Toasting the Moon in Copenhagen

Travel for 2 cost breakdown (at the time of writing this post):

Hotel Kong Arthur: $165 per night
Roundtrip Airfare from San Francisco to Copenhagen (1-stop): $500 pp
Food/Entertainment/Transportation/Souvenirs: $1000
GRAND TOTAL FOR 2 TRAVELERS – 4 days: $2660

***At this time, we are not endorsed by any outside affiliates. That said – when booking our trips, we have had a lot of success with Hotels.com, Skyskanner, and Tripmasters.

Booking

Booking a trip to Denmark (and most of the EU) is easy for Americans! The US passport allows US citizens to enter the EU visa-free for up to 90 days. You will be free to roam all Schengen Area countries (including Germany, France, Italy, The Czech Republic, Belgium, Finland, and more). All you need is a US passport, flights, and accommodations and you’re good to go!

Living in the BEST Possible Fairy Tale World

Denmark has been ranked as the “happiest” place to live year after year. Usually, I don’t take this into much consideration. I like a place that has some dirt, some scandal, some mystery. If things are too happy all of the time, what’s the point? Is it even real life?

Copenhagen changed me. Yes, it’s real life. Yes, there are little struggles. But, yes, people can actually live a comfortable existence without the daily struggle and grind that I have known my entire life. And, you know what, it’s absolutely fantastic.

Denmark is home to Hans Christian Andersen and Lego. You will see this influence everywhere throughout the city. They are proud of their history. And, because of this whimsy, they still play. Adults love going to Tivoli – the inspiration for Disneyland, and I did too. I was completely caught up in the childhood play, fantasies, and fun. In Copenhagen, I learned that fairy tales CAN come true!

The government is truly owned by the people. That’s not something a lot of us can say. And, with that, they trust their government, they have faith in their systems, and they know every day that things are likely going to be okay. If they lose their job, they’re protected. If they fall ill, they’re protected. If they have children, those children will be protected. And being in that environment lifted an enormous amount of weight off of my shoulders. A weight that I didn’t even realize I was carrying. If you are curious to learn more about Scandinavian culture/government/differences, I encourage you to check out this book: The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life by Anu Partanen. Anu is from Finland, but many of the ideas between the Scandinavian countries are shared.

What We Did

Our primary purpose in Denmark was to seek peace and happiness. I had just gone through the most difficult year of my life after losing my father, having immense business struggles, and moving. We wanted some comfort, some peace, some hygge. And, we certainly found it.

We went to Tivoli, Nyhavn, Christiania, The Little Mermaid, Strøget, Copenhagen Zoo, Fredericksberg Gardens, City Hall Square, and Torvehallerne.

While we were there, we were lucky enough to be a part of the excitement and buzz of Denmark receiving their Panda bears from China! It was truly fascinating to hear the different sides of their story. Some were excited to host the bears, and I’ll admit, we were excited to see them on their first day at the zoo! Others held the opinion that it was too closely tied with alliance (or allegiance) to China. And, they certainly don’t want to give up any of their power or freedoms. I can’t blame them for that. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds in the future few years.

If you find yourself in Copenhagen, please go to Tivoli. You may find it silly. I know that I did at first. I thought it was a tourist trap — an amusement park with tons of screaming children. I’ve been to plenty of those in the United States. But, it’s not. It’s absolutely heaven on earth. Take it in. Enjoy it. And, if money allows, please visit Høst for great Scandinavian fare! It was a memorable and remarkable evening. Not everyone can get to Noma, and Høst gives you that same vibe and experience with easy reservations and at a fraction of the cost.