The one and only time I have ever kept a secret. Surprisingly, I only accidentally told Nathan once that I’d booked a secret weekend getaway to Copenhagen for his birthday (which I don’t think he remembered, or if he did, he’s very good at acting).
When I first made the decision to go away for his birthday, I was struck with decision paralysis. Belgium, where he used to live? Italy, which had always been a dream? Amsterdam, after a failed attempt scuppered by lockdown, or Billund, to commemorate our meeting at the Lego store.
With Billund not being the easiest to get to, I opted to stick with Denmark and head to Copenhagen. After bingeing ‘The Bear’, we’d had a brief discussion about visiting and enjoying Copenhagen’s culinary delights!
Chilly but gorgeous views at Nyhavn
Visiting in early February, the city was cold and quiet, but still a must-visit. Whilst we managed to fit so much into a couple of days, some of the biggest attractions such as Tivoli Gardens weren’t open, so we may have needed longer if we had come when it was (March – Early Jan).
Hotel
Whilst I had numerous hotels in mind, I knew that this was a city we needed to get out and about and explore so location was a HUGE factor. Also, as we were there for such a little time, I forfeited luxury in aid of a better location, smaller budget, and quirky atmosphere.
Bedroom at CitizenM hotel
CitizenM Hotel, Copenhagen
We opted for the CitizenM Hotel, right by Tivoli Gardens. It was chic, clean with a perfect location, comfy bed, and we loved using the iPad/iPhone app to close the curtains/change the lighting.
We spent the Friday evening at the hotel bar and it was such a good vibe! Complimentary drink for booking online and loads of board games to keep you occupied. Absolutely no doubt that we’d book a CitizenM for another city break, and even better, if you sign up for their newsletter, they send regular discounts.
CitizenM Hotel Bar
Food
Whilst the Danish did laugh at us for our excitement over the food in Copenhagen, we’d found so many recommendations and tasty treats, that I still stand by it!
Top of the list, of course, was the Smørrebrød (open-topped sandwiches) and Danish pastries. We opted for the ‘Shelly’ at Rørt with shrimps, lobster stock, sour cream, potato mayo, blanched cabbage, with brioche bun, lemon cress, and lovage. Whilst the portions are little, I genuinely can’t tell you how much flavour there was…
TikTok was my saving grace for food recommendations. Buka Bakery for the BEST pastries I have ever laid my eyes on/eaten. I genuinely couldn’t pick between an Almond Croissant and the Creme Diplomat, so obviously I got both. And a Chai Latte.
We also visited GRØD for the most delicious breakfast. Can’t beat a whole load of porridge and toppings ready for a looooong day of walking and exploring. We had to head quite far out the centre as the one closest to our hotel was closed, however, I’m a firm believe that walking is the best way to see a city. Friday night, we had a nice, casual, dinner at Sliders. The burgers might be mini, however, they’re packed full of flavour.
Things to Do
As mentioned, we didn’t have masses of time to get everything done. However, our favourite thing was genuinely just wandering around, looking at all the architecture, walking around the parks, and enjoying the Scandinavian hospitality.
Nyhavn is probably the most iconic area of Copenhagen. Beyond the colourful buildings, the area is packed with dining spots, bars, and shops. It’s such a lovely little vibe and despite the fact it was freezing cold, I could have stayed there all day. We also took a boat tour – from memory, it was only around 40DKK each, and took us all around the canal, through Christiana, The Little Mermaid, the opera house, and to most of the must-sees.
Speaking of the Little Mermaid, of course, you HAVE to see it but please be prepared… it’s definitely a little underwhelming, however, iconic.
Our absolute highlight of the trip was actually completely spontaneous. As we traipsed through the centre on a Saturday night looking for a cocktail bar or 2, we walked past the ‘Knock Knock Comedy Club‘. Nathan had said he was intrigued about Danish comedy; however, it was English night!
We thought we’d drop in quickly to check the vibe, not realising it was a full ticketed event, but for what worked out to be about 3 quid, it was such a good night. The audience was a combination of cultures, some quieter than others… However, it wasn’t just Brits on stage, and it was so fun to hear other cultures’ take on comedy.
Following the show, we got chatting with a walking tour, became quite pally with them and spent the remainder of the night with them. A trip to Ruby’s Cocktail Bar for expensive but lovely cocktails with recommendations from our waiter. Again, another recommendation as we couldn’t find many other bars open that late on a Sunday night.
Torvehallerne is also a must-visit. With a mix of flower shops, food stalls, specialty shops, street foods, and more, I really could have blown all my money there. Even if you’re on a strict budget, have a wander down, take in the atmosphere, and try and not get put off by the copious amounts of fish eyes staring at you…
Getting around
As mentioned above, I’m a huge fan of walking around a new city. However, Denmark’s transportation system is well known for being easy-to-use, inexpensive, efficient, and reliable. I’ve been to other countries that maybe aren’t as friendly or easy to navigate, and this is another reason I would absolutely go back there.
We did have a blip when transporting from the airport to the centre as all metros had been stopped with no expected time of getting back to normal, buses were extremely packed with no hope of easily getting Nathan on, and an hour walk at least to the centre. However, opted for a taxi which equalled to about 20 quid.
Other than that, the metro is sooooo easy to work out, and we had no further issues bar that first night. Getting back, it really did only take about 15 minutes from the hotel to the airport.
Alternatively, many opt to get around via bike. Of course, this isn’t an option for Nathan, but with such a flat place, if we could have, we could!
Summary
Copenhagen genuinely has my heart. I don’t think I’ve even scratched the surface with just how stunning this city is, and I absolutely WILL go back. Maybe when it’s warmer and Tivoli Gardens is open but there’s so much we didn’t get to do including:
- Tivoli Gardens
- Shopping in Stroget
- Rosenborg Castle
- Carlsberg Museum
- Food Tour
- Many many many more
In summary, if you’re looking for a city that’s walkable, with fab architecture, amazing yet different food, lots to do and see, then I recommend Copenhagen! It’s not cheap, but I would go again in a heartbeat.
