"To travel is to live" - Hans Christian Andersen
If we think about it logically, visiting a foreign country for the first time is quite a daunting prospect. A different climate, a different currency, a different language, a different travel system, different foods, different customs; a completely different way of life. Yet despite all these differences, many of us are becoming creatures of travel, with statistics showing that on average we each venture abroad 1.4 times per year.
There's a lot to be said for travelling. It's like learning how to live all over again, only with a pre-requisite of knowing how to get by in the world. Seeing how different societies function opens our minds and our hearts to new experiences and teaches us to believe that anything is possible. The world is your oyster, they say - and it really is.
I don't usually make New Year's Resolutions but this year, I made a promise to myself that 2017 was going to be a year of travel. To go places that I've never been before, to find inspiration in everything, to live just that little bit more. Let's face it, life's too short to stay in one place and I'm not going to be a 20-something-year-old with minimal responsibilities forever. I'm sure I'll have to take life seriously at some point in the near future.
So last month, my boyfriend and I decided to put our busy London lives on hold and hop on a plane to Copenhagen; the city of fairytales. Within hours of landing, I'd fallen in love and here's how the city stole my heart.
There's a lot to be said for travelling. It's like learning how to live all over again, only with a pre-requisite of knowing how to get by in the world. Seeing how different societies function opens our minds and our hearts to new experiences and teaches us to believe that anything is possible. The world is your oyster, they say - and it really is.
I don't usually make New Year's Resolutions but this year, I made a promise to myself that 2017 was going to be a year of travel. To go places that I've never been before, to find inspiration in everything, to live just that little bit more. Let's face it, life's too short to stay in one place and I'm not going to be a 20-something-year-old with minimal responsibilities forever. I'm sure I'll have to take life seriously at some point in the near future.
So last month, my boyfriend and I decided to put our busy London lives on hold and hop on a plane to Copenhagen; the city of fairytales. Within hours of landing, I'd fallen in love and here's how the city stole my heart.
We Dined Like Danes
If you read my blog often, you will know how important food is to me. One of the things I love most about travelling is getting to experience another country's food at its best - and Copenhagen didn't disappoint. It's all about small plates and 5-course taster menus in Copenhagen where the quality of the ingredients is pivotal.
One of our favourite restaurants in Copenhagen was Spuntino, located in the vibrant Vesterbro district. A contemporary setting hidden amongst a canopy of trees creates a unique dining experience where you can enjoy a little taste of modern Italy with a Danish twist.
A small space albeit full of personality, Spuntino serves dishes to satisfy a creative mind. Our culinary adventure began with scallop carpaccio served with a bergamot, poppy seed and lemon dressing. Along the way, we tucked into slow roasted beets with blood orange sauce, cavatelli carbonara with house-cured guanciale and poached cod loin with potato and buttermilk puree, turnips and radishes. Our feast ended - only too soon - with a mandarin orange sorbet served with seed, oat and quinoa granola.
This place really knows how to tickle your fancy!
Another fabulous restaurant we stumbled across was Restaurant Cofoco, a secluded basement space designed with simplicity and style in mind. Influenced by both Scandinavian and Southern European cuisine, Cofoco's menu offers a selection of culturally unique dishes.
Again, we opted for a 5-course taster menu (when in Copenhagen!) and our tastebuds were treated to an array of fresh and fragrant flavours. First, we dined on a cerviche of flounder with celery, pea juice, walnut mayo and grapes. Next, we slurped on a warming mussel soup with trout roe, apple, pickled tapioca and croutons. Then came a dish devoted entirely to a grilled carrot which was absolutely divine, another delicious poached cod dish and for dessert, a beetroot sorbet with crumbled cocoa.
The way to my heart is definitely through my stomach and Copenhagen's food filled mine with butterflies.
Frederiksborg Castle Is An Absolute Dream
A short train ride from Copenhagen Central Station, Frederiksborg Castle stands gracefully in the Danish district of Hillerød, surrounded by peaceful waters, acres of stunning grounds and its Baroque Gardens. With so much beauty, prominence and personality, the 17th Century castle itself is an architectural dream and to make it even more extraordinary, housed inside is The Museum of National History.
Now you don't need to be a history buff to appreciate all that the castle and the museum has to offer; the visuals speak for itself. With 4 floors bursting with portraits, knowledge, art, furniture and historical artefacts, there is a room for everyone to enjoy.
The Award-Winning Cocktails At Curfew
You may be wondering how cocktails can make you fall in love with a city. Well, let me explain; Curfew's cocktails aren't just cocktails. They're expertly crafted alcoholic experiences, with creativity at the forefront of each composition, that allow you to fully lose yourself in the cosy speakeasy-style bar.
Tucked neatly down an unimposing side street in Vesterbro, it's a place that is quietly confident, oozing style and sophistication but in the least pretentious way possible. The atmosphere is electric yet strangely familiar; the sound of passionate bar tenders creating their art and the gentle buzz of people is all underscored by soulful jazz, chinking glasses and habitual happiness.
With several award-winning cocktails on their extensive menu, it's difficult to choose which cocktails will accentuate your evening as they all sound so tempting. As a gin lover, my favourites were the Unfaithful and the Little Dragon but don't let that stop you from drinking the entire menu!
Nyhavn
Come rain or shine, Nyhavn is picture perfect. Beautifully bold houses, steeped in history and painted in the prettiest of pastels, line the port that was once home to sailors, ladies of the night, alehouses and Hans Christian Andersen.
Today, Nyhavn is up there with one of the most Instagram-able tourist destinations I've ever seen in real life (if you've ever witnessed people taking pictures of themselves touching the Leaning Tower of Pisa in any way, then you'll understand exactly what I'm talking about) and home to some of the most exclusive (and expensive) cafes, bars and restaurants in Copenhagen.
Even in freezing temperatures, the harbour is bursting with life so take a bimble along Nyhavn and I can guarantee you'll be inspired like the great artists before you.
The King's Garden
Right in the centre of Copenhagen, amongst the hustle and bustle of city dwellers and travellers alike, there's a unexpected place of peace and serenity; The King's Garden. True to its Renaissance style, the gardens are home to knowledgeable trees, huge flowerbeds and a multitude of sculptures. Overlooked by Rosenborg Castle, the gardens are often called Rosenborg Gardens and proudly stand as the oldest royal gardens in Denmark.
It's a beautiful place regardless of the weather and one where you can wander aimlessly and ponder life without interruption. Wherever I am in the world, it's the places inspired by nature which always steal my heart.
Have you been to Copenhagen?
