However, I do looove Copenhagen, and am ever so often being asked by friends from all over the world for my best recommendations when it comes to shopping, sights and eateries.

Old stock exchange building and Christiansborg

Beautiful approach into Copenhagen airport on SAS

THE AIRPORT

Most people fly in and CPH, Copenhagen Airport, is probably the best airport I’ve experienced anywhere in the world.
I always feel somehow proud of the efficiency of this airport, regardless if it’s the check-in lines or the security area (definitely the fastest and best in the world!).
The transit area also have an excellent selection of shops and restaurants – in fact, one of the best shopping areas in town is definitely the one at the airport.
Great food as well, like Lagkagehuset (I love their chokoladebolle – chocolate roll – to take away as a snack)  Joe&TheJuice (the avocado shake and the tuna sandwich….delicious!), MASH steakhouse, Gorm’s gourmet pizzas…. Excellent places to grab a bite!
There are many great shops as well, not necessarily cheap, but a great selection of anything that you might need before, on or after your trip.

Transport to/from the airport is also fast and a lot cheaper than most other airports.
The airport is located 9 km. from the city centre of Copenhagen.
The same ticket is used for all public transport (busses/trains/metro) in Copenhagen and the zone-system is a bit tricky. However, from the airport to get to the city centre you need to buy a 3-zone ticket (zones 1,3 and 4) and it costs around 36,- dkk (dansk krone). This is equal to around 4,80 euro / 5,40 usd.
Depending on where you are going, you choose between the train or the metro.
A taxi to the city centre is around 250-300 dkk. All taxis are metered.

Once in town, I’d always advise you to walk around.
If you do wish to go around, I’d recommend you buy a tourist city pass ticket, valid on all busses, trains and metro.

WHERE TO STAY?

Copenhagen has just about a hotel for every taste and every budget.

If you want to spoil yourself rotten and feel like the Queen of the Palace, the iconic Hotel D’Angleterre is your place! Location is also great, right on the Kongens Nytorv square. No words are enough to describe just how amazing the service and the food is here…. Simply the best of the best!
You can read more about it here .

Another absolute favorite is the Clarion Hotel Copenhagen Airport .
Needless to say, it’s at the airport 🙂 with perfect location next to the metro line as well as the train line. Within 15 min, you’re in the city centre – very convenient!
Rooms are very spacious with plenty of room for luggage and/or shopping. I love the rooms overlooking the airport, as I can’t get enough of the vibe around an airport (COVID or not).
Service is excellent, they’ll always walk the extra mile for you! Spa is beautiful and breakfast really good!
I love staying here before a vacation (best start – even though I live in the city!) or for a staycation!

I also love the Copenhagen Admiral Hotel with a beautiful, central location by the waterfront. If you choose to stay in a room facing the waterfront, you have the perfect view of the canals and the operahouse – and you’ll be the Queen’s neighbor as Amalienborg Castle is just aboutright next door.
The building itself is beautiful and an old warehouse from the 18th. Century.
The hotel’s restaurant, SALT, is highly recommended. Gorgeous food and excellent service!

THE SIGHTSEEING 

There’s so much to see in and around Copenhagen so it’s difficult just to mention a few things…but here are some;

Hop-on Hop-off

As in most cities, this is really the best way to orientate yourself in a new city.
You get an idea about the place and information and facts along the way.
I can highly recommend these busses.

Tivoli gardens

Tivoli is the oldest amusement park in the world, located in the citycentre, just opposite the Copenhagen central station and around the corner from the City Hall square.
Apart from being an amusement park, it’s also a very beautiful garden.
It’s green and lush with small lakes making it the perfect place to visit only to take a walk and enjoy the gardens.
There are many restaurants inside as well, you’ll get anything from “proper” restaurants such as Brødrene Frise, Nimb and Grøften to the typical, Danish hotdog place.
I love Tivoli as the gardens changes according to the season and being a Christmas junkie, my favourite time of the year to visit Tivoli is during the Christmas market (from mid Nov. and throughout Dec.). Magical!

Nyhavn

The famous old port close to the Kongens Nytorv square – and the Kongens Nytorv metro station.
Very Copenhagen and probably the most visited tourist attraction.
Lots of restaurants and very, very delicious ice-cream at “Vaffelbageren”.

