Copenhagen
Driven by cutting-edge design, innovation and sustainability, Copenhagen is a destination which is effortlessly cool. It’s the perfect place for an alternative city break, with its quirky neighbourhoods, must-see street art, unusual museums and unique independent stores to discover. So here are my top 13 alternative recommendations if you are planning to visit the Danish capital.
1. Stay at Zoku Copenhagen
Zoku offers a hybrid stay, blending the concept of an apartment with the added luxury of a hotel. Check-in is on their fabulous rooftop, where you enter through a large sun-filled greenhouse, before encountering a scandi-style reception, bar and café, with wonderful 360 views.
We stayed in one of their Zoku Loft rooms, which embrace a cosy home studio design and are perfect both for city break travellers like ourselves or for longer term digital nomads. The most extraordinary part of the room was the innovative loft bed, which was accessed by a sliding staircase, that appeared and disappeared from a wall. This very intelligent feature allows for a spacious living room, fully functioning kitchen and dining room table, giving that extra flexibility to your stay. I also enjoyed the additional touches of being able to customise the artwork on display, plus the curated books and stationery which were provided.
Zoku is located just south of the city centre in the up-and-coming area of Amager Vest. To reach the centre I would recommend taking the Metro a few stops from DR Byen (a two-minute walk from the hotel) to either Kongens Nytorv or Nørreport, or alternatively you can cycle like the locals do!
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2. Explore the Quirky Streets of the Latin Quarter
One of the best areas of the city centre was the Latin Quarter, with its colourful buildings and old town atmosphere. Two streets in particular called Larsbjørnsstræde and Studiestræde, made me feel right at home with their alternative and underground aesthetic of vintage stores and cool bars. Both streets were full of life and really felt part of a tight knit community.
Make sure to check out a few of its ‘locals’ including:
Floss – a tiny dive bar which has a rich history as a former 80's Punk Rock club
Wasteland – ‘one off’ hand-picked vintage clothing
Pisserenden 8 – cosy coffee shop vibes
Quirky Lane Vintage – upcycled and carefully sourced vintage pieces
The Living Room – a living room style café and cocktail bar
Bog Borson Book Box – an overgrown doorway where locals leave used books for others to read (I found this great to photograph)
3. Go Searching for Street Art in Vesterbro
Vesterbro was one of my favourite neighbourhoods which I visited. Once known for being a rather seedy area, it now boasts an eclectic mix of independent shops, cafes, bars and some of the best street art I discovered in the city.
The first was the mural located on Gasværksvej by ROA, which features rats, hedgehogs and squirrels. Famous for his obsession with animals, he is known to showcase native species, which once used to live in the area. His black and white style, with intricate details makes his work instantly recognisable with each piece he creates.
The second mural I found was located on Oehlenschlægersgade, which is one of the city’s most famous pieces by Chinese artist, DALeast. The large-scale eagle which takes over the whole side of the building is immediately recognisable because of the artist’s signature chaotic etched line work. Unfortunately, the additional tag line was added at a later date.
4. Be immersed in The Cisterns
Located underground in the depths of Søndermarken Park, you will discover Cisternerne, translating to ‘The Cisterns’ in English. This dripstone cave was once part of a subterranean reservoir which used to supply drinking water to the whole of Copenhagen; holding up to 16 million litres of water until it was eventually abandoned due to a cholera epidemic. During the 1990’s the disused reservoir was transformed into an immersive art space and became part of the Frederiksbergmuseerne.
When I visited, an exhibition called Multiple Realities by Chiharu Shiota was live, which created a highly unusual, almost dreamlike setting with rotating dresses and web-like installations which completely captured the imagination.
The experience was certainly heightened by the unsettling darkness of these damp chambers, with murky pools of water surrounding a labyrinth of platforms and large stalactites and stalagmites which were growing in its underworld. A must visit in my opinion!
Tip: Buy tickets online from Frederiksbergmuseerne before you visit.
5. Try Out Different Cuisines at Reffen Street Food
At Reffen you are completely spoilt for choice with over 30 different food and drink vendors to choose from. Adjacent to the water, the market spans 6000m2 of old industrial shipyard and is constructed from used shipping containers and wooden huts. All stall holders are carefully selected, to provide a diverse range of local and international dishes all of which, in turn, creates a vibrant community hangout for both locals and visitors to enjoy.
With being so close to the water we opted for the mixed seafood platter from the aptly named ‘Fish & Chips’ which is part of the Fish Project. The locally sourced fish and seafood was delicious and was accompanied by a very hearty portion of tasty chips. After you have eaten, make sure you go next door to the Baghaven Mikkeller Brewery, to try out some of their famous craft beers!
Tips: The best way to get there is to rent a bicycle and then catch the ferry back from Refshaleøen. Also, if you are visiting during the winter make sure to check their website as they close during some months.
