I recently spent a weekend in Copenhagen (Denmark), and after returning to Scotland it’s not hard to understand why Danes are the happiest nation on earth! With so much to see and so much to do, Copenhagen really is the perfect city for a holiday, or even a long weekend.
Here are my top 5 reasons to visit Copenhagen!
Hygge
Drinking a cold beer with friends down by the Nyhavn waterfront is hygge, and sitting by the fire in winter drinking mulled wine is definitely hygge. Simply having a coffee with friends is hygge! Hygge (pronounced hue-gah) is the notion of turning ordinary things into extraordinary things; it’s a Danish concept that evokes creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere whilst relaxing with warm and welcoming family and loved ones. On cold winter nights, it is not uncommon for Copenhagen streets to be filled with open fires, nor is it uncommon for bars to provide blankets to customers who chose to sit by the fire with a drink- in Denmark, enjoyment is a priority, so it is not hard to understand why Danes are the happiest nation on earth!
The Food
Nordic cooking is amongst the most progressive in the world, and Copenhagen caters for all tastes and all budgets! Despite being known as of the most expensive destinations in Europe, it is not difficult to find cheap and tasty food! With Italian, Asian and traditional Danish restaurants located on every street, as well as a number of Irish and Scottish pubs, finding somewhere to eat is not a difficult task (I would recommend Café Oscar for dinner, which is a short walk from the famous Little Mermaid statue, and the Laundromat Café is perfect for lunch). Definitely take a visit to Torvehallerne- there are over 60 stalls selling everything from fresh meat to gourmet chocolate and coffee, and obviously Danish pastries!
Transport
One of the most impressive things about Copenhagen is the availability of public transport! Busses, Trains and Metro are very frequent and very cheap, and can virtually take you to anywhere in the city (you can even get a train to Sweden!). There is also an App available which will highlight the best route for your journey, including which method of transport to take as well as providing you with a live journey tracker to ensure you get on and off at the right stops. However, one of the best things about Copenhagen is the size of it-as it is quite a small city the easiest way to travel is by foot. The majority of sights are within walking distance from the town centre, and it is relatively easy to navigate your way. If you don’t fancy walking why not hire a bike? Bike hire is relatively cheap, and is the way in which most Danes travel; nine out of ten Danes own a bike and Copenhagen has a total of 454km of bike lanes-there is even a bike highway!
Sight-Seeing
There is so much to do within Copenhagen, and with public transport readily available (as well as the majority of landmarks being within walking distance), it really is the perfect city to explore! At Langelinje Pier you will find the Little Mermaid statue, arguably Copenhagen’s most famous tourist attraction. A trip up the Round Tower is a must, and is probably the best view of Copenhagen you will get (Admission price is 25DDK, which is roughly £2.50, and it is definitely worth it!). If you have a couple of hours to spare, a trip to Copenhagen Zoo would also be recommended, as would a day at Tivoli Gardens. Or if you fancy a trip outside the city, Legoland is roughly a 3 hour drive away from Copenhagen Central (It is best to check when parks such as Tivoli World and Legoland are open before you visit the city- a number of parks such as these are only open in the warmer months and at Christmas time)
English
One of the most intimidating things about visiting Denmark is the language-it sounds nothing like English, French, Spanish, Italian or any of the most widely spoken languages. However, surprisingly this is not an issue. 86% of Danes speak English-they are the world’s best non-native English speakers and are more than happy to converse with tourists in English. English menus are displayed in almost all restaurant windows and it’s very easy to communicate with the Danish-most Danes speak better English than we do! The language barrier is not an issue, but rather is virtually non-existent due to the impressive level of English spoken by the majority of the country.
Make sure to follow HC Strath on Instagram @hercampusstrath and on Twitter @HerCampusStrath and like our Facebook page for daily updates!