Copenhagen, Denmark

A dish at Noma's in Copenhagen, Denmark (cc)

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Copenhagen Travel Guide

Introduction

Copenhagen, København in Danish, is a foodie paradise. The city has one of the richest collections of high-end, gourmet restaurants in the world – certainly on a per capita basis. Noma, arguably one of the best and most expensive restaurants in the world, is located here, as is Geranium, the fully organic restaurant with two Michelin stars, and at least a dozen more Michelin-starred restaurants. There are scores of other established and up-and-coming dining venues of note here as well, most of them well worth your Danish kroner, and more cafés and bars than you might care to count. But besides its culinary appeal, Copenhagen comes into its own as a city with character and old-world charm, with its royalty and royal palaces, churches with soaring spires that punctuate its mostly horizontal skyline, handsome cobblestone squares centered around ornate fountains and imposing statues, and historic districts with typical Danish buildings with green copper roofs, often crisscrossed by canals and waterways. The city also has its fair share of iconic modern architecture by internationally-renowned architects, as well as media and design houses and a fantastic array of shopping venues that includes the largest mall in all of Scandinavia. And lest we forget, Copenhagen is a green city, a city of parks, gardens and green spaces, where more than a third of its population commutes to work by bicycle, collectively clocking a thumping 1.2 million kilometers a day!

Location

Copenhagen is a harbor city, situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager in the eastern part of Denmark, with the Öresund Bridge, completed in 2000, not only linking it but virtually merging it with the southern Swedish city of Malmö. From Stockholm, Sweden, Copenhagen is 325 miles (520 km) to the southwest, and from Oslo, Norway, 300 miles (480 km) to the south.

How to Get There

Sightseeing

Neighborhoods

How to Get Around

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

Michelin-Starred Restaurants

Where to Party

Essential Information

Nearby Destinations

How to Get There

Sightseeing

Copenhagen's principal draws are the famous 18th-century Tivoli Gardens with their burst of colors and maze of walking paths and pavilions; Rådhuspladsen, Copenhagen's Town Hall Square and social hub; Gammel Strand, a pocket crammed with dining establishments, bars, antique shops and boutiques; Kongens Nytorv, the city's largest square, 300 years old, surrounded by magnificent buildings; and Strøget, the longest pedestrian-only shopping strip in the world. Copenhagen's most rewarding districts are the historic inner city which is packed with museums, performing arts venues, and a fabulous collection of restaurants; and Frederiksstaden, which has in it the Marble Church, Amalienborg Palace and the Copenhagen Opera House. Among museums, the best bets are the National Museum, which is an archaeology and cultural history museum, and the National Gallery; while among the city's parks, the oldest and most visited is King's Garden at the Rosenborg Castle, originally established in 1606.

Main Neighborhoods

Copenhagen K/City Centre - Colorful old part of the city, oozing with charm and character, with crooked houses winding around narrow streets. Strøget is the principal street here, populated with street artists and people popping in and out of quaint little shops and old-style restaurants and cafés.

Nørrebro - Lively quarter buzzing with youthful energy. Offers a mix of stylish bars, fashion stores and antique shops, right alongside inexpensive kebab joints and beer-stained dives. For dinner and drinks, head to Sankt Hans Torv, and for a whiff of small shops and boutiques there's Jægersborggade and Elmegade.

Frederiksberg - Trendy, upscale part of town, centered around Gammel Kongevej, or King's Road, and Værnedamsvej, both streets lined with restaurants, cafés, delis and clothing stores. There are also several green spaces here.

Østerbro - An attractive and desirable part of Copenhagen, with wide boulevards and pricey shops and cafés, incorporating in it the city's largest park, Fælledparken. Located just to the north of the city center.

Vesterbro - Fashionable district, close to the city center. It has great party joints, cafés and restaurants, and hip, one-off boutiques. Once the red-light district of the city, it's now the coolest place in town.

Christianshavn/Holmen-

Christiania -

How to Get Around

Where to Party

Where to Eat

Copenhagen's Michelin-Starred Restaurants

Noma - Gourmet restaurant, voted the world's best restaurant in 2010, 2011 and 2012, located in Copenhagen's city center.

Restaurant Geranium - Two-star organic restaurant in the inner-cty Østerbro district.

Relæ - Ranked 56th on the 2013 list, offering international cuisine, located in the Nørrebro area of the city.

Kadeau - Newly-awarded Michelin-star restaurant in Christianshavn, serving Danish dishes and specialties from the island of Bornholm.

Formel B Restaurant - Innovative cuisine, rooted in the French culinary traditions. Located in the inner-city suburb of Frederiksberg.

Grønbech and Churchill - Newly Michelin-starred restaurant in the city center, with creations by well-known Danish chef Rasmus Grønbech.

Restaurant Era Ora - Traditional Northern Italian cuisine. Estensive wine list. One Michelin star. Central Copenhagen location.

Kokkeriet - Michelin-starred restaurant in the old quarter of Nyboder in Copenhagen's city center. Multi-course European dinners with a Danish flair.

Restaurant AOC - Small restaurant located in central Copenhagen, offering 7- or 10-course menu.

Kong Hans Kælder - "King Hans’ Cellar," a one Michelin-star restaurant, housed in an old building with ambiance in the city center, serving innovative French cuisine.

Kiin Kiin - Thai haute cuisine! Yep. In the heart of the city. One Michelin star. Oriental and European dishes.

Den Røde Cottage - 3-, 5- or 7-course dinners, in Klampenborg, on the northern periphery of Copenhagen. 1 Michelin star.

Søllerød Kro - Established country-style restaurant, Michelin-starred, located in Holte, offering gourmet dishes with impeccable wine pairings.

Where to Stay

Trivia

Copenhagen's most famous foods are Danish pastry and smørrebrød, the latter a traditional open sandwich, popular as a lunch dish. Its most famous beer is the Carlsberg, which is practically synonymous with Danish beer. Its most famous (adopted) son is fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, author of Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling; and its most famous rocker, heavy-metal band Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich.

Know Before You Go