Day 4 of my week-long Scandinavia recap brings us to Denmark--Copenhagen, specifically. My husband and I spent 4 days there, the last stop on our trip. Rather than flying, we took a scenic 5-hour train ride from Stockholm to Copenhagen which allowed us to survey more of Sweden outside that country's largest city.
I'll admit, I had 3 associations with Denmark before our trip: mid-century modern design, Hamlet, and danishes. Not really a fair representation of a country, I know, but the reason I fess up to these connotations is because Denmark proved to be so much more upon visiting. Copenhagen is an incredibly design-conscious city with stylish, attractive residents who enjoy really wonderful food. Denmark felt welcoming, relatively affordable, and cultured. Like the other cities we visited in Scandinavia, my husband and I purchased
the Copenhagen Card for extended access to the best tourist attractions the city had to offer. I loved Copenhagen so much that Adam and I regularly reflected each night how we liked it while there--hopefully you can see why at the end of this post.
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
Dantes Plads 7
The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is an art museum with pieces from the masters housed in a beautiful interior. The collections include Gauguin, Picasso, Monet, Rodin and Degas, as well as many Nordic artists. An entire wing of the building is dedicated to Greek and Roman antiquities, as well. When you're finished here, you can skip across the street to several other museums and tourist attractions, including Tivoli.
Tivoli
Vesterbrogade 3
Tivoli, the highest form of an amusement park, is in the heart of downtown Copenhagen. I can confidentally declare that this was the prettiest amusement park I'd ever visited--it treads far closer to an immaculately manicured park than Six Flags stateside. The park is boasts high caliber restaurant choices, too!
Designmuseum Danmark
Bredgade 68
One of the best-known facts about Denmark is that it is a global leader in the area of game-changing industrial and applied design. Designmuseum Danmark prominently features the best of Danish design, as well as rotating exhibits from other times and places. At the time of our visit, mid-century modern architect and furniture designer Finn Juhl was the subject of a large exhibit.
Ravnsborggade 17
Like a moth to a flame, I'm drawn to any store that sells patterned and printed fabrics. Bungalow, Danish purveyor of fairly-priced block-printed fabrics, was on my itinerary after I discovered the company's aesthetic. Filled to the ceiling with vibrant pillows, dish cloths, tablecloths and boxes, this shop is bright and inviting. The prices were incredibly reasonable (think $40 for a pillow you won't be seeing in everyone's home) and the owner was sweet and very friendly. Needless to say, I may have taken home several pieces...
(all images via Meet Me in Philadelphia)
To contradict Shakespeare, nothing at all is rotten in the state of Denmark.
In fact, it was pretty great all around.
Be back tomorrow for the wrap-up of my week-long trip recap!
