Weekend getaway - discover the Hygge lifestyle and great food.


Denmark

Copenhagen, Denmark

COPENHAGEN

Immerse yourself in the Hygge (pronounced "HOO-GA") lifestyle with a weekend getaway to Copenhagen, the epitome of Scandinavian cool living.

Copenhagen is the capital and most populous city in Denmark.  It is a unique city, characterised by its canals, cycling culture and hygge lifestyle. The capital is best known for its iconic Little Mermaid statue and Nyhavn harbour.

We decided to start our stay at the "Next House Copenhagen" hostel. When you enter the hostel, you are immediately immersed in the vibrant hostel life. 

Trading in hostel life for a more luxurious stay, we ended our stay at "Villa Copenhagen".   

In general, Villa Copenhagen suits those who prefer a 5-star hotel with exclusivity and luxurious surroundings. The breakfast is amazing (especially the chocolate croissant) and the setting is perfect.

The creative Meatpacking District, or Kødbyen, is a revitalized industrial area known for its trendy dining scene and buzzing nightlife. Stylishly designed meat- and fish-centric restaurants are set in former factory buildings, alongside boisterous breweries and chic cocktail bars. Definitly worth a visit and a vibrant place for drinks in the evening.

The hostel is well located. Close to the central station, which makes commuting easy, close to Tivoli Gardens and close to the canals that characterise Copenhagen.

There are a lot of facilities in the hostel, but most of them have to be paid for. The best part of the hostel is definitely the rooftop, where there are events (almost) every night, a great atmosphere and cheap drinks compared to going out. 

We stayed with 3 friends in a '4-bed' dorm. Despite the rather large entrance of the hostel, the dorms are quite small. 

In general I would definitely recommend the hostel. Especially if you are travelling alone, it is a great place to meet new people. The hostel has a lot to offer and is well located.

Villa Copenhagen is a new (opening July 1, 2020) and exclusive hotel located, that combines past, present and future. For more than a century operating as the Central Post & Telegraph Head Office, Villa Copenhagen is a fusion of the old post office from 1912 and new, modern architecture and design. 

The hotel has many different facilities to offer, such as swimming pool, fitness. Please note that the swimming pool has a limited number of places and you must book in advance. The same goes for breakfast, although it is definitely worth it! If you can't make a reservation, at least go to the RUG bakery next door, where they get their pastries. They are absolutely to die for.

Freetown Christiania, also known as Christiania, is an intentional community, commune and micronation in the Christianshavn district of the Danish capital city of Copenhagen. 

Today, it is best known for its open trade of cannabis and has a rougher atmosphere than what you experience in the rest of Copenhagen. 

Despite operating outside the Danish law, at the main entrance, you will find the Chirstianias Common Law depicted.

Have you really been to Copenhagen if you have not at least visited Nyhavn? 

Nyhavn is a canal from the 17th century and probably one of the most famous places in Copenhagen. It is lined with colourful old townhouses, bars, cafes and restaurants. You can also see many historic wooden ships, some over 100 years old.

Take your time to stroll along the colourful houses. If you want to stop for a drink along the way, be aware that prices here are extremely high here (Denmark is already expensive, so these tourist spots turn out to be extremely expensive).

This former industrial area has become one of the hippest districts in Copenhagen and this would be my top recommendation when visiting Copenhagen. It breathes creativity and is full of great food of all kinds. 

Reffen is an organic street food market and urban area for start-ups, innovation and creativity in Refshaleøen. All stalls have to follow the sustainable dogma of "reduce and reuse": Use compostable tableware, reduce food waste, use organic, free-range and local ingredients wherever possible. They must also sort their waste so that it can be reused as much as possible.

Another cultural and fun activity to do in Refshaleøen, is to go and visit the Copenhagen Contemporary art space. There are 3 floors of contemporary art to explore and it offers some arty activity in between all the eating and drinking at reffen.

Tivoli Gardens, also known as Tivoli, is an amusement park in the middle of Copenhagen. Opened in 1843, it is the 3rd oldest amusement park in the world.

You have to buy an entrance ticket and once inside you can definitely spend a day at Tivoli as there is plenty to do for all ages. Amusement park fanatics can enjoy various rides, the most famous of which is the wooden roller coaster.

Besided the rides, you can also find exotic buildings, theatres, flower gardens and many restaurants and cafés.

My favourite restaurant of the weekend was the one located inside the Tivoli Gardens, called "Kilden i Haven".

Join a canal boat tour navigating through the canals and exploring the city. The boats were well maintained and the staff was extremely helpful.

I absolutely LOVE bakeries, so I decided to change the breakfast recommendation by doing a bakery tour by bike (burning off some of the calories as I go :) ) and absolutely loved it.

- Hart Bakery (favourite!): Hart Bageri is known as one of the best bakeries in the city. Bread is love, craftsmanship, science and a lot of passion, according to English baker Richard Hart, who runs the acclaimed and famous bakery. Hart has taken sourdough bread to new heights in Denmark.

- Andersen Bakery: Japanese baker Shunsuke Takaki came to Copenhagen in 1959 and fell in love with the Danish mentality and art of baking. Since then, Andersen Bakery has remained true to the Danish baking tradition, while developing the craft and refining the recipes with the usual Japanese care.

- Det Franske Conditori: Det Franske Conditori produces bread, cakes and pastries in a classic and traditional spirit. The emphasis is on craftsmanship and quality, and only the best raw materials are used. Most of the products are still made the 'good old-fashioned way'.

- Bagt: privatly owned bakery chain established in 2011. It is a Danish bakery with a touch of French inspiration. 

- Lagkagehuset: this bakery chain is established in 2008. Today, they have 105 stores in Denmark and are expanding to London and New York. As Lagkagehuset is difficult to prononounce, the chain is called 'Ole & Steen' abroad.

The Danish hotdog stand can be found on almost any major street and hence, this is an absolute MUST to try when in Copenhagen. 

Highly recommend this one - the setting and food are absolutely amazing!

Copenhagen is an ideal destination for a weekend break. The capital has a lot to offer and can satisfy all types of tourists. Whether you enjoy the tranquillity and strolling along the canals, or are more of a hipster, there is plenty to discover. The city is surprisingly compact and easy to navigate, so you can see a lot in a short time.

COPENHAGEN

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