Copenhagen Girl’s Trip Claimed

Hotel: 

Nyhavn 71, Copenhagen, phone +45 33 43 62 00. Located (as the name says) on Nyhavn Street, which is the heart of the ‘old city’, right on the water. It’s a good central location as we could walk to the metro easily, as well as to many of the sights/areas we wanted to visit. The hotel is a bit pricey for what it offers, with small rooms, but it’s a historic old building with a great location and with super helpful staff and a good breakfast! 

We did a four-day trip (three full days of activities) to Copenhagen as the start of a girls’ trip. It has charm, friendly people, great food, tons of attractions, is a manageable size, and is a terrific destination. Our trip was geared towards first-time visitors and had an exploration and good-food focus, and was not a shopping-focused trip (although at the end of this, I’ll include shopping recs provided to me by others).  The weather was chilly, with a bit of rain during our visit so packing included puffer, jeans and sweaters to layer. Don’t forget gloves for a bike ride as warm hands make all the difference. We did not do some activities that would be warmer weather appropriate, like the boats on the river or the hot tub boats! 

General Notes:

Copenhagen Card:

You can buy the Copenhagen Card at the airport which pays out if you plan on using public transport and visiting the popular museums/castles etc. On their site ahead of time you can click on what you plan on doing and it’ll tell you if you’ll save money by purchasing the card or not. Plus it’s very convenient not to have to purchase tickets at the train/metro stations and museums and have a ‘one and done’ option.

Cafes:

Bakeries and cafes are everywhere! The baked goods (ie…Danish!) are amazing, and you will never be at a loss for carbs or caffeine in this city whether it’s from a small cafe or a larger chain like Lagkagehuset, which is terrific (and has the best little cookies with licorice)! Juno and Hart bakeries seem to get the top picks from people!

Meals:

There is a wide range of dining options, including some super-fancy Michelin star choices. Best to book ahead of time – some (like Geranium) needs months ahead bookings.

Note: One activity that I didn’t find out about until after our return is ‘hydro-biking’ on the water which friends of ours loved doing – was a trip highlight for them. Link here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g189541-d24014908-Reviews-HydroBiking-Copenhagen_Zealand.html

Day 1: Arrive! 

From the airport, took the metro to the hotel (super easy) – see note above about the Copenhagen Card which you can purchase in the airport before you get on the train.

After check-in, wandered through Nyhavn street (where all the old colorful houses with outdoor cafes line the canal) and the sidestreets (less touristy cafes and stores)  a bit and had dinner at Bistro Royale. 

Day 2:

Morning: Wander from hotel..

• Through the Amalienborg Slot (Palace) grounds (small area you are open to walk through)
• Toured the Design Museum.  The Design Museum was a major disappointment (some was closed for a new display, and what was open was not impressive or at all what we had envisioned in terms of curation or display). 
• The Marble Church (next to the Palace)
• Saw the changing of the guards at the Palace (at noon)
• Visited the Little Mermaid statue 

Afternoon:

• Lunch at the Torvehallernekbh food markets for a great open-faced Smorgesborg sandwich and glass of wine
• Wildlife Photograher of the Year Exhibit which was on tour at the Natural History Museum (amazing exhibit from London that we’d seen in past years there and LOVED).  

Dinner:

Popl Burger, which is a quick walk across the river from the hotel and is operated by Noma (voted Best Restaurant in the World). This is their casual dining option and the veggie burger was out of this world good! Reservations needed.

Day 3:

This was the day ‘out of the city’ to visit a castle and a museum. We took public transport, using Google maps to guide us (and having the Copenhagen Card for this makes it easier to not have to worry about purchasing tickets as you go). The trip to the castle is straightforward, the travel between the two locations a bit trickier (involved switching from a train to a local bus), and straightforward. 

Friedreksborg Castle 

Bulit in the early 17 century, this famous castle is surrounded by a lake and beautiful gardens and is home to the Museum of Natural History. A visit here lets you explore the castle, its beautiful church and see the many many paintings within. 

