Having long been drawn to all things Scandinavian, Copenhagen was high on the list of European cities I wanted to visit. With less than 48 hours to spare between Prague and Paris, we decided to make a trip to Copenhagen work. It was just enough time to fall in love with the city, and I constantly found myself thinking, I want to move here.
With such little time to explore, we wanted to be right in the heart of the action and Nyhavn seemed like the natural first choice. This lively harbor, dotted in colorful buildings, maintains a historic atmosphere. It was once home to Hans Christian Andersen, the author of many famous fairytales. We stayed at 71 Nyhavn Hotel, a centuries-old converted warehouse right on the water. The hotel is equal parts modern and charming with wonderful amenities and a beautiful view.
The food scene in Copenhagen is incredible, and I would be lying if I said it wasn’t one of my favorite parts of our visit! Thanks to some planning ahead of time, we managed to squeeze a lot of restaurants and cafes into our short stay. Here were a few favorites:
Our first stop after landing in Copenhagen was Fars Dreng–a cozy coffee house with great options for a light breakfast or lunch.
For melt in your mouth cinnamon buns and pastries covered in chocolate, Meyers Bageri is as good as it gets. In my opinion, it was on par with Parisian bakeries.
Mirabelle and Bæst, a bakery and restaurant that share the same owners, are both farm to table and feature organic ingredients. Mirabelle is the perfect place for breakfast, brunch and lunch or simply a cup of coffee with a relaxing, Scandinavian ambiance. Bæst, which is best known for its pizza, makes everything in-house down to the mozzarella. Dinner here is a must if you love pizza!
Our last morning in Copenhagen we had an early flight and decided to eat breakfast at our hotel 71 Nyhavn. It turned out to be an unexpected highlight and I recommend it to anyone who stays there.
Grundtvig’s church is one of the more unique buildings I have ever visited. Though its location in the Bispebjerg district is somewhat out of the way, it’s easily accessible by bus. The church was completed in 1940 and was built in a residential area. The exterior of the church resembles a giant organ, while the interior could be described as gothic architecture meets minimalism.
We visited the King’s Garden in the heart of Copenhagen. It’s a lovely area to go for a stroll, and I can only imagine it’s even more pleasant during the summer with flowers in bloom. Rosenborg Castle, which was built by Christian IV in the early 17th century, also lies in the garden.
The Rundetaarn, or round tower, topped my list of places to see in Copenhagen. It was constructed in the 17th century and is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. While the outside of the tower is somewhat unassuming, the interior is striking with a long spiral walkway and plenty of natural light. The top of the tower offers views of Copenhagen.
From Rundetaarn we made our way down Strøget, one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe. We stopped by the Illum rooftop for a warm latte at Original Coffee and a beautiful view over Amagertorv. One thing that blew me away about Copenhagen was just how many people use bicycles as their main source of transportation, regardless of the weather. It was impressive to see so many streets and parking lots full of bicycles and a city that was set up to accommodate them.
Magstræde and the surrounding area is a must for anyone who loves colorful buildings. The street dates back to the 16th century and has maintained its original cobblestones over the years. It’s the perfect place to get lost wandering!
As our last evening in Copenhagen came to a close, we cuddled up in the cold and enjoyed chocolate covered waffles (so good) on the harbor next to outdoor heaters. This cozy, content feeling, also known as hygge, is a Danish concept that has become popular on a global level in recent years. I can understand why, as truly everywhere we went in Copenhagen left me feeling at ease. In our experience, the locals were incredibly friendly and always willing to help. Copenhagen is a beautiful city that manages to seamlessly blend history and modern aesthetics, but ultimately the Danish culture is what makes it worth visiting.