Four Nights in the City of Spires - Our Trip to Copenhagen

The Historic Hovedstaden of Denmark

View from the Nyhavnbroen Bridge in Copenhagen, with some guy chillin' in his boat in the bottom right

You may know Copenhagen as the historic capital of Denmark, the City of Spires, or as the birthplace of the little mermaid - but did you know, that the Danish theme park Tivoli inspired Disney Land? Or that the famous Rundetaarn was initially built as a telescope? Here, I'll put together a short list of tips and tricks to getting around this consequential city.

Best Cafés and Eateries

Copenhagen is famous for its coffee culture, so pretty much anywhere you go within the city will be within a few minutes of an excellent café. Some of the best chains include Joe and the Juice (popular throughout Europe) and Espresso House (popular throughout Scandanavia). Frellsen is also an excellent store, selling a variety of chocolates and sweets. Hotdogsmeden is certainly the best quick-stop eatery in Copenhagen, selling delicious and organic hot dogs of a wide variety, while Cock's and Cows, another chain, is a great choice if you're looking for a dine-in restaurant.

Best Shops

There is a small handful of shops scattered around Copenhagen, many either vintage or clothing stores. If a clothing store is what you are looking for, much of the city is packed with brands you're probably familiar with (most notably, H&M). If clothing is not what you're looking for, shops such as Kram de Lux and Bøger & Kuriosa (Books & Curiosities) are excellent vintage stores. Kram de Lux sells a vast assortment of random, mostly antique/vintage trinkets that are perfect for a souvenir. Bøger & Kuriosa sells both books, in Danish and English, and a large collection of photos and prints.

Best Activities

Copenhagen is a very active city, to say the least. To start, Tivoli is a huge amusement park in the center of Copenhagen. The park holds hours' worth of rides and surprisingly good food. Next, we were lucky enough to stay right next to the Rundetaarn (Round Tower); an amazing building originally built as a telescope. The tower hosts no stairs, instead, you walk up a flat, spiraling passage all the way up to the top, from which you have a terrific view of almost the whole city. Lastly, if you want to see the city from its many canals, you can book a ride with GoBoat, which offers small boats you can rent and tour the city from.

Summarized

Copenhagen is a perfect mix of a city. Scenic parks, along with a bustling urban area. Deep canals on the ground, and high-reaching towers above. The true capital of Scandinavia, with a history like no other city. If you're looking for the best way to summarize Northern Europe, Copenhagen is, undoubtedly, your best choice. But, of course, I must choose the best of the fraction of the city I saw.

Best Cafés and Eateries:

Frellsen & Hotdogsmeden

Best Shops:

Kram de Lux & Bøger & Kuriosa

Best Activities:

Tivoli, Rundetaarn, & GoBoat

Thanks to all the people we met on our travels through Copenhagen. Thank you for reading, I hope you found this article helpful.