New Year’s Eve has always been one of my favorite holidays. There is nothing I love more that putting on something sparkly, getting together with family and friends, sipping champagne, watching fireworks and counting down the last seconds of the year with my other half. And to make it even better, why not celebrate in a new country!? Last year we were lucky enough to celebrate our last hours of 2016 in London. It was amazing! This time around, after researching flights and looking over our travel bucket list, we decided upon Copenhagen, Denmark. I mean, why not ring in 2018 with some of the happiest people in the world? (No, seriously! You can read more about it here.) Was it chilly? Yes. Was is expensive? Yes. Was it worth it? Absolutely! Read on for my lengthy (whoops!) and detailed recommendations for Copenhagen.

What We Did

Window Shopped at Strøget

Unfortunately, Copenhagen welcomed us with lots and lots of rain. But that didn’t stop us from getting out and exploring. We started off by walking around one of Europe’s longest pedestrian streets, Strøget. It’s filled with lots of shops, restaurants and bars and there is something for every budget.

Explored Rosenborg Castle

Whenever there is a castle nearby, we always go. Rosenborg has now topped my list as one of my favorites. It was built in the 17th century and was full of history and has Denmark’s crown jewels.

Tip: Buy your entrance tickets online ahead of time to skip the lines.

Strolled Through Nyhavn

Nyhavn is probably what everyone pictures when they think of Copenhagen. It can be quite the tourist hotspot, and after seeing it, I understand why! The boat filled harbor lined by bright and colorful houses makes for some Insta-perfect photos. We were lucky to not have tons of crowds, but if you happen to visit during the peak season, I would get there early!

Gazed at the Little Mermaid Statue

I’m not going to lie, this famous statue is a little underwhelming to me. It’s not super exciting and the crowds were crazy, but it was on our list and I’m glad we checked it off.

Watched the Changing of the Guard

Every day from 11:30 – noon, the Danish Royal Guard march from Rosenborg Castle to Amalienborg Castle, the winter home for the Danish royal family. When the Queen is in, they are accompanied by the Royal Guards music band. We were lucky enough to see this since the Queen gives her New Year’s Eve speech from the palace every year. I do recommend getting there early to get a good viewing spot.

Took a Boat Tour

There are a couple different options when it comes to boat tours. We just hopped on one directly from Nyhavn that lasted about an hour. This tour is a good way to get a new look at Copenhagen while sailing through their canals and learning some of the history. I would recommend doing this at the beginning of your trip to get the lay of the land.

Sipped on Local Brews

One thing that I always try to do when I’m in a new city is try the local beers. After sampling a flight, I will say I’m a fan of Copenhagen beer. (But really when am I not a fan of beer?)

Nørrebro Bryghus – These sausages were delicious also!

Warmed Up at a Hygge Bar

So what is Hygge exactly? It’s a Danish tradition that relates to a feeling of coziness. (Right up my alley!) VisitDenmark explains it as “a cozy, warm atmosphere in which to enjoy the good of life with nice people.” After experiencing this first hand, I’m ALL about it! Definitely make it a point to experience this if you can. We went to a place called The Living Room, but there are plenty others all around the city.

Drooled Our Way Through Torvehallerne

This is one of Copenhagen’s many food markets. It’s filled with everything from local produce to seafood, sushi, pasta, chocolates and much more! It’s a perfect stop for lunch or dinner, especially since they have something for everyone.

Rang in the New Year at Nyhavn

If it’s one thing the Dane’s do right, it’s NYE fireworks! They were EVERYWHERE you looked! There are multiple spots you can stand to get a good view. We chose to stand at the Nyhavn harbor and it was magical.

Where We Ate

Copenhagen is actually well known for it’s Michelin Star restaurants. As much as we wanted to try one of these spots, our budget wouldn’t allow it. (Copenhagen is super pricey!) We still had some AMAZING food all throughout our trip.

Café Norden – We stopped here for breakfast while in Stroget. It was pricey though! (I’m talking $10 for a tea bag and pot of tea!) I was hangry so we didn’t even stop long enough to look at the prices, but we split a large breakfast assortment and it was really yummy.
Brooklyn Bar – This is a great place to go if you want to try one of Copenhagen’s famous Smørrebrød (basically open-faced sandwiches). Yum!
Restaurant Hummer – This was our little treat to ourselves on NYE. We had a 7 course seafood dinner and wine pairing that was out of this world! I highly recommend it if your budget isn’t a concern.
Bertel’s Salon – If you like cheesecake, this is the place to go! They have many different flavors and they also have coffee and tea.
Cock’s and Cow – A delicious burger place worth checking out.
Torvehallerne – We decided on the sushi, but they have something for everyone!

Where We Stayed

Since we were trying to save where we could, we stayed a little outside of the city in the Islands Brygge area. However, it was still walking distance from the city center! Copenhagen is actually not that big and is easy to walk. You can also do as the Dane’s do and bike everywhere. It was too cold and rainy for me! Our airbnb was very nice, clean and spacious. Check it out here.

Although we had some minor hiccups in the beginning of our trip, (buying the wrong train tickets, losing things at the airport, getting lost, etc.) and we may have empty wallets, Copenhagen was a dream trip! I feel like I say that about everywhere we go, but it’s true. I never thought I’d ever get to see these countries! I can now officially check Denmark off of my bucket list! Where did you spend your New Year’s Eve?