From Nordhavn to the Louisiana Museum, Copenhagen reveals a worldview where design and sustainability work in harmony with simplicity. This is a guide to our favourite places, from architecture and landscapes to the art of living. 

In Copenhagen, it doesn’t take long before you get the urge to hop on a bike, dive into a harbour basin or warm up with a coffee. Everything seems simple and fluid, but never bland: the Danish capital asserts its personality with pride. Bold and inventive, it leverages design to redefine daily life. In October, our team flew to the Danish capital for a study trip. We curated our highlights from this experience to share places that beautifully capture Copenhagen’s spirit. 

Where to stay in Copenhagen: Experiencing Nordhavn

We first stopped in Nordhavn, a former port district turned laboratory for contemporary urban planning and architecture. Fairfield by Marriott, a modest hotel, is ideally situated just 600 metres from the metro. This neighbourhood is transforming rapidly, defined by the interplay of the water and the architecture.

A few steps away, Strandbad Nordhavn invites you to swim or enjoy a sauna, while Park ​’n’ Play, from its perch atop a parking garage, provides trampolines and sunset views. It’s well worth the detour to bounce like kids in the twilight. Not far from there, Audo House brings together a boutique hotel, café and Scandinavian furniture shop. We recommend enjoying a cardamom croissant in the hushed, cozy atmosphere — a perfect embodiment of hygge.

What to see: Danish design in the open air

The city is full of places where architecture and landscape are in dialogue. Opera Park, designed by the firm Cobe, unfolds into six themed gardens where the vegetation creates a soothing ambience — a place to recharge, away from the urban bustle. Even the parking structure is worth visiting: flooded with natural light, it shows that Danish aesthetics overlook no detail (design lovers will understand our excitement!). The glass-walled restaurant at the heart of the park also reflects this harmony between function and feeling.

On the southern campus of the University of Copenhagen, Karen Blixen Plads impresses with its scale: 20,000 m² of public space blending mineral waves, basins and (many!) bike racks. Nearby, the Tietgen Residence Hall—a circular building by Lundgaard & Tranberg — welcomes with its inner courtyard and rich textures. We also shared an impromptu dinner at the campus cafeteria, enjoying its healthy, inventive menu. A lovely way to experience the university from the inside.

Outside the city: The Louisiana Museum

The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art located about 40 minutes by train north of the capital in the small town of Humlebæk is well worth the trip. Its modernist architecture, open onto the Øresund Strait, creates a dialogue between art and nature.

A tip: trains are sometimes cancelled when it’s rainy and windy. Make sure you have a Plan B or be ready to improvise — it’s part of the fun of travelling!

Here you’ll encounter works by Giacometti, Marisol and Yayoi Kusama, whose installation Gleaming Lights of the Souls fascinates with its infinite reflections. Entry is limited to two or three people at a time, so expect to wait — but you won’t regret it: time feels suspended in this box of mirrors and light.

The panoramic restaurant, which doesn’t take reservations, offers refined cuisine overlooking the sea. Even in the rain, the place radiates a soothing brightness.

Where to eat in Copenhagen: The taste of hygge

Good food is central to living well. In the Meatpacking District, a former industrial zone turned creative hub, Pâté Pâté charms with its authentic cuisine and warm atmosphere. For something truly unique, head to Gro Spiseri: a rooftop restaurant in a greenhouse where guests dine at a communal table, surrounded by garden vegetables — a true farm-to-table experience in the heart of the city. Organic wines, local products and a cozy atmosphere: everything evokes the simplicity of Nordic happiness.

Another place you don’t want to miss: TorvehallerneKBH, a bustling covered market. Fresh fruits and vegetables, fine foods, butcher stalls, colourful displays and flowers in abundance — you wander the aisles like you’re at Jean-Talon Market, but with that Scandinavian attention to presentation. It’s also the perfect spot to sit and unwind: grab a stool at a small counter or sit outside with a drink and watch Danish life go by.

Everywhere, you’ll find the same delicate touch: elderflower drinks, rhubarb soda, sea buckthorn juice.

Getting around by bike: A city in motion

The city can only be discovered by pedalling. The bike network is fantastic: smooth, protected, and designed for everyone. Stop along the way at cafés or to take in canal views, passing families, students, professionals, all moving in surprising harmony.

While criss-crossing the city centre, you’ll want to take a detour along the famous Strøget, a lively pedestrian street where Nordic design and fashion meet. You’ll find Hay House there, a true temple of Danish style, and steps away, New Mags, a fascinating bookstore-boutique filled with beautiful publications.

By bike, the city reveals itself slowly, at a human pace. Copenhagen doesn’t impose anything: it invites you to experience its balance, simplicity and the beauty of everyday life. 

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