Wanderlust: Copenhagen
I don’t know about you but the restrictions on travel due to covid have made my wanderlust stronger than ever. One of the places I often find myself daydreaming about is Copenhagen. I visited for the first time in 2013 and have since found myself returning several times to its beautiful Scandivanian streets. It’s a place I go to write, to explore and to be inspired.
The last time I visited I sought out some new areas and ended up strolling around Christianshavn where the buildings look like they belong in a picture book. I stopped for some delicious smørrebrød (open sandwiches) and coffee at a small neighbourhood hideout named Cafe Wilder, one of the oldest cafes in the city, then headed back across the water and made my way up to the SMK Gallery to see the exhibition of Danish Art of the Golden Age. I was really drawn to the self portrait of Christen Købke (middle photo below) who was known to be a modest artist who captured light beautifully in his work. As an abstract artist, I’m so intrigued by the detail in portraits and in particular how light is used to capture likeness.
If you’re visiting the city and like the calm of a browse around a gallery, I’d also recommend visiting the Glyptoteket Museum where you can often spot artists sitting quietly sketching the sculptures. There’s also a beautiful atrium where you can sit and read surrounded by tropical plants.
Copenhagen is also a real foodie haven. I’ve whiled away many contented hours in various restaurants around the city, writing and editing manuscripts and just enjoying the food and hygge-filled atmosphere. Granola in a quiet corner of Vesterbro, just a little out of the immediate centre, is a lovely spot for Sunday brunch, arrive early to get a table and hide away in a corner to people watch and enjoy the amazing coffee. Paludan Bogcafé (book café) is in the student district and full of creatives studying and discussing their latest projects while indulging in delicious comfort food. And the Apollo Bar, at the edge of the canal in Nyhavn is a cosy, quirky find. Their food is presented so beautifully and the last time I visited, the bread portion they gave me was bigger than my main dish which everyone knows makes a meal a complete treat.
These are just a couple of my little tips about Copenhagen, some of which have been inspired by reading Austin Salisbury’s lovely book 500 Hidden Secrets of Copenhagen. This book lives by my bedside so I can feed my wanderlust when I need to by bookmarking new places to visit next time. You can grab yourself a copy on the 500 Hidden Secrets website.
