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The World > Europe > Copenhagen > Holidays to Copenhagen
Holidays to Copenhagen
Copenhagen - so cool, so easy
Think chic, think... Copenhagen? Well, yes actually. The true beauty of Copenhagen (and believe me there's a lot to like in the capital city of Denmark) lies in its relaxed living. You can tell the locals love living here; the cycleways are full and outdoor cafes abound, everyone's out on a sunny day and there's a sense of pride in the air. Hippies coexist with black suited bankers, kids and families are everywhere on weekends and tourists are easy to spot because they stand in open-mouthed wonder in so many spots around the city!
Summer weekend getaways in Copenhagen are good for your soul and good for the body - because you walk or cycle to most of the main attractions. The perfect way to take a break! And walk you should to work off all those Danish pastries! Copenhagen has spent up large on infrastructure in the past decade and the results are everywhere - new galleries, plush shopping arenas and a pride in the city's accomplishments. For city breaks Europe, Copenhagen's old and new coexist happily with many old buildings, particularly warehouses by the wharves, transformed.
Our pick? Spend an afternoon in Nyhavn, the city's 17th century waterfront district. You'll love the colourful buildings and the canal lifestyle. Just walking the streets is your entertainment, followed by a coffee stop in one of the myriad cafes or restaurants. Cool, clean and joyful - Copenhagen will make you come alive again!
Eating out in Copenhagen
Cheap, expensive and everything in between
We have to start with Noma. The world's number 1 restaurant has spawned dozens of imitators across Europe, but there's nothing like the original - particularly as the cuisine is a re-definition of Nordic and Scandinavian cuisine. If you can get in, the 'concept' is fresh, foraged food served in season. Much of it is raw and whilst it may be described as a science experiment by some, the food is actually rather simple. A word of warning; you'll need plenty of gas on your credit card!
If a reservation at Noma is hard to come by, stay with the theme. Chef René Redzepi's partner is a foodie and TV critic. At the same time as the restaurant was being set up, Claus Meyer started banging the drum for Nordic cuisine and put his money where his mouth was by opening three delis across Copenhagen. Taste some of the finest Nordic cuisine at the store on Gammel Kongevej where you can select from the tapas-style menu and eat to your heart's content at a fraction of the Noma price!
You're in Copenhagen so an open-faced sandwich (a local specialty) is a must! Try Aamanns, just around the corner from the Danish National Gallery, for some of the best. Rye bread with a touch of butter and piled high with your selections are the order of the day. We suggest the Pork Rillettes or chicken salad.
To hang out with the local cool crowd, venture to the Vesterbro quarter where you'll find old school bars tarted up to suit the gentrifying neighbourhood. A favourite is Dyrehaven. Gone are the days of dodgy characters and criminal escapades; happily replaced with home-baked bread and soup out on the pavement.
What to wear, when to go
Copenhagen is definitely a s summer city. Winter is downright nippy!
That said, you'll have the place yourself and can enjoy everything without the crowds. A word of warning; Copenhagen stands in the way of the Atlantic low pressure systems and the weather is changeable throughout the year. Bring a raincoat and you'll be safe. That same Atlantic weather is also responsible for temps a good 5C warmer than is typical of the latitude.
Summer is delightful; temps are an average 20C from June through August. You can be lucky and strike a spell of sunny weather that lasts for ten days or more.
Winter sees daily averages around the zero mark.
Spring daily temps are in the mid teens and Autumn sees averages of 16C down to 7C by September.
Copenhagen - prettiest city in Europe?
A big call perhaps, but Copenhagen's fresh, clean look goes well with it's historic buildings and castles. The bright colours of Nyhavn light up a winter's day and are truly beautiful on a summer evening.
How to enjoy Copenhagen? Simply hop on a bike. Much of the local population is doing just that so you'll fit right in. This allows you to explore to your heart's content and cover a lot of ground.
Historic Copenhagen - not for nothing does Copenhagen have a Mediaeval Quarter and here's where you'll find the small island of Slotsholmen with Christiansborg Palace. Both are worth exploring, but our particular favourite is the artificial island of Christianshavn. This bohemian enclave is bisected and dissected with canals and features quirky 'non-architecture', tiny cafe's and organic restaurants.
Castles - everyone loves a European castle. Christiansborg Palace and Rosenborg palace are top-class castle eye candy.
New Copenhagen - the Opera House is best viewed from across the water, while the Round Tower in the city centre gives you a spectacular view of Copenhagen.
Don't miss - the Tivoli Gardens (still good after all these years), Vor Frelsers Kirke (a wonderful church with a spiral tower you can walk up to enjoy a spectacular view) and the Museum of the Danish Resistance (an informative and moving look at a ghastly period of history).