Just Back From: Copenhagen Denmark
- Susan Blume,CTC,VTA
- Apr 28
- 6 min read
Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Copenhagen, and here are some highlights from my trip.
I flew nonstop from JFK to Copenhagen on Scandinavian Airlines, departing from Terminal One. This terminal is set to be remodeled soon, but currently, seating and dining options are quite limited. I recommend arriving early to secure a seat by the gate or consider paying for access to the Prime class private lounge. The cost is approximately $70 per person, but it offers very comfortable seating areas, a bar, and an inclusive buffet. The buffet provides soups, a make-your-own salad bar, charcuterie, hot dishes, and desserts. The lounge also features private bathrooms and showers. The nonstop flight from JFK on Scandinavian Airlines takes a little over seven hours and offers various service classes. Our aircraft was very clean, well-maintained, and had plenty of entertainment options. They partner with Delta Airlines, and I would be happy to fly with them again.
Our driver was waiting for us after passport control, and it took only about 20 minutes to reach our city center hotel—the Hotel Ibsen. The Hotel Ibsen is very clean and minimalist, featuring a Nordic design with clean, sharp lines, complemented by a warm and friendly staff. Our room wasn't ready when we arrived, so we stored our luggage and began exploring the city. We walked 2 to 3 blocks north of the hotel to the Nørrebro neighborhood, crossing a small bridge. Nørrebro is a funky, eclectic neighborhood where graffiti tours are hosted. As we made our way back to the hotel, we stumbled upon a floating café. The café has a floating greenhouse feel as the walls and roof are made of glass.They offer a takeout area for danishes and coffee as well as waiter service for a full breakfast and lunch. In the evening, the café turns into a disco with a retractable roof and a DJ.You can also rent swan and pedal boats from the café for an inexpensive adventure on the lake.
Once our room was ready, we freshened up and had a short walk to the farmers market Torvehallerne, which is also a wine and beer garden. At 4:30 PM, there were no seats available, hundreds of people. Everyone was out having a wonderful time and kick-starting the weekend. There are several small restaurants in the market as well as stalls for takeout.
Day 2 ~ Christiansborg Palace ~ Nyhavn ~ Amalienborg Palace
After a quick breakfast at a local bakery, we met up with our tour guide Julia for a private tour of Christiansborg Palace. The palace has a tremendous courtyard with horses, stables, and a small pasture. Currently, they have 22 horses, but in the past, the stable would have over 200 horses as well as carriages.
The tapestry room is an extremely large, chandelier-filled room and offers a brief history of Denmark displayed on colorful tapestries. The dining room, which seats 50 at one table, is now used as more of a butler's pantry as the queen prefers to be able to interact better with her guests in a much less formal setting. The elephant room is probably my favorite room in the palace. Julia explained the Order of the Blue Elephant. The order was created to honor chivalry, purity, and loyalty back in the 15th century. Only a few people who are not Danish were ever inducted into the order; Queen Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, and Dwight D. Eisenhower are among the most notable. The king had a very large ornate necklace created for the Order of the Blue Elephant, which features a white enameled elephant with a tower on its back. Below the ornate ceiling is a very bright, colorful rug designed by Queen Mary.
Upon leaving the palace, we took a short ten-minute walk to the Nyhavn area. Nyhavn is the famous harbor area with all the colorful townhouses. Legend says that townhouses were each painted a different color so drunk sailors could find their way back at night. Today it is a wonderful spot to shop, dine, and listen to music. The area is very safe and stays open late.
From here, we walked a few blocks to Amalienborg Palace, which has four separate buildings and a tremendous courtyard; the residence of the Danish royal family. We were not able to visit inside the palace as her flag was up, which signifies that the Queen was in residence. We did see a changing of the guard in the courtyard, and it is also a great spot to see the opera house across the canal. The top of the opera house is used by brave locals for diving into the inner harbor.
Day 3- Kronborg ~ Hamlet's Castle
On our third day in Denmark, we planned a little adventure to Northern Denmark to visit Kronborg, a Renaissance castle which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, also known as Hamlet's Castle. One of the largest train stations in Copenhagen is just a short walk from our hotel, so we took the train to Helsingør. The double-decker train with very large picture windows and even dining tables was very clean and on time. The train ride takes about 50 minutes and makes several stops in the countryside of Denmark. Beautiful green fields and pastures give way to rugged sand and rock, opening up to the Danish seaside. You arrive at one of the most ornate train stations I have ever seen, with gilded carved wooden ceilings and crystal chandeliers, but since it's a working train station, you do have a 7-Eleven which adds functionality and contrast. As soon as we stepped out of the train station, I received a text message from my cell phone provider that said welcome to Sweden. You are facing the ferry and ships that can take you to Sweden. It is approximately 20 minutes.
If you walk along the concrete path, it takes you past the harbor and to Kronborg. At one time, Kronborg was considered to be the most impenetrable fortress in the world. Once on the grounds of the castle, you have the option of walking two different paths - one takes you directly to the castle and the other takes you around the perimeter. We chose the long path which starts with barracks for the troops, which were still in use until 1991, past the gunpowder house with the cannon and cannon carriages along the seaside for a stunning view of Sweden. The castle is the setting for Shakespeare's play Hamlet, and it is believed that Shakespeare's performing troupe performed many times at the castle. The castle itself is an amazing work of art but very clearly lives up to its name as a fortress. It was the perfect location for the king to control the entrance to Øresund and the Baltic Sea. The taxes collected financed the castle and the historic town of Elsinore. Everywhere you look, you can see the displays of wealth from copper roofs on the towers to stone carved with initials F for Frederick and S for his queen Sophie, who was fifteen years old when she became queen of Denmark. They, for the time, were a unique royal couple in that they really loved each other and had seven children.
After visiting Kronborg Castle, we walked a few blocks north into the town of Elsinore. The town feels like you are walking into a storybook. Centuries-old colorful timbered homes set on winding cobblestone streets open to a slightly larger main street with family-owned shops and restaurants.
It's a short walk back to the train to Copenhagen from here.
Day 4 - Rosenborg Castle
This morning we ventured to Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen. The castle is in the heart of the city but has beautiful gardens which are open to the public. It also has a moat with fish and ducks. Lots of little children were having fun feeding them. Rosenborg is a very ornate castle, but the first thing we noticed before entering the castle was the Danish armed military personnel. They are here because this castle is home to the crown jewels and many other treasures. The castle is very dimly lit so as not to damage some of the original works of art, but the not-to-be-missed treasures are in the treasury and basement. The amber and ivory room, as well as the weapons rooms, are down below the castle. These rooms were my favorite of the castle, and please make sure you stop in to see all the unusual pieces like the elephant armor.
In the afternoon, we walked over to the pedestrian shopping zone, which is lined with cobblestone streets, tiny but great restaurants, and modern shops like Flying Tiger housed in
medieval buildings. Great spot to grab lunch, shop, and explore.
As our time in Copenhagen came to an end, I was already planning my next visit!
In my next blog, I will spill the tea about food and nightlife in Copenhagen.
Please click the link below to subscribe to my blog:
Comments