At the end of a recent trip, I planned a short stopover in Copenhagen — a two-night visit that gave me just one valuable day to explore Denmark’s vibrant capital. Since it was my first time in the city, I didn’t want to waste a single moment. And that’s where Kensington Tours came in.
On a half-day walking tour that left right from my hotel, my incredible guide, Kathrine Bjerregaard (a Copenhagen resident), managed to share both iconic sites and hidden gems beloved by locals. And, in true Kensington style, she tailored the tour to my personal tastes, making decisions on the fly about where to take me based on our ongoing conversation and even the changing weather.
Highlights from my day included a stop at TorvehallerneKBH, a sprawling food hall where we picked up a traditional Danish cinnamon roll; a peaceful stroll around Copenhagen’s three lakes; and Rosenborg Castle, where the surrounding gardens were just beginning to bloom.
Here, Bjerregaard shares more of her personal recommendations that help make Kensington Tours clients (and other travelers) feel like a local.
Kathrine Bjerregaard, Copenhagen resident and guide
Credit: 2023 Kathrine BjerregaardVisitors might not know that: in our Parliament castle, Christiansborg, there is a free elevator up to the tower, offering a great view of greater Copenhagen — on sunny days, you can see all the way to Sweden.
For smorrebrod (the Danish open-faced sandwich), I go to: Aamanns 1921. This is the place to get the city’s best smorrebrod while simultaneously enjoying Danish modern architecture and design. The food is traditional with a modern spin, and they only use local produce, plus the service is superb.
Hotel Sanders has a cozy feel.
Credit: 2023 Hotel SandersMy favorite hotel to recommend is: Sanders, a luxury boutique hotel next to the Royal Theater that’s owned and operated by celebrated Danish ballet dancer Alexander Kolpin. The rooms are small but very cozy, and the public spaces are very impressive and beautifully decorated — you feel like you’re visiting a friend’s home. The Kitchen restaurant and [two bars] complete the experience.
On my ideal day off, I would: kayak through the canals of Christianshavn, along the waterfront and all the way to Reffen, a very cool street food area on the very outskirts of the harbor, with more than 88 stalls offering cuisine from all over the world.
Stalls offer a variety of international cuisines at Reffen.
Credit: 2023 Visit CopenhagenThe city’s coolest borough is: without a doubt, Norrebro, the most eclectic area in Copenhagen. You have a lot of kiosks, kebab takeaways and jewelry shops, but also the most beautiful cemetery (Assistens Kirkegard), where some of the most famous Danes are buried (Hans Christian Andersen and Soren Kierkegaard, to name two). The locals even use it as a park and go sunbathing there.
Right next to the cemetery, you’ll also find the coolest street in Copenhagen: Jaegersborggade is a cobbled stone street with great restaurants, bars and shops. Even though the stretch isn’t very long, it’s easy to spend an entire day here. You can taste Danish pastry at Meyers Bakery, have coffee at Coffee Collective, enjoy an afternoon beer at Mikkeller & Friends and more.
