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Everplaces ambassador and guest blogger, Nana Hagel, takes you on a tour in her favourite Nørrebro and shares her discoveries in this wonderful Copenhagen collection.
When people ask me what to do in Copenhagen, I often answer that the best way to experience the city is to just stroll around. Get a cup of coffee, do some people watching from a cosy cafe, enjoy some good and cheap food and ride your rented bike through the cobblestoned streets of the city.
If it is your first visit to the Danish capital, there are of course some touristy must-sees. However, I trust that you have already heard about these sights – so I am going to guide you through the more hidden gems of my favourite Copenhagen neighbourhoods. The city’s foreseeable size makes it possible to see a whole lot in a little time, so why stay put in the centre when there are so many charming places around town? We’ll spend most of the time in my absolute favourite area: Nørrebro. Being the cheapest in town, this neighbourhood is home to all kinds of people, which makes this the city’s most vibrant and colourful area with a hipster factor that’s pretty high (but then again – that pretty much goes for the whole city!).
The best way to start the day is with a rustic breakfast at Nordisk Brødhus. We care a lot about bread here in Denmark, and this place definitely serves some of the best in town! Have a bowl of yoghurt and homemade granola with your bun that is fresh out of the wood-fired stone oven and you’re guaranteed a good beginning of the day.
Very close by you’ll find Assistens Kirkegård, the most beautiful green space in the neighbourhood. Among many other great thinkers, this old cemetery has Hans Christian Andersen and Søren Kierkegaard buried here. Don’t be weirded out by the fact that the place still functions as a cemetery – whenever the weather allows it, people picnic on the grass and enjoy the quietness and the beautiful old trees.
If you’re ready for a cup of coffee, the close-by Jægersborggade is home to the best beans in town. Coffee Collective is a popular place that has expanded their coffee not only to all of Copenhagen, but also Paris. If you want a traditional Danish pastry with that, visit Meyer’s Bakery just across the street. Their kanelsnurrer (cinnamon rolls) are to die for and I promise you, one visit throughout your stay won’t be enough!
If you feel like taking a stroll, you should pass by Søerne, the lakes of Copenhagen. These three lakes once served as the fortifications of the city and today Copenhageners love to catch up here with a cup of coffee to go, go for a run or a small sail in the water. Do as the Copenhageners do and stroll around the docks and gather an appetite; it’s dinner time soon!
Just a few minutes walk from Søerne you’ll find Blågårdsgade. This is where all the cool kids of Nørrebro hang out and the street is packed with restaurants, cafes and bars. Prices are student friendly and the street is always lively and buzzing, especially during the darker hours of the weekend. Bust serves a great dish of the day that’s well prepared and down to earth – and always made from fresh and local ingredients. Make sure to get a seat outside!
If you feel like ending your day with a beer, Mikkeller & Friends located on the hip and up-and-coming Stefansgade serve more than 40 different beers on tap – all of them from microbreweries around the country. This place is packed on a Friday night, and people love the beers so much that the entrepreneurial guys behind the business have opened a branch in San Francisco.
You can check out and save Nana’s Copenhagen collection on Everplaces. Collections are a great way to share your favourite places on Everplaces, or create mini-guides for visiting friends & family.
Nana is a freelance travel journalist and a big food lover. She loves taking photos and uses the city as an inspiration.
Are you a hopeless romantic? Then witnessing the midnight sun in stunning Norway could just be the trip for you. Our ambassador from Germany, Elmar Reckmann has just realized his dream of touring Europe all the way up to North Cape in a VW minivan. Still on the road in Norway, Elmar is sharing with us his impressions and tips in this collection.
It took me two years to realize my dream. After some search I finally found my VW minivan and started the long planned trip to the North Cape. It was only one week left to see the midnight sun that ends on the 29th of July, so I really had to hurry up to reach the North Cape.
The trip was really amazing and I passed so many different landscapes on the 3,500 km journey. After two days I was already behind my daily goal, but the last day trip was better than expected, and I arrived at the North Cape on time.
Beautiful sunny weather was waiting for me and I got one of the best parking lots in the first row. The midnight sun was just awesome as I had the clearest view on the horizon. Feels a bit cosy when the sun will not go down, and I was able to get used to the daylight during the nights since I passed the Arctic circle.