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

This beautiful modern art museum is housed within a beautiful setting and is a pleasure to visit! 

Dinner: Selma Restaurant Copenhagen 2023 Michelin Star restaurant (book ahead). Small, cozy atmosphere with emphasis on Smørrebrød with fresh, local, seasonal ingredients.

Day 4:

Morning: 

Biking Day! A bike trip is a terrific way to see the city. The hotel offered bike to rent for a very reasonable rate, and there are also public bikes to rent. This is a BIKING CITY! We had planned to do this the first day to get a lay of the land but swapped due to weather. 

We booked our 3 hour guide with Sine (+45 50582824), who we loved. We found a guided version worked better for us than self-guided given the efficiency of her knowing where to go and the history she told us along the way. We loved it! It went all over the city, including around Tivoli gardens, the meatpacking area, to the great Hart bakery near the meatpacking area, and through Christiana  and Freetown Christiana which we loved.

Afternoon:

Some went to Tivoli

Some went to the Rosenborg Castle tour (enjoyed!)

Dinner:

The BIG DINNER! We went to Geranium, voted the best restaurant in the world in 2022. It was a 17-course, 3+ hour dining experience. It was the big splurge of the trip for sure, but the food was amazing, the presentation beautiful and creative, and the service impeccable. Once in a lifetime dinner for sure.

Day 5:

Onward! To the airport and to the next stop….Berlin! 

Recommendations: 

Below are some of the many recs I received prior to the trip. I have not been to all by any means but am happy to share. They are divided out by who they were given by: Two fashionable locals, a high-end tourist company, and college students who lived/studied there. So something for everyone!

In-the-know Local #1 Recs:

Shopping:

Studio Oliver Gustav: 

Klassik has an incredible selection of Danish modern furniture that will make you want to get a new apartment just so you can fill it with finds from here.

The Apartment is the beautiful gallery/store of Tina Seidenfaden Busck—her eye is just brilliant. By appointment only. 

Gronlund & Lefort is an antiques shop that specializes in vintage Royal Copenhagen. 

Fil de Fer: It might seem a little strange that we bought a huge, thick, heavy and ancient French cutting board in a primarily French antiques shop in Copenhagen, but we did. They have a great edit, and the prices are good as well. 

Jannie Petersen Antik is a great little bric-a-brac antiques shop in the center. 

Georg Jensen may be all over the world, but the flagship here definitely had a selection we don’t see everywhere! Our favorites are the water bottles, flasks and the small wall clocks.

Goods: A very cool men’s shop that has classics like Paraboot and Barbour, but also smaller brands you’ve probably never heard of. 

The Red Cross (Rode Kors) shops in this town can be great! We got lots of cool mid-century Danish small housewares for around $3 a piece. Shhh, don’t tell anyone. 

Møller & Mammen is a very cool hardware store that had excellent hooks! 

FOOD + DRINK 

Barr: Sister restaurant to Noma, amazing schnitzel and beer list, gorgeous location on Holmen—a classic and the place where the Noma staff eats on their own time.

Jatak: The super-hot new kid on the block, really creative and refined modern Cantonese, kitchen has an incredible pedigree, and the Hong Kong egg custard for dessert is supposedly to die for. Needs advance booking.

Propaganda: The other hot new kid on the block: no-frills interior, combination bustling eatery and bottle shop filled with tons of young, gorgeous, partying Danes. Interesting and edgy (for Denmark) modern Korean food. Owner Riccardo Marcon also has the restaurant Barabba, which is a really incredible Italian spot downtown and definitely worth checking out.

Silberbaurs Bistro: Feels old-school and authentic, even if it’s new-ish (in a way you guys would like). 

Esmee: A glamorous bar and lovely courtyard, it’s on the fancier side, with lavish seafood platters, gougeres, and a great cocktail list inspired by the Belle Epoque.

Casamadre: co-owned by the women’s designer for Samsøe Samsøe. Sweetest couple. A mamma mia kind of place, maybe a bit of an insider gem thus far.  

