I only had 24 hours in Copenhagen. Here’s a series of photos of some of the things I did and saw:

We spent some time walking along the crowded streets of the Stroget, Copenhagen’s main shopping drag. This outdoor, pedestrian-only area is jam packed with tourists and locals alike. The streets are lined with shops and fast-food joints but there are many offices located in the upper levels as well. The shopping gradually transitions to a high-end affair; one end of the street is dedicated to designer boutiques like Chanel, Prada and Gucci. (Stroget means ‘the sweep’ and is the longest pedestrian shopping area in Europe.)

We stopped for lunch at The Royal Cafe along the Stroget. It’s so quaint and quirky, picturesque and pretty. The cafe prominently and proudly features products and designs from famous Danish designers and companies like Royal Copenhagen, Georg Jensen, Fritz Hansen, Bang & Olufsen, Kvadrat, Carlsberg, Holmegaard and others. Inside, the design is eclectic featuring baroque elements that mix together with both modern and historic touches to create a truly unique space. It feels like something straight out of a fairy tale.

We enjoyed a scrumptious lunch at The Royal Cafe. “Smushi” is a modern twist on traditional Danish fare. The mini open-faced sandwiches mimic sushi but at The Royal Cafe, are made with Danish breads and topped with an assortment of ingredients like eggs, fish, beef and fresh vegetables.

Right next door to The Royal Cafe is the Royal Copenhagen store. The porcelain manufacturer was founded in 1775 and is best known for its original and traditional designs. But today, Royal Copenhagen offers a wide array of tableware products in more modern designs. I love these mugs with colourful ribbed rubber sleeves (above) and bought one in pink. The mug was 199 Danish Kroner, about $35 CAD.

Continuing along the Stroget, we stopped at stalls with all kinds of things from scented handmade soaps, woven bags and freshly baked goodies. The aromas linger in the streets and are almost impossible to resist.

Nyhavn is a tourist haven, for sure, but there’s no denying how pretty this area of Copenhagen is. The 17th century canal and waterway is lined with brightly coloured buildings that are now restaurants, cafes and townhouses. The harbour is filled with old wooden boats and tourists can take canal tours here. Apparently Hans Christian Andersen lived in Nyhavn. Strolling along the canal on a warm summer day was so nice. We stopped for soft ice cream and sat along the waterfront, listening to street musicians play the haunting, beautiful music from Schindler’s List.

You can’t go to Copenhagen and not visit the famed amusement park Tivoli. The gardens are beautiful and vibrant flora is everywhere. But the rides and shops held little appeal for me. Perhaps if you have children it would be more fun. But nonetheless, it was a pleasant walk. I loved this street (pictured below) that made me think of Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter books.