Københavns Havn (Port of Copenhagen), Nordre Toldbod 7 (tel: 3347 9999; website: www.cphport.dk), is Denmark's largest port and the most important cruise destination in Northern Europe. Most cruise ships that dock in Copenhagen are heading for the Norwegian fjords or the Baltic. These big summer cruise ships dock along Langelinie Pier, which is 15 minutes' walk further out from Nyhavn, where the year-round ferries listed below currently dock. The harbour area has been extensively developed in recent years. The city's magnificent new opera house on Holmen opened in 2005, the Danish state has built an extension to the Royal Library on the waterfront, and there are lots of new facilities, including an information centre, telephones and lounges. In addition, various shops, pierside cafes and restaurants have appeared, and a new theatre opened in February 2008 at Kvæsthusbroen.

Ferry services: There are services to Oslo (journey time - 16 hours) run by DFDS Seaways (tel: 3342 3060; website: www.dfdsseaways.com) and to Swinoujscie, Poland (journey time - 9 hours) run by Polferries (tel: 3313 5223; website: www.polferries.com).

Bornholmstrafikken (tel: 5695 1866; website: www.bornholmstrafikken.dk) runs daily ferry services between Køge, some 45km (28 miles) south of Copenhagen, and Rønne, on the island of Bornholm in the Baltic (journey time - 7 hours).

Ferry companies have been unable to compete with the transport services on the new bridge over to Sweden. The closest ferry service between Denmark and Sweden runs across Øresund between Helsingør (Elsinore) and Helsinborg and is operated by Scandlines (tel: 3315 1515; website: www.scandlines.dk).

Transport to the city: The port is a 10-to-15-minute walk from the centre of Copenhagen, 4km (2.5 miles) from the central station and 15km (9 miles) from the airport. Bus 26 passes along Havnegade past the ferry terminal and taxis are readily available.