Back in June, CNN reported that Vienna, Austria had been toppled as the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)’s most livable city in the world three years running. Instead, the title had gone to *drumrolll please*...Copenhagen, Denmark!
Beating out the 173 ranked cities, Copenhagen took the top spot after receiving “perfect” scores for stability, education and infrastructure. (Nowhere in the United States placed in the top 10, FWIW.)
Though you’ve definitely heard of Copenhagen, it still hasn’t become a top destination on many tourists’ list; according to Euromonitor, it’s not even one of the top 10 most visited cities, leaving those spots to cities like Barcelona, Tokyo, New York and Amsterdam. But, based on this intel, we’d argue it’s worth a visit! Before you book that ticket, read on to get to know the city a little bit and plan for what’s promised to be a peaceful trip.
Copenhagen’s bike culture rivals that of Amsterdam.
And as someone who did a bike tour in Amsterdam, you don’t want to mess with bike culture! The U.S. is decidedly a car country, with those who choose to get around on bicycles deemed minor annoyances, at best. But in Copenhagen, biking is a primary form of transportation, not a fun pastime. For example, the Lille Langebro, a bridge dedicated to bikes, sees over 40,000 cyclists cross it every single day. So, if you’re planning on strapping on a helmet and going for a ride, be prepared to move with purpose and use your hand signals!
Believe it or not, Denmark is considered Scandinavia.
In theory, I knew this about world geography, but for some reason when I think “Scandivania,” I only think of Norway, Sweden and Finland. But it’s included in there! In fact, it only takes less than an hour to drive from Copenhagen to Malmö, Sweden — good for a day trip! That all said, it might be wise to think about when you plan to visit Copenhagen. Scandinavia can have long, dark, rainy winters, so summer — when the sun stays up from 4:30am to 10:00pm — might be your best bet.
The Danes are chill, but value politeness.
You know how the French get a bad rap about their attitudes toward Americans? You won’t find that in Copenhagen – the Danes aren’t a stuffy people, and most locals are happy to welcome in tourists…so long as said tourists respect their unspoken rules and culture. For one, dining etiquette is key (think: no elbows on the table), and be sure to know how to “cheers” correctly (the word is “Skål!”). That, and punctuality is very important to these folks. Don’t expect a 15-minute grace period for your dinner reservations, here.
Copenhagen is continuously voted a very, very safe city.
So, as long as you’re practicing what I like to call common-sense caution, you can rest easy knowing you’re in good hands in Denmark. Plus, Danes go through grade-school learning English, so it’s a safe bet that you’ll be able to get around with just a few key Danish phrases.
Though it’s a small city, there’s tons to see.
Two of the most obvious tourist sights – Nyhavn, the colorful, waterfront district that adorns the front cover of every Copenhagen guidebook, and the Little Mermaid statue – can get incredibly crowded and underwhelming. So, our advice? Combine sight-seeing of the two on a canal cruise! Skip the hordes by viewing from the comfort of your boat, and enjoy an afternoon on the water that isn’t spent elbow-to-elbow with other tourists.
Then, hit up Tivoli Gardens, one of the world’s oldest amusement parks that actually inspired Walt Disney to open his famous theme parks. You’ll find wooden roller coasters and other vintage rides that will provide a healthy dose of nostalgia.
And don’t miss the many castles of Copenhagen. First, Rosenborg, a historical palace built in the early 17th century for King Christian IV. Next, Christiansborg, the political center of Denmark as home to Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Supreme Court. And of course, Amalienborg, the official residence of the Danish royal family, which still entertains a changing of the Queen’s Guard on a daily basis.
Make plenty of time for food.
On your foodie checklist should be:
- Smørrebrød: The famous Danish open-faced sandwich, usually made of a thick slab of rye bread typically topped with herring and fresh garnishes. You have to try it at least once.
- A Michelin star restaurant. Which shouldn’t be hard to find — there are over 20 in the city!
- Breweries: The most famous is Carlsberg, where you can do a full tasting tour, but Copenhagen is home to tons of microbreweries to explore, as well.
- Reffen, the big street food market. Spend some time browsing the stalls and trying all there is to eat as part of Danish cuisine.
