SPONSORED FEATURE
A PERFECT DAY
IN DENMARK
Hero image: Aarhus, ©Your rainbow panorama Olafur Eliasson 2006 2011 ARoS Aarhus Art Museum photo by Robin Skjoldborg.jpg
COPENHAGEN
Denmark’s buzzing capital city
Lai Christian Balsig, Head of Communications & PR, Danish Institute for Sustainable Innovation & Entrepreneurship (DISIE)
Favourite bar?
Oscar cafe & bar for the cosy atmosphere. Here you can sit outside and enjoy the Danish summer. The bar is a LGBTQ+ bar with happy hour offers and is right next to Copenhagen Town Hall. There is also a great bar on Hotel Danmark’s rooftop, where you can enjoy the atmosphere with a view over the city centre.
Favourite restaurant?
Restaurant Kronborg. They serve delicious Danish lunches such as sm rrebr d (open sandwiches) combined with tasty beers from N rrebro’s Brewery and aquavit.
Favourite attraction?
Christiansborg Tower, where you can get a great view of Copenhagen. It is free of charge and is worth visiting both during the day and evening.
Favourite outdoor spot?
Kastellet (The Citadel), where you can go for a walk in the park area and at the old fortress.
Favourite area?
My home quarter of Frederiksberg. It has a lovely atmosphere with cosy bars, unique shopping experiences near and on Gammel Kongevej, restaurants, sport facilities, beautiful parks and much more. Check out Frederiksberg Gardens and the garden near the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences.
Don’t miss?
Visit the Freetown of Christiania and do a tour with their local guides. The Freetown has a lot of history and stories to tell, and it is in a part of Copenhagen with lots of nature and water.
Top travelling tip?
Danes can be quite shy or closed off to people they don’t know: don’t take it personally if they do not engage in conversation straight away!
ODENSE
Birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen
Sanne Brigsted, business developer and marketing consultant
Favourite bar?
Sirup’s Coffee Wine Bar is my absolute favourite bar, right in the city centre. The atmosphere is great, and the staff is so loving. Everyone is welcome regardless of sexuality, ethnicity and status. You will no doubt feel at home on your first visit.
Favourite restaurant?
Storms Pakhus, the island’s urban street food venue. Here you will find a beautiful building with food containers serving high quality food and drinks in a sustainable setting. Another place is Arkaden Food Hall, where locals meet for “hygge”, bingo, quiz, music or to enjoy authentic food from around the world.
Favourite attraction?
Odense River Sailing, where you will find pedal boats, boat trips and themed trips focusing on fairy tales and history. You can even join a rose, beer, gin or port tasting.
Favourite outdoor spot?
Odense Harbour and the islands of Aero and Langeland. Odense Harbour offers both food, a harbour bath, cultural experiences and markets. Langeland offers wild nature, where you feel the buzz of the island’s history, and at the same time feel at ease. Aero is almost perfect. Indescribable, spacious and a real adventure. It should be on everyone’s bucket list!
Favourite area?
The whole island of Fyn is an attraction, but if I mustchoose it would be Odense city which oozes of real Danish “hygge”. The city centre offers a great atmosphere with shopping, cafes, Munke Mose Gardens, King’s Garden and the city’s magnificent history. Despite its size Odense has a local vibe, where people greet and smile at each other, regardless of who you are.
Don’t miss?
Casino Odense. It is perhaps the world’s smallest but best casino and place to hang out, whether you want to play the games or just be there for the atmosphere and good drinks.
Top travelling tip?
Remember to bring a good pair of sneakers, an open heart and your smile. My best tip is not to plan too much. Let yourself be led by narrow roads and paths, and when you see a small sign that says farm shop, farm sale, beach or nature attraction, follow them. No matter where you go you will find small hidden gems such as NybroOrchads just north of Odense or the beautiful and unique nature by Assens.
AALBORG
Colourful carnival city
Sandro Masai, multimedia artist
Favourite bar?
Cafe Ulla Terkelsen London – despite the name, it is in Aalborg! This cosy caf is decorated with London motifs in a pop art style. The local
Favourite restaurant?
Hos Isidor Henius, because “when in Denmark, do like the Danes!” It’s a little restaurant, where you can eat traditional Danish/ Viking food. I like to take my international friends there to try the marinated herring on black bread and drink the local snaps. It doesn’t get more Danish than that.
Favourite attraction?
Aalborg carnival. It’s more international and fun than one would think. And I am Brazilian.
Favourite outdoor spot?
I like walking by the fjord no matter the weather. It’s always beautiful. I have been living in Aalborg for more than a decade, but I still enjoy walking around taking pictures.
Favourite area?
Lindholm by the fjord. It’s the sunny side of Aalborg and a beautiful place for a picnic.
Don’t miss?
Jomfru Ane Gade is the party street in the evenings, which you have to experience at least once if you are visiting Aalborg.
Top travelling tip?
If you have come as far as Aalborg, you must go a little further north and visit Skagen, so you can say you have visited the top of Denmark. It’s a charming little town by the beach. And you should eat a “stjerneskud” dish there (which means ‘shooting star’!).
AARHUS
Denmark’s second largest city
Mona Linaa, project coordinator, food waste activist and social worker
Favourite bar?
Fatter Eskil. It is such a cosy place, often with live music. The place is very LGBTQ+ friendly, and its owner also runs Gbar, the city’s LGBTQ+ friendly nightclub, across the street.
Favourite restaurant?
My wife is from the Faroe Islands, and I thought it was important that she tried some real Danish food, so our fi rst date was at Pinden. Here you can get a lot of Danish classics including all you can eat “stegt fl sk” (fried pork – Denmark’s national dish), “ ggekage” (Danish omelette) and “hakkeb f” (ground beef patty).
Favourite attraction?
The art museum ARoS, and more specifi cally the rainbow installation with its beautiful view over the whole of Aarhus. The changes of colour result in the city constantly changing.
Favourite outdoor spot?
The outdoor area of Aarhus Street Food. It is a lively place, where you can easily kill some time and get refreshment and a bite of food.
Favourite area?
Sydhavnen. It is a different take on the beautiful and more polished modern city. Here you will fi nd Skraldecaf en, where you can get a free meal made from surplus food from local grocery stores.
Don’t miss?
Besides Aarhus Pride, you must experience market day on Ingerslev Boulevard. Here you will fi nd local foods of all kinds.
Top travelling tip?
Get an Island Pass and see what our beautiful islands have to offer. Visit a brewery or distillery, explore some local dining experiences and enjoy our amazing nature.
