Laura-Jane Adventures

A reminder to enjoy time with those you love and take pleasure in the simplicity of life

On my travel bucket list this year was Copenhagen. It appears to be a very popular and in destination right now. Every other person on my Instagram feed has visited the city this year and I jumped on the bandwagon. Admittedly it is pricey and I benefited from being able to enjoy the city with the financial help of my parents. Despite it being expensive, I think it is easy to see why it is one of the happiest cities in the world.

This trip came at a time where a huge change is about to happen for my family – my little sister is moving to Australia in November. People ask me if it is a ‘permanent’ move and I have tended to avoid the question or respond with ‘well I don’t think anything is permanent’. I know this shows my fear coming out at how far away she is going to be. Regardless, I am so proud and excited for her to experience this new chapter of life. It will teach her a lot about herself and what she is capable of.

Now before I get anymore soppy and emotional (and begin crying in a coffee shop) – let’s delve into what you should consider doing in Copenhagen. I am going to share my 3 must dos, suggest some spots to check out for food and drink, and then share a running route to explore the city.

Three Must Dos in Copenhagen

• Tivoli Gardens: If you want to find your inner child again then a visit to Tivoli Gardens is one thing you have to do. It is a stunning amusement park in the middle of the city and is the third-oldest operating one in the world! It has something for people of all ages and there are often planned entertainment and music at night. A recommendation we got before the trip, was to visit in the afternoon and stay into the evening. This was perfect advice as it allowed us to witness the park turning from day to night. The energy was high and it was full of locals, alongside the tourists, enjoying a dance under the city lights.
• Do a boat tour: Copenhagen’s canals are beautiful and bring the city to life. The most famous district is Nyhavn, it has a touristy side but also a more authentic one. Demonstrating a deep history for being a port and the home of author Hans Christian Andersen. It is an area that has developed with the times and continues to do so as part of the city’s commitment to sustainability. We did a boat tour with GetYourGuide, linked here. It was simplistic and cheap, but a fantastic way to get to know more about Copenhagen’s history.
• Visit the Danish Parliament & try a Smørrebrød: The Danish Parliament building, Christiansborg Palace, is a feat of architectural restructuring and has been rebuilt multiple times in conjunction with the changing political landscape of Denmark. You can do a 45 minute tour of the Palace and/or you can visit the Christiansborg Palace Tower for views of the city and a traditional Danish lunch. We visited the Tower by booking lunch at a restaurant called Meyers i Tårnet. They specialise in Smørrebrød’s which are an open sandwich on rye bread with multiple different toppings. The restaurant is a beautiful way to enjoy some food and see the Tower. Make sure you keep aside some time to either go up to the viewing point before or after your booking. Also keep time aside before your booking to pass through security.

Where to grab a pastry, a casual bite to eat or a fancy dinner

Copenhagen’s food scene is vast and I would say they specialise in fine dining. As this was a family trip I had to accommodate for multiple palettes in my planning – my Dad is one picky eater (I say that with acceptance and love). Thus, a lot of the fine dining, set menu restaurants were not an option. But that just gives me a reason to go back! Below I have included some places we ate at and what you can expect.

Scandi pastry spots:

• Hart Bageri – opened in 2018 there are now a lot of locations around Copenhagen. Harts’s branding is a bit edgy and they have grown from being renowned for their sourdough bread.
• Rug Bakery – one to check out for their Spandauer.
• Juno the Bakery – this place always seems to have a huge line, and people will happily queue up and patiently wait for their turn to get inside and order a multitude of pastries. The Kanelsnurre is amazing and also their Spandauer.
• Bageriet Benji – a trendy spot tucked away in the north of Copenhagen, their Kanelsnurre was the first I tried on this trip and did not disappoint.

Food markets:

• Reffen (Copenhagen Street Food) – Reffen is the largest street food market in the Nordics and offers an array of options for all eaters. It sits on the waterfront and is a great hangout spot on a warmer day.
• TorvehallerneKBH – this market place is a mix of little restaurants, take-away spots, delis to buy produce and wine, and flower stands. We went here when we arrived to get some food before checking into our hotel. It is a good location to people watch and get a feel for the city.

Restaurants to suit all

• Mother – if you are looking for tasty pizza and a nice glass of wine then head to Mother. They are located in the meat packing district of Copenhagen (København), which is also a cool place to visit for other restaurant options and bars.
• Cocks & Cows – there are a few locations in Copenhagen and they do great burgers, fries and milkshakes.
• Delphine – this restaurant is part of the Cofoco collective in Copenhagen which is a collection of restaurants specialising in a bunch of different cuisines. I choose Delphine after seeing it on a Youtube video and finding out they specialised in Mediterranean cuisine. It has a funky atmosphere and I’d recommend ordering their burrata salad and Madagascar shrimps.
• Esmée – this was the fanciest restaurant we ate at whilst in Copenhagen. A little on the pricier side but the food and the service is fab. The restaurant itself is beautiful and we visited on a very quiet Sunday night. I cannot recommend enough the lobster pasta and their famous soft ice à la peach melba, wow!

A running route in Copenhagen

If you have been following along for a while, either on my blogs or instagram or both, you will know running is and has become a big part of my life recently. I like to think of it becoming my speciality, alongside the travelling, when writing blogs or sharing content. I want to find a way to unite the two and offer something unique to share online.

In Copenhagen I was running my final long run of my training plan (11.7 miles) before doing the Big Half when I got back to London. I planned this route to begin from my hotel (Scandic Spectrum) and take me through Christianshavns Vold which is a nature reserve and former rampart (protective barrier), sitting just outside of central Copenhagen. It allowed me to run all the way to the north to Holmen (near Reffen Market). Where I then ran to Copenhagen Opera House and got incredible views of the city on the waterfront. Before running to Nyhavn and back towards our hotel. Making a worthwhile and well earned detour to pick up some coffee and pastries at Hart Bageri.

I had to add a few extra streets onto the route to hit my distance, nevertheless above I have included the route. You can use this as a guide to see some of Copenhagen’s most famous places.

So all in all, Copenhagen was a trip with a little bit of everything to suit all tastes. It reminded me of the importance in cherishing family time and the simplicity life has to offer. It was a bittersweet reminder to never take that for granted.

Until the next time.

Laura-Jane x