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When you first land in Denmark, you can already understand why the people here, and the country as a whole, are consistently considered the happiest in the world. From my experience, the Danish are very friendly and open minded. This probably stems from their access to health care and quality education, excellent social services, and trust in their government.

The Danes are fluent in ‘hygge’, which stands for ‘intentional intimacy’. These are described as interactions with friends and family that breed camaraderie and valuable shared experiences and are integral to the happiness they are known for having. The term is also used to describe a general cozy atmosphere, such as wearing comfortable clothes inside on a cold winter day in front of a lit fireplace (count me in).

The Danish capital of Copenhagen has plenty to offer at all times of the year. My journey there was around Easter, so the colder winter weather had subsided enough to make my stay more than tolerable there. Aside from doing a walking tour, I decided to walk aimlessly in the hope of stumbling upon interesting sights. The city is mostly flat, thus very walkable.

You can find a Google map of the places I will discuss at the end of this post. Also, if you’re in this part of the world, I highly suggest seeing other Nordic Capitals like: Helsinki (link to blog post), Oslo (link to blog post), Stockholm (link to blog post), and Reykjavik (link to blog post).

The first stop was Nyhavn harbor, probably the most recognizable part of Copenhagen. Nice restaurants and cafes line the waterway with boats of all sizes docked on the sides. It’s best enjoyed in the early morning before the shops are open and hardly anyone else is out.

I also have prints available of Copenhagen and specifically this harbor, available for purchase below! (Sold as Posters, Canvas, or in Metal-Frames).

For great views of the city, head to the Round Tower. The 17th century structure stands more or less in the center of Copenhagen and can be ascended not by stairs, but a sloped gradient up to the top. It was first commissioned by Christian IV and built as an astronomical observatory.

For shopping, be sure to check out Strøget and Købmagergade in the city center. For great art museums, head on over to Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek which features works from the collection of Carl Jacobsen or go to Kunsthal Charlottenborg, one of the largest contemporary art spaces in northern Europe and home to The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

Close to this is the Little Mermaid Statue. It’s quite small but easy to find as you will see many tourists huddled around a seemingly uninteresting part of the shore line. This bronze and granite statue is of particular significance to the city as the story was written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. The woman herself was based off of the ballerina Ellen Price, who performed the main role in 1909 at The Royal Theater. The statue itself was a gift from Carl Jacobsen, a brewer and son of the founder of Carlsberg Brewery J.C. Jacobsen, to the city of Copenhagen.

Danish smørrebrød is a must have when visiting Copenhagen. It’s an open-faced sandwich usually made with fish (or other meats), with various garnishes, in rye bread. You can find it on pretty much any streetcorner, and in any café.

Also, for a cozy hangout spot to enjoy coffee or drinks, be sure to head to Bar Hva Be´Har. The décor is very Scandinavian, easy on the eyes, with plenty of plants to ease the mood.

For those who appreciate architecture, places of worship no matter where I travel to, prove to be stunning displays. Be sure to check out the St. Alban’s church and Frederick’s Church (The Marble Church), both in the city center. 

The freetown of Christiania is an alternative neighborhood in which the community has established their own set of rules, in cooperation with the Danish government.  In typical terms, it’s considered a hippie village, and so therefore offers excellent venues for music, art, café’s and restaurants.

The people there are weary of people taking photos so tread lightly and always ask permission before you snap away. Your typical walking tour will most likely take you to this area.

These are just a handful of places to see and explore in Copenhagen. The Amalienborg Palace is the home of the Danish royal family and is comprised of four individual palaces that face a center square. The Rosenborg Castle is yet another architectural project of Christian IV and possesses artifacts and collections that span the breadth of royal Danish culture.

If you’re interested in a theme park, Tivoli Gardens is a short walk away. Lastly, I recommend 4 days minimum to see most of these sights at a leisurely pace.

If the weather doesn't seem to be coorperating with you, there are a few indoor activities you can take in that are accessible by public transportation. Check them out below:

• Tycho Brahe Planetarium

• National Aquarium Denmark

• Natural History Museum of Denmark Botanical Gardens

PROTIP: If you have a flight in the evening, I recommend taking the train in the morning from Copenhagen airport to Malmö, Sweden for the day. The train journey takes 38 minutes with trains leaving every 20 minutes or so. This gives you the chance to sample two different countries/cultures on the same trip.

PROTIP #2: It is highly recommended to get the Copenhagen Card, which provides you with discounts and free entry into many of the exhibits and museums around the city.

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