6 Reasons Why I Love Copenhagen

Smoked your way through Amsterdam? Snow ploughed through Switzerland? Let me tell you why Copenhagen should be the next target on your European hit list.
A recent trip to the TBEX (Travel Bloggers’ Exchange) European Conference, brought me to Copenhagen.
I met hoards of travel bloggers from around the world, all doing what they love  – traveling the world and writing about it.
I managed to get a snap shot of the city and it was a pretty picture.
Here are 6 reasons why I love Copenhagen!
1) ROBOTIC FUNCTIONALITY

White-washed walls, mechanical precision and functionality. Things work in Copenhagen. But there’s also an edgy vibe about the place – a bit like stepping into A Clockwork Orange. Kinda cool.
Here’s my space-saving hotel room at Wake up Copenhagen:

Everything you need perfectly arranged into a small square. And the room-rate of $100 a night, was not bad at all for this very pricey city.
2) AN EMPHASIS ON CAKE

Here’s a Danish Pastry (wienerbrød):

A cinnamon wienerbrød and coffee cost me the price of a small car in Illums department store but it was tasty nonetheless.
And of course there were more pastries:

And cupcakes:

And macaroons:

I could go on but we’ll leave it there.
3) COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Here’s a wiener wagon (pølsevogn):

There are hundreds of scattered them across the city. The idea is to grab a hot dog and have some idle chit-chat with the strangers hanging around the sausage stand.
Also, bikes are free in Copenhagen. Just grab one, put in a 20Kr coin, return it to a bike stand when you’re done and you’ll get your money back.

The concept of community has been pushed to extremes in Christiana – a self-governing “free town” set up on the site of old military barracks. Since 1971 the community has offered an alternative to mainstream culture in Copenhagen.

Pusher Street, Christiana: soft drugs permitted, photos prohibited

4) A FAIRY TALE PAST

Danish author Hans Christian Andersen brought The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling and Thumbelina into our lives.
The home of such a fairy tale heavyweight is bound to exude some magic. You can feel it here:

And of course here:

The Little Mermaid Statue in Østerbro (currently on loan to the Chinese).

5) A PASSION FOR FOOD
Best restaurant in the world, Noma put Copenhagen firmly on the world’s gastronomic map.
Chef Claus Meyer is a front-runner of the New Nordic Cuisine movement.
But irrespective of this nouveau food movement, people take eating very seriously.
This nice chap from the famous Meyers Bakery told us he “never gets tired of bread”.

There’s an adventurous food spirit in the air, this Australian restaurant Reef n’ Beef served up:
Kangaroo Wellington:

Crocodile Won Ton:

And Emu Carpaccio:

And the Danish diners piled in not blinking an eye-lid at the menu that read like a Sydney zoo.
6) A PARTY CITY

Beer rules. Mikkeller Bar in Vesterbro has 15 beers on tap at any one time. Tuborg revealed their Christmas beer on J Day whilst I was there. Santa Claus delivery girls and foam parties in the streets – it was a BIG DEAL.

Cosy drinkers

Dylan, the Travelling Editor, and I at Mikkeller Bar.

Were you at TBEX? Been to Copenhagen – What was your take? Post up your comments and let us know!

If you liked this you might also like: 12 Tacky but Terrific Things to do in London.
Photo credits: Little Mermaid Statue by Kj, Christiana by Steffen Hillebran.

Tagged as: beer, christiana, city tour, Copenhagen, denmark, Gastronomy, hotels, Noma, scandinavia, TBEX, Travel Blogging