Bikes whistling past against a backdrop of colourful buildings, the glitter of the water around every corner, a city that feels both calm and cool. Copenhagen has been on my list for a long time and it didn’t disappoint. Here’s how to spend a weekend in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen is a book lovers dream with so many bookshops and libraries to explore. Hans Christian Anderson spent most of his life in Copenhagen, so there are plenty of nods to his life and work too. The Royal Library, also known as the Black Diamond library, is situated right on the water and has stunning views through from it’s gantry inside.
If the weather isn’t on your side, the Botanical Garden is a great place to hide out. The Palm House and Butterfly House offer a warm oasis of tropical plants, with views across the gardens and city spires in the distance from the top of the spiral staircases.
I was mid-marathon taper when we visited so a run a was essential and is always a great way to cover more distance when you’re exploring somewhere new. Running around the popular inner lakes route offered great views of the city but is worth visiting whether you’re pounding the pavement or not.
Round off your trip with a post-dinner visit to Tivioli Gardens, one of the oldest theme parks in the world, first opened in 1843. Walt Disney’s inspiration for Disneyland, it had just reopened for the spring the weekend we were there. I’m not exactly a rollercoaster head but even if you’re not I recommend visiting, especially at night when the park is all lit up and feels magical. There are amusement arcades with quirky games, colourful light displays as well as the rides to enjoy.
Visiting Copenhagen in late March was ideal as, although it was still cold, it was warm enough to spend a lot of time outside. I got the sense that that’s the best way to enjoy the city. I’d love to return in summer when the waterside platforms are open to spend time soaking up the sun and swimming.
Eat & drink
- The best window-spot brunch at Ø12
- Delicious Peruvian food at Llama
- Hart, BUKA and Rug Bakery for pastries
- Curfew for cocktails
Things to do
- Tivioli Gardens
- CopenHot join their social sauna sessions for a more affordable sauna experience
- Botanical Garden
- Studio Arhoj Study for trinket shopping and polaroid snaps
- Take a free walking tour to see the sights
