On my last day in Copenhagen, I wanted to get out of the city and enjoy the beautiful sunny day. I jumped on the bus (gotta love Denmark’s extensive public transport network) and went to the far end of Amager Island. I got out of the bus in Dragør, a small fishing village by the sea. The trip took me just 30 minutes, but I felt like miles away from the city.
Dragør (pronounced DRAH-wer) is a popular summer destination for Copenhagen residents who come here to buy fresh fish or stroll through the cobbled alleyways. When I got there on a nice September day, there was almost no one, only an old man feeding the ducks with his grandson. With its pretty little yellow houses, Dragør gave the impression of walking back in time.
The small town south of Copenhagen was one of Denmark’s most important port cities in the Middle Ages. Its proximity to the Baltic Sea and the Øresound made it a strategic place. Dragør had the largest fleet of fishing boats in the country and served as a base for processing and salting fish.
The small yellow houses of the city were built in the 18th century. They are a mixture of Danish and Dutch influences (many Dutchmen settled in the surrounding area in the 16th century to exploit farmlands). When you walk through the labyrinth of cobblestone streets, it’s like going back in time, three hundred years ago.
There are still fishing boats in Dragør, even if the village no longer has its importance of yesteryear. But it is still a nice spot to stroll on the seaside or have a cup of coffee near the port.
Dragør is the last stop of the 350S bus line. From Copenhagen city center, the journey takes between 30 and 45 minutes.