Lille Bakery for breakfast or a lovely lunch

La Banchina for coffee or dinner and a sauna (they do these supposedly great special prix-fixe weekend dinners too).

POPL Burger (Noma sibling—the veggie burger is the one to beat!!)

Hart for some of the best baked goods ever 

Morgenstedet: A homespun little vegetarian restaurant in Christiania that is sweet and simple and hippie in the best way. 

Torvehallerne is kind of like the Ferry Building in SF—unavoidable but touristy and sort of meh! Maybe the Mikkellers Bottle Shop would be worth a stop. 

Atelier September for a light lunch if you’re downtown, lovely little cakes and usually a cool pop-up in the space behind the cafe. 

Apotek 57 is absolutely the best place in town for this kind of cafe vibe—Chiara’s food is fantastic; it’s just so memorable and made with so much love and care.

In-the-know Local #2 Recs:

The prix-fixe winter menu at La Banchina is supposed to be amazing, and very København with its pre-dinner sauna so you can go winter bathing, etc. Pretty much as Danish as it gets. 

For a beloved-by-the-locals, can’t-fail classic spot: Either Barr or Admiralgade—depends what you’re in the mood for… amazing beer/grilled bone marrow and schnitzel, or natural wines/French bistro food. 

Kødbyens Fiskebar, which is a sort of a bustling Florent-style restaurant in the KBH meatpacking district that serves amazing (somewhat spendy) seafood. 

Jatak is the new kid on the block that everyone is going nuts about.

Save time for a late breakfast / early lunch either at Lille Bakery or Apotek 57. If you’re over on Refshaleøen at Lille, you should also swing by Copenhagen Contemporary  (which has a new, very pretty cafe called Connie-Connie, worth a look for the bespoke seating) and the awesome distillery and tasting room Empirical. Such good spirits!!!!

Apollo Bar is one of my favorite places to meet up with friends.

Baked goods are a thing here! I’ve never eaten so much cake or so many cardamom pastries in my life. Best spots are either Lille, Hart, or Juno. 

Cocktail bar at Sanders is a cute little scene, but the new watering holes in town are Pulp and Conga.

Natural wines at Ved Stranden.

Save room for a quick takeaway burger at POPL! I’m partial to the veggie one myself.” 

Estin: clean vegetarian fare—everyone calls it Hippie Grandma

Bistro Lupa: plant-based bistro

TO DO!

Louisiana is amazing, but it’s a whole day, or at least a half-day trip! 

I also love Glyptoteket, which is right in town and has a dreamy atrium and cafe. 

My favorite cultural spot in town is Copenhagen Contemporary, and the best gift shop is at the Danish Architecture Center—also worth a visit.

Sofiebadet is a classic grand old baths/hammam place. 

FOOD + DRINK

Atelier September 

Admiralgade 26

Maison 

Mangia 

Circolo 

Propaganda 

Fashion

Holly Golightly is the most beautiful multi-brand store.

Lot29 

Jewelry

Sophie Bille Brahe 

Griegst 

Florist

Tage Andersen

Design

Dansk Møbelkunst 

Etage Projects 

Galleries

Andersen’s Contemporary

Nicolai Wallner

V1 Gallery

Museums

Thorvaldsens Museum

Louisiana

Ordrupgaard

High End Travel Company Recs:

Lunch:

ATELIER SEPTEMBER

LOCAL SPOT

This restaurant serves great coffee and simple, seasonal fare, including the trademark avocado on rye toast.

Gothersgade 30

HIJA DE SANCHEZ

CASUAL

Savor fresh and delicious tacos at this ode to Mexico in heart of Vesterbro. Slagterboderne 8

JOHN’S HOT DOG STAND

QUICK BREAK

John’s is the perfect place to taste one of the city’s best hot dogs. Flæsketorvet 39

GERANIUM

FOODIE FAVORITE

One of Copenhagen’s Michelin-starred heavy hitters, the cozy Geranium offers lunch and a multi-course dinner.

