My Copenhagen Highlights

My locals guide! Where to stay, shopping, eating, swimming - I've got you 🇩🇰

Hej!

As promised a little round up for you of my Copenhagen trip from two weeks ago - I know I already gave you my list of all the things I wanted to do… mainly shopping, eating swimming, cycling, pretending I’m a local… and that is what we did!

The local’s guide is always want I want wherever I go! I don’t have friends come to London and take them to tourist destinations and it would drastically impact my opinion (and mood) on a destination if I ended up in the equivalent of Oxford Circus / Covent Garden.

I like what I like and I know that by now at 37 years old. I am of course open to trying new things (such as cold water swimming, which I only got into two years ago. Previously I’d say I hated swimming. Allergic to chlorine and, quite possibly, allergic to sports centre changing rooms), but essentially I like to do what I like to do at home, but in another country.

And we had a whale of a time!

I’ll try and keep this as brief as I can (I may have been known to go on / digress once or twice in my life) and I already gave you my list of go-to’s, but I’ve got some additions and some recommendations having now tried them / asked locals for their fave spots :)

Firstly, our 10am flight was CANCELLED - not a dream start when you only have 3.5 days in Copenhagen (we then moved on to Sweden for a gorgeous wedding). THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE! Next free flight they could get us on was 7pm. Sadly.

So, we missed half a day, but did arrive at the hotel by 11pm to find - to our delight - the bar was still open, including food! And it was lovely. Classic marg, a tin of anchovies and a bowl of chips later I was placated (literally my DREAM MEAL that day, well, most days if I’m honest).

STAYED

We struggled with hotels as it just so happened the Tuesday - Friday we were staying there was a big design festival (aptly named 3 Days of Design) and a huge rock music convention, over, yep, the same three days. Who knew!

I searched and searched for hotels, ones that I knew of (I wanted to stay at Hotel Bella Grande or Coco), then all over Booking.com, then looked to Airbnb… I could not find anywhere that had the full three nights available! Well, unless you were prepared to pay a 300% price rise for the Wednesday night in particular (OUTRAGEOUS! Hotels shouldn’t be allowed to do this in my opinion).

Then I remembered about Villa Copenhagen from staying nearby other times we’d visited the city (it’s right by Copenhagen Central Station, super easy from the airport and a great location to get around from) - not on Booking.com just so you know - thank god I remembered as it was LOVELY.

Pricey, yes, but I knew they had a rooftop pool and sauna and had always wanted to stay. On this occasion it really was the only hotel I found that had availability and was consistently the same price per night, so really it worked out cheaper… sort of… maybe not after we discovered the bar made delicious spicy margs.

But I can honestly say it was worth it. We loved this hotel, the room was small, but not tiny, and just so well designed (the Danish just do it better). The bed was massive and super comfy too, maybe even the comfiest I’ve ever graced with my presence.

Great location, useful details (such as a Steamery handheld steamer in the wardrobe), super friendly staff, and despite it being a massive hotel (not my usual choice) it didn’t feel it. You can also just see the tops of some of the rides in Tivoli Gardens from the rooftop pool, which I loved.

*Tivoli Gardens - we’ve been there one time before, at Christmas time, it was magical. Really fun, would recommend going any time of year.

SHOPPING SPREE

Oh god, where do I start! Ha-ha don’t worry I’ll try and sum this up.

I actually didn’t even get chance to frequent many of the prime establishments on my list… time / heat / having my husband with me being an issue, but also the fact I broke the bank in Mr Larkin so declared I couldn’t go anywhere else after this.

You all know me and of course that didn’t last… I stumbled upon some local vintage shops I had to go in, but I delighted in two £15 purchases… I meant I couldn’t go in anywhere else pricey, not anywhere at all.

The £15 vintage sunnies - I love a holiday vintage find! The other purchase was a tulip hair clip.

Most the vintage shops we just stumbled upon as we mostly walked everywhere on this day; you’ll find plenty of local / independent / preloved amazing shops in Frederiksberg.

*Wander, cycle, hop on the (clean and civilised!) metro - I love this city to get around, feels small and easy (not like London). Plus, the people are super friendly (with perfect English).

Do you want to see what I LOVED in Mr Larkin?

Head to NEW IN and you’ll find these - mrlarkin.dk/new-arrivals. Or, I’ve linked all the pictures to the direct product where I could.

This dress feels like something special, needs a steam I know, but the fabric just flows beautifully, and it just feels so feminine and delicate with the spaghetti straps. The back is lovely too. I shall float around in this for many holidays / special occasions to come!

And it’s a very very pale pink. I only just realised this, I too thought it was white, but hey, now I can wear it to a wedding claiming it’s not white!

I couldn’t love this dress (below) more, and have already worn four times since we got back two weeks ago (thank you London heatwave). It’s everything I want in a summer dress!

Light and lovely cotton, feels so comfy, is loose and flowy but has some detail, and it’s just the most perfect vanilla shade (not butter yellow and not cream).

Wearing just this weekend (Friday). My bag is Simone Rocha and yes it’s all about the strap.

Wrong skirt (which I loved but not with this top) but this OpéraSport top was so nice on… rather chest enhancing for me too. I have visions with jeans, a strong belt and leather flips flops for the days when summer ain’t so summering.

I bought the bag in store too - saw it, gasped, made a beeline for her… it was the last one! The brand is OpéraSport and they have my pink + plenty of other delicious colours here on their site :) you’re welcome!

I also fell IN LOVE WITH this Mondo Mondo ring! That green! Alas, they didn’t have a smaller one for me in store (but I’ve not stopped thinking about it).

And (the final ‘and’ here I promise) I loved the colour of this shirt… as you can see my husband was impressed by this point 😂

Next door to Mr Larkin I loved this preloved store, I almost didn’t go in due to the name (rooky mistake)…