Copenhagen in late January
December 17, 2019 1:32 PM Subscribe
I have a couple of days to spend in Copenhagen. I've never been, but I can tell I'm going at the quietest point in the tourist season, so some of the places that are "must do" are closed. So what should I do, besides the Louisiana?
Any ideas for good shops to buy stuff that's a little more off-beat are great - I see a lot of people recommending chocolate. I'm also perfectly happy to find someplace cozy and just be quiet and read. Any recommendations for places where that might happen are appreciated. Oh, and is a day trip to Lund in Sweden doable?
I'll be staying at the Ibsens Hotel, which is apparently 5 minute walk from Nørreport station.
Any ideas for good shops to buy stuff that's a little more off-beat are great - I see a lot of people recommending chocolate. I'm also perfectly happy to find someplace cozy and just be quiet and read. Any recommendations for places where that might happen are appreciated. Oh, and is a day trip to Lund in Sweden doable?
I'll be staying at the Ibsens Hotel, which is apparently 5 minute walk from Nørreport station.
Best answer: There are a lot of great design shops, like Hay and Studio Arhoj (and the dollar store Flying Tiger, which is also in NYC and elsewhere but fun to visit if you don't have one at home).
posted by pinochiette at 2:36 PM on December 17, 2019
posted by pinochiette at 2:36 PM on December 17, 2019
Best answer: Oh -- realizing you haven't been before -- just wandering the streets of the center can bring you to a lot of interesting shops. The main pedestrian shopping street (Strøget) has a lot of international brands -- but the side streets have many smaller places (and restaurants and cafés.)
Walking the other direction, to Nørrebro, you can also find interesting streets. One street in particular is Ravnsborggade, about 10 minutes, over the bridge. There are antique shops and some cafés on that street. I would describe Nørrebro as (roughly) the Brooklyn or Shoreditch of Copenhagen.
You're very well located to explore both Nørrebro and the center. Personally, I like the city in January after the crowds have settled down a bit.
posted by profreader at 2:41 PM on December 17, 2019
Walking the other direction, to Nørrebro, you can also find interesting streets. One street in particular is Ravnsborggade, about 10 minutes, over the bridge. There are antique shops and some cafés on that street. I would describe Nørrebro as (roughly) the Brooklyn or Shoreditch of Copenhagen.
You're very well located to explore both Nørrebro and the center. Personally, I like the city in January after the crowds have settled down a bit.
posted by profreader at 2:41 PM on December 17, 2019
Best answer: I found the SMK delightful and preferred it greatly to Louisiana (& I say this as someone who goes to a lot of art museums and even prefers modern/contemporary). It's across a big-ish park from the main shopping street, which made a nice walk in the snow, too.
posted by dame at 2:50 PM on December 17, 2019
posted by dame at 2:50 PM on December 17, 2019
Best answer: A day trip to Lund would be doable. On the Öresundståg it's just under an hour from Copenhagen's main station to Lund. Unless you have something particular to take you to Lund, though, I think you might be better off spending more time exploring Copenhagen. I spent some time wandering around Lund this summer, and while I enjoyed it immensely, I'm not sure it would have been as much fun in the winter.
If you do go to Lund, bring your passport. Swedish and Danish authorities are now conducting passport checks on rail crossings between the countries.
FWIW, my favorite museum in Copenhagen was the Glyptotek.
posted by brianogilvie at 3:24 PM on December 17, 2019
If you do go to Lund, bring your passport. Swedish and Danish authorities are now conducting passport checks on rail crossings between the countries.
FWIW, my favorite museum in Copenhagen was the Glyptotek.
posted by brianogilvie at 3:24 PM on December 17, 2019
When I went to Copenhagen, we went to Tivoli three times. Which I guess might tell you more about how much there is to do in Copenhagen since I don't even like amusement parks. And Nyhavn is a must visit.
posted by AppleTurnover at 3:43 PM on December 17, 2019
posted by AppleTurnover at 3:43 PM on December 17, 2019
Best answer: My favorite things I did in Copenhagen in March:
Meyers Bageri had the best cinnamon rolls I've ever had. I went to the Jægersborggade location, which is near Assistens Cemetery (lovely natural space to stroll through).
The Louisiana and the Designmuseum were my favorites of the many museums that I went to.
I saw amazing contemporary dance in a beautiful building at the Royal Danish Ballet.
posted by sugarbomb at 4:26 PM on December 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
Meyers Bageri had the best cinnamon rolls I've ever had. I went to the Jægersborggade location, which is near Assistens Cemetery (lovely natural space to stroll through).
The Louisiana and the Designmuseum were my favorites of the many museums that I went to.
I saw amazing contemporary dance in a beautiful building at the Royal Danish Ballet.
posted by sugarbomb at 4:26 PM on December 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
Best answer: We visited the Round Tower (Rundetaarn) and went all the way up.
