Blog Post

Recently, I spent 24 hours in Copenhagen. I am not often significantly disappointed by a destination, but Copenhagen managed to achieve that distinction. Firstly, it is a lot smaller than I expected. And truth be told, there is not a lot to see in the city. This is evidenced by the Trip Advisor list of things to do there.

To add to the negatives, it’s a very expensive city. A cheap hotel in the center will set you back more than $150 at least. I stayed in the Wakeup Copenhagen hotel which is very basic and still cost $154.

Main Attractions

1. Nyhavn

Nyhavn is the colorful waterfront built in the 17th century. It is a canal that runs from the city center to the harbor front. Nyhaven is definitely a tourist trap, with rows of restaurants. Virtually any article on tourism in Copenhagen has a photo like the one above. It’s pretty and the number one thing to do in Copenhagen, but I am not sure it warrants a trip to Denmark to see it.

2. Statue of the Little Mermaid

The bronze statue of the Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, stands at the entrance to the harbor on the Langelinie promenade. Carl Jacobsen of Carlsberg commissioned the statue, which has had a bit of rough life, including losing an arm! Here are some fun facts about the statue.

3. Design Museum

If you walk from Nyhavn to the Little Mermaid along the street called Bredgade, a relatively easy walk, you come to the Design Museum. Entrance is around KR110 and I stayed just under an hour. It showcases modern Scandinavian design but also has a hall that displays the influence of Japanese design.

4. Kastellet Barracks

Right near to the Little Mermaid is an area called Kastellet Barracks, one of the best-preserved fortresses in Northern Europe, constructed in the form of a pentagon.

The grounds are beautiful and include a well-preserved windmill.

Eating in Copenhagen

Of course, another fun thing to do in Copenhagen is to eat. Copenhagen is home to renowned chef René Redzepi. David Chang showcases his work on his delightful Netflix show, Ugly Delicious. If you love good food and haven’t watched this show, you should check it out. I had hoped to go to Noma, his Copenhagen restaurant, but it was closed (there are several months of the year when the restaurant is not open).

I stumbled upon a pleasant restaurant called Restaurant M, serving traditional Danish smorgasbord sandwiches with beer. It’s located on Kongensgade 56. I decided to sample one of the local food specialties, even though it would not be my first preference. I chose this dish of marinated herring. It was very pleasant, but if you are not into raw fish you may hesitate.

For more ideas on where to eat in Copenhagen, go here.

Transportation

Getting to the center of Copenhagen from the airport is easy on the metro on the M2 line. The cost in 2018 was DKr36. A taxi will cost you considerably more, and it isn’t that much more convenient.