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Photographs: Christopher O’Donnell |
We had such a great weekend in Copenhagen, if you’ve not been then you must add to your list. The food, the shopping, the cobbled streets. And I love that for a European city, there’s lots to see, but at the same time you don’t feel any pressure to see all of it (unlike Paris or Rome – too many sights, too many must-dos!). We spent most of our time travelling between restaurants to shops and it was just perfect.
WHAT TO DO
RENT BIKES
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We particularly loved cycling through the area of Norrebro, tons of cool bars, shops and restaurants (this is where the Acne Archive store is!). If we were to book again, we would probably book an Air BnB in this area as you’re close to all the best dinner and breakfast spots.
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One of the many cool corners of Norrebro |
A great street is Jægersborggade – home to Manfred’s restaurant (known for its vegetable dishes AND steak tartare – what a wonderful contradiction), Coffee Collective and lots of cool cafes.
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Manfred’s |
And Vaernedamsvej is a great street for breakfast spots (and flower stalls). We loved the charm of Granola – like stepping back into a 1930s Milkbar.
NYHAVEN
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If you love foliage, you’ll love it here. A tranquil spot in the centre of Copenhagen. Just don’t go up the stairs inside the conservatory if it’s warm outside!
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BE OUTSIDE
If there’s one thing to notice about the Danish, it’s that they enjoy the outdoors. Especially in the summer, nights are light and pretty much any outside space is filled with people drinking and hanging out (but in a good way!). We bought some ciders and took a pedalo out on one of the lakes and it was glorious.
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WHERE TO EAT
It will come to no surprise to you that we basically based our entire trip around restaurants. Copenhagen has a real foodie scene, and we embraced it. The key is to eat more street food in the day, thus saving money for the fab (and always) atmospheric restaurants at night. Here were a few favourites:
Torvehallerne Market
This was close to our hotel, so we ended up stopping by a few times – it’s basically Papiroen on a smaller scale. Great coffee, juice bars, queue-worthy bao and well, everything.
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I can’t tell you how good these Bao tasted – roughly £10 for both of us for lunch |
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The meatpacking district |
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Meatpacking District by night |
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Looking for the chicest avocado on toast in town? This cool cafe is the fashionista’s favourite, does great iced coffees too, and is right by the cool shopping streets. Need I say more?
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WHERE TO SHOP
This store, right by Tivoli was one we just stumbled upon but I wish I had more time. Stocking brands such as Normann Copenhagen, Antoni posters, Kortkartellet (fab map prints) and Nord by Thomsen (gorgeous jewellery).
Another tiny little store we just happened to stumble upon, but everything was so beautiful and minimal, you almost didn’t want to touch anything!
I hope you found this City Guide useful, as always I love to hear your thoughts (or if you have any recommendations!) @thefrugality.
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Amazing photos, I definitely want to visit Copenhagen one day, it's so picturesque and beautiful!
Anika | anikamay.co.uk
Thank you! And it really did feel like a break, rather than running around like stressed tourists 😉
Glad you liked Copenhagen…it's so clean compared to London for starters! Now you know you can get returns for 30 quid there is nothing to stop you from revisiting!
http://vodkaandarose.blogspot.co.uk
SO clean! I know, it actually cost me the same to get a train to Oxford today 🙁
Loved this review 🙂 I went to Copenhagen last year with friends and I am DYING to go back with my bf, so I'm happy to have you're recommendations. We stayed in Norrebro and it was such a cool area. I'm definitely pinning this post to my travel board x
Thank you! And with such affordable flights it would be a crime not to go back!
You look so pretty and the photos are beautiful! 🙂 x
Helena – Swedish girl in Tokyo
http://www.ilenczfalva.com/
https://www.instagram.com/helena_de_ilenczfalva/
Thank you 🙂
A great piece Alex – I’m off to Copenhagen in March so will try and find some of these places. Thanks for including some interiors stores as well, I can’t wait to see that famous Scandi style in action!
You will love it – the interiors stores in particular! Stilleben was my fave x
Thanks! Will definitely have a look in Stilleben, I just checked out their website – they have some awesome ceramics!
Hi Alex, I’m off to Copenhagen next month (Feb 2017) – can you recommend anywhere to stay? Thanks.
We stayed in a budget hotel which wasn’t that great (but cheap!) but if we did it again, I would definitely do air bnb – try to Vesterbro area – our fave and such good restaurants xx
Just stumbled on this post, checked my blog for my posts on Denmark from last year and, yes, we were probably in Copenhagen at the same time! I love Denmark, I am a bit of a Daniphile. Great post.
Aah what a coincidence! xx
Thanks for helpful post
Any Airbnb’s or hotels at ~ £100 a night for a friend and I that anyone would recommend please? Would love a personal recommendation.
Thanks
Affordable rooms in NYC are so hard! I have stayed in Air BnB in brooklyn before – great area (although can’t recommend our particular one, sadly -the owner was a bit of a douche)…hotel wise I have just found somewehre called The Moxy – it looks great and just checked and you can get a double room in advance for £91 http://moxy-hotels.marriott.com/nyc/timessquare/bedrooms/ xx
Thanks for replying. I thought I pasted this request on the Copenhagen guide. Have I posted on a NYC guide?
Oh sorry! I think I just assumed as it was a more recent post – baby brain! We stayed at Ibsens – it was just okay to be honest – bit Travelodge-y really. My parents have just booked the Absalom which looks a great location (near meatpacking district) but a few friends have stayed in Air Bnb and loved it xx
Thanks 🙂 x
Hi Alex, I recently had a few days in Copenhagen, having never been before I researched it out the wazoo, and wanted to say a huge thanks, your posts on Copenhagen were really helpful. Loved the city, had such a good time. Lu x
Aah amazing! My parents used our guide when they went last month, too! Such an amazing city xx
Wow! just read this piece you wrote about Copenhagen and it is great! I didn’t realise that it was from a while ago until the end. I used to go to Denmark for work quite a lot and I didn’t appreciate it as much as I do now. Now I go because one of my best friends lives there plus, I have 2 year old twin girls, so my perspective is totally different. What a child friendly place it is! We will be going again, possibly in December and this time I will take my daughters because I know that they will also enjoy the Tivoli park at Christmas with all the lights and lovely Danish pastries 🙂
Oh amazing! Yes my city guides stay relevant for a while (I sometimes update them, too, so everything is still open etc) – still haven’t been to Tivoli, would love to take Peggy one day x