On one of the floors off the tower about halfway up (the Library Hall) there was an art gallery + gift shop that had an interesting exhibit called Double Happiness. That closes on Jan. 12. There will be a new exhibition starting the 13th, but the website doesn't say what it will be.
There's also a small exhibit of artifacts found in the bell loft. The views from the observation deck are nice, although not the highest point in the city.
The observatory was not open the day we went.
It cost 25DKK, less than $4USD/person.
Hours Oct - Mar:
10am - 6pm most days,
10am - 9pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays
The observatory is open and staffed Tuesdays and Wednesdays 6 - 9pm.
I'm not sure if it would be a must-see during tourist season, but we thought it was nice.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 5:59 PM on December 17, 2019
On one of the floors off the tower about halfway up (the Library Hall) there was an art gallery + gift shop that had an interesting exhibit called Double Happiness. That closes on Jan. 12. There will be a new exhibition starting the 13th, but the website doesn't say what it will be.
There's also a small exhibit of artifacts found in the bell loft. The views from the observation deck are nice, although not the highest point in the city.
The observatory was not open the day we went.
It cost 25DKK, less than $4USD/person.
Hours Oct - Mar:
10am - 6pm most days,
10am - 9pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays
The observatory is open and staffed Tuesdays and Wednesdays 6 - 9pm.
I'm not sure if it would be a must-see during tourist season, but we thought it was nice.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 5:59 PM on December 17, 2019
Best answer: The Arbejdermuseet (Worker's Museum) is utterly charming, with furnished rooms from different time periods. It also offers a lovely quirky museum store, and a great cafe in the basement.
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:41 AM on December 18, 2019
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:41 AM on December 18, 2019
Best answer: Somods Bolcher is an old time hard candy shop where you can observe them in the satisfying process of melting sugar, creating a giant candy log and turning it into tiny hard candy. I was obsessed with going here to watch as a child on visits to Denmark and, as an adult, it’s maybe even better. Everyone I’ve brought or sent here loves it.
posted by zem at 4:43 AM on December 18, 2019
posted by zem at 4:43 AM on December 18, 2019
Seconding the Round Tower. That was a nice surprise. Be sure to take a close look at some of the windows. There are names and dates scratched into a lot of them from decades ago that are really fun to read. And, although it may be weird in Copenhagen, we had dinner at a really nice French bistro near the Tower, Mon Amour, where the owner kept us apprised of the World Cup matches in progress because he heard us talking about it.
posted by ceejaytee at 6:30 AM on December 18, 2019
posted by ceejaytee at 6:30 AM on December 18, 2019
If you're interested in photography or Greenland there is an exhibition at Nordatlantens Brygge, just over the bridge from Nyhavn.
A day trip to Lund is easily doable, there is also an Around the Sound ticket. I did it about 15 years ago and didn't find Lund all that interesting.
If you like non-mainstream music Alice has an interesting programme, although it looks like there's not much happening at the end of January.
If you are planning to use the Metro Cityring to get around the city be aware that it will be closed from the 12th till 26th January. There will be a replacement bus service. Only the Cityring will be closed, Lines 1 & 2 will be open but they're not as usefull.
posted by DelusionsofGrandeur at 2:43 PM on December 18, 2019
A day trip to Lund is easily doable, there is also an Around the Sound ticket. I did it about 15 years ago and didn't find Lund all that interesting.
If you like non-mainstream music Alice has an interesting programme, although it looks like there's not much happening at the end of January.
If you are planning to use the Metro Cityring to get around the city be aware that it will be closed from the 12th till 26th January. There will be a replacement bus service. Only the Cityring will be closed, Lines 1 & 2 will be open but they're not as usefull.
posted by DelusionsofGrandeur at 2:43 PM on December 18, 2019
I went to Copenhagen at the end of November last year and loved it. All the recommendations listed here are excellent! There's also the Royal Danish Library, which is super neat.
posted by wicked_sassy at 11:01 AM on December 19, 2019
posted by wicked_sassy at 11:01 AM on December 19, 2019
Best answer: We went to Copenhagen a few Decembers ago. We enjoyed the Danish Design Museum.
A very short walk from where you will be is the new indoor market, Torvehallerne. It's pretty fancy, more like a deli than a typical market. The Coffee Collective there does excellent coffee and if its still there, there was a great pastry place just across the aisle. They have some bench seating around them, great place for a breakfast.
posted by biffa at 3:29 PM on January 1, 2020
A very short walk from where you will be is the new indoor market, Torvehallerne. It's pretty fancy, more like a deli than a typical market. The Coffee Collective there does excellent coffee and if its still there, there was a great pastry place just across the aisle. They have some bench seating around them, great place for a breakfast.
posted by biffa at 3:29 PM on January 1, 2020
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A cozy café I happen to like is at Kompagnistræde 9, about a 15 minute walk. Small but very nice to settle into on a winters day.
For shopping -- what kind of things are you looking for?
posted by profreader at 2:34 PM on December 17, 2019 [1 favorite]