6. Photograph the Hidden Street of Krusemyntegade
Hidden away, off the beaten tourist path in the North-eastern Quarter of the city, you will find the tiny street of Krusemyntegade. The narrow road is filled with old, coloured houses, vibrant wildflowers and ornate style lamp posts, all framed by the backdrop of Jerusalem's Church. The mish-mash of tones, overgrown foliage and rusting bicycles which line this ‘rough around the edges’ thoroughfare, (make it in my opinion) one of the most picturesque streets in Copenhagen to photograph.
7. Take a stroll down Jægersborggade
Famed for being Copenhagen’s coolest street, Jægersborggade is located in the vibrant neighbourhood of Nørrebro. Previously known as being a rather dubious part of town, rapid gentrification transformed the street and it is now lined with cute coffee shops, original art galleries, mouth-watering eateries and specialist vintage outlets. This buzzy little cobblestone street is the perfect spot to grab a coffee and browse the independent boutiques whilst all the while embracing a sense of how the real Copenhagen locals live.
8. Make a Stop at the World’s Smallest Hotel
I couldn’t believe that the smallest hotel in the World is located in Copenhagen, so I had to pay a visit to the boutique Central Hotel & Café! This secret spot in the neighbourhood of Vesterbro only has one very cosy bedroom located on top of a café. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go inside, but I’ve read that the comfortable double room offers a unique design with beautifully handcrafted details. The building itself used to be a shoe repair shop before it was completely renovated to create this incredibly special stay!
Tip: Whilst you are there check out one of Copenhagen’s most famous murals by Danish street artist ‘Husk Mit Navn’, which is located on the wall behind the hotel.
9. Visit the Meat Packing District and try Experimental Craft Beer at War Pigs
Make a stop at the bustling Meatpacking District, which is now home to a mecca of trendy bars and restaurants. Along with admiring the original architecture, it’s also the perfect spot to try out some creative and unusual brews at the legendary War Pigs. The brainchild of legendary Danish brewery ‘Mikkeller’ and American brewers ‘Three Floyds’ who set out wanting to create the world’s best brew pub; nothing more, nothing less.
If you take craft beer seriously you will have almost certainly dreamed about visiting this iconic location, which offers around 22 different beers on tap, all produced in their onsite brewery. Alongside their drink offering, they also serve up authentic Texas style BBQ, which is reputed to be delicious!
10. Visit the Oldest Bakery - Sankt Peders Bageri
If there is one thing which Denmark is known for then it’s their Danish pastries! To find one of the best bakeries in the city head to the Latin Quarter, where you will find Copenhagen’s oldest establishment, Sankt Peders Bageri.
Distinguished by the giant pretzel hanging outside above a gaggle of people drooling over their delicious window display, you won’t struggle to find this quaint little yellow hole in the wall. They are best known for their signature cinnamon rolls but offer a vast array of croissants, pretzels, breads and desserts. Plus, a pastry which even had hundreds-and-thousands sprinkled on top, which of course I had to try immediately!
11. Be Fascinated at the Medical Museum
If like me, you are fascinated by dark academia then a stop at Copenhagen’s Medical Museion will certainly not disappoint. Based in the listed building of the old surgical academy since 1787, it really is an unusual place to visit and still contains the original operating theatre where generations of medical students have witnessed the dissection of corpses to learn about anatomy.
Their main exhibit named ‘The Body Collected’ showcases an array of historical objects, which may disturb some people, but for many years these were used for research and teaching purposes. Here you can see large display cases including bones, organs, foetuses and body parts, which have aided in the continuing development of medicine to this very day.
It’s an eye-opening museum for anyone who wants to learn more about the history of medicine and how it has developed over the last century.
12. Eat Burgers from a Petrol Station at Gasoline Grill
Safe to say, I’ve never seen anything quite like it, half petrol station, half burger joint, this gas station not only allows people to fill up their cars but also offers some of the tastiest burgers in Copenhagen! This was Gasoline Grill’s first outpost and it soon became one the city’s most sought after burger restaurants. Their organic burgers are so good you will usually find a queue here but trust me it’s worth the wait! They even made it on to Bloomberg’s top 27 best burgers in the world list.
Tip: They open each day at 11am and close when sold out so don’t leave it too late to pick up one of their tasty roadside burgers.
13. Take a dip in the Harbour Bath at Kalvebod Bølge
If you are visiting during the summer months, I would highly recommend taking a walk down to Kalvebod Brygge waterfront where you will find Kalvebod Bølge. The contemporary urban structure, shaped like a wave, encourages countless activities and harbour bath swimming. It’s open all year round and is a favourite spot amongst locals who often sunbath and jump off the promenade into the salty harbour. You can also rent kayaks, workout in their outdoor gym or head over to the other side of the harbour and rent a private Go Boat to explore the harbour for yourself.
Thanks for reading! Make sure to tag me on Instagram @thealternativeguide_ if you visit any of the places I have recommended or if you find any other off-beat locations, as I love seeing the places you have visited and sharing them with the wider alternative travel community!