Flæsketorvet 39

SCHONNEMANN

CLASSIC

This lunch-only Scandinavian eatery serves open sandwiches with excellent schnapps and beer. Hauser Plads 16

TORVEHALLERNE

MARKET

This fabulous food hall features stalls of fresh produce, food and coffee. 1360 Copenhagen K, Frederiksborggade 21

Dinner:

FISKEBAR

HOT SPOT

At this trendy spot, guests enjoy fresh seafood in both indoor and outdoor spaces. Flæsketorvet 100

GEIST

NEW NORDIC

Celebrity chef Bo Bech’s Geist offers an accessible approach to New Nordic cuisine. Kongens Nytorv 8

MANFREDS

RELAXED

This vegetarian-friendly restaurant with an open kitchen was also the city’s first all-natural wine bar.

Jægersborggade 40

NOMA

ICONIC

This culinary mecca serves innovative Scandinavian cuisine in a sleek and minimal dining room. Strandgade 93

NOMA 2.0

FOODIE FAVORITE

A holy grail of experimental cuisine, Noma 2.0 celebrates local and seasonal ingredients in its 20-course

menus. Refshalevej 96

RELAE

SOPHISTICATED

This rustic, Michelin-starred spot serves refined fare with a focus on biodynamic wines.  Jægersborggade 41

Shopping:

CINNOBER BOOKSHOP

NEIGHBORHOOD: INDRE BY

For one of the greatest independent bookstores in

Europe. Landemærket 9

FIL DE FER

NEIGHBORHOOD: INDRE BY

For a curated selection of French and Danish

antiques. Store Kongensgade 83A

HAY HOUSE

NEIGHBORHOOD: INDRE BY

For an exclusive collection of Danish design

products. Østergade 61

ILLUMS BOLIGHUS

NEIGHBORHOOD: INDRE BY

For an emporium of designer housewares.

Amagertorv 10

RUE VERTE

NEIGHBORHOOD: INDRE BY

For a treasure trove of fashion, accessories and

tableware. Ny Østergade 11

STASIA

NEIGHBORHOOD: INDRE BY

For show-stopping gowns, suits, evening wear and

wedding dresses. Store Strandstræde 21

STILLEBEN

NEIGHBORHOOD: INDRE BY

For home décor, accessories and jewelry reflecting

the latest in Scandinavian design.

Niels Hemmingsens Gade 3

SUMMERBIRD CHOCOLATERIE

NEIGHBORHOOD: INDRE BY

For a wealth of sweet treats, including Copenhagen’s

ubiquitous “snowballs.” Kronprinsensgade 11

Site/Activities:

AMALIENBORG PALACE

Originally constructed as townhouses for the Danish nobility in the mid-18th century, Amalienborg Palace has

served as the home of the Danish royal family ever since their original residence (Christiansborg Palace) burned

down in 1794. The four identical residences built around an octagonal square are some of the finest examples of

Rococo architecture in the country. Amalienborg  Slotspads 5

CANAL TOUR

Boats depart regularly from the Nyhavn for one-hour tours that give riders a sense of the significant role that

the sea has played in Danish history.

DESIGNMUSEUM DENMARK

Discover the central tenets of Danish design—formal simplicity, functionality and artisanal meticulousness—

through the creations of Kaare Klint, Hans J. Wegner, Arne Jacobsen and Verner Panton. The museum is

housed in a lovely Rococo building and can easily be toured in an hour. Bredgade 68

LOUISIANA MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

This museum holds one of Europe’s most prominent modern art collections. From central Copenhagen, it’s

about a 40-minute drive. Gl Strandvej 13, Humlebæk

THE OPERA HOUSE

Copenhagen’s Opera House ranks among the most modern and expensive opera houses in the world.

