Copenhagen or København in Danish is the capital city of Denmark and easily made its way to top my list of favorite cities! The city has the perfect balance of being a tourist destination but still having that locals laid-back feel to it. It is like a city full packed of museums, architectural eye-candy, castles, with the addition of bikes cruising the city here and there.
I knew that there are a bunch of stuff I wanted to do in this city. So, with the lists of places to visit and things to do, it was the right move for me to purchase the Copenhagen Card. The card includes free admission to most of the tourist attractions and free public transportation. Even if you are not visiting lots of museums, you will most likely use the public transportation.
Hygge: a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture). I found Hygge describe Copenhagen just right!
First Day in a Flash
Going from Stockholm to Copenhagen by flight felt like a breeze. It’s actually the fastest and most efficient check-in process I ever been, well I didn’t even go through check-in. No check-in counter, no ID check, I passed the security check and straight to the boarding waiting area. When it’s boarding time, the staff just scan my ticket from my phone and then handed a receipt with my flight details and seat number. How come boarding a flight has never been this smooth?? #mindblown
The first thing I did once arrive was to exchange the e-voucher for the real card. There are couples of places you could exchange the card, one in the airport Terminal 3. The staff just handed the card, explain a bit whats included and the rest is up to you. All I needed to do just write when I start using the card including the date and the time.
Going from Airport – City
There are multiple ways to reach the city from the airport, the easiest are using train or metro. The different was the train was located downstairs from the arrival terminal 3 and for the metro, you have to go upstairs.
I wanted to go with the train at first, so I jumped right in and wait inside the train. But after 30mins waiting, there was an announcement in Danish which most of us, the tourist, didn’t understand. So, we asked some locals and they said there was some issue with the train and it wasn’t going to operate. Such a waste of time! At the end, I use the metro which was as fast and efficient. Good thing I bought the Copenhagen card because both train and metro tickets are included!
Airbnb, Rain, Ramen, and Tivoli
If you don’t know, this was my first time ever using Airbnb! My Airbnb was located not too far from Nørreport Metro Station. The host, Anna, provide clear instruction on how to reach the place, which bus I need to take and whom shall I meet in the place. She wasn’t home during my entire stay btw. Will talk about my Airbnb experience on the upcoming post. 😉
My first night in Copenhagen wasn’t the eventful tbh. I went out from the Airbnb and by the time I reach the city center it was already dark outside and it started to rain. So, I opted for a ramen for dinner because when it was cold and raining outside, eating something hot with a soup is always preferable.
Then I only able to spend couples of hours in Tivoli because of the rain. It almost like a brisk walk around the park. And let me tell you all the first timer, just like me, visiting Tivoli 1 time is not enough! You can get away with it but I recommend spending more than half a day here. There are too many things to see, so many details. I was super grateful that I bought the Copenhagen card because I immediately put Tivoli in my schedule for the next day!
Second Day: Tourist Mode, on!
What is Copenhagen without its beautiful castles, canals, and cobblestones streets? It’s stunning and mostly accessible by public transportation. In fact, they have one of the best public transportation I have ever see. Also, bike culture is a massive thing in this city but since it was Autumn which I barely survived just being outdoor, let alone being slap by the wind when biking, hence why I said pass to the bike option. Maybe next time, maybe next time.
Hillsong Copenhagen @ Bremen Teater
But since it was Sunday, first thing first, I was going for a Sunday service. If you have read our others travel journal, you might realize that we usually spare some time to have a Sunday service when we were traveling. We had one in Ipoh and in Red Church, Malaka which is also the main tourist attraction there. I was going to Hillsong Church Copenhagen in Bremen Teater.
Good thing that Bremen Teater is also in the center hence I wasn’t backtracking or anything. If you also planning to come here, stop at the Vesterport St. if you are using a Metro and then the theater is just a block away from there. It is a real functional theater, so just search for Bremen Teater on your google maps.
Strøget
The first touristy area that I went to was Strøget. It is a pedestrian area or essentially a really long shopping street that stretches for 1.1km. What makes it special is the street itself and the buildings around it. It claimed to be the oldest shopping street in the world which I believe wasn’t really true. But I get why people would assume that, with rows of old-style buildings on both side and fountain in the middle, it did feel like walking back in time.
It can get really crowded for most of the time, so safety precautions is always a must. Walking here is a true definition of windows shopping for me. There is also a fountain called The Stork Fountain in the middle plaza or also known as Højbro Plads. This fountain is really famous, one because it was made for celebrating King Frederik VIII and Queen Louise’s silver wedding in 1894, and also because it the infamous meeting point for everyone in Strøget.
When I was there, here in Højbro Plads which also means “High Bridge Square”, there was a pop-up market selling a bunch of snacks and food which I grabbed my brunch from in a true traveler ways of eating while standing on the street food stall.
