One of the perks of getting married on November 21st is that our anniversary falls during a holiday week, which means we get to take a vacation without actually burning PTO {those of you who are also part of Corporate America can probably feel me on this one}. For this anniversary trip last year, I actually bought the plane tickets myself and surprised Carlos. There is truly no better gift. We took this trip exactly a year ago; I found out I was pregnant right when we got back and then fell immediately sick. Needless to say many things fell through the cracks during those difficult days including this travel diary. So here we are, a year later and with ants in my pants because I just want to travel again!
Can't wait for 2020 and all of the fun adventures we have planned.
As per usual, the Travel Guide is divided into four sections...Stay, Do, Eat and Wear. Dig right in!
STAY
Denmark is known for its amazing minimal design and cleverness in small spaces; while looking for a hotel in Copenhagen I wanted to make sure we stayed in a quintessential Nordic property, that's how we came across
Hotel SP34. It is part of the
Brochner Hotel Group and they own six other properties in the city {more on that later}. The hotel is actually quite reasonable at $180 a night, but do keep in mind that November is low season for travel so everything is MUCH cheaper then {by Danish standards anyway haha}. The four star property had plenty of design inspiration in every corner. From the library sitting room, to the restaurants. The check-in desk is also the bar! And they offer free coffee in the morning.
Happy Hour every day from 5:00 to 6:00 PM was another perk; wine and beer was free for guests! We have stayed in many properties that offer similar socials but I have to say this is the first time we truly took advantage of it. After paying $75 dollars for two burgers and one beer our first night, we quickly realized we needed to stretch our money while in Denmark, so free alcohol for an hour seemed like the perfect way to make up. We did not miss one night of happy hours and we shamelessly planned out afternoons to ensure we would be at the lobby by 4:50 PM. It was worth it :)
Tip: If you stay at SP34 you can also hit up the happy hours for 3 other sister properties!
We booked the Small Double Room and it was hilariously small but cozy. The bed was inside a little nook with access to a TV and plush warm bedding. The space itself was not very big but we managed to only unpack what we needed and make it work. It never felt crammed or uncomfortable. But is is most definitely a space designed for only two people. The bathroom was surprisingly big and had heated floors, very much necessary when taking a morning shower. Water pressure was ok {this is huge for us}, not bad but not relaxing either. That is the one thing I would say I wish SP34 would improve.
Tip: I did a small room tour on my Insta, go under the Denmark Instagram Stories to see it.
DO
So much to do in such a busy city! Here are my top 5 in no particular oder because everything is just SO MUCH FUN.
1.
Nyhavn Street
You've seen this street everywhere I'm sure, from the cutest posters and watercolors to images all over social media. For me, it lived up to the hype. It is absolutely adorable and colorful. Lined with restaurants, cafes and dessert shops Nyhavn was such a fun place to spend the afternoon in. I would say the pricing is comparable to other places around the city, I expected it to be more expensive but it was not. It is also the perfect place to get a Souvenir. I purchased the most adorable Christmas ornament for our tree.
2.
Denmark Design Museum
If you only have time for one museum in the city make sure this is it. It was the most inspiring design place I have ever visited. We were amazed at the amount of influence danish designers have on every day items that we use and decorate our homes with. We spent about 3 hours in here, every exhibition is fascinating but The Danish Chair was so interesting. It is a permanent exhibition so make sure to walk it if you are in the museum.
3.
Tivoli Gardens & Food Hall
After checking in and showering this was our first stop. First some pizza and beer and then the park. I have to see the Food Hall is one of the most comprehensive places I have ever seen. They have just about everything: Pizza, sushi, tacos, pasta, cakes, beer etc.
4. Bike Around Town
Yes it was freezing but this is the BEST way to experience the city. Bundle up and drive away!
5.
Rundetaarn // Round Tower
The 17th century tower and observatory Rundetaarn, or the round tower, is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. You get quite the views from up there and it's rather inexpensive to visit. Buy tickets in advance if you can since lines can get quite long.
EAT
So many great places, these were our favorite ones:
Tivoli Food Hall
Oysters & Grill (sooooo good!)
Manfreds
WEAR
It's obviously going to depend on the season you visit, but if it is winter make sure to BUNDLE UP. Wear layers and layers to keep yourself warm. If you are visiting from a cold weather area I'm sure it won't be that much of a shock to you, but with mild barely-there winters in Austin, having a high of 25 degrees during the day was quite a challenge. Make sure to bring:
-Heavy Coat
-Large Scarf
-Beanie {or something to cover your ears}
-Gloves {if you use Google Maps on your phone, make sure the gloves are tech friendly so you don't have to take them off every time you need to check something}.
-Wool Socks
-Boots
-Tote Bag or Backpack
-Pants {did NOT do a single dress during this trip!}
And know you're all set to enjoy your trip. Denmark was such a beautiful country. I certainly I'm looking forward to visiting again, would love to experience their -short- summer.
Until next time!
N.
