Here are ten reasons why you should head to Copenhagen and what you should do there.
1. You can walk everywhere
Seriously, Copenhagen feels like it was designed to be explored on foot. It’s awesome. From galleries to monuments to parks, everything is really compact. You can easily walk from one side of the city to the other in a few hours. This is obviously convenient, but it also saves a whole load of Krone. And if you need to take a load off there’s a modern, efficient and affordable metro system you can use.
image via WikiMedia Commons
2. Bikes, bikes, bikes
Walking and subways aren’t the only way to get around Copenhagen. The city is super progressive when it comes to urban transport. It feels like everyone cycles, meaning Copenhagen probably has the quietest and most peaceful streets of any capital city in the world. This green approach has even led to the term ‘Copenhagenise’ being used by urban planners.
3. Copenhageners are funny
Not LOL funny, more… curious. They find the idea of you even trying to speak in Danish completely baffling. In fact, they generally give the impression that they’re a bit confused as to why you’ve come to Denmark at all. But they’re basically glad you did. Their sheep-like habit of waiting for the green man before crossing the road – even if there are no vehicles for miles – is also pretty amusing.
4. There’s a hippy freetown
Christiania is an autonomous freetown in Copenhagen. It’s been exempt from many of Denmark’s laws since it was set up by squatters and idealists back in the 1970s. These days the controversial ‘experiment’ is home to about 850 people who manage shops, cafes and veggie restaurants. And sell soft drugs from stalls. It all feels like a fascinating blend of organic cultural paradise and squalid junkie estate. Basically, it’s sort of like the edgiest fringes of an alternative music festival.
5. Smørrebrød
Smørrebrød is a simple, but delicious, Danish delicacy. These open sandwiches are usually served in threes, like a mini smorgasbord. If I could, I’d eat them all day, every day, forever. You can buy the rustic, traditional versions from cafes and food stalls, but a lot of local restaurants like Aamanns are starting to re-imagine the dish with weird and wonderful flavour toppings.
image via Andrew Tipp
6. It’s hipster-friendly
Everyone knows that Scandis are too cool for school, so it’s no surprise that Copenhagen has some top hipster districts. The main areas for scenesters and trend noodlers are Nørrebro and Vesterbro, both of which are walkable from the middle of the city and have some seriously cool shops and restaurants. More centrally, Studiostræde is the heart of the university district and home to lots of fashionable shops, bookstores and cafes.
7. Nyhavn
Along with The Little Mermaid statue, Nyhavn’s pretty, colourful and charming Dutch-style buildings are synonymous with Copenhagen. The image of them, all in a row bathed in sunshine, is pretty much the definitive image of the city. It’s quite touristy, but it’s still a lovely and distinctive place to walk, grab a coffee or stop for some food. It would be weird to visit Copenhagen and not check it out.
8. LEGO!
The LEGO flagship store is in Copenhagen. You can find it about halfway along Stroget, the big shopping street. While it’s not quite as epic as I’d imagined in my dreams, it’s still really cool. There are lots of LEGO sets that you can’t get elsewhere, and they’ve even built a huge recreation of Nyhavn. Which is a nice touch.
9. The world’s best bakery chain
If I could create my perfect bakery, it would essentially look like Lagkaghuset. This Copenhagen chain is regularly voted as the best in the city. And quite rightly. The coffee is brilliant, there’s a great variety of savoury sandwiches and bread – including two-metre sourdough display loaves – and then there’s the cakes and pastries. Oh. My. God. Lagkaghuset is basically like Patisserie Valerie, but better. So much better.
10. The Killing
Nordic TV dramas like The Bridge and Borgen are huge right now. But probably the most famous is The Killing. With her Scandi jumpers, disregard for authority and crafty ability to solve murders, the show’s star Sarah Lund is a modern feminist hero. You can do tours of The Killing’s Copenhagen locations with some guys called Peter and Ping. And the best thing is, the worse the weather is the more you feel like you’re in the show.
This is a guest post by Andrew Tipp.
Megan Eileen McDonough is writer, blogger and social media specialist based in New York City. She also runs Bohemian Trails, a lifestyle blog designed for the savvy and stylish traveler. Bohemian Trails aims to feature must-see places around the world, covering everything from revamped neighborhoods and vibrant street art to innovative tech hubs and everything in between. Her cultural escapades have taken her to Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Megan is also a freelance writer and social media specialist based in New York City. She contributes to various online and print publications in the travel and fashion industries and is an international correspondent for both Jetsetter and Northstar Travel Media.