Ekvipagemestervej 1

TIVOLI GARDENS

This amusement park and garden located in Copenhagen’s city center is the second-oldest amusement park in

the world. It opened in 1843 and later served as inspiration for Disney World. The grounds are also home to

several lovely restaurants and cafés. Vesterbrogade 3

OUR PICKS: COPENHAGEN

Designmuse

Recs From a College Student:

Sightseeing/Things To Do:

• Nyhavn: street along the harbor with pretty, colorful houses! Fun place to walk around, especially as the seasons change. It gets very crowded and touristy, but I loved it. You should get a drink and sit outside with snacks, but I don’t recommend eating here, as all the restaurants here are extra expensive and a tourist trap!

• Go Boats – SO SO SO AMAZING legit one of my fav parts of cope hands down, rent w up to 8 people and bring wine and cheese and pizza and music ahhhhh the GOAT

• The Trampolines: on the sidewalk between the Standard (old ferry house with nice restaurants) and Nyhavn! I loooooved jumping on these and did so way too many times lol but it is a great place to bring friends and fam when they visit because it is an easy walk from everything! Mostly lil toddlers and study abroad students

• Christiania: FREETOWN! really cool to walk around, especially towards the lake and going into the art galleries!

• Little Mermaid: 

• Botanical Gardens: Beautiful pond/scenic area and when it is warm out everyone lounges

• Rosenborg Castle/Gardens: very pretty, take advantage when it is nice weather

• Carlsberg Brewery: it is under construction rn unfortunately :/ but they’re building a whole village around it which is pretty cool so once it gets warm, I would recommend checking it out!

• Black Diamond/Royal Library: most amaze library you will ever go to. On the canal, my favorite room was the old reading room, go up the escalator and go straight back to the right, through the doors.

• Danish Museum of Art and Design. I loved this place, I thought it was really interesting, especially the chair exhibit which is permanent

• Tivoli: amusement park right in the middle of the city. If you think you will go at least three times it makes sense to get the season pass or whatever it is called because it is very expensive – like $20 to just go in and then each ride you have to pay for additionally! Definitely recommend going though it is AMAZING! I went three times.

• The Lakes: Really cute spot, a lot of people run here or you can just sit and have wine and cheese

• Walk down Magstraede and Jæggersborgade street, so cute, reminded me kinda like Newbury Street!

• Superkilen: line park, really cool part of the city in Nørrebro

• Assistens Cemetery: where Hans Christian Andersen is buried, beautiful to bike through

• Church of Our Savior: gives the best view of the city

• Round Tower: quick and easy trip up, right in the city center

• Parliament Tower: 

• Island Brygge: huge ledge everyone jumps off into the harbor!

• Kastrup Sea Bath: at Amager Strandpark beach, equally as fun thing to jump off! Cool to walk and bike around the beach when it is sunny

• Amalienborg Slot: the royal palace, where you can see the changing of the guards

• Copenhot: Hot tubs and hot tub boats along canal

• La Banchina: sauna and winter bathing along the canal

• Copenhill: fun ski hill built on incineration plant, don’t have to ski can just go up to watch the sunset

Coffee Shops/Cafes

• Sankt Peters Bakery​: On Wednesday this place sells 15 kr GIANT cinnamon rolls called Snegls

• The Living Room: so much seating downstairs, everyone raves about their goat cheese sandwich

• Buzz Café: cute, good chai’s, great for doing HW

• Next Door Cafe: Amazing for breakfast or a quick drink! So cute and bustling

• Emmerys: big chain

• Joe and the Juice: some people say not to go, I loved their smoothies, they were so sweet but super filling

• Sonny: Cute little hole in the wall place

• Lagkagehuset: Big chain, I loved their stuff, they have one in the airport

• Mad & Kaffe: really good! A couple locations around the city, fun concept of picking 3, 5 or 7 dishes

• EMA Café: my favorite brunch place, it said it closed but idk if it will be forever or just temporarily

• Café Christianshavn: go here for brunch or dinner, so cozy and so cute

• Union Kitchen: so expensive, this is the place where they put funny sayings on the cappuccinos, I thought dinner was so much better

