Solo Travel in Denmark 🇩🇰 : Hello again Copenhagen,

The last goodbye-bye of my first Europe solo travel became my first hello for the second time, Denmark. In 2019, before I said my Thanks to that entire wonderful journey, I took some time wandering in Copenhagen for two days. Flying in and out, hopping to different places kind of exhausted the energy in me knowing that the trip was about to end. Still, I did not want to miss the chance exploring Copenhagen a bit. 4 years later, 2023, I started another EU solo travel, and this time, my first destination was Denmark. That thought of coming back again and staying longer more than the last time, like a continued story, was so nostalgic. I totally had a different intention for my new travel, but then it had to be Denmark as my first entry. Hilariously, Denmark became the hub for my entire European solo travel in 2023. I flew in and out of Denmark many times and by doing so, I got used to the airport that I began loving it. After all, I was only travelling in Scandinavia. 

Denmark ranked as one of the most livable countries in the world, due to its work-life balance, socio-economic, and the eased overall lifestyle given that geographically, Denmark also lies in Northern Europe where beautiful landscapes and natural sceneries are the norm. It’s like living in another world far away from societal conflicts, pollution and sometimes, unforgivable heat.  Fresh air, clean water, clean environment, beautifully preserved nature, and convenient life, what’s not to love about Scandinavia like Denmark? The downside? Personally, it’s expensive for a non-resident, at least for me. Despite of, that didn’t hindered my eagerness to travel in a budget-friendly way. :)

Transportation

I got to say that Copenhagen has the best convenient railway system in the world, and I mean it. :) Transferring from airport to the city center was very easy by rail. Although there are also other options to choose from such as buses, taxis, or private transport, but in such a travel, I really loved experiencing railways like a local. By doing so, I get to appreciate how fast the connectivity of the city's public transportation. From the airport, it will mainly take a stop at Copenhagen Central Station which is very advantageous for solo travellers who stay nearby. Single ticket is also very easy to acquire. Exploring the city is good by foot but if you prefer to ride metros, there's a City Pass that can purchased for hassle free journey throughout the city. This will allow you to use all public transportation for easy journey throughout the city. Just be mindful that each pass can only be used by your chosen zone of transportation, so might as well check out what zones you are staying or be visiting as the prices for these tickets vary. The City Pass is worth it if you plan to travel many times by rail, if not, then acquiring single ticket for every journey is better. Like in Amsterdam, biking is also a very common means of transportation in Copenhagen. I’ve seen many bikes in train stations and locals mostly like to use them for everyday city transport. Just be aware not to walk on the bike lanes because bikers tend to ride fast in these lanes and no visitor would want to make a local angry. Apart from riding transportations, the best way to also appreciate the city is by walking as there are a lot of wonderful sights to discover. I, myself, preferred taking my time walking while contemplating of many things. :)

Accommodation
Most travellers prefer hostels as hotels are quite expensive. I’ve met many backpackers, and they definitely do well. I even find them amazing because most of these travellers are the most experienced ones who maybe travelled many times in their lives and just so eager to explore without stretching their pockets too much. I even saw families and mostly group of friends staying at the same hostel as me. For a solo traveller, it’s a practical option for booking accommodations. Most hostels in Europe are very edgy with self-serviced check-ins, a welcoming environment, with decent and comfortable bunkers, and a lot more which to me, personally, is so much worth the money. Sometimes I book hotel if I feel like I want to have my own space, but mostly, I book hostels because the idea of getting to know new people during my travel doesn’t get old.

City Experience and Places
Denmark is beautiful, I loved how eased my days were when I was there. I met a fellow Filipino while taking a brunch at the train station before flying out again. She asked me why I am in Denmark. She must have thought I worked there and I said I’m just visiting. She told me that I flew so far from Philippines and that Denmark is expensive even for travellers. I just told her that it’s been my dream to go places. She accompanied me for an hour and talked, I got to know also her family in the Philippines as she introduced me to them via their video call. Meeting fellow Filipino in a stranger’s land, especially those who are expats, feels exciting. It was even so kind of her to suggest where to buy my necessities and food at the grocery store that she mentioned because it’s cheaper. I always have high respect for OFW’s because of the sacrifices they do just to support their family back home. It’s a hard choice being away from family for so long especially because the Filipino culture is family oriented. Talking to her was like coming back home for a bit. It was a very refreshing encounter and got me thrilled as my journey continues.

For the days I was in Denmark, I visited museums the most.✨Statens Museum for Kunst (National Gallery of Denmark) was such a treat. It wasn’t really busy when I visited so I had a slower phase of exploring it. I loved how calm it was and I get to have my own time in each art room. Most of the arts here are Danish, and I get to also see some collection of Henri Mattise and Pablo Picasso. It’s best to roam around the museum for at least 2 hours. There’s also a cafe inside where expectators can dine after their tour.  A park adjacent to the museum’s location is also a must-visit because it’s a very good place for relaxation and little solitude.

✨The Gyptoteket Museum, on the other hand, houses many sculptures more than paintings. I was surprised that it was a busy museum but if you appreciate sculptures, this museum is a must go too. There was also an immersive experience in one of the rooms in this museum where I get to learn the history of sculpturing, the tools used, the process, the type of stone artists used and where they get it. :) It was a very interesting part of my tour in this museum that I appreciated so much. If you ever get a chance to visit Copenhagen, I recommend visiting this museum. :)

✨Nyhavn. This canal stretches approximately 450 meters long that somehow resembles canals in Amsterdam, is a tourist centered location where people mostly visit and dine as it’s filled with restaurants. You can also do excursions in the area like river cruising. I get to visit again that place with two of my roommates as we accidentally saw each other at a certain bus stop. We decided to get together for dinner and did a little exploration around the area. Passed along ✨Inderhavnsbroen, a bridge located along Nyhavn. It’s lovely to take a stroll here, as there are many beautiful architecture buildings to see on the other side of the river, at the Christianshvn. Experiencing ferry transfers is also a must-do experience, like taking a closer look at the Opera House, with its beautifully designed modern architecture. The well-known MAERKS is also located nearby. I also loved exploring the nightlife in Denmark as the scenery at night is equivalently beautiful as the daytime. I can say that it’s one of the relaxing places in the city to unwind by strolling or just doing a me-time.

Like the many cities, Copenhagen has its own charm too. The mild environment is one aspect that I liked about it because it felt carefree which I think is also very common for Scandinavia. 

My Random City Photography_CPH2023

Walking around the city of Copenhagen is very safe and ideal for solo travellers. I enjoyed going to unplanned random places and see beautiful architectures and alleys, met fellow travellers along the road, and took my time to temporarily detach myself from my everyday life. Scandanavia was indeed a breather for me. 

My Random City Photography_CPH2023

Good-byes can be temporary, the same as my other good-byes to all the cities that I’ve visited; and maybe unknowingly one day, my feet will lead me back again to any of those places I visited once, to re-learn and re-discover.