TRAVEL IS BACK, Y’ALL! (And so is this travel blog!)
Ok, that all caps was quite enthusiastic and you may not yet be travelling again since you-know-what. Hopefully though, if you haven’t ventured abroad yet, you’re starting to think about it! It’s all about the baby steps, so why not start with a short but super-sweet weekend away (you know where I’m going with this…) to Copenhagen!
I just returned from a 3 night break there and loved it so much that it re-ignited my desire to write blog posts, so I can give you all my tips on where to go!
The Danish capital is known for its Michelin star restaurants, colourful harbour and of course, Smørrebrød. Y’know, those open face sandwiches eaten literally EVERYWHERE in Denmark and Norway.
Oh and also The Little Mermaid statue. But don’t get too excited; that doesn’t even feature in this list of places to visit, because I was told by locals that it’s the most disappointing thing in Copenhagen! I took their advice and didn’t even go to see it, so, yeah.
The Perfect Food Places To Visit In Copenhagen
Let’s start with food (and drinks!) shall we? Finding lovely little spots to grab a drink and watch the world go by, or to try some local food, is one of my favourite things to do on a city break. It’s a really easy way to get a glimpse of the culture while also filling your belly with tasty treats.
Scrummy Breakfast At Buka
Are you even on a European city break if you don’t grab a coffee and a croissant from a bakery?
Well, are you even in Copenhagen if you don’t grab a coffee and a DANISH PASTRY from a bakery?
Those Danish pastries you’ve had from your local coffee shop at home are no match for the real deal. Head to super-stylish Buka on Strøget (the city’s main shopping street) and grab one of the delish pastries on offer. They’ve also got other yummy looking brekkie options like savoury croissants and sandwiches, or oats and yogurts.
If you’re vegan or lactose intolerant, don’t fret! There are different dairy-free milks available for your coffee and some of the breakfast items are dairy-free too. Although, the Danes sure do love their cheese and butter, so watch out for that…!
Oh and a word of warning – the almond croissants are incredible but jeez are they intense. Unless you have a SUPER sweet tooth, maybe share one between two. Just a heads up!
Al Fresco Lunch At Torvehallerne Market
Torvehallerne market consists of two separate glass covered markets; both with a huge variety of food and drink to taste. It’s the perfect place to visit on a cold or rainy day, but on a sunny day, it’s even lovelier.
There are a few different seating areas in the outdoor space between the two market halls; so pick up some Smørrebrød style tapas at Tapa del Toro and a glass of wine at Vinveto and find yourself a table.
In the two days I was in the city, I visited this market TWICE just to bathe in the buzzy atmosphere and (let’s be real) to sip great wine.
Highly recommend and it’s a place I’ll definitely visit when I’m next in Copenhagen!
Upmarket Dinner Experience At Fleisch
This restaurant is a must-visit if you eat meat (or seafood!), but be sure to book in advance to secure a table! It’s a popular spot for good reason.
Fleisch is located on the edge of the city’s old meat packing district and the area couldn’t be more different to the rest of the city. Forget fancy old buildings and instead imagine a sea of low-rise, nondescript white industrial buildings with windows framed in electric blue.
Sound a bit odd? It kind of is!
But, on a sunny Friday evening it is such a cool place to be, as it’s the locals’ after-work hang out spot. Get there before your dinner reservation to grab a few drinks, sit at one of the outside tables and then head inside Fleisch for a cosy dinner.
This area turned out to be one of my favourite places to visit in Copenhagen!
Top tip: the steak is a huge portion, so if you’re going for starters too, space your courses out with (you guessed it) some wine.
A Variety Of Drinking Spots In Copenhagen
I know I already covered a few drinking spots in the last three recommendations, but those were combined with places to eat too. Below, I’ve listed three totally different watering holes that give you three totally different vibes!
Street-side Sipping At Dina
This cute café is right around the corner from the main city hall square Rådhuspladsen and Tivoli Gardens, but unless you were aiming to go there, you’d probably miss it.
Think Parisian-style wicker chairs, with tiny two-person tables and stylish city-folk sipping on an Aperol Spritz in the sunshine and you’re pretty accurately imagining Dina. I found this place as it was right next to where I stayed at the Hotel Kong Frederik (which, side note, I do NOT recommend!) and I’m so glad I did!
No matter the time of day, it was always busy and seemed to be another little local meeting place. Get yourself down there for a cheeky afternoon cocktail before heading into Tivoli!
Pure Hygge Vibes At Nyhavn
I’m sure you all know by now what hygge is, but for anyone unsure how on earth to pronounce it, it’s “hoo-ga”. Yes, really. You might think that hygge is just a stereotype that we’ve placed on Denmark, but it isn’t. They really do go out of their way to make everything as hyggelig as possible (“hyggelig” – pronounced “hoo-ga-ly” – is the adjective and isn’t it great?!).
The bars all along the world-famous Nyhavn harbour have totally nailed this, with heaters, fire pits, blankets, fairy lights… you name it! As with any city, the most touristy areas don’t often have the best food and this is likely true for Nyhavn as well, hence I’ve included this under the drinks section instead.
