Copenhagen: What a Perfect Little City

I was fortunate to tack some personal travel onto a work trip. My company has an annual "Company Kickoff" — for the last two years it's been held in Berlin, where our headquarters is, and it lets us modify our travel plans before or after the event. That meant I could extend my flight with no extra cost and finally visit Copenhagen: a European city that had long intrigued me for its culture, design, and social programs.

For the flight over, I flew with SAS, the joint flag carrier of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. I placed a bid for a business class upgrade and won! $800 later, I was the occupant of the lie-flat seat 4A with enjoyable food, and excellent service — perfect for sleeping, eating, and reading.

Day 1 — Snow, Walking, and Good Food

I arrived to an unusually heavy snowfall that slowed things down a bit. Our gate arrival was delayed 35 minutes after landing for snow clearing and it took over an hour to get my checked bag.

To beat jet lag and keep moving, I booked the 2 p.m. Grand Tour walking tour with Copenhagen Free Walking Tours. Braving low-30s weather and a biting windchill, our guide Wayne led the small group through the city's core: the Danish Parliament buildings, Kongens Nytorv, Amalienborg Palace, and the colorful harbor of Nyhavn. It was a great way to get oriented on foot.

Dinner that night was at Madklubben, where I had a delicious salad with a horseradish-forward dressing and a pork crépinette with mashed potatoes. Eating solo, I kept myself company with my Kindle. I was practicing hygge, the Danish cultural concept of enjoying a warm, cozy, and intimate atmosphere, emphasizing contentment, safety, and enjoying simple pleasures with loved ones. It was cozy in that very Copenhagen way.

I also got a 72-hour City Pass for the Copenhagen Metro (around $32), and it was fantastic. The pass allows unlimited bus, train, and Metro travel. The fully automated trains run so frequently I rarely waited more than a few minutes. The system made getting around effortless whether I was heading out for sites, dinner, or just exploring. It was a true star.

Day 2 — Sweden, Shopping, and Transit Joy

On my second day, I hopped across the Øresund Bridge into Malmö, Sweden. I'm a bit of a transit nerd, and I'd learned about this rail link on a podcast about Nordic infrastructure — so taking the train to Malmö for about $15 each way was a highlight. I'm strangely content to ride a train and stare out the window.

It was cold and windy in Malmö, so I embraced the concept of fika: a break from activity during which people drink coffee, eat cakes or other light snacks, and relax with others. I got a few pastries a few coffees and hunkered down with my book. I wandered the city and picked up a few tchotchkes and a second hand store for our home.

Once back in Denmark, I wandered Strøget, a long pedestrian shopping street filled with everything from budget shops to high-end boutiques. I almost bought a very large print at Posterland before my logical part of my brain kicked in and realized I didn't have baggage space for it, and I checked out the flagship Lego store.

Day 3 — Museums and Danish Design

My last day was museum day. I started at the Nationalmuseet, which I found interesting mainly for its exhibits on Denmark's colonial past, especially timely given recent political discussions about Greenland and geopolitics. Next, I spent more time at Designmuseum Danmark, where a whole exhibit dedicated to chairs somehow turned out to be fascinating. I also caught a display of Japanese posters.

For lunch, I finally tried smørrebrød — traditional open-faced Danish sandwiches on buttered rye. I opted for roast beef and smoked salmon at a place called Iben's. They were delicious, though expensive — a reminder that Copenhagen's food scene can be pricey.

Reflections on Copenhagen

Copenhagen was a joy from start to finish — clean, efficient, and genuinely pleasant. The metro and transit systems turned travel into discovering rather than enduring. Whether I was walking snow-covered streets, hopping countries via train, or wandering pedestrian squares, I appreciated how easy it all felt.

More than that, Copenhagen's urban design, bike culture, and thoughtful public spaces made everyday life enjoyable rather than a series of logistical hurdles. It's a place that feels both well crafted and equitable: a city where you can see and feel how design and civic care improve daily life.

I'd highly recommend a visit — and I'm already thinking about returning in warmer weather to experience Copenhagen in a different season.