Copenhagen is a beautiful city and one that I would love to return to. We visited in February and although it was absolutely freezing we had a splendid time. Copenhagen is often rated one of the happiest cities in Europe and it is super easy to see why. Although the capital of Denmark, it is relatively small; think super cute cobbled streets, wonderfully colourful architecture and that much talked about – hygge vibe. A couple of days or a long weekend is an ample amount of time to explore the best parts of the city. Though be prepared to spend a little more than in other European hot spots as Copenhagen is a little on the pricey side. *Disclaimer* the photo quality may be a bit average as these were all taken on my iPhone 6. Needless to say, I thought I would cobble together my favourite things to do on a first visit to the city, so without further ado…

Marvel at the colourful houses at Nyhavn from the waterways. 

Picture Copenhagen and no doubt one of the first images that springs to mind is one of these gorgeous iconic houses lining the banks of the former commercial port. This area is terrific for a little wander. Soak up the atmosphere and appreciate the splendid colours of the cafes, shops, homes and restaurants. We hopped on a boat tour around the waterways for approx. £8.00 each (which also took us out to see the infamous ‘Little Mermaid’, which FYI is rather underwhelming) albeit freezing, this was a great way to see more of the city.

Wander around the grounds of the Fairy-tale-esque Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Castle is stunning and the grounds are so beautifully landscaped. We did not venture inside, but we did meander around the gardens enough to appreciate this tremendous architectural gem.

Hire a bicycle and explore the city 

These days there are more bikes than inhabitants in Copenhagen. So if you can’t beat them join em! The Danish capital is more than equipped for cyclists. There are over 375 kilometres of cycle tracks and traffic lights that are coordinated in favour of cyclists during rush hour. Although Josh was super hesitant, we hired our bikes from the hotel for a reasonable price and ventured all over the city – such a great way to explore!

Brunch at Mad & Kaffe

Now, I would genuinely go back to Copenhagen just to have brunch at Mad and Kaffe. As this gorgeous little spot is super popular, be prepared to get there early. We arrived at 9.30am and there wasn’t a free table!!! The waiter took our name and after a little wait, we were inside. You choose your breakfast options by ticking them off on an extensive checklist of various brunchy possibilities. Choose 3, 5 or 7 items for 65, 105 or 135 DKK (NOTE: at time of writing, 1 DKK is about 0.12 GBP so you do the maths – it makes it pricey but sooo worth it!).  We combined sweet with savoury and honestly, the eggs were some of the best I have eaten and the cinnamon & chocolate pastry was to die for. 

Follow the spiralled walkway to the top of the Rundetårn

For 25DKK (or as google tells me Free with the Copenhagen Card) you can walk the helter skelter walkway of the aptly named ‘Round Tower’, for a marvellous view of the city.

Pop over to Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

Copenhagen is home to plenty of internationally acknowledged art museums. Just 35km from Copenhagen centre you’ll find yourself in Humblebæk, located on the shore of Øresund Sound. Located by the water you will find Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Now, we are not by any stretch art critics. Nor did we really have a clue what we were looking at 90% of the time! Nonetheless, it was a fab morning out and we both loved the Gleaming Lights of the Souls installation by Yayoi Kusama. 

Eat all the street food at Papirøen 

A visit to Copenhagen would not be complete without visiting one of the glorious food markets. In this case I mean Papirøen (Paper Island). There is so much choice and it was actually one of the best places we found for veggie/vegan food in the city. We ate here twice and loved it. With a wicked atmosphere and even better food! 

Note: unfortunately the Papirøen site is now closed.  Though, I believe a similar space has been opened on Refshaleøen island.

So, Copenhagen was marvellous. If I could change one thing it would be the weather, because wow it was cold. I would love to go back in spring/summer. I would love to be able to sit outside in the sunshine with a few drinks. Tivoli would also be added to the list as it was off-season when we visited and unfortunately it was closed. 

WHERE TO STAY:

I always bang on about using booking.com and for good reason. There are so many perks, from becoming a Genius member, to discount deals – you can’t really go wrong. Just bear in my mind what you are looking for and filter that search down to the small print. For instance, we always filter for ratings 8+, Wifi and air conditioning.

I’ve popped some recommendations below that hopefully cater to your budget option, whether that be a sod it, it’s pay day let’s splash all the cash or a, I need a comfy bed to fall into asap kinda trip. Note that from experience Copenhagen is not the most budget friendly city, but I have popped the most affordable option I could find in here too. 

A SPLURGE OPTION:

71 Nyhavn Hotel – Located within 2 superbly converted warehouses from the 1800s, this hotel is found in the wonderfully vibrant Nyhavn District. The hotel is within walking distance to pretty much everywhere in the city and the popular canal boat doors depart from just outside the door. Oh and there’s a delicious breakfast included.

A SLIGHTLY KINDER TO THE BANK BALANCE OPTION:

citizenM Copenhagen Radhuspladsen – this well known chain opened it’s doors in the danish capital in 2018. All rooms come with a high tech MoodPad which controls everything from the lights to the temperature. Compact but perfectly formed, this hotel boasts great city views.

A BUDGET FRIENDLY OPTION:

Woodah Hostel – located in Copenhagen’s Vesterbro district, this hostel includes a good breakfast. It also features an in-house bar and café, as well as cosy communal areas. Dorm rooms range from 6-14 beds. All beds come with privacy curtains, lights and lockers and there is also an on site art shop and the option to take part in yoga classes.  Copenhagen Central Station is 7 minutes’ walk away.

Have you been to Copenhagen? Is it on your bucket list?  Let me know in the comments x