Tour of the canals

This is a MUST!!! Also a personal favourite and I always make sure I do this canal tour every year.
There are two companies operating the canaltours – only difference between the two are the price as one (Netto boats) is approx. 50% cheaper.
Both departs from Nyhavn and the tour of the canals takes just over an hour. It’s an amazing trip and I try to do this once every summer!
Read more here about the guided (great information and history about areas passed on the tour) canal cruises with Netto-boats and Strömma Boats. It definitely is a MUST do when in Copenhagen.

If you want to rent a boat and do the tour on your own that’s also a possibility and there are several companies renting boats, like the company GoBoat  You get a canal map and you do the sailing on your own and without a guide.

Christianshavn

Kastellet

An old naval fortress and one of my favourite places to go for a walk with nice views of Kastellet and the waterways around it. You can find pictures here from Kastellet’s website.
It has the shape of a pentagram and houses a church, a beautiful old windmill and a church.
Walking distance from Nyhavn or metro to “Østerport” station.

Amalienborg Castle

Home of the Royal family and beautifully located along the old Copenhagen harbour front between the Marble church and the Copenhagen Opera.
Initially not a castle but the home of a wealthy merchant family.
Shifting of the queen’s guards every day at 12 noon. Quite a nice and rare sight when the guards walk from Rosenborg castle to Amalienborg castle every day; IMG_6142

Read more about Amalienborg here.

Christiansborg

This old castle is now housing the Danish Parliament, Folketinget.
It consists of several beautiful buildings and also houses the supreme court, the royal stables as well as the office of the Prime minister.
Read more about the castle and guided tours here.

Carlsberg Breweries

–Carlsberg Breweries, I guess if you like beer or just wants to visit something very danish. You get to go through the history of Carlsberg as well as visit the old stables where the horses still live, that used to deliver the beer around town. A very interesting place, and yes, 2 beers (or sodas) are included in the entrance ticket 🙂

Those were my personal favourites.

However, there’s lots of more to see and do so take a look at Visit Copenhagen’s excellent website for more sights in Copenhagen.

THE SHOPPING

Copenhagen is an excellent shopping city, by far not the cheapest in the world, however, the variety is amazing and during the summersales (starts mid June) and winter sales (starts right after Christmas) you can really save loads of money (up to 70%).

Malls and department stores

There are several good malls, was accessed by either metro or train.
–Frederiksberg centret at the Frederiksberg metro station
–Fields at the Ørestaden metro/train station towards Malmö/Copenhagen Airport)
–Lyngby Storcenter outside town but easily accessed by train to station Lyngby. Also many nice shops in the street, Lyngby Hovedgade.

In the city centre, near Strøget, you’ll find Magasin (located on Kongens Nytorv) and Illum (on Strøget) department stores – both very good!

Other stores, worth a visit on or close to Strøget

–Louis Vuitton – ask for Alexander Levy – he provides the best service ever…   🙂 As in ever!!!
If he’s not around, then Mohammed Al-Baraki is also really, really good.

–Royal Copenhagen – beautiful (Royal) Danish porcelain
–Georg Jensen – timeless Danish design (there’s also an outlet on Søndre Fasanvej 9 – close to metro station Fasanvej, metro line towards “Vanløse”)
–Illum’s bolighus (everything and anything for your home – lots of Danish design)
–Notre Dame (Nørregade 7 – small, beautiful things for your home)
–Companys (nice clothes, a good mix of brands)
–Peak Performance (The Swede in me loves this shop… Sporty, comfy, warm clothes)
-Perch’s tea shop origins back to 1835 and the shop is lovely, as is their tearoom where you can enjoy afternoon tea.

THE FOOD

If you know me, you know that I simply looooove, love my food….. 🙂
Copenhagen offers a great selection of eateries and here are some favourites and places well worth a visit.

–Restaurant Marchal at the iconic Hotel d’Angleterre is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Copenhagen. Danish food with a French twist and add to that the best service you can get! They so deserve their Michelin star.
Their breakfast is also the best in Copenhagen and it’s so sumptous you won’t need lunch anytime soon…. Truly delicious and outstanding!

