Copenhagen, Denmark
The cheapest way to fly to Norway was to take a long layover in Copenhagen. Originally I was a little disappointed I wouldn’t get to Norway as quickly, but there is always a silver lining--I was going to Copenhagen and would have enough time within my 12 hour layover to do several of the things I wanted to do!
I thought at most I would be able to do a couple of the things on my list, but I was pleasantly surprised when I realized how small the city’s size is. I was able to do almost everything on my list! Here are the 5 things I did:
1. Freetown Christiania: This “hippie" town right in the heart of Copenhagen is extremely unique! Christiania is technically an independent state and doesn’t follow the laws of Denmark.
The moment you walk under the wooden arch that says "Christiania", you feel as though you’ve been instantly transported -- to me, this is what I pictured Woodstock in the seventies was like!
There were couches on the lawns, wicker furniture circled around on the sidewalks and colorful murals covering nearly every wall. In this community, there’s virtually no crime and it’s known for just being a good vibe community - with open drug trade. I thought it was really cool reading their community bulletin board and reading about the events that they participate in. As I was walking around, I came across a sand castle building competition! There are around 1,000 residents that live here and I can just tell that every one of them has got to be pretttttyyy chill. On the wooden sign as you leave, it says “You are Now Entering the EU” ...So wild!
2. Nyhavn: I arrived at Nyhavn right dawn, so I got to experience this neighborhood slowly come to life—before the swarm of tourists inevitably flooded the streets.
I was walking along the waterfront and seeing the colorful rows of buildings – I thought to myself “Now THIS is Copenhagen!” Restaurants, bars and stores were dotted all along the waterfront. I walked up and down the canal admiring the charming restaurants and their unique storefronts. This is one of the most relaxing and introspective mornings I have had in a while.
3. The Corner Coffee & Wine Bar: A cozy hangout spot a short 10-minute walk from Nyhavn. It was the perfect place to warm up and have breakfast before I continued to venture around the city. A classic Danish breakfast is rye bread and cheese, which I enjoyed…and of course I had to add the greatest wakeup drink, coffee.
4. Trivoli Gardens: One of the oldest amusement parks in the world! Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to enter, but I spotted the rollercoasters from 3 blocks away. Trivoli Gardens was recommended to me by numerous people and I really wish I had more time. I know I could’ve spent my entire day here!
5. Stroget: The ultimate shopping street! This long strip of shops has everything from high-end designer brands to my favorites: H&M and Zara. They had a Zara Home, (which we don’t have back in Nova) and it was filled with tons of trendy furniture and decorations. I was loving everything I was looking at, but instantly getting sad knowing I couldn't take it with me! I spent some time exploring the small Danish boutiques and just soaking in all the pretty sights around the city. There is certainly no shortage of cute side streets and pretty canals!
Copenhagen is a great place to have a layover and you can definitely see so much of the city in a short period of time. Traveling from the airport into the city is quick and easy with the train--and relatively inexpensive! I definitely want to go back for longer and really immerse myself in Danish culture!