An Armchair Expert’s Take on Copenhagen

Two weeks back, I went to Copenhagen. It’s not the top beauty in Europe (places like Prague, Vienna, Nurnberg, and Rome are up there), but after four days, I think it’s one of the best spots to live in Europe, even if the weather isn’t great. Here’s why.

Bikes Everywhere

Before I went, I read Copenhagenize: The Definitive Guide to Global Bicycle Urbanism by Mikael Colville-Andersen. The book didn’t oversell the city. Copenhagen is amazing for biking—better than any place I’ve seen. In Poland, we’re far from this, but it looks like even Germans, Spaniards, and others could be jealous of Copenhagen’s bike game. I could totally see myself riding around, leaving my bike by my cool, simple apartment.

The book said Danes don’t care how their bikes look because of theft, but that’s not true. Most bikes looked pretty good.

Not Too Tall

I loved how the city doesn’t have super tall buildings. Most are just 4-5 stories, so you can always see the sky and don’t feel boxed in. Being there felt way different than just reading about it.

The city is quiet because of all the bikes and not many trams in the center. When my fiancée and I got to Nørreport Station early on a Saturday, it was super quiet—really nice.

Our guide quoted Winston Churchill:

We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.

Winston Churchill

That felt right there.

Like a Movie

I took some photos and felt like I was in one of those cool Scandinavian movies I watch on Netflix.

Danes Got It Right

From what I saw and heard, Danes are happy with their setup. They pay a lot in taxes, but they get a lot back, like free school and healthcare. They seem okay with that. I think I would be too.

Their stuff looks good and works well, from what I can tell. This might help explain why they’re usually happy, even if it’s a place with a lot of rain and cold.

Places to Check Out

• Assistens Cemetery: It’s where Hans Christian Andersen and Søren Kierkegaard (and several well-known Danes) are buried, but it’s also a nice park.
• King’s Garden and Rosenborg Castle – This place is like stepping back into the Renaissance. It’s a palace with really nice gardens around it. Great for a relaxed walk.
• The David Collection – Museum with a lot of modern European art. But the real highlight is the two floors full of Islamic art. Definitely worth checking out.
• Kastellet – It’s an old fortress shaped like a star from the 17th century. It’s got walls you can walk on and a museum inside. Plus, it’s really close to the Little Mermaid statue.
• Amalienborg and Frederik’s Church – The church here has the biggest dome in Scandinavia and looks pretty impressive. Next to it, there is a fancy palace complex. They do a parade on Sundays that’s pretty cool to see if you’re around.
• The Black Diamond – This is the Royal Danish Library’s modern building. It’s a big deal for modern architecture in the city.
• Christianshavn – This area has a lot of history, and I recommend taking a free walking tour to learn all about it. Definitely a must-visit.
• Arhoj Studio – If you’re into Danish design or ceramics, this place is amazing. I loved everything there.

Food and Coffee

• Le Fontaine: Cool place, though crowdy on Sunday evenings.
• Another Pizza: Good New-York style pizza, feels like straight out of an American movie.
• Wullf & Konstali: Busy at breakfast but good food.
• Bistro Verde: Simple vegan stuff. I liked the plant-based Danish meatballs and Farmer’s Stew.
• Original Coffee: Good coffee, great cinnamon roll.
• Studio x kitchen: Cool place, the spicy folders eggs with nduja butter were a hit.

Four days there and I’m the biggest fan.

@tkxczyk

#copenhagen #arhoj #anotherpizza #studioxkitchen #studioxkitchencopenhagen #bistroverde

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