In October I was lucky enough to travel to Copenhagen for a weekend long trip with Scandic Hotels.
The short and condensed time for all the activities we had planned ahead made for an agenda packed with new and exciting activities to showcase the latest openings in the city which I was very eager to explore.
Copenhagen’s well-developed infrastructure made our short time in the city easy to navigate. We walked, took rickshaws, a RIB boat and of course cycled to visit all the venues and city districts. Which showcased how meeting planners can benefit from the proximity of venues and ease of access.
The brand new Scandic Kødbyen was home for two nights. This slick, industrial-chic hotel is located in the ultra cool Meat Packing District. There is no other hotel as well placed for enjoying the best nightlife and restaurants the city has to offer. The meeting facilities are some of the quirkiest I’ve ever seen – ranging from the traditional ballroom to ‘The Kitchen’ meeting room which is based on the culture of ‘Hygge’ but more on that later.
Some of the other venue highlights within the city were Langelinie Pavillonen & Copenhagen Opera House. The iconic Langelinie Pavillonen is located in the middle of the city, but with a clear sea and city views including the perfect view of the iconic ‘Little Mermaid’ statue. The venue is incredibly stylish, with furniture and decorative details designed by some of Denmark’s most talented architects and designers.
Another breath-taking venue is the Copenhagen Opera House. With its transparent grand foyer, panoramic views, sculpted maple wood interiors and artist Olafur Eliasson's magnificent light sculptures the Opera House is a stunning landmark for anyone to visit.
Copenhagen is a foodie paradise with Michelin-starred Danish restaurants and vibrant neighbourhoods, all within easy reach, where delegates would be spoiled for choice. We were lucky enough to visit the Copenhagen Street Food market. This massive warehouse was crammed with trucks offering everything from Korean street food to Italian antipasti. All food is organic and cooked to order in front of you. This is a fantastic authentic experience where everyone can eat what they like, with little expense.
Day two consisted of a leisurely bicycle tour of Copenhagen. A great way to see the city (and even though the weather was a little grizzly still beautiful) which was an added bonus. Cycling is big business in Copenhagen where 45% people cycle to work every day. Cycle lanes are everywhere and it’s the safest and most convenient mode of transport in Copenhagen.
Day 2 focused on Hygge. Pronounced "hoo-ga," this Danish concept cannot be translated to one single word but encompasses a feeling of cosy contentment and well-being through enjoying the simple things in life. So with this in mind we spent the day in warm cosy cafés eating beautiful food, making traditional Danish chocolate treats and visiting Tivoli Gardens which was fully decked out for Halloween festivities.
That evening we enjoyed dinner at the Scandic Kødbyen’s MØR Restaurant. From the decor to the dishes everything is focused on meat (with plenty of great veggie options). I went for the steak tartare and was not disappointed.
Post dinner we went for some late night drinks in the meatpacking district. Similar to New York, this is the ‘in’ place to go at night time. In between the delivery trucks, butcher shops and warehouses are some of Copenhagen’s trendiest restaurants, bars and clubs.
Overall it was a fantastic trip. Copenhagen is a modern, safe city that is extremely accessible and has plenty to offer both event and incentive travel wise, including some of the best dining experiences you are likely to find in the world. I discovered that Copenhagen is an inspired, eco-friendly destination with creative, innovative spaces and - having been named Lonely Planet’s top city to travel to in 2019 - it seems that Copenhagen is leading the way in tourism and travel.
