Architectural tour of Copenhagen
From northern Germany, Copenhagen isn't too far away—both by train and by car. But even with a longer journey, I believe a visit to the Danish capital, which was named UNESCO World Capital of Architecture in 2023, is worthwhile.
During my recent visit to Copenhagen, I was struck again by the relaxed atmosphere in the city. There's plenty of green space, plenty of water, and plenty of space for pedestrians and cyclists, and for a metropolis, there are surprisingly few cars on the road. In recent years (or perhaps more accurately, decades), Copenhagen has been redesigned and developed with one thing at its core: the quality of life of its residents. True to the motto of Copenhagen's most influential urban planner, Jan Gehl, to design "cities for people."
Amager Bakke / Copenhill – an artificial ski slope and recreational hiking area built in October 2019 on top of the new waste management center. It also features the world's highest climbing wall. Photo: Astrid Maria Rasmussen
To become the world capital of architecture, a focus on quality of life is combined with a considerable courage for creative architecture. One example is CopenHill – a waste incineration plant where you can ski. New student residences, offices, and kindergartens also impress with their distinctive design and often the inclusion of plenty of green space.
The inspiration for the new student residence in Copenhagen was the traditional Tulou houses in southeastern China – village communities with individual apartments and communal facilities. Photo: VisitCopenhagen
In addition to the architecture, design lovers are captivated by Danish furniture and design brands, and so there's plenty to discover in Copenhagen. Whether in the many small and large shops or when visiting hotels and restaurants, many of which are simply a delight due to their design and atmosphere. Like Gro Spiseri , which is part of the ØsterGro urban farming project (photo at the top).
Forfatterhuset, photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj –
COAST – @coaststudio
Stefansgade. Photo: Visit Copenhagen
VIPP's one-bedroom vacation apartment "Pencil Case" isn't exactly cheap, but it's a feast for the eyes. Photo: R.Hjortshoj
One of the restaurants that certainly exudes the most atmosphere is Noma . Multiple times named the best restaurant in the world, it's priced at a very small audience (naturally for Michelin-starred cuisine), which is a shame, because the design, to me, has a very down-to-earth and cozy feel, and it's a welcome departure from many upscale restaurants where you feel like you have to sit stiffly and not laugh out loud.
NOMA Gardens, Photo: Giuseppe Liverino
A must (in my opinion) for travelers to Copenhagen is a detour to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art north of Copenhagen. If you're there by car, you can head back along coastal road 152 to one of the many beach options, such as the Charlottenlund seaside resort, and end the day with a refreshing swim in the Baltic Sea.
