A GUIDE TO COPENHAGEN
Greetings dear readers! Long time no write, or at least that's what it feels like. Now as you may or may not know, at the end of last week the fam and I went on our summer holiday where we spent five wonderful days exploring the glorious city of Copenhagen in Denmark, for the very first time. Very, very exciting indeedy. We only arrived back in Blighty late on Wednesday night, and since then my newly found love affair with Copenhagen has only continued to deepen and grow. I could easily write a hundred plus gushing paragraphs on how much I love Copenhagen and why it's such an incredible city, but I'm going to try and keep it short and sweet for once, because if I start going I don't honestly think I'll be able to stop. As someone who adores colours, lights, cities and beautiful architecture, Copenhagen was very much like finding heaven on earth for me and walking around the city it felt like I was in a constant dream. I just could not believe that this spectacular city had been an hour and a half flight away from me all these years, that a city like Copenhagen even existed on this planet, and I had only just discovered it. It's so one of a kind, the perfect blend of old and new, and it's hard to convey just quite how amazing the city is, but now I've finally been for myself, I can't urge you enough to go visit Copenhagen and experience it all for yourself.
For a lot of Brits, Denmark is quite an unusual holiday destination, especially in the summer time when most of us are jetting of to sunnier climates, and a lot of people I know haven't been and have never really considered going either. For some reason Denmark seems to end up being forgotten about, it's always overlooked, so in some respects it's almost like a hidden gem, a secret little place of wonder that deserves way more recognition than it gets, but simultaneously the fact that Copenhagen especially is not as frequented as other major capital cities is most definitely an advantage. I just adored my time there, which is why I want to share the Copenhagen love with you all, dear readers and maybe make you think about going too one day soon. So below I've done a little Q&A about what I learned from my time in Copenhagen, featuring things that I think you might find useful to know as well as other little bits and bobs I know I would've found useful had I known it before I went, and some holiday pics will be up here on zee blog soon. Hopefully you'll find it useful and if you have any other questions or things you'd like to know, please do leave me a comment and I'd be more than happy to help!
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How long does it take to get to Copenhagen from the UK?
From London Luton it took us just under an hour and a half, and we flew with Ryan Air to keep the flight costs down. It's a nice, quick, easy flight and as it's a city break there's no need to check in suitcases as all you really need is a small, light suitcase which you can take with you on the plane.
What about the language barrier?
Our Danish pals all speak absolutely brilliant fluent English, as well as their native Danish which is similar to Swedish and German, so when you stare at a Dane blankly as soon as they begin to speak, they'll instantly switch to perfect English which is so very kind of them indeedy. Furthermore, almost everywhere you go there's an English equivalent to the Danish whether that be in shops, museums, public transport, ticket machines, restaurants... so you really needn't worry.
What currency do the Danish use?
In Denmark the currency is Danish krona, so like the UK it's independent of the Euro, and you'll need to convert your money into Swedish krona if you plan on popping over to neighbouring Sweden during your stay. It's worth noting that the Danish krona is equivalent to the pound x 10, so don't freak out if everything seems incredibly expensive at first. All it means is that for example if a coffee costs 300 krona in Denmark, it's equivalent to £3 in UK money. so in order to judge if a Danish price is reasonable just divide it by ten to get the UK pound equivalent, and then decide for yourself. Also the Swedish krona is roughly equivalent to the pound x 12, so divide all Swedish prices by 12 to find the UK pound equivalent.
What is Copenhagen like as a capital city?
Copenhagen is nowhere near as busy as London, instead think more Manchester or Nottingham, plus the main part of the city is relatively easy to walk around meaning within the space of four days we managed to cover almost all the central part of the city ,and began to venture out into the neighbouring boroughs too. It's a very well lit, highly efficient city with wide roads and cycle lanes, a gazillion bicycles everywhere, lots of people around, the most beautifully designed buildings, all of which are coloured and canals run throughout the city. The days are long in summer, short in the winter, the people are so friendly, fashionable and relaxed, and Copenhagen itself has such a peaceful, laid-back, safe feel to it too. I just adored it!
What is the weather like?
Variable. Very variable indeed. We went in July and admittedly the weather did make the UK feel somewhat like the Mediterranean in comparison, but don't let this put you off going as we did go when northern Europe was experiencing an abnormally cold, wet and windy weather front! Although it did rain every day we were there, it was very on and off which made the rain a lot more bearable. The temperature was very up and down too, meaning some days we needed scarves and coats whilst others it was very humid, so we had chance to give our summer clothes an outing. However in the evenings the weather tends to calm down and regulate itself, meaning with a good coat and brolly in case, you should be just fine. But irrespective of weather, Copenhagen is just such a beautiful city and as with the UK, when the weather is dismal 80% of the time, it means you appreciate the 20% when it's simply wonderful so much more. Plus Copenhagen is just stunning when the sun does make an appearance, and especially stunning at night when all the lights are reflected in the leftover rain puddles.
So what should I wear?
