Welcome to part two of my Copenhagen travel guide! This portion focuses on what to do while visiting this beautiful city, and where to stay. I divided this up by neighborhood, as I planned my own trip based on spending days in each neighborhood so that I got to fully explore the ins and outs of each one. Note that there are quite a few “big” tourist attractions (such as Tivoli, Christiania, etc) that are not included here, as I did not find them to be as worthwhile a use of my time as really exploring the local spots. I also reference quite a few of the places to eat and drink in the neighborhood guides below, and you can find full details on these eating and dining spots in part I of my Copenhagen travel guide.
Don’t forget to check out #caro_in_copenhagen for my photo diary of the trip!
Where to Stay
This lovely AirBnB in the heart of Vesterbro has small, simple rooms with lovely windows overlooking the neighborhood. It was clean, inexpensive, had a lovely hostess, and the location could not have been better. I felt completely comfortable staying here alone, and would go back again in a heartbeat.
Essentially, the Danish version of the Stuart Little house. The tiny coffee shop has a single room hotel situated right above it, on a quiet little street in Vesterbro. This is where I wanted to stay when I was initially thinking about my trip to Copenhagen. I don’t think you could find a place more charming than this.
What to Do
Vesterbro
Centrally located, yet far enough away from central Copenhagen to feel fully local, this was my homebase for my recent trip. The main street, Vesterbrogade, is the home to innumerable antique shops, restaurants, coffee spots, and design stores that makes strolling it an absolutel please. Some of my favorite were Rist for morning coffee, Thiemers Magasin bookshop, the Dansk Made for Rooms interior design shop, and Sanchez for tacos.
Norrebro
Norrebro quickly became my favorite neighborhood in the city of Copenhagen. Situated to the north west of the city center, it is home to parks, shops, wine bars, and restaurants that made my day there my favorite of the trip. You can spend hours wandering Jaegersborgade, a street filled with beautiful stores, restaurants, and coffee shops. Note that most of the shops open around 11am, so don’t go too early. Superkilen is a half-mile long urban park filled with colorful and eclectic design elements, and don’t miss strolling through Assistens Kirkegård, a beautiful old cemetary where Hans Christian Andersen is buried. Grab a latte at Coffee Collective, have a veggie-heavy lunch at Manfreds, and don’t forget to put your name in at Baest and have beers across the street at Brus while you wait. You can also check out Res Res, Arnold Busck Lab, and Won Hundred Container 01 while you nurse your beer and wait your amazing pizza.
City Center
While is are lots of beautiful things to see in city center, there are also some areas that are quite densely populated with tourists, and I tended to err on the side of the less touristy destinations. While heading from Vesterbro to city center, stroll by the Palads Teatret – you can’t miss this theater, it is painted in shades of brilliant pink and coral. Also, line up at 9:45am to get your ticket to see the Round Tower. This old astronomical tower is truly one of the most beautiful architectural feats I have ever seen. Step into the attached church afterwards, it is marvelous. Grab a coffee at Sonny or Atelier September and enjoy it in Orstedsparken, which is a beautiful park with a central lake, plentiful flowers, and lovely benches in the sun. If you love flowers, I’d also recommend checking out the nearby Botanical Gardens. Then head to Torvehallerne, which is an enormous marketplace that has both known vendors inside for myriad snacks, and an awesome outdoor farmers market. My two favorite design stores in the area are Stilleben No 22 and Hay House (don’t forget that both are closed on Sundays).
Refshaleoen
One of the most remote parts of Copenhagen, this neighborhood is part of a series of near-islands that live across the canal from the main city. Part of the beauty of visiting this neighborhood is getting there (and it’s a hike). Start by walking across the Inderhavnsbroen Bridge, which is fitted with pieces of colored plexiglass and looks completely different at different times of the day. Once you’re off the bridge, you’ll be in Copenhagen’s version of Smorgasburg – an area filled with little restaurant pop-ups in old shipping containers. An absolute must is stopping at the nearby The Corner by 108 for a glass of natural wine and a snack. Stroll past Noma to pay homage, then keep heading north through a cool world of industrial building and art spaces. Stop at Lille Bakery for a berry jam-filled Berliner, and then post up at La Banchina on the water for drinks and the sunset.
Caro's City 