

Then the British showed up with warships.

Admiral Nelson attacked in 1801, and British forces returned in 1807 to bombard the city for three straight days, killing nearly 200 civilians, wounding hundreds more, and leveling 30% of all buildings.

Denmark holds the record for one of the world's oldest monarchies, over 1,000 years and counting.

King Eric of Pomerania made Copenhagen the capital in 1416 by moving into the castle on Slotsholmen. Christiansborg Palace stands there now, serving as parliament, supreme court, and prime minister's office all in one building.

Hans Christian Andersen lived and wrote in Copenhagen.

His fairy tales inspired the famous Little Mermaid statue, which has sat on a harbor rock since 1913. You can walk through his old neighborhood in Nyhavn, where colorful 17th-century townhouses line the waterfront.

Half of all residents here bike to work year-round, rain or snow. Expect cycle lanes on every major street.

Try smørrebrød for lunch, the Danish open-faced sandwich loaded with pickled herring, shrimp, or roast beef on dark rye bread.

Copenhagen restaurants hold 30 Michelin stars, but the bakeries deserve equal attention for their cinnamon rolls and flaky Danish pastries.

Catch the royal guard changing at Amalienborg Palace, explore the free-spirited Freetown Christiania, and tour Rosenborg Castle to see the crown jewels.