Copenhagen: The Land of Happiness

When I think of Denmark, I tend to think of Danish pastries and the Little Mermaid. Beyond that, I couldn't really tell you much else so I sure was in for a surprise during my weekend in Copenhagen.

Copenhagen, Denmark's capital city, sits on the edge of an island to the right of the mainland of Denmark. It is a walkable city filled with history, sweet treats, colorful waterfront buildings, and much more.

Copenhagen Highlights:

1. The Rosenborg Castle & Gardens: While I didn't get the chance to go inside of the castle, the exterior and surrounding gardens were breathtaking, even in the dead of winter. This castle, built during the Renaissance, has served many of Denmark's royalty as a summer home.

2. Nyhavn: This waterside canal will offer you some of the most breathtaking views of Copenhagen. Whether you are on the hunt to see Hans Christian Andersen's house, want to get some yummy waffles, or just want to take in the views of the colorful buildings from the lock bridge, Nyhavn (pronounced like "new home") is the place to be.

3. Outdoor Trampolines: Yes, you read that right. Outdoor trampolines. Right next to water in Copenhagen lay multiple in-ground trampolines that fit about 1-2 people. No matter what age, these trampolines are destined to bring a smile to your face.

4. Dome Art Installation: I am unsure of the official name of these domes but they were such a fun surprise. From the outside, they are just two, off-white geometric domes. However, you can step inside the small one, put on shoe protectors, and walk from a small doorway to be transported into a beautiful, glass galactic word.

5. Kastellet: This star-shaped fort is located right next to the famous Little Mermaid statue. Once you walk through the gate to enter, this tranquil location has lots of paths to walk and get beautiful views of surrounding buildings and the water.

6. The Little Mermaid Statue: For all of those who are children at heart, the Little Mermaid Statue is one that will bring you back and make you smile. This life size statue of Ariel, the Little Mermaid, is located right off shore. You can walk down on the small portion of rocky beach and get a photo with her or just admire her beauty while humming "Part of Your World." She may not look exactly like she does in the Disney movie but hey, things aren't always what they seem!

7. Design Museum: This museum (free for students) has various interactive exhibits that are great for both rainy days or art lovers of all kinds! During my visit, I got to see a chair installation and a disco installation, both which I was not expecting but ended up loving!

8. Church of Our Saviour: This is one of the grandest churches in Copenhagen, with a famous helix spire that allows visitors to climb an outdoor staircase all the way to the top for breathtaking views of Copenhagen! While I didn't get the chance to do this myself because the spire was closed for the winter, I will definitely be climbing to the top when I come back!

Copenhagen Eats:

1. The Living Room: This local cafe is probably one of the coolest cafe's I have ever been to. After ordering coffee, tea, pastries, or a fun brunch dish, you can take your food and drinks to one of two floors filled with big comfy chairs, candles, and hipster decorations. It's a great place to grab a casual meal and enjoy the company of friends!

2. Glass Market: The Glass Market, also known as Torvehallerne, is a big glass covered market in the center of Copenhagen. It has a wide variety of baked goods, fish, meats, and vegan specialties, along with the famous Smørrebrød, an open-faced sandwich on black bread.

3. MAX: Want a late night snack? This is the place to go. Whether you want a hamburger, milkshake, or fries, they have it all for those late-night cravings! No matter what time of day and what day of week, MAX's is constantly filled with people.

4. The Bastard Cafe: No matter what time of day, this place is spectacular. This cafe and bar serves both drinks and food and offers you a variety of board games that you can play while eating/drinking with friends. It definitely gets very busy on the weekends but is well worth the wait.

5. Glo: In contrast to MAX, Glo has several locations around Copenhagen where they offer a wide variety of organic foods and drinks for great prices and with great tastes! Dishes from simple salads to fancy bowls can be found here.

6. Illum Rooftop Cafe: This was probably one of my favorite spots in all of Copenhagen. At the top of the Illum Shopping Mall sits a rooftop cafe where you can get yourself a hot chocolate and wander outside to see beautiful view of Copenhagen. You are close enough to the ground to people watch and listen to the live music, but high enough to admire and take in some views.

Overall, it wasn't just the sights and food that made this trip so wonderful, but it was the people. All of the locals are extremely friendly and wonderful to be around. The city is filled with a vast amount of young children too, who you can often find in big snowsuits or having dance shows all over the city. They are what really make this city the land of happiness.