The first step was taken and from now on my vacation can really start. I have four weeks time to drive back home through the amazing nature of Norway with all the beautiful fjords, the huge mountains, wonderful people and all the experiences I collected so far. This trip will definitely stay forever in my memories…
You can check out and save Elmar's collection on Everplaces. Collections are a great way to share your favourite places on Everplaces, or create mini-guides for visiting friends & family.
Switzerland is always enticing for travellers with its pristine nature and pretty cities. Everplaces ambassador and guest blogger, Mela Mörtenbäck, is just back from Zürich and shares her discoveries in this wonderful Zürich collection.
Zurich – the city at the river Limmat is one of the most livable cities in the world. With considerable culture and shopping offers, the close-by Lake Zurich and the mountains, the 400.000 inhabitants-counting city has every kind of possibilities. If you’re spending a weekend in Zurich, be sure to not miss the upcoming neighborhood Zurich West besides all those classic sights.
Historic places, picturesque streets and districts, churches and art objects: that’s all visitors appreciate in Zurich. With all its small stores, cafés and restaurants, a stroll through the Niederdörfli is a must when visiting the Swiss capital. Continue your walk on the other side of the Limmat, through the Augustinergasse up to Lindenhof and enjoy a stunning view over the city up there. The popular district Schipfe is worth a stroll as well, as you’ll reach the numerous bridges across the Limmat to get a glimpse of the historic buildings from the water. Climb up the 187 steps at the Karlsturm to enjoy a 360-degree view over the city.
Apart from the historic city center there is happening much in other districts as well; particularly the developing district Zurich West is worth a visit. The recently opened 25hours Hotel Zurich West is the perfect starting point – both a design hotel in the middle of a trendy area and calm anchor. The former industrial district Zurich West is developing like no other district in Zurich and thanks to dedicated projects it’s becoming an attractive area.
A characteristic location is – without a doubt – the flagship store of the iconic label Freitag. Located right at the train station Hardbrücke, 26 cargo containers rise up to the sky and are both home for the world’s biggest selection of Freitag bags, as well as an observation deck. And this observation deck reveals the view over Frau Gerolds Garten – my personal highlight during a stay in Zurich. In summer 2012 Frau Gerolds Garten opened its doors and since then it became a popular city garden with a kitchen garden, a restaurant and bar, small shops and a place for artists and culture. Here fresh herbs, salads, vegetables and fruits are grown and directly processed in the own kitchen, which is offering daily changing menus. And at Gerolds Markt, young creatives sell fashion and accessories in small shops and in an American trailer.
Continuing the stroll through Zurich West, be sure to check out both Bogen33 and Walter Vintage Möbel and Accessories. You’ll find a great selection of second hand and vintage interior objects there. Also a must see in this corner are the Viaduktbögen. Underneath the railway viaduct you’ll find a bustling urban life: places to stroll around, to shop, to stay and to enjoy something to eat and to drink. 36 arches became a small shopping-paradise with a mixture of fashion labels, interior design, delicatessen shops and ateliers. And at the end of the viaduct, twenty farmers are selling regional products at the Markthalle.
Don’t miss the various locations at the water during a weekend in Zurich. Be it at one of the numerous “Bädli” at the river Limmat in the middle of the city or in one of the lake resorts at the Lake Zurich: everyone will find what’s right for him/her. The original art nouveau resort Frauenbadi in the heart of Zurich is a highlight for itself. During the day a resort only for women, it opens its doors for everyone in the evening and becomes a Barfussbar. And yes, you have to take it literally, shoes must be left at the entrance. To go for a swim, I personally prefer the lake like many locals do. Along the waterfront, you’ll find many official lake resorts or meadows to lie in the sun, take a nap or cool down in the sea. Some minutes out-of-town, Fischer’s Fritz is an unconventional location to hang out at the sea.
It is fair to say that Zurich is one of the most expensive cities of the world. Nevertheless it’s an appropriate alternative to other european million-metropolis in summer. Not too big but with every comfort you’d wish from a trendy city.
You can check out and save Mela’s Zürich collection on Everplaces. Collections are a great way to share your favourite places on Everplaces, or create mini-guides for visiting friends & family.
Mela is a passionate traveller and hobby photographer from Tyrol, Austria. She loves to combine travelling and photography by exploring new cities. You can follow her adventures on Everplaces here.