• Paludan Café: LOVED this place, it is so cute, old library that was turned into café, their food is amazing

• Next Door Café: really good pancakes

• Natur Tørst: vegan place, I really liked it and thought it was cool, they have non-vegan options, very aesthetic food

• Organic Boho: super aesthetic but I didn’t love the food

• Café Flottenheimer: one brunch plate option, really good

• Wulf+Konstali: loved their brunch, prob one of my fav places

Lunch:

• American Pie Company: this place SLAPS, you have to go, both savory and sweet pies

• GRØD: risotto or oatmeal place, I hated the oatmeal but everyone else loved it lol, risotto looked amazing

• Hope Organic: LITERALLY AMAZING and right next to DIS, highly recommend the hope Caesar and sweet potato fries

• Sandwich Pigen: I loved the sandwiches here and it’s always the same two girls working who are so sweet!

• Glass Market (this is what DIS students call it)/Torvehallerne: go explore all the amazing food, so many options, my fav sushi was here

• Cocks and Cows: burgers

• Bronx Burger Bar: the golden goat burger. That is all.

• Gorms: amazing pizza, they have a ton of locations

• Bridge Street Kitchen: walk over bridge from Nyhavn, a bunch of food options

• Reffen: a bunch of food carts in old meatpacking area, soooooooooo good

• Boltens Food Court: amazing. 3 floors of such good food.

Dinner:

• Bæst: all organic, yummy pizza and GET THE HOMEMADE BURATTA. Yum.

• Høst: Danish 5 or 7 course, really beautiful ambience

• Mother: yummy pizza in meatpacking district, candles everywhere

• Gasoline Grill: incredible burgers

• Warpigs: good BBQ

• Union Kitchen:  my favorite place I ate in cope for dinner, GO at least once, it is worth it, get an elderflower spritz here, amazing.

• Olive Kitchen & Bar: SOOOOO GOOD, get the mushroom soup as an appetizer, you will not regret it

• Sticks and Sushi: I never went but people would go for nice dinners or bday dinners with friends, go to one at top of Tivoli hotel if you go

• Illum Rooftop: sick place to watch sunset, a bunch of good restaurants in there too

• Pico Pizza: flights of pizza, so amazing

• Mirabelle: homemade pasta dishes that change every night, BEST SOURDOUGH BREAD I HAVE EVER HAD

• Zahida: amazing Indian/Pakistani food, get the butter chicken

Bars:

City Center

• Francis Pony

• Old Irish: American night on Tuesdays, free entrance and free drink, all American music remixes but really fun

• Taphouse: FAVVVV it has over 60 beer taps and it is so chill and fun, and we went at least once a week

• The Living Room:

• Tyrolia: ehhhhh we got like kicked out here which was mean haha but you spin the wheel to drink, it is snow themed

• Bastard Café: SO FUN, board game café, so fun to get a beer and play game, their sweet potato fries and truffle aioli ugh to die for

• Happy Pig: aka glad gris, right around from Francis, has live music, older crowd but really fun

• The Jane: this prob was top 5 fav places, the vibe is so cool in here, its like half loungey and half club and drinks are expensive but amazing

• Hive: club

• Kayak Bar : when it is nice out PLEASE go, and get the passionfruit pitcher I am crying thinking about it

Meatpacking

• Jolene: never went but heard nothing but great things

• Warpigs: come here for beers and to chill ugh it is amazing, long communal tables where you meet amazing people, you get tipsy off 1 or two beers, awesome atmosphere

• Bakken: I loved this place!! Very Danish on the weekends, has a sick outdoor area in the back

• Mikeller: Danish beer!! So fun

• NoHo: really good drinks, very expensive though

Other

• Brus: never went but similar to warpigs but more boujee

• Lidkoeb: sophisticated cocktail bar, fun place to try

• Vega: 

• Balderdash:  really trendy and fun

• Condesa: guacamole shots!! And Mexican beers!!

• Lola: club, beautiful flower exterior, I really loved it here!