Indre By — the inner city — is the oldest part of Copenhagen and its geographic and cultural centre. Within a compact area you'll find the pedestrian street of Strøget (one of Europe's longest), the Latin Quarter around Copenhagen University, the Nyhavn canal lined with coloured townhouses, and a concentration of world-class museums.
The neighbourhood is bounded to the south by the harbour and Slotsholmen island, where Christiansborg Palace houses the Danish parliament. To the north it blurs into the Latin Quarter, the narrow lanes and churches around the medieval university. Rosenborg Castle and the botanical garden mark the northeastern edge before the city opens into the parks of Østerbro.
Strøget runs east to west from Kongens Nytorv to City Hall Square — useful as an orientation axis, though the more interesting streets are the parallel and perpendicular lanes: Strøget's crowds thin quickly one block in either direction. The covered market hall of Torvehallerne, just off the lakes, is the best place for coffee and fresh produce. Tivoli Gardens anchors the southwestern corner near the main railway station.
Walking is the main mode here; distances are short and the centre is largely flat. The harbour canal baths and the harbourpromenade along the water are among the best free attractions in the city.