But, I really enjoyed trying a traditional Danish dish called Biksemad at McJoy’s pub. Chances are pretty high that it wasn’t very authentic (!), but the dish of pork and potato hash, with small cubes of beetroot and a fried egg on top was really tasty!
Getting back to drinks though – this old harbour complete with wooden ships is just a lovely spot. Of course, being the most well-known image of Copenhagen, it’s a busy area, but hit it up on a weekday evening and you should avoid the main weekend crowds!
Get Your Boogy On At Halmtorvet 9
Ok, so you don’t have to get your boogy on, of course.
Halmtorvet 9 is just on the outskirts of the meat packing district and on a Friday night is buzzing with the after-work crowd. Again, another spot that seemed much more local and less touristy (perfect, in my opinion!).
It’s an open-air bar set in a courtyard style garden, with big umbrellas and varying table and chair combos. There’s also an indoor bar area and another indoor dance floor. Like I say, you can scrap the dancing if that’s not your thing and just hang out outside!
This place is definitely filled with the millennial crowd and is one of the livelier spots in the meat packing district. Whether you fancy a dance or just want to sit with a drink and some music, this is your place.
Places To Visit In Between All That Food And Drink
I mean, I’m not here to judge. If you want to spend all of your time consuming all the good stuff then you go for it!
But if you also wanted to see a few sights while you’re in Copenhagen, these are some of my top places to visit.
Be An Adrenaline Junky At Tivoli Gardens
Couldn’t not write a post all about places to visit in Copenhagen and NOT include Tivoli Gardens now, could I?
This world-famous amusement park was the inspiration for Disneyland no less. I must admit, being an avid Disney World and Disneyland visitor over the years, I was a little sceptical. I’d expected a scattering of rickety rides and a few fairground-like stalls selling candy floss.
Boy was I wrong. Yes there are fairground rides, yes there’s a couple of (slightly questionable) old rides, but there’s also a full size ROLLERCOASTER.
To say I was pleasantly surprised by Tivoli would be an understatement. This place is fantastic for kids and adults alike and you could easily spend a few hours, if not a whole day, inside the park.
One of my absolute favourite parts about it though wasn’t the rides, or the incredible details everywhere, but the fact it is right in the heart of the city. You can see lots of city buildings from the top of the rides or even from the ground, which is pretty cool to see! It also just gives off such a sense of fun, y’know. To have this in the middle of a capital city feels like the Danes must really prioritise enjoyment and downtime, which can only ever be a good thing.
Get yourself to Tivoli Gardens and make sure to buy the Ride Pass, as that way you’ll have a wristband with “Turpas” written on the side, allowing you access to every ride. If you only buy the entrance ticket, you’ll be paying for each ride individually.
Chill In The Gardens Of Rosenborg Castle
Rosenborg Castle was built to be used as a summerhouse by Danish King, Kong Christian IV in the 17th Century. Today it isn’t used as a residence for any members of the Royal family, but it does hold Denmark’s Crown Jewels.
You can purchase tickets to go inside the castle, but I can’t vouch for that experience as I only walked around the outside.
The castle is situated in The King’s Garden, a beautiful public park that was perfect for a wander and looked ideal for a picnic. It’s also just a few minutes walk from Torvehallerne market, so is a great place to walk to, to burn off some of that tapas!
Visit The Royals At Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg is the current home of the Danish Royal family, so it only seems right to pay the palace a visit while you’re in the capital.
There are four near-identical palaces surrounding a main central square, which is all totally open to the public to wander through. Two of the buildings are occupied, but the other two are used as guesthouses, with Levetzau’s Palace also housing the Amalienborg Museum.
Again, I didn’t venture inside so can’t tell you what that’s like, but a mooch around the square is enough to give you a little taster! Frederik’s Church is also a two minute walk away and looks like a mini replica of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. If you do head to that area, definitely pop your head into the church and check out the stunning ceiling!
Check Out The Autonomous Freetown Christiania Community
You may or may not have heard of Freetown Christiania; an autonomous community in the Christianshavn area of the city. I hadn’t until I was researching my trip and when I found out that photos are strictly not allowed, it was clear why.
This part of the city won’t appear on those big IG accounts you follow, so unless you know about it, you really wouldn’t know it was there. There are no signs pointing towards it and it’s not really discussed in the rest of the city. It just quietly exists.
Freetown Christiania started up in the 70s and quickly became known for the infamous Pusher Street. Here, you’ll find pop-up stalls where drugs are openly sold and small shops from which locals sell their wares.
A lot of people feel more comfortable visiting this area with a tour guide and after visiting without one myself, I can absolutely see why. There’s a slightly disconcerting atmosphere and you can feel a little on edge wandering around, but as long as you visit during the day and keep your wits about you, it’s a really interesting place!
So, There Were My Top 10 Places To Visit In Copenhagen!
I really hope this list helps you when you visit the Danish capital!
Once you’ve visited, hop back onto this post and let me know in the comments which of these reccos you tried. Would also LOVE to hear all about your visit on IG, so tag me in your posts and stories so I can be green with envy!
If you’re in the UK and not quite ready to jet off abroad still, I’ve got you! Check out my list of 12 things to see and do in Cornwall, or more specifically, 10 places to visit on the south coast of Cornwall instead!
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