– Restaurant SILO is definitely another favourite restaurant. Located on the 17th floor in an old silo in the newly renovated Nordhavn quarters, right by the sea. The view is gorgeous and I love the food…prepared with only top quality raw materials – be it lunch, dinner or brunch – or just for a drink in the bar to enjoy the view after work. Service is so great you almost think that they are only open to make you happy 🙂

–Sticks’n’Sushi is a chain with many restaurants in and around Copenhagen. Love their different set menus. Favourite spots are rooftop of the Tivoli hotel, Rungsted Havn, Tivoli Gardens (lovely view!) and Hellerup. Also good for take away/delivery).

Sticks’n’Sushi on top of the Tivoli Hotel

–Broens Gadekøkken / The Bridge Street Kitchenis a new street food market located right at the bicycle/walking-bridge between Christianshavn and Nyhavn. Here, you’ll find street food of high quality and the setting and ambience by the waterfront is really cosy.

-DagH is another cozy café/restaurant located in “my hood”, Østerbro. Right at Lilla Trianglen.

–Østerbros Originale Burgerrestaurant in my area of town serves the best burgers in Copenhagen! Huge, juicy and lots to choose between….

–Joe & The Juice is a juice- and sandwich bar/café. There are several in and around Copenhagen, incl. two at Copenhagen airport. I loooooove their avocado shake and tuna-avocado-sandwich!

Yaaaaaaaaay! 🙂

–Kiin Kiin was one of the first Thai restaurant in the world to receive a Michelin star. Food is Thai/Asian fusion and really, really good! One of the best restaurants I know. The sister restaurant in Bangkok is also amazing!

The cosy and private table number 9 at Kiin Kiin.

–Søpromenaden is close to Trianglen at Østerbro, facing the inner lakes. Traditional Danish food. Good for both lunch and dinner and beautifully located.

–Den Franske Café next to Søpromenaden. Café and food.

Den Franske Café

–Nimb Brasserie offers great food and beautiful view of Tivoli. The brunch is a real gourmet brunch and I can highly recommend it – read more about it here .

–Hereford next to/inside Tivoli serves great steaks and I love the tables facing Tivoli gardens…

–Brødrene Price / TivoliInside Tivoli. Lovely food and beautiful restaurant.

– District Tonkinis another great Vietnamese restaurant, I love their traditional soup and beef noodle salad, so yummy!

–Damindra is a Japanese restaurant serving delicious gourmet sushi and other beautiful dishes.

–Gorm’s serves great Italian food. Different locations and my favourite is the one in Nyhavn 14. Also has a restaurant at the airport. My favourite? The dessert pizza…… 🙂

–Café Petersborg is one of the oldest restaurants in Copenhagen and the building is from 1700-something. A very traditional Danish lunch restaurant with excellent “smørrebrød”. Great location near Amalienborg Royal Castle.

MAX Burgerrestaurant is fast food burgers and taste really good. And I’m not saying this because both me and Max are Swedish….

DANISH BAKERY SHOPS…

….are by far the best in the world. I love the tradition of passing the baker’s shop in the morning to buy newly baked bread. The Danes are really, really good at this and definitely a MUST DO when in Denmark.

However, the very best one, without any doubt, is  Juno the bakery– run by my fellow Swede, Emil Glaser. The deliciousness that is created at this bakery is out of this world and no words or superlatives are enough to describe this art of baking.

And YES, the line is sometimes (most of the times) long… but the goodies are well worth waiting for! Just saying…

Outside Copenhagen

If you have a car while here, then I highly recommend a visit to either of these two places – as they both offer gourmet food on a very high level, as well as accommodation in beautiful surroundings. Lots of ambience and well worth visit.

Hotel Frederiksminde is a beautiful place, located right by the sea about 90 km south of Copenhagen in the old town of Præstø.
The food and service is excellent and rooms all different and beautiful! you can read a lot more about Frederiksminde here !

I love the breakfast at Frederiksminde!

Dragsholm is a historical castle, located about 90 km west of Copenhagen on the countryside. Beautifully renovated and offers wonderful food and great service! This place was awarded a Michelin star a few years back and they really, really deserve their star!

Food is amazing and service outstanding – every time!

The beautiful Dragsholm castle