City Girl Tips

Hi and welcome to my first ever post as a blogger, mom, fashion consultant, world traveler and art admirer!

I would never thought I’ll ever say it but after this recent trip I want to go back to Copenhagen more than I want to go to Paris (my love for decades). Danish people have this term “HYGGE” which has a different meaning for different people. But basically it’s something good that you feel, enjoy the moment. It could be a cup of coffee with that cinnamon roll, listening to the favorite music, or anything that makes you FEEL wonderful. 

Let’s start this story.

Never before have I made a decision to travel to Europe just three days before departure — not even back when I was single and kid-free.

The decision was made quick in Sunday night and here we are 3 days later – my husband and I with our 3 years old toddler Mia sitting on a plane from Atlanta, GA to Copenhagen, Denmark. One stop in Amsterdam. 1 carry on, travel size stroller, 2 backpacks and 1 checked luggage. The total traveling time flying was about 12 hours. We had an overnight flight which is always easier when traveling with toddler.

Why travel to Copenhagen in October? Why just for 3.5 days? The goal was to go somewhere on a particular budget and after browsing tickets around the US, Mexico and Caribbean, and examining our vacation options, I found that tickets prices were insanely expensive. Plus, I wanted to go somewhere new and get out of the comfort zone. Inexpensive tickets – that what made this trip to Denmark happen. Plus, okay, I read Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales all my childhood. That all sounded like a great idea and was what I thought would fit our budget. I’ll give our expenses breakdown later. 

If you ask how am I flying overseas for so many hours with a toddler, here are my tips: get an overnight flight, so they can sleep, snacks, prep food (mine doesn’t eat the airlines food), stickers, books, toys, art and a headphones for cartoons. Yes, I let my kid to watch cartoons on a flight. Basically, switch activities from one to another unless he/she sleeps the whole flight.

We stayed in Indre By area, which is a city center and RENTED an amazing 2 bedroom apartment with the dining area and a Nespresso machine on Booking.com. The coffee machine helps very much when you’re having a jet leg and just want some good coffee right here right now.

We rented a CAR in Copenhagen’s airport and let me tell you – it came out as very expensive thing to do. We wanted some comfort with our daughter, so we rented it and It costed us around $900 for 3.5 days.  Of course after first 20 minutes we parked in Copenhagen where we didn’t suppose to park, we got a ticket for $92. Europe is strict like that, so follow the rules. Gas price is $2.18 for 1 liter (95), so $7.56 for a gallon.

Parking is very complicated and expensive around the center of the city. Depends on time and garage, or street parking. There are few zones around Copenhagen and the parking prices vary. 

We downloaded EASY Parking App, and you should do as well. Of course the car gives you a level of comfort that wouldn’t be possible to get with public transportation. Especially, with a jet leg and a 3 years old. She slept a lot in that car while we were driving around. We also visited few attractions within 40 min – 2 hrs drive from Copenhagen. So, to rent a car or not to rent – depends on you and your plans as well as how old is your kid and how many days you’ll spend there.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION in Copenhagen is great though we haven’t had a chance to try it. There are also trains that go to any major destinations. 

How about that amazing DANISH FOOD? Yum yum! Okay, we try some really fantastic bakeries and it’s a different level for traditional danish pastries. Here are my favorites and it really worth to wait in line to get those delicious goodies.

Here are my suggestions for bakeries:

Skt. Peders Bageri.

Juno the bakery.

H A N S coffee.

What we totally missed were traditional Danish restaurants – most of them are open from 11 am to 5 pm. With the jet leg we had and waking up around 10:30-11 am, we simply didn’t have time for that. Some restaurants serving dinners as well and You HAVE TO MAKE A RESERVATION! PERIOD.

Wherever you are planning on going, check some traditional restaurants and make a reservation. We didn’t make it to any of them because of that – sorry, we are all booked. Here some great suggestions of the best restaurants in Copenhagen and Odense (if you go to Andersen Museum):

Suggestions for restaurants:

Schønnemann.

Rådhus Smørrebrød.

Selma.

Aamanns 1921.

Told & Snaps.

Restaurant Under Lindetræet (Odense).

Restaurant Klosterkroen (Odense).

CITY PASS really worth it if you are there for the first time and plan to visit a lot. If you buy it, choose the one that is valid at least for 48 hours from the moment you first scan it. There will a “Copenhagen Ticket” App for that and it’s very easy to use it. Check if you have any cash rewards with Expedia, you can use it towards City Pass, which we did. 

