72 Hours In | Copenhagen

Hey guys!

I've been meaning to do some travel posts for a while, but then it got really cold and really miserable here in the UK so I just wasn't feeling that inspired, buuuuuut I'm back! I just got home from the most amazing trip to Berlin and Bucharest, which I will most definitely be writing about, but for now I'm here to talk to you about Denmark's beautiful capital, Copenhagen.

Mine and Hemma's trip was a pretty spontaneous one - £36 for return flights on Skyscanner, go figure - but we still managed to get a little research in and ask some family friends for tips before we went! I've put together a list of all my favourite things to do if you're planning on visiting any time soon, and best of all, pretty much everything I've listed is mega affordable - because Copenhagen? I love you but you espeeeeeensive.

Picturesque Tivoli Gardens

So without further ado, here are a few of my favourite things to do in beautiful Kóbenhavn! If you've already been, let me know if you tried out any of these things, and if you haven't? Well what are you waiting for?
P.S. Sorry if this post goes against the travel-list-etiquette-rule of one photo per point. I just couldn't part with that many of my pics!!


1. Fill your bellies at Papirøen (Or Paper Island for you non-Danish speakers) - If you're planning on visiting Copenhagen on a budget, remember that Street Food = Bae. The covered food market on Paper Island was easily the most delicious discovery we made during our trip, I just wish we'd found it sooner than the last night! Just across the bridge from Nyhavn, there's a stall for every cuisine imaginable, from my insanely yummy Vegan Columbian chilli & plantain fritters below, to Thai stir fries, Chinese curries, Mexican Churros, French pastries... Honestly my mouth is watering at the thought. (I'm planning to go back to Copenhagen soon, and I'll be spending a whole day here, anyone wanna join?)

LaTienda is my name, Vegan Columbian Street-food is my game!

2. Release your Inner Child at Tivoli - Don't you want to visit the place that gave Walt Disney the inspiration for Disneyland? I thought so.. You wouldn't believe that this is the second oldest theme park in the world, cause not once does anything feel outdated or tacky, but amazingly, Walt visited Tivoli Gardens back in the 50's and decided to bring a piece of it home with him! A couple of the rides literally took my breath away they were that intense, but the cherry on top of the cake, for sure, were the incredible fireworks. I'd recommend buying the 'Entrance' ticket and the 'Unlimited Ride' ticket which works out at about £40. By far the most expensive thing I'll mention in this post, but if you get there at 2pm, bring food (that you can eat whilst watching their traditional ballet performances), you can stay to the end to watch the most beautiful fire-work and pyrotechnic display. You will not regret it.

Look at that cheesy grin!

3. Walk The Streets! - And for you immature folks I mean a Walking Tour. (Gosh, some people..) Sandemans* are a great company that offer free walking tours in many capital cities, all they ask for is a little donation/tip if you enjoyed the tour! You only need to check them out on Trip Advisor to see how well loved and respected they are. It's one of the best ways to explore the city and learn some of the history and heritage in only a few hours. I've done their tours in a few cities now and I can't recommend them enough, cause I always end up coming home with fun facts to tell my family; e.g. how the little mermaid statue is Copenhagen's No. 1 most disappointing attraction, so I had to get a photo. Obvz.

This stunning building is the Marble Church on Frederiksgade

4. Crawl the Bars! - This one is fairly obvious from the title, but as I've already mentioned, Copenhagen is hella expensive and apart from your beer in a plastic cup on Papirøen, you're lucky if you pay less than £10 for an alcoholic beverage during your stay. The Sandemans walking tour group also host bar crawls which work out at about £15 for a ticket and usually include a shot (or two if you befriend the leaders) in each of the 4-5 bars, and discounted drinks all night. Plus if you go on a Friday or Saturday it includes your entrance into the club at the end. Oh and you can make friends with lots of cute Europeans. What's not to love?
 

5. Coffee with a View - There are several cute coffee chains spread over Copenhagen, but my favourite has to be Original Coffee, down to their outstanding coffee and cute AF latte art. We came across one whilst seeking shelter from the rainstorm of the century and I'm so glad we did! The best location was on the rooftop of the Illum department store on Østergade cause of its beautiful views and yummy brunch options. To a rather hungover me, there is absolutely nothing better than a good brunch.. especially when it comes in the form of Avocado on toast. Amirite?

Cause who doesn't love people-watching? - Østergade 52 location,.

6. Picnic in the Park-nik - There are so many beautiful open spaces to explore in the city, so Hemma and I went and stocked up on some drinks and snacks from a nearby 7-Eleven (Which was way more Pret A Manger than the petrol-station convenience store it doubles as in the US) and had a cute little picnic in King's Garden like the Brits we are. Do make sure you bring an umbrella though, as Copenhagen is prone to spontaneous bouts of rainfall.. kinda like England really.

Just being a tourist, don't mind me...

7. Take a Bike Ride around Nyhavn - When you think of Copenhagen, the picturesque pastel buildings of Nyhavn are what spring to mind. Whether you cycle or walk, I strongly recommend you just adventure down a few of the cute little side streets. It's how we came across most of the food and coffee places on the trip; besides, they're just so pretty to look at, and you're keeping you carbon footprint down. Winner!

8. Enlist as a Palace Guard - Just kidding, but while you're there, visit Christiansborg Palace, where you can climb the tower (for free) and get a rather breathtaking view of the city. You might even be able to spot Sweden!

Well I hope these come in useful if you were planning on visiting Copenhagen, and if there's anything you think I've missed out, please let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading your Dose of Travel

Disclaimer: This post is in collaboration with Sandemans New Europe Tours. The majority of things I review on this blog are purchased by myself, e.g. all the ridiculously expensive but oh so gorgeous food consumed on this trip. All words and opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way by brands/companies. If you are a company interested in sending me something for a review, you can contact me at sales@izzymariehill.com