I’m lucky enough to have family in Copenhagen so I have spent a few summers in Denmark over the years. I originally wrote a variation of this guide for a colleague, but then refreshed it for a former colleague. I recently spoke to a friend who is heading there for vacation soon and realized that maybe others would benefit from this list, too. I am biased but Copenhagen is my favorite Scandinavian city and doesn’t miss as a Great Place. See below for my recommendations and suggested adventures to get you started.
General tips:
Rain coat! Rains is a good one and was far better in the rain and wind than the one I originally took. It’s also easy to pack in a light backpack.
Waist pack/fanny pack. I like the Fjallraven High Coast Hip Pack but there are plenty of alternatives around.
Sunscreen. Summers are hot and sunny. If there is a breeze you’re in luck but if not you’re in trouble. Once again, Supergoop is my favorite.
Copenhagen Airport has a great and easy metro that takes you into the center of town without much effort. That said, the metro isn’t that extensive and the City is small so unless you’re concerned about getting lost or going further out of the center, it may be best to walk.
Copenhagen is a cycling town! Everyone has their bikes (or multiple bikes) so see if you can rent one but make sure you have a sturdy lock.
Generally, people in Copenhagen speak English. If you leave and go to other parts of Denmark (e.g. Roskilde, Helsingor) then you may want someone with you who speaks Danish.
If, like me, you grew up with stories about Pippi Longstocking, you might want to know that Pippi is Swedish. Similarly, Moomins are Finnish. Learn from my mistakes.
Food: Danes really do like their pickled herring and fish - especially bony fish. If this is not your thing you will want to look at the menu carefully.
Overall, Copenhagen is a big jazz town. Copenhagen Jazz Festival is a major attraction and tickets aren’t cheap! I wanted to see Elvis Costello in 2022 but it was a little too pricy for me. In addition, there’s really two beers to go with in Copenhagen: Carlsberg and Tuborg. (I prefer Carlsberg). You can get others, but these two are the easiest to find on draft. In addition, if you love a good palace, Copenhagen has several. Christiansborg Slot and Amalienborg are the big two.
However, the historic palace, Rosenborg Slot, is right in the middle of town, houses the crown jewels, and is picturesque if you’re looking for a nice photo op. Rosenborg has a moat with geese, ducks, fish, a little bridge, and full-time guards. The palace is in front of Kongens Have (the King’s Garden) which is filled with flowers, nice trees, and well looked after. If the weather is nice, it’s also a nice spot for a picnic or a nap.
Other tourist sites:
Little Mermaid (Den Lille Havfrue): She is indeed little. But very cute.
Kastellet: this old outdoor fort is right outside the Little Mermaid
Christiania: a former semi-free commune that is a tourist destination
Nyhavn/Indre By: the scenic port and main tourist district that shows up in postcards
Rundetaarn: Translates directly to a round tower.
Statens Museum for Kunst: the national art museum
If none of these are up your alley, try
Det Kongelige Bibliotek, the Royal Library. At the time you had to be a patron to see the stacks though things may have changed. It is a huge modern building, there is a cafe on the ground floor and it’s a bibliophile’s heaven.
There’s also a very nice garden in the back of the library (Den Kongens Bibliotek Have) which is small but peaceful. It features a statue of Soren Kierkegaard if you’re interested.
Cafe Sorgenfri. One of many traditional Danish cafes across town. They have plenty of beers on tap, and I was very happy with the Danish meatballs, lingonberry sauce and of course rye bread.
Bredo. Very cute, happening and local spot. I wasn’t a huge fan of the food - be warned that it’s mostly snack style - but I think the drinks menu is great.
Livingstone - one of several restaurants right on the “four lakes”. I have gone and it’s basically a beer bar with plenty of beers on draft and then tapas. It's a nice place to hang out if you're looking for something family appropriate.
Swimming and sauna right in the harbor. The ocean feeds right into the harbor so the water is COLD but it is also very fresh. Be prepared for fish, tadpoles, and moss. Now there are more roped off areas where you can go swimming and also sauna. These spots are open to the public. I’m unclear on the charge but I think anyone can go.
A day trip to Kronborg Slot (Hamlet’s castle) in Helsingor is a great day trip. Helsingor is accessible on the Danish train, is a couple of hours away from Copenhagen, a really charming town, and the castle itself is magnificent. The inspiration for Hamlet is clear.
Looking forward to hearing about your adventures.
Comentários