You HAVE TO CHECK time slots availability for MUSEUMS TICKETS as some of them you have to book in advance. 

Here is my itinerary for visiting Copenhagen, I combined attractions in accordance with their proximity to each other:

1. Nyhavn and Stroget, Nikolaj Art Gallery.
2. The Happiness Museum.
3. Rosenborg castle and Design Museum of Denmark, The little mermaid statue 
4. Marble church 
5. Home of Carlsberg
6. NY Carlsberg Gyptoteket museum art French and danish art, Tivoli gardens.
7. National museum of art.
8. Copenhagen contemporary museum. 
9. Ordrupgaard Museum – 10 km from Copenhagen is A MUST on the way to Louisiana Museum of Art.
10. Visit Malmo, Sweden – 40 min drive, Ukrainian restaurant Babusia is very good there. 
11. Odense – 2 hrs drive – Hans Christian Andersen house and museum, Vikings fortress. From there 25 min drive to Egeskov castle. 

What did we see in fact and what I think of it:

1. Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Is it worth 40 min driving? I had contradictory feelings about that. Weird and cool at the same time. Just like any contemporary art – you either feel it or not. My advise – check current exhibitions on their website and be realistic about your expectations.
2. Hans Christian Andersen House and Myseum in Odense – A MUST! One of the best museum I’ve been to. I guess because I grew up reading his fairy tales, it was magic for me. I’m f you have kids – it’s mind blowing how much art they have for kids, the whole museum wing just for them – a fairy tale itself.
3. Glyptoteket – a MUST! Incredible collections of art!
4. Malmo – could be out of curiosity and free time in the evening, very very quiet town.
5. Rosenberg castle – a must, historical masterpiece.
6. Museum of Happiness – very interesting!
7. The Little Mermaid statue – smaller than i imagined, still was a cool stop to make.
8. Nikolaj Art Gallery – love modern art, so I really enjoyed the exhibits!

FASHION and STYLE in Copenhagen is just incredible! 99% if people on the streets are stylish. I would probably write separate article about Scandinavian fashion and how incredibly pleasant it is for the eye. You can dress up in Copenhagen and you’ll blend in perfectly. For the cold season most people wear coats, trenches paired with nice boots or city sneakers. The pallets are muted, elegant, clean lines and latest trends.

We didn’t have much time to do shopping there but there are A LOT of cool Danish fashion shops. So, even if you don’t have anything exciting with you, you can easily buy clothes there and the prices are reasonable. Obviously, no leggings, hoodies and sneakers situations like we have in the US. Apparently it’s a cultural thing – everyone just respect themselves enough to get dressed up.

The picture that struck me the most was a beautiful young lady with a Chanel bag, red kitten heels shoes and long beige trench riding a bicycle. You’ll see a lot of that – beautiful stylish people riding bikes in Copenhagen. It’s a norm, it’s eco, its fitness and healthy lifestyle. To summarize it, be mindful of your wardrobe choices, so you feel great about yourself in Copenhagen. 

Traveling with TODDLER TIPS:

Renting an apartment vs hotel was the best decision. We had a supermarket close by, so we were buying groceries and that was a life saver to be able to feed our 3 years old Mia. Also, the Italian restaurant close by was a winner as she was able to eat pizza and spaghetti there. If you know you know:) Toddler requires special food and will not simply eat something that you think is good. I already mentioned car rental that helped us and an overnight flight.

There are plenty of kids playgrounds around Copenhagen, so there will definitely be something to entertain your toddler. I prefer not to pause my life and wait until she grows up, so traveling with my kid is both, exciting and challenging. It adds up some unexpected memories and experiences that are not available when you travel single. 

I promised to give you a breakdown for our necessary expenses for 2 adults and 1 toddler for 3.5 days in Copenhagen:

• Round trip tickets $1850;
• Travel insurance $150
• Rental apartment $1000;
• Car rental $900.

Denmark is a calm, respectful, beautiful country that caught my heart. I want to explore more of its art and fashion scenes, more of culinarily experiences etc.

What I also want to find out is where us Danish passion comes from. So, I guess it is “to be continued”…

I hope you enjoyed my little tale’s overview and found it somehow helpful for your traveling plans. Please comment, share this post and ask me as many questions as you wish!