For a city like Copenhagen, we found it best to go for layers, layers, layers, meaning you can dress up or down according to the variable weather. Think vests, t-shirts covered with light jumpers, cardigans on top, and jeans, dresses or skirts and light tights on the bottom. Leather coats, macs, parkas or fleeces are good coats to bring, as well as a scarf, and for footwear go for both sandals and a waterproof shoe too, eg. Docs, boots, waterproof trainers... The Danish fashion is very much effortless chic mixed with practicality, and soooo Tumblr too, so walking around you will see realms and realms of fashion inspiration with the main go-to style being very minimal, simple, and slightly indie too. Copenhagen feels like a city where you can pretty much get away with wearing whatever you want, as everyone else is doing their own thing too. You've just got to get out there and be confident, express yourself, and once you realise it's completely okay to wear whatever you want, as well as become inspired by all the people you pass by on the street doing the same thing, your fashion possibilities suddenly become quite simply endless.
Is Copenhagen a cheap city?
Surprisingly not. I visit London numerous times a year and found Copenhagen to cost a lot more, but again don't let this put you off as there are lots of ways around it. For starters if you try and stay relatively central then you don't need public transport at all, as everywhere is within reasonable walking distance and a lot nearer than it seems on a map. Stock up on snacks from the little supermarkets, of which there are many, to keep you going throughout the day, buy alcohol from supermarkets where possible, have a big breakfast, buy a large water bottle that you can refill at the start of each day and carry it everywhere with you. I would also advise you to make lunch your main meal of the day, as that's when most of the cafes and restaurants have the best and cheapest meal prices or run special deals. The vast majority of Copenhagen's main attractions are free to visit too, which also helps keep costs down, and the ones you do have to pay for, such as Tivoli, boat and bus tours or Louisiana Museum, are really worth the cost.
And if I want to use public transport?
You'll have to use the train to get from the airport to the city itself, but at a cost of only £3.60, plus English options on the ticket machine, it's very easy to do so. You'll also have to use a train or bus to get to Louisiana Museum or Malmo in Sweden, or elsewhere in Denmark beyond Copenhagen, but again it's so easy to do it, plus people are always willing to help you if you get a tad stuck or confused. If you're staying within the city, you do have the options of using taxis, buses, the metro, but I'd definitely recommend avoiding all public transport and walking instead. Everything is within reasonable distance and walking is free, good for your health, works off all the delicious food you'll be indulging in (meaning there's room for even more), and it's the absolute best way to see the city, take everything in and discover little hidden gems along the way.
What is there to do in Copenhagen?
Lots and lots dear readers, lots and lots. If you begin by looking at my recent post here, you'll find a list of things to do which will start you off. I would also recommend :
-Walking up to the parts around the Little Mermaid statue, right by the harbour, and then walking along the waterfront.
-Visiting all the different boroughs in and around the city, as well as taking a walk through all the different beautiful parks, of which there are many!
-Hiring a bike and exploring all the parts of the city by bike, as it's so, so safe to cycle in Copenhagen.
-Going for Irish coffee at one of the bars down Nyhaven at night time, as well as walking around the general area at night time as it's just so breathtaking!
-A boat tour is one of the absolute best ways to see the city when you first arrive and really helps you establish your bearings, as well as highlight possible parts you might want to go visit later.
-See what's on at Tivoli, especially if you go during the summer, and time your visit so that it's both at night and also when there's an event you like the sound of on too. For example the day before we went Snoop Dogg was performing, and the evening we went they were screening 'When Harry Met Sally' outside.
What were your top five things to do?
1. Visiting the beautiful Tivoli Gardens at night time (it inspired Walt Disney to make Disneyland, so that should give you an idea of how amazing it actually is there!)
2. Taking the train up to Humlæback from Copenhagen Central Station (right opposite Tivoli Gardens), about a half hour journey, to visit the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. It's right by the beach, overlooking Sweden, and it's hands down the best art museum I've ever been to.
3. Go on one of the boat tours, especially when the weather picks up, as it's a stunning way to see a lot of the city as well as view some really gorgeous parts of Copenhagen city too.
4. Visit Malmo in Sweden for a few hours, as it's ridiculously easy to get to, a nice little city to explore and it's just lovely to experience another country and its culture as part of the same holiday.
5. Walking around the Nyhaven area at night time and all along the waterfront too, as it's such a peaceful and beautiful area with lots of colours, twinkling lights, beautiful buildings, people, boats, pubs and restaurants.
What essentials should I pack in my bag?
When walking around Copenhagen I'd advise taking a big bottle of water, your mobile phone (make sure it's set up to work abroad, especially if it's pay monthly, because mine wasn't!), some form of snack (I always had grapes and a banana on me), a camera, a map of the city (the ones you can pick up at Tourist Information or the Airport itself are really fab and easy to understand), a purse/ wallet with some of your money, a list of the places you want to visit and an umbrella. Meanwhile in your suitcase remember to take a few adapters for your chargers, and some paracetemol and plasters just in case!
