4 Days in Copenhagen

Copenhagen reminded me a lot of Amsterdam, and it is easy to do just four days in Copenhagen or even a weekend in Copenhagen. The people, the buildings, the canals, the bike culture. It was such a beautiful, friendly city and one that I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to. I went in the winter (early November), so I can’t wait to get back there in the summertime when the city is even more alive and bustling. I highly recommend you travel to Copenhagen any time of year!

Time Zone: GMT +1 (7 hours ahead of Central Time)

Key Phrases (Dutch):
Please – alstublieft (AHL-stu-BLEEFT)

Thank you – dank je (dank ya)

Hello – Hallo (“HAH low”) or Hoi (“Hoy”)

Goodbye – Dag (“dakh”) or Doei (“dooey”) or doeg (“dookh”)

Must Eat: Copenhagen food is some of the best I’ve ever had. That might be because there are 17 Michelin-starred restaurants in Copenhagen. To say there’s no shortage of great food in Copenhagen would be a huge understatement. But, with that being said, my favorite restaurant isn’t one of those 17 Michelin-starred restaurants… yet.

Amass is aptly named as a meal there feels like a deeply religious experience. When you walk in, it looks like you’ve entered some Russian underground mafia lab. But instead, you’re just beginning your culinary journey. The meal isn’t cheap (695dkk = $105 for their smaller tasting menu), but it’s worth it.

Chef Matt Orlando, former head chef of the former number one restaurant in the world, Noma (we couldn’t get a reservation…), brings his culinary genius to his own restaurant. 90-100% of their food is organic, and they were named the “Sustainable Restaurant of the Year 2017” by The White Guide. Eating at Amass Copenhagen isn’t just good for your palate; it’s good for the world.

Other top restaurant recommendations in Copenhagen include Noma, Restaurant Barr, Alchemist, Baest, and the Reffen Street Food Market.

Must Drink: Still drinking…I mean thinking!

Must Do: There are so many quick day trips you can take from Copehnagen! I highly recommend you take a trip up to Helsingor and visit the Kronborg Castle. On the way back, or up, stop at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. It’s only a 40-50 minute train ride up to Helsingor, but worth spending the whole day in this quaint town. Get the Copenhagen Card and admission to Kronborg Castle, Louisiana Museum, and the train ride are all included!

Tipping: Not necessary.
Their service industry staff (waiters, bartenders, etc.) get paid a living wage (what a novel concept!) so tipping not only isn’t necessary but it’s rarely expected. Even in a fine dining establishment, you might leave 5% if you’re feeling generous. Most places actually hit the “no” button for us when it asked if we’d like to leave a tip.

Transportation: Bike, metro, train.
Public transportation in Copenhagen gets five stars from me. Between the train and the metro, you could get anywhere around town in a cinch. The schedules were easier to read than a NYC subway map — and much, much cleaner. No rats or trash hanging out in their stations. You could also get to Malmo, Sweden within 30 minutes via train. So easy and so comfortable. Did I mention that the trains are on time every time? I think that’s part of the reason why their people are so dang happy. They don’t have to deal with waiting around for trains.