Copenhagen - A Quick Guide To The People And Place We've Fallen In Love With

Our visit to Copenhagen last week has already transported the Danish capital into our top 3 cities list.  We loved it!  It wasn't just the great weather we had, the freedom of getting everywhere safely and enjoyably on bike, the delicious food or list of fun challenges we achieved.  There is so much to learn from the way the Danish live their life that has both touched and inspired us.  So what is it that makes the nation one of the happiest on earth and why is this city a must see? Read on ...

There were two main reasons that that I wanted to visit Copenhagen.  The first was reading 'A year of living Danishly' a few years ago.  Helen Russell's account of moving to Denmark and uncovering the secrets of the Dane's happiness levels sparked my interest to experience it for myself.  Secondly, and most importantly, was that a wonderful family we know moved there in January and we really wanted to visit them in their new home.  We were lucky to have a great family to stay with: amazing tour guides and hosts who made us feel so at home and taught us lots about the lifestyle and culture in this 'happy city'.  

The Happy People

So what is it that makes Denmark one of the happiest countries on the planet?  Consistently they rank in the top 3 countries in the UN's World Happiness Report.   Denmark also has one of the highest rates of employment (75%) so they must have some kind of grip on how to do both working and living well.  The Danish society is a productive one, they seem to have their work / life balance sorted.  They trust each other and don't over work.  They value getting home at a decent time and spending quality time with their family.  Recharging and living.  People get refreshed and feel happy for having quality time to themselves and with those they love. Many Brits pride themselves on having a strong work ethic but are we actually working smartly? Maybe we're working hard but it's not benefitting us or our productivity in the long run.  We've got a similar employment rate to the Danes but are falling behind at 19th on the world happiness index. We got the strong impression that the Danish wouldn't view it as a positive to be the last one in the office whereas many Brits seem to feel that it's a positive, a badge of honour.

The Danish also seem to have a high level of trust in the person allocated to do the job.  They let the intended person / department / organisation get on with the it and therefore don't waste lots of hours and energy questioning and checking up on the process.  When Bertel Haarder, the country’s culture minister wanted to pin down why the nation was so happy he got 300,00 citizens to vote for the top reasons.  Trust scored very highly: “The Danish culture of trust is based on an expectation that one’s fellow citizens and public institutions are reliable.” Maybe we could learn something from them there.

What else makes could make the Danes so happy?  Is it hygge?  The fact that they eat an average of 42 sausages a year? The sublime pastries? LEGO? For us we loved the amount of time we spent in the fresh air.  We travelled everywhere by bike and so do 50% of the workforce in Copenhagen.  So it's obviously busy out there on two wheels but we loved how safe we felt.  In Copenhagen they don't really have bike lanes, they have elevated roads for bikes!  So there's no opportunities for cars to get too close, pull over or park in the bike lane - you've got your own road! Most drivers must also be seasoned cyclists so you get the sense that everyone behind the wheel is aware of you on the bike which made all of our journeys totally stress free.  So you can easily get around (it's a pretty compact city), you get some fresh air and vitamin D, you're being active and you've got those endorphins pumping ... smiles all round!

Coffee and Ice Cream

Anyone who know us knows that WE LOVE COFFEE.  The cafe culture in Copenhagen is another special feature.  As we visited during a very sunny Spring (the sunniest for 120 years apparently!) the outdoor slurping spots were well and truly alive.  Cobbled streets lined with tables and chairs alongside the lakes, canals and parks made for some very picturesque cups of the good stuff.  We found coffee shop staff so friendly and keen for us to experience some of the delicious baked goods on offer to accompany our drinks.  It would have been rude not too and we most definitely would have missed out had we not!  Warm flaky pastries, soft chocolatey cookies, warm sticky waffles - we did it all and it was totally worth it!  

If you are lucky enough to be heading to Copenhagen you should venture out in Østerbro for some great cafe culture.  Original Coffee Co is a small, sustainably aware Copenhagen coffee shop with a few different shops and a couple in Østerbro.  They have a local micro roasting business in Østerbro and also sell delcious cakes and sandwiches from a local organic bakery.  An ice-cream from Østerberg Ice Cream was one of the best we've ever tasted and their homemade waffle cones smell unbelievable ... I defy anyone to walk past and no go in!! 

If you're in and around the university district then I would definitely recommend Paludan Bog & Cafe.  Bog translates as book and you'll understand why when you arrive in this magical library cafe!  The walls are lines with books, rows and rows of books.  It's a favourite with students from the University of Copenhagen but we found a table amongst locals, tourists, students and the more mature so it's an interesting spot to while away an hour or two.

Let's get physical

If you have watched our Copenhagen vlogs you will know that we faced 40 challenges set by our wonderful hosts.  40 challenges in little over 3 days.  Luckily many were physical to balance out all of the food challenges that were also on the list!  We were tasked to swim in the sea, to run around some of the lakes, to cycle to the old part of the city, to ride the cargo bike and to complete a lift race! None of this required much motivation because the people already doing these things all around the city inspired us straight away.  Copenhagen really does seize the summer and there are pop up outdoor swimming pools along the canals, thousands of cyclists and runners tracing the tracks around the lakes.  We would have been crazy not to join them and it was a great way to see and appreciate the city.

Challenges for you!

So, if you're now inspired to book tickets to see Copenhagen for yourself we think you should most definitely do the following 10 challenges from the list we were given.  Good luck!

1. Cycle to Nyhavn

2. Take a selfie with the little mermaid

3. Pick your favourite Danish pastry

4. Drink coffee in a nice Copenhagen coffee shop

5. Swim in the sea or an outdoor pool (for spring and summer visitors only!)

6. Visit Tivoli Gardens and ride a rollercoaster

7. Visit a Copenhagen castle

8. Learn a cultural fact about the Danes

9. Have an ice cream from Østerberg Ice Cream shop

10. Run, cycle or walk around the lakes