Life in Copenhagen

Settling in
The challenges of starting life in a new place can be daunting. Luckily, there are a lot of resources available to help you navigate your first days this beautiful city. A good place to start, whether you are about to move to Copenhagen or have just landed here, is the University of Copenhagen’s International Staff Mobility website, which has a lot of useful information for newcomers on matters such as residency, housing, taxes, health care, etc. The International House Copenhagen is another excellent source of invaluable information on all matters related to living in Copenhagen. From help with getting your CPR to useful housing resources and access to opportunities to learn Danish, it’s all here.

Because life is so much more than dealing with residency permits and other bureaucratic matters, the next section will introduce you to the more enjoyable side of life in lovely Copenhagen. Read on!

Perfect days in Copenhagen
Welcome to Copenhagen! Our city is vibrant and full of activities. You may know it for its usual touristic attractions, like the Little Mermaid, but we want to offer you more personalized options. Below, you can find a list of suggestions by different members of our Center, giving you all the necessary ingredients for an ideal day in Copenhagen!

Emily: There are so many beautiful places in Copenhagen, but one of my favorites is Frederiksberg Have. These gardens are in the Frederiksberg neighborhood and are right across from the zoo – you can even occasionally see the elephants from a corner of the garden! This is a nice place to go for a walk on a sunny day or sit and read or do some work. There are several small kiosks with coffee and ice cream for sale, and I recommend trying a cone with the licorice sprinkles to get the real Danish experience. Outside the city but easily accessible by the S-train, or bike if you’re adventurous, is the Jægersborg Deer Park. This is also a very nice outdoor spot to see some really cool and big red deer while on a stroll through the historical hunting grounds.

Jose: Copenhagen is all about water, so you should definitely swim! On a sunny summer day you will see that everyone is swimming everywhere, so don’t be afraid and just jump in. There are a few places that I specially enjoy. Islands Brygge is my favorite. Always full off people, you can sunbath on the wooden dock or jump from the trampoline. Nordhavn is also very cool and you can explore the new developments in the city. If you are missing the beach, Amager strand has you covered, either if you just want to enjoy the views, make a bbq or play beach volley. If you are feeling like exploring beyond the city, Fureso lake is just a few train stops away.

If you want to get some perspectives of the city, there a few viewpoints that I really like: Vor Frelsers Kirke is the best, just next to Christiania, although you should be aware that it gets narrow at the top! If you consider yourself an astronomer, then you also need to go up the Round Tower to remember the legacy in Danish astronomy of the great Tycho Brahe (although actually he was never there!). Finally, there is Copenhill, an energy plant that can be downhill skied, climbed and that has amazing view for the sunset.

Leart: Copenhagen is best enjoyed on foot, and with a cold drink in hand. If you ever have a spare hour, I would one hundred percent recommend going for a walk from the shopping center Fiske Torvet, along Islands Brygge, where you can stop for a pastry at Hart Bakery and grab a coffee at Roast. Then walk over to the Black Diamond, the Royal Danish Library. From there, make your way to Nyhavn, a wonderful and beautiful canal lined with the colourful buildings everyone has seen on social media. Just don't go into the middle; there will be plenty of tourists, and the view is better from the east side.

After taking in Nyhavn, head over to Broens Street Food and treat yourself to one of probably the most famous burgers in the world: Gasoline Grill. And if it is late enough, you can end the day or start the night with a glass of wine at one of the many wine bars Copenhagen has to offer. I would recommend renting a bike and heading to Kjær & Sommerfeldt, Copenhagen's oldest wine merchant, founded in 1875 and the official wine supplier to the Royal Court since 1901.

Lucía: Life in Copenhagen is a dream for sports lovers. With parks on nearly every corner, the city makes it remarkably easy to stay active while enjoying beautiful surroundings. Cycling, which is the quintessential Copenhagen experience, offers an entirely different perspective on the city, thanks to its endless network of bike lanes that connect every neighborhood seamlessly.

Running is equally popular here. Even during the harshest winter months, Copenhageners bundle up and head out for runs through the city streets and green spaces. One of my favorite places to run is Valbyparken, where, if you are lucky, you might spot some cute alpacas, along with sheep and goats. Another incredible spot is Amager Fælled, a vast natural area where you can fully immerse yourself in nature while encountering highland cows and horses along the trails. For those who prefer exercising with company, Copenhagen also has a thriving community of running clubs that welcome runners of all levels.

And although Denmark is famously flat, Copenhagen is home to a surprisingly large climbing community. The city has several excellent bouldering gyms, and during the summer months you can even find cozy outdoor climbing spots with a distinctly hygge atmosphere. My personal favorite is Blocs & Walls in Refshaleøen, the city’s only indoor climbing gym where you can rope climb. For me, the perfect Copenhagen day starts with an intense morning climbing session, followed by a well-earned lunch at the lively street food market just next door.

Marie: Copenhagen is a wonderful city, full of culture, nature and great food, with the latter two being some of my great interests. For walks/ runs in nice surroundings, I like either Assistens Kirkegård or Søndermarken, but if you want a longer walk, Kalvebod Fælled on Amager is great and offers nice views of the ocean.

For good food, make sure to visit Come Rice in the meat packing district for delicious onigiri, Bahn Mi on Elmegade for Vietnamese sandwiches, Strangas if you’re craving gyros or Diamond Slice for pizza. If you are multiple people with differing tastebuds, Torvehallerne and their food vendors are always a sure bet. In Torvehallerne, my favorite food stall is Hav who has the best fish, especially their garlic prawns or squid salad. They offer plates where you can add your own combination of salads and fish, perfect for a lunch! If the weather is nice, you can either enjoy the food from there down by the lakes or in Ørstedsparken.

For sweets, Ismageriet is always a go to for ice cream, offering a changing menu with flavours such as Salted Caramel Pecan and Strawberry Stracciatella. If you are more into baked good, Hart and Juno are without a doubt the best!

Niels: If you are up for a day trip, especially when the weather is nice, I can recommend to go to the charming beach village Tisvildeleje in the northwest of Sjaelland. Consider bringing your bike in the train to be more mobile. The village offers various nice cafes, restaurants and shops, a beautiful beach to relax and swim in the clear and fresh waters of Kattegat. Next to it there is a huge, beautiful and varied wood area, Tisvildehegn, in which you can either go for a long hike or bike ride. There is an interesting archeological site in the middle, called Asserbo Charterhouse, and at the other side of it, is yet another beach village, Liseleje, where you could have a break. A nice spot to end the day is a beach bar/restaurant Strandkiosken, where you can chill and adore the sun disappearing in the sea.

Vítor: During my typical day, at 7:05 in the morning, I sit in one of the Meyers Bakery to have a coffee and a Tebolle. If the calculations are going well, I will take a Kanelsnurren and walk around the lakes, looking at swans while heading back to the institute.