In August of 2018, at a particularly transitional time in my life, my family and I embarked on a long-planned trip to visit extended family in Denmark.
The trip was around a week long and packed with visits to the second-oldest operating amusement park in the world, a church tower four-hundred steps high, impressive castles, and numerous other excursions scattered throughout Copenhagen, Hillerod, and Roskilde.
Before arriving in Denmark, we had a quick layover in Iceland following a not-so-quick flight delay due to weather.
I considered it my first time visiting Iceland and acted as such by treating myself to some local Skyr and smoked salmon. Somehow, I fell in love with Iceland even without leaving the airport. After some breakfast (and lunch), browsing through Reindeer fur that was on sale, and buying Jenn an Icelandic rune… we were on our way!
Copenhagen
Torvehallerne (The Glass Market)
Torvehallerne was one of my favorite parts of visiting Denmark- hilarious, given it’s purely a food market. That being said, it’s a huge market, with tons of different cuisines to choose from. I personally recommend the danish meatballs and the duck confit sandwich.
Nyhavn (Little Amsterdam)
Nyhavn is a beautiful town made up of sweet, brightly colored town homes that sit canal-side. This was another memorable experience for me, based on my obsession with Amsterdam that arose after I read ‘The Fault in Our Stars” in high school and fell in love with the picturesque image of small cafes, restaurants and homes that sit along a canal- just as Nyhavn does. I recommend hopping on a boat and taking a ride in the canal so you can get an up-close view of the sights from the water.
Tivoli Gardens
Built all the way back in 1843, Tivoli Gardens is not only a fun and magical place, but also the second-oldest running amusement park in the World. I recommend checking out the Demon thrill ride, grabbing a bite at the Tivoli food hall (whether you’re in the mood for ramen, tacos, or a burger), enjoying their joyous parade, and finishing off the day with a magical fireworks show.
Botanical Gardens
The botanical gardens were the perfect getaway from bustling streets of downtown Copenhagen. If you’re visiting in the right season, I recommend checking out the butterfly house!
Freetown Christiania
Free-spirited and beautiful Freetown is a commune in Copenhagen. Being there was like being transported straight to Wonderland, every surface brightly colored and psychedelic structures and murals spread throughout. To the public, it’s seen as a controversy since its establishment in 1971 as it houses the ‘green light district’, also known as Pusher street- a section of the commune where tons of different strains of pot are sold right there. Being that I was with my family I couldn’t exactly ‘reap all of the benefits’ that I could have while visiting Freetown Christiania, if you get what I mean. But I did take a stroll down Pusher street and promised myself that someday, I would be back to ‘reap the benefits’. If you do decide to visit Freetown (which I definitely recommend), be sure not to take pictures of Pusher Street- it’s illegal!
The Round Tower Observatory
I love a good observatory, and the Round Tower did not disappoint. The winding walk up to the top was easy, stunning views of orange rooftops could be seen for miles at the top, and standing over the glass floor was terrifying- but worth it!
Church of Our Savior
As soon as I heard of a tower that you could climb four-hundred steps steps to get to the top and that offered unparalleled views, I knew I had to do it. I visited the church with my dad, and after taking in the intricate details of the church interior itself, we headed up towards the tower. It was slightly more terrifying than I thought it’d be, since you could feel the tower swaying in the wind beneath you as you got higher- but the hilarious pictures and the thrill made it more than worth it!
Carlsberg Museum
My family has a slight, endearing obsession with anything having to do with the name ‘Jacobsen’ (since, you know, that’s our family name and all), so naturally we paid a visit to Carlsberg Museum, the founding place of J.C. Jacobsen’s brewery where Carlsberg beer was originally first brewed in 1847.
Cargo Bikes
An especially fun and unforgettable family outing involved my mom and I squeezing into a tiny square box and being biked around the streets of Copenhagen by my dad for a cargo bike tour. If this sounds fun to you (it certainly was for us), try looking on Airbnb and booking a session to ride cargo bikes the next time you’re in Copenhagen.
Stroget
If you’re into shopping, Stroget is the perfect place to you. Beautiful, bustling cobblestone streets lined with designer shops make Stroget the poster child for European shopping districts. If you’re not particularly into shopping (like me), you can instead opt to take in the picturesque scenery while sipping fresh coffee from one of the many cafes.
Christiansborg Palace
Eight hundred-year-old Christiansborg Palace houses the Danish parliament and is a great way to take a peek into the Danish government. Get a dose of history and education through works of fine art within its countless vast and beautiful halls.
Other Memorable Food Destinations
BOB
Restaurant Jacobsen
Mirabelle
Hillerod
Frederiksborg Castle
Frederiksborg Castle is a castle built by King Christian IV in the 17th century, and doubles as a sprawling museum that puts Danish history on display. We took a charming short boat ride to reach the castle, toured the attractive castle halls and chapel (which houses a huge organ that was a gift to Christian from his sister in 1610), and afterward explored the massive, beautifully manicured gardens outside the castle. Definitely don’t forget to check out the gardens, because they were my favorite part of the whole experience!
Roskilde
Viking Museum
If you decide to check out Roskilde, be sure to hit the Viking museum. The inside is interesting, but the real draw is the chance to row a real viking boat. It’s not an easy feat, but with the help of the instructor and some friends or family to help you row, it’s an unforgettable and interactive way to experience Viking history.
If you get hungry during your visit, pay a visit to Cafe Knarr and grab yourself a delicious and filling ham and cheese sandwich- I definitely enjoyed mine!
Roskilde Cathedral
Although I don’t consider myself to be religious, I was able to fully appreciate the beauty of Roskilde Cathedral, which serves as the burial church for Danish royalty- specifically the Monarchs.
