COPENHAGEN // KØBENHAVN
If you follow me on Instagram you'll have seen I've been travelling quite a lot recently, so I thought I'd kick off a travel series on my blog. First up is one of my favourite cities I've ever visited - and somewhere I could 100% see myself living one day - Copenhagen, Denmark. My friend and I visited in March when the weather was pretty grey, rainy and chilly, but this didn't detract from what a wonderful trip it was.
Things to see:
Nyhavn, Amalienborg Palace & the Little Mermaid:
Copenhagen's most famous picture-perfect sight is Nyhavn, with its multicoloured houses lining the canal. You can go on a boat trip from here which is something we really enjoyed - it cost about 50 DKK each. Nearby is one of Copenhagen's most popular tourist attractions, the Little Mermaid. Unveiled in 1913, she was inspired by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen's famous fairytale and measures a surprisingly small 1.25 metres. We decided to walk to her from Nyhavn which took about 20 minutes, and passed through Amalienborg Palace along the way where, if timed right, you can see the Changing of the Guard.
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek:
The Glyptotek museum houses the largest collection of Rodin sculptures outside of France along with art works by Van Gogh, Monet and Gauguin. You enter into a beautiful palm tree-lined conservatory, which is overlooked by a cafe where you can stop for lunch. Make sure you check out the Roman Room (below). This room was closed off when we visited as they were preparing for a private event, but with a bit of arm-twisting the security guard let us in for a wander. It was very impressive, and we were lucky to explore it while it was totally empty!
Støget:
The inner city of Copenhagen is packed with department stores, chain stores and restaurants. We avoided the main shopping street and instead wandered down the backstreets to discover the very charming old town, with its quaint cobbled lanes, colourful houses and cosy cafes. It's a must-do on a sunny day.
Christiana:
Freetown Christiana was established in 1971 and is a very popular spot for tourists to visit. You'll need to make your way by metro, bus or bike as there are no cars allowed in this easy-going hippy neighbourhood. It's surrounded by greenery and has some incredible street art (below) along with beer gardens, outdoor cafes, live music venues and even a skatepark.
Sadly Tivoli was closed when we visited, but the famous theme park is one of the main attractions in Copenhagen. I can't comment on what it's like, but I'd love to return at Christmas when it supposedly comes alive with twinkling lights, festive decorations, roasted almonds and mulled wine.
You could easily lose a few hours (and many £££s) while browsing the multiple floors of Illums Bolighus (below). If you're a fan of Scandinavian design you will fall in love with this store - it has everything from clothing to jewellery, to souvenirs to sofas. This was my favourite shop we visited - I bought a Copenhagen print and a pair of gold hoop earrings. I could easily have bought more but would never have been able to fit it in my suitcase!
Where to eat & drink:
Tucked away in a quiet courtyard behind tourist-heavy Nyhavn, this Scandi cafe was bustling with locals when we visited. I had the blueberry and ricotta toast while my friend went for the banana French toast - both were delicious!
We came here for dinner and loved it. You start by placing your order at the vending machine and receive a ticket, then you pay at the counter and grab a seat (if there are any free..). The ramen was really tasty and there was a big choice of Mikkeller beers, Japanese sake and green teas.
Mad og Kaffe:
This place is very popular with locals, so if you're coming for brunch then arrive early or be prepared to queue! They offer a customisable brunch which arrives on a wooden board in separate bowls. I went for the avocado with hummus, chicken escalope with lime and jalapeño mayo, honey yoghurt with granola, vanilla whipped mousse and strawberry-topped chocolate brownie. I'll definitely be returning here next time I'm in Copenhagen.
Torvehallerne is a fantastic food hall housing a mix of restaurants, bars and stalls selling fruit, groceries, cheese, pastries, coffee and even souvenirs and candles. We came here a few times as the atmosphere was great, especially in the evenings. Our favourite dishes were the pasta bolognese from Il__Mattarello, and the salmon open sandwich on rye bread from Hallernes Smørrebrød.
Have you been to Copenhagen? Do you have any recommendations for next time I go?
