Tips and Ideas for Copenhagen and Stockholm

The Basics

Who & Why: I’m seeing a huge increase in the amount of travelers interested in the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Our clients love experiences where they can enjoy great culinary offerings, explore beautiful landscapes through hiking, biking, and watersports, as well as places where they can see and do a lot in a shorter amount of time. So, I embarked on a solo trip to visit somewhere we send clients regularly – Copenhagen – and somewhere that I’ve seen an uptick in this past year – Sweden.

What & Where: I visited Copenhagen for four nights and Stockholm for four nights. With SAS offering great nonstop options into Copenhagen from many US cities, it’s the perfect start or end to any trip, or even just to spend time in Denmark!

When: I visited in October, which was beautiful. Not only were the fall colors popping, but the warm, sunny days and the cool evenings made exploring ideal on foot, by bike, or even by boat!

Learnings

What I Loved

• The Food:  Copenhagen is well-known as a world culinary capital, and I had some incredible meals there (my favorite was Selma – a tasting menu at a cozy Bib Gourmand restaurant where each dish was my favorite!). But Stockholm was a sleeper hit as well (tie for first place between Bar Agrikultur and Ärla) . Both countries have strong agricultural roots, but due to their location near the coast, they have stellar seafood offerings…and don’t even get me started on the pastries! I limited myself to one per day, with my favorites coming from Stora Bageriet. Plus, the variety of food halls and open air markets make it so easy to eat well and globally while supporting local.
• Biking the City: I love walking around cities, but when in Denmark, you do as the Danes do. Everyone was biking in Copenhagen, and the wide bike lanes and ease of bike parking made it super easy. If you have a short amount of time, it’s a great way to see more of the city (especially some of the outlying islands). As a safety nerd, I was so glad that my hotels offered me a helmet, too.
• Access to Green Spaces: Another activity I appreciate is running or walking when discovering a new place, and both cities offered plenty of green spaces and parks. There were trails everywhere, many of them along the coastal parts of the city, so it was just as much of a sightseeing mission as exercise.
• Ease of Exploration: With a multitude of options for public transit, it was easy to explore outside of the city as well as within it. In both countries, I took a day trip outside the city to visit other places as a way of testing out getting around without driving. I’m happy to report that it was easy and affordable! Now, not every itinerary will allow for this, but it’s nice to know that it can be done.

What I’d Change

• Length of Trip: Of course, this one is a given. There’s never enough time to see and do everything you’d like in a country. But, a stay of 3 nights in either location is a solid amount of time to get a sense of each city. I would have liked more time to stay overnight in another city, but that will have to wait for another trip. Either location is well worth a 2 week trip (or more), but if you had 7-8 days, you could easily stop in two destinations in each country and have plenty to do.
• Balancing City vs. Countryside/Coast: Copenhagen and Stockholm are mid-sized cities, making them very approachable for independent travelers, with the resources of a large city. However, I think the best parts of the Scandinavian countries lie in their natural beauty, including forests and coastlines. Therefore, I think any trip should include some time in the countryside or in a more natural/rural location (vs. just jumping between cities, for example). I met some people who were visiting Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen (and some were adding in Helsinki) and I think they will struggle to truly differentiate what makes each country special.
• Using Rideshare: Wow. If food was expensive, then car transportation was a close second. I was stunned at how much an Uber cost just to drive 3-5 miles (15-20 min in traffic). It was similar with taxis, so I would highly recommend that travelers minimize this whenever possible.

Tips for Travelers

Thinking of visiting Denmark or Sweden? Here are a few key things to keep in mind:

• Be Conscious of Cost: While I found hotels to be on par (or even a bit more affordable) than ones in other parts of Europe, the cost of food and general goods was very high. Be aware of conversion rates and stock up at breakfast (which your amazing travel advisor will include in your hotel rate).
• Timing Your Trip: Due to the climate, beaches and coastal villages will get quiet starting in September. Keep that in mind if you’re hoping to spend time in some of the islands or peninsulas in each country.
• Go by Bike: I know I mentioned it above, but I would definitely recommend renting a bike for at least one day in Copenhagen.
• Visit Museums: there are so many wonderful museums in both cities, but in Stockholm in particular. I visited the Nobel Prize Museum and the Vasa Museum, but there were at least a half dozen more that sounded interesting. In Copenhagen, I took a trip to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, and though I’m not an art museum person, I truly enjoyed my visit (and the setting is gorgeous on the coast perched on a rocky cliff, surrounded by trees). See the picture below for one of the immersive art experiences!
• Visit for Holidays: When I visited, the amusement parks in the city were decked out for Halloween, which was so cool! I kept wishing my kids were with me to enjoy it. They do the same for Christmas, and the Christmas markets in the Scandinavian countries rival any German market I’ve experienced.

Final Words

I loved the way that nature was woven in to these cities – there were so many great walking and biking paths that allowed you to see the landscape while also being in the heart of it all. The other thing that really stood out on this trip was the warmth and friendliness of the people. Everyone had a smile, everyone was kind, and I felt welcomed and appreciated (which I’m hyper aware of as an American abroad these days). There was a relaxed pace and a sense of community that was palpable, and it made me eager for another visit. I hope you’ll consider it, too! I now have some great recommendations for where to stay, where to eat, what to see, and how to get around, and I’m excited to share it with our clients.