TRAVELING SOWELL
COPENHAGEN
EVERYTHING WE'D TELL OUR FRIENDS TO DO THERE
We had three days in Copenhagen, and it didn’t take long to understand why people love this city. We walked everywhere, ate way too many pastries, explored neighborhoods that seemed made for wandering, and finished our trip at Tivoli Gardens. These are the best places we ate, where we stayed, and what we'd recommend to friends planning their own Copenhagen trip.
WHERE WE STAYED
1 HOTEL COPENHAGEN
This might be one of our favorite city hotels we’ve ever stayed in. The entire place felt like a natural indoor garden, with greenery everywhere and a lobby that had the perfect energy from morning to night. From coffee there in the morning surrounded by plants, to cocktails at night, we couldn't have enjoyed it more. Our room felt more like a spa than a hotel room. We left taking pictures of it because we wanted to steal some of the design ideas for our own bedroom. The room even included filtered water right off the tap. Add an incredible location in the heart of Copenhagen, and we wouldn’t even consider staying anywhere else the next time we come back.
THE FIRST THINGS WE'D DO
WALK & CANAL TOUR: COPENHAGEN HIGHLIGHTS + CHANGING OF THE GAURDS
We did this on our first morning in Copenhagen, and it was the perfect introduction to the city. We covered a ton of ground on foot, learned our way around Copenhagen, hopped on the harbor ferry and finished at Amalienborg Palace for the Changing of the Guards. If you’re visiting for the first time, we’d absolutely recommend doing this early in your trip.
SOCIAL SAILING: COPENHAGEN CANAL TOUR-CAPTAIN'S FAVORITE
This was one of our favorite experiences in Copenhagen. Instead of a big sightseeing boat, we spent three hours exploring the city’s canals with a small group and a local captain. It was relaxed and personal, and we got to see Copenhagen from a different perspective than we had walking the streets. If you want to experience Copenhagen from the water, this is the way to do it.
WE'RE GLAD WE ATE HERE
SANKT PEDERS BAGERI
Copenhagen’s oldest bakery has been here since 1652, and it ended up being our favorite overall bakery experience in the city. We tried plenty of pastries during our three days in Copenhagen, but I still can’t stop thinking about the cardamom buns here. This will absolutely be one of our first stops the next time we’re in town.
HART BAGERI
We stopped at Hart for pastries and walked away firmly convinced we’d just eaten the best chocolate chip cookies we’ve ever had. That’s a big statement, but we’re sticking with it. Hart has several locations around Copenhagen, so find whichever one is closest and do not leave the city without trying one.
AAMANNS 1921
This was our favorite meal in Copenhagen. We walked in right as they opened and managed to grab one of the last available tables, and we’re very glad we did. Aamanns takes traditional Danish smørrebrød and turns it into something really special. Everything from the food to the service to the atmosphere was phenomenal from start to finish. If we were recommending one dinner in Copenhagen, this would be it.
RESTAURANT 1733
We stumbled into Restaurant 1733 right as they were opening and were incredibly lucky we did. By the time we sat down, they were already booked for the night. The food and service were excellent, but we loved the atmosphere just as much. It ended up being one of those completely unplanned meals that becomes one of your favorite memories from a trip.
TIVOLI GARDENS
Tivoli Gardens gets plenty of hype, especially because it helped inspire Walt Disney when he was creating Disneyland, so we went in with high expectations. It delivered at every turn. There were plenty of great rides to keep the roller coaster lovers in our family busy, and once the sun went down, the entire place became even more charming. The food and drink options were as good as we’ve experienced at any theme park, and having all of this right in the middle of Copenhagen might make it the most conveniently located theme park we’ve ever visited. We were told we wouldn’t need a full day here. We’d disagree. Next time, we’d gladly give Tivoli an entire day.
