Copenhagen may just be the happiest place on earth and that’s a direct tribute to the people and the culture that they’ve built there. Early on in our trip we learned about Hygge (pronounced hoo-guh)–a fundamental aspect of Danish culture which by definition means “snug” or “cozy.” Cute, right?! Hygge is a word that the Danish use to describe a moment or feeling, it can be ordinary or extraordinary, but regardless, it’s charming and special.
My friend Lindsay and I visited Copenhagen in December and, come to find out, winter is the most hygge time of year! There are candles everywhere, intimate cafes serving up lattes with milk-foam hearts and glistening fireplaces in many of the restaurants and homes.
We were only in Copenhagen for a few days, but we quickly learned about hygge and strived to make our time there as relaxed and special as possible. We had such an amazing time and I would definitely recommend a visit!
STAY:
Copenhagen Downtown Bar and Hostel: This place was ah-mazing! I know hostels aren’t for everyone, but this is a great option if you’re looking for a home base that’s in a great location and at a lower price point. This accomodation has won a number of awards and has also been recognized as one of Europe’s most famous hostels.
Located in the center of the city, this hostel is right next to historic landmarks such as Vandkunsten Square and adjacent to countless bars and restaurants. They even have their own on-site cafe that serves up food, drinks and has live entertainment throughout the week.
The hostel has 75 rooms, all at different price points. There are singles, doubles and triples with shared or en-suite bathrooms, along with 4,5,6 and 10 bed shared dorms. You can request an all female or male dorm and each rate includes a free dinner, plus you have the option to add on an all-you can eat breakfast. My friend and I opted for a four bed, all female dorm with a shared bathroom and it was perfect!
Along with their countless room options, the Downtown Bar and Hostel also offers free walking tours twice a day, bike rental options and more!
SEE:
Just a quick note before we get started. If you’re planning on using a lot of public transport, I would recommend getting The Copenhagen Card. It gives you unlimited access to trains and busses in zones 1-4 which covers a majority of the city, plus your ride to and from the airport. It also gives you free admission to 86 different attractions, which include museums, canal cruises, their famous amusement park and more.
An adult 72 hour Copenhagen Card is $110, but they do have 24, 48 and 120 hour options as well. You can buy these online directly through the link above and it’ll save you a ton of time, money and hassle. The site is pretty awesome and it allows you to select attractions you’re interested in to see the total cost and how much you’d save with the card.
Copenhagen Free Walking Tour: A lot of cities in Europe have free walking tours and I’ve done my fair share throughout the years, but this one was really something special. Our guide was the wackiest, funniest, sweetest Dane there ever was and we loved spending the morning with him. He walked us (or more so ran us) all throughout the city, showed us historic landmarks, gave us in depth history and told us about his favorite spots. I swear I smiled for 3 hours straight and he gave us some great options for things to do during our time there.
If you have a morning or afternoon free, jump on one of these tours–you can’t select your guide ahead of time, but from talking to others, they were all fantastic!
Nyhaven: If you’ve seen a photo of Copenhagen, chances are you saw a photo of Nyhaven–a 17th-century waterfront and entertainment district. The streets are lined with brightly colored townhomes, bars and eateries. You can spend hours just walking around and popping in and out of shops or just sitting alongside the water. They also have a ton of different canal tours if you’re looking to spend some time out on the water.
Christiana: Also known as Freetown Christiana, Christiana is by far the most unique area I’ve ever been to and is a must see if you’re visiting Copenhagen. It’s a community and commune with about 900 residents covering 84 acres in the borough of Christianshavn. The land used to be an old military base that was inhabited by locals soon after the military moved out in 1971.
It took time, but Christiana ultimately became its own community within Copenhagen, one that’s independent of the Danish government. The community is a mix of homemade houses, art galleries, inexpensive organic restaurants, music venues and workshops. They welcome tourists with open arms and you’ll never see anything else like it!
Note: You can reach the neighborhood by bus, train or bike, but no cars are allowed. You can go independently or you can find a tour that will take you. I would suggest the tour if you don’t want to worry about transportation.
Tivoli Gardens: This is an amusement park in Copenhagen that is perfect for families, couples and friends alike. Built in 1843, the park is beautifully nostalgic with gorgeous artitecture, restaurants and rides. It’s known that Hans Christian Andersen, Walt Disney and countless other imaginaries have visited the park and fallen in love with it. The entry cost for adults ia $20 and for those under 8 it’s about $8–or free with your Copenhagen Card!
Malmö: Sweden is literally a 20 minute train ride away! You have to go! Lindsay and I (well, mainly I) got such a kick out of saying, “we’re just heading to Sweden for lunch.” We grabbed a train ticket to Malmö the morning we wanted to go and had no problem securing our space. Once we got there, we walked around their main city square (so cute), popped into some cafes and had fun just exploring somewhere new for a few hours.
EAT/DRINK:
Espressohuset: Cozy up with a cup of coffee and plan out your day. The city is filled with authentic little coffee shops and this one was one was our favorites.
Reffen: Located in Refshaleøen (the industrial district) Reffen is referred to on its website as, “an urban playground for co-creating, innovation, food and creativity.” The space is home to food stalls and vendors and hosted events such as yoga, concerts, talks and more.
Ruby: Ruby is a cocktail bar that can be found inside of a townhome that was built in the 1740’s. It is located in the oldest part of the city and the view from the home faces the Parliament building and Thorvaldsens Museum. This is a great place to grab a cocktail and mix and mingle with others. It is a little pricier, but the space is beautiful and the drinks are oh so fabulous. It has a speakeasy vibe that makes you feel like you’re stepping back in time.
La Petanque: You can’t leave Copenhagen without having a crepe (or as the Danish call it, a pancake)! They’re everywhere and so delicious! La Petanque had an extensive menu of options for entree and dessert crepes and a laid back vibe to accompany them.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Copenhagen is truly something special. You’ll be surrounded by the kindest people, the most charming shops and cafes, delicious food, beautiful architecture and an intriguing history. If you go, make sure you strive for hygge–recognizing those cozy and charming moments are all part of the experience!
