4
days
Copenhagen
Iconic Danish design, inventive culinary experiences and endless biking
Iconic Danish design, inventive culinary experiences and endless biking
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Stay
A boutique hotel tucked away on a small side street amid shops, bars and cafes. An informal Instagram poll yielded a resounding and unanimous response that this was the obvious lodging choice when visiting CPH.
The hotel's emphasis on small, localized and personalized touches is its hallmark, but truth be told you'd have to be a real connoisseur of the fine details to see beyond the simplicity of its rooms. Its most redeeming quality is its location -- a desirable center-of-it-all address that makes exploring in any which direction viable.
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Stay because the rooms are clean, the location is perfect and the rates (can be) reasonable, but don't splurge on a superior double room.
Explore
If you selfishly do one thing in CPH then make it a priority to trek 45 minutes outside the city (by train) to visit this unbelievable museum on the Niva Buget bay. Not only is the building's architecture a work of art, but its scenic views overlooking Sweden are breathtaking. Spend the morning strolling its dizzying maze of galleries and the afternoon sunning (or picnicking) on its perfectly manicured lawn.
See if you can find the hidden playground slide in its sculpture garden and take a ride. We were lucky enough to watch an elderly couple joyfully take turns sliding down and film one another. Its gift shop is said to be among the museum world's best curated so give yourself time to shop.
Papirøen
Oddly this food truck/street food vendors/beer garden didn't top many people's list of must see destination while in CPH, but it was a fun stop on a day's journey! Situated inside what appears to be a converted pier on the water, a consortium of food trucks and street vendors infuse international flair and inventive cuisines into a no-fuss atmosphere of picnic tables, beer and bumping music. After biking through the Christianhave neighborhood, grabbing a seat along the canal overlooking the architecturally beautiful Copenhagen Ballet is a slice of Danish heaven.
Design Shops
Even if you don't appreciate good design, CPH will change your mind. It's worth spending time popping in and out of a few of these shops along the way.
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HAY House​​
Everyone's first stop in CPH and the ubiquitous products are sold in many of the other stores listed below. Its three story shop is worth a visit if only for its incredible vantage point of the shopping district (see image right). ​
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Illum Bolighus
If Barney's New York had a home store, this would be it. You can spend hours (like we did) browsing every square inch of the shops-in-shop of the best in Danish design. This is a great one-stop shop if you lack the patience to explore each of these stores one by one. ​
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Gubi
High end Danish design that's more aspirational than attainable. This is for the true design junkies with a thirst for that which America cannot knockoff.​
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Normann Copenhagen
​While they sell Normann Copenhagen products at Illum, the flagship store is a treasure trove of a concept store that's more museum and Insta-candy than actual shop. Worth visiting more for its neighborhood than actual shopping.
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Stillenben
Small, special and edited. Quaint selection of ceramics, jewelry, posters and books.
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Dora
A true neighborhood gem with curious vintage finds and curated selection of housewares if you want something that isn't so starkly Danish modern.
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For our next trip we'd like to visit:
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Black: known for its ceramics
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Oliver Gustav: purveyor of moody, Danish modern design
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The Apartment: immersive shopping experience designed for the senses
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Eat
Breakfast
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Torvehallerne market
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Atelier September for avocado toast
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Far's dreng (get the waffles)
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Granola
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Coffee
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Coffee Collective
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Kompa'9
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Riccos Kaffebar
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Lunch
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Gasoline Grill (voted top 10 burgers in the WORLD and was shamefully one of our favorite meals);
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Flottenheimer had a great open-face sandwich (which is what DK is known for);
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Union Kitchen is great for brunch and full of locals
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Dinner
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Radio
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108 (which is a good alternative while NOMA is closed)
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Geist
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Drinks
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Ruby
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Apollo Bar
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Lidkoeb
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