Christiansborg Palace “The Royal Reception”
Just a walk away from the Strøget (exit from the Højbro Plads where the Statue located) is the famous Christiansborg Palace. Some part of this place is used by the Royal Family and some part by the Danish Parliament. For visitors, this place is separated into different sections, the Royal Reception Room, the Royal Kitchen, the Royal Stables, and The Ruins. Each required an admission ticket or they also have a combined ticket.
My Copenhagen card included the Royal Reception so there I went. Before going inside, they provided a locker area and a shower cap for your shoes, at least that what I think they looked like. It’s mandatory to use this on your shoes while going around inside.
The Royal Reception is huge! There are multiples rooms inside, so it might take a while to circle to the entire area. I recommended spare 1 to 2 hours to explore this place. They did, however, have a clear sign of places that you can’t get inside, so if you wish to wander and get lost inside a palace then you won’t be able to do it here.
Christiansborg Palace “The Tower”
The tower part of the palace is actually free of charge but there will be a queue to go to “The View” since there is limited space on the top. The top deck floor is called The View. There is a lift to go up, but before that, you need to pass a security check. This tower is also the highest tower in Copenhagen with the height of 106 meters.
After riding the lift, just before the stairs to go to the very top floor, I was surprised that the whole floor looked like a storage room, complete with the pigeon’s sounds! But it turned out to be an art installation that showcases how time stands still on the Tower because back in the day this tower was, in fact, a box room which fills with city’s pigeons. For a second, I was kinda scared to have my head popped by one of that furry friend. 😅
I spent less than 15mins on the top floor as nothing much to do. Yes, you can see the whole city from the top which is great but I might say pretty basic. The view might be better if we have the sun but it was just clouded which cast gloomy feels of the entire city. But again, it is the highest tower in the whole city and it’s free anyway so nothing to lose.
(The Rest of ) Christiansborg Palace
I immediately found myself in the inner-courtyard after coming from the Tower. Going straight from the inner-courtyard was the Riding Grounds surrounded by the Royal Stables. Unfortunately, I haven’t got time to visit the Royal Stables, not that I am into horses anyway. I imagine in summer time this is will look pretty but at that time it looked somehow “grim” looking.
Going straight (more like around the Riding Grounds), it’s The Marble Bridge which connects the Christiansborg Riding Ground Complex to Ny Vestergade street. As the name suggests, the top part of the bridge is covered with marble which makes a stunning view that suit the palace.
The National Museum
My next destination was located in the middle of Ny Vestergade street, so just a straight walk from the Marble Bridge, The National Museum of Denmark. It has everything you want to know about Danish history, starting back from the Ice Age down to the Viking era.
It might not look that big from the outside but the inside was massive, so it might take more than 2 hours if you really really want to explore this place deeply. I only able to explore not even half of the place which I already spent almost 1 hours. I just let myself get lost around the place. But then it was closing down so I can’t stay long if I wanted to.
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
a.k.a the best museum/art exhibition I have ever been in my entire life! If you are not a fan of any type of museum, I will still suggest you visit this one. It blew my mind how beautiful they arrange the whole things. Even if you still not convinced enough, they have this indoor garden that looked come straight from paradise, with all the bench where people just lounging around. It is out of this world!
The name might sounds familiar because this place actually began from Carl Jacobsen’s, which was the son of the Carlsberg Breweries’ founder, personal collection. The antique sculpture is a major part of the museum, but they also have other antiques, like paintings and even mummy!
One thing that I love about this place is how they have different colored walls in every section. It is like some tacky, boring colors. Each room was painted in solid, mostly deep, rich color. Deep olive, navy blue, yellow (how can they make yellow that looked extremely elegant?). For a person who loves something that aesthetically pleasing, I was beyond happy to explore this place.
Then, of course, the sculpture which was stunning. It helped how they placed every single one of them, it didn’t look too overwhelmingly or overcrowded in one place. Also, the indoor garden. OH, MY DAYS! I wouldn’t mind coming here just to chill around this area with my significant one, but I was coming alone so that option is a pass for me. But hey, did I just give you an dating idea? *wink
Tivoli Gardens
I think this was one of my best days because I went from the best museum to the best theme park I ever been to. I fricking love Tivoli Gardens! It wasn’t like your usual amusement park, it is the second oldest amusement park in the whole world that opened on 15 August 1843.
AND it was Halloween! Which adds the extra oomph to the place. The place is old and charming in its own way, but add pumpkins and Halloween decoration, then you have this amazing place that you won’t regret coming even if you are an adult. (Btw, who get excited for the upcoming Halloween already?)
To be honest, I didn’t even ride anything, not a single ride and I went here 2 nights in a row! I think just walking around in a park is an amusing activity on its own as there are so many detailed things to see. The feels aren’t like let’s say, Disneyland or Universal Studio, I felt like I was coming to pleased my senses not just for having fun.
That’s lads, is my the end of my second day in Copenhagen. The whole city took my breath from the first day and the second day I am pretty sure I lost my heart to this “Hygge” city. I am glad I did spend more days in here which means another travel journal is coming soon! Until then, please do check out social media buttons below, see ya’!
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