How To Spend 48 Hours in Copenhagen

For aesthetes, fast walkers and those engaged in "coffee & a little treat" culture.

Whenever I travel, I alight in a city ready to get my arms all the way around it — like I want to take the whole thing in my mouth. I hit pavement in the morning and go until nightfall, returning only when my body feels completely spent. My recent trip to Copenhagen & Berlin (a separate guide forthcoming) was no different. I spent just over two real days in each place, not accounting for all the time travel eats up, and packed in as much tasting, shopping and sightseeing as I possibly could. This post will be equal parts narrative and guide.

I found Copenhagen really charming and uniquely calm. The streets are often impeccably clean and startlingly quiet due to the heavy bike traffic and public transit use. There’s an abundance of beautiful architecture, the public transit is unsurpassed (at least in my experience), and everyone was more than willing to speak English, which really shouldn’t be taken for granted.

Day 1:

I spent my first full day around Nørrebro and Indre By. It began with coffee at La Cabra, a Danish roaster I’ve been a fan of since I worked in coffee 7 years ago. The surrounding area is packed with luxury and boutique shops, though many were closed when we were there (Sunday). We grabbed breakfast at Apollo Bar, which serves simple, modern Danish food. I tried the pistachio eggs they’re known for, and a mackerel tartare with strawberry and pickled rhubarb, which felt the most seasonal. Everything we had was good, but the biggest draw for me was the beautiful interior and quaint atmosphere.

Breakfast at Apollo Bar