Everything about Copenhagen feels like it was designed for people who love beautiful things — and we are absolutely those people. There are cities you visit and cities that stay with you long after you’ve unpacked your bags. Copenhagen, Denmark is firmly in the second category. From the moment we arrived, we understood why this city consistently ranks among the most livable, most beautiful, and most sought-after destinations in all of Europe. It is compact, it is flat, it is gorgeous, and it is genuinely joyful in a way that sneaks up on you. By day two, we never wanted to leave. If you’ve been dreaming about a European trip that combines history, stunning architecture, world-class food, design culture, and scenery that belongs on a postcard, Copenhagen belongs at the very top of your list. Let us tell you everything. Where to Stay in Copenhagen Copenhagen offers two wonderful hotel options that we recommend wholeheartedly, depending on what kind of stay you’re after. Villa Copenhagen is an upscale choice — a beautifully restored historic building with the kind of thoughtful design, conscious luxury and serene atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re living your most elevated life. It has a pool, a rooftop bar with views that will make your jaw drop, and bicycles available for guests. It is, simply put, a dream. Tivoli Hotel is the family-friendly option, positioned right next to the legendary Tivoli Gardens. It also has a pool, a rooftop bar, and bicycles for guests — and the energy here is warm, welcoming, and wonderfully festive. With children or without, it’s a genuinely delightful base for exploring the city. Both are excellent. Your choosing between them depends entirely on your travel style — but you truly cannot go wrong with either. Get on a Bike: The Best Way to See Copenhagen Here is the single most important piece of advice we can give you about Copenhagen: get on a bike and don’t get off until dinnertime. Copenhagen is one of the most bike-friendly cities on the entire planet — not in theory, but in beautifully executed practice. There are dedicated bike lanes everywhere, the city is essentially flat, and cycling through the neighborhoods, along the canals, and across the bridges feels less like transportation and more like pure, unfiltered delight. Both Villa Copenhagen and Tivoli Hotel have bikes available for guests, so there is absolutely no excuse not to pedal your way through this city. You can cycle to Nyhaven Street, but park your bike and stroll through Nyhaven— along, the iconic waterfront lined with brightly colored 17th-century townhouses and bobbing wooden boats. It is every bit as beautiful as every photo you have ever seen, and somehow even more magical in person. From there, let the city open up to you at bicycle pace. Do not miss the Circle Bridge — a stunning pedestrian and cyclist bridge with a design that is equal parts sculptural art and functional beauty. It is one of those moments where you stop in the middle of the bridge, look out at the water, and think: yes, this is exactly why we travel. Things You Absolutely Cannot Miss Rosenborg Castle and the King’s Garden — This 17th-century Renaissance castle in the heart of the city is magnificent, and the surrounding King’s Garden is one of the loveliest places we found to simply slow down. The flowers are extraordinary. We sat on a bench in the sunshine, watched the Danes going about their day, and felt completely at peace. Make time for this. The Round Tower (Rundetaarn) — A 17th-century astronomical tower you can spiral your way up (no stairs — a wide, winding ramp) for a panoramic view of the city rooftops. It is charming, a little surprising, and absolutely worth the climb. GoBoat Harbor Tours — One of the true highlights of our entire trip. These are small, self-driven electric boats that you pilot yourself through the Copenhagen canals and harbor. There is something so wonderful about seeing a city from the water — the bridges, the architecture, the light — and GoBoat makes it completely accessible and genuinely fun. Book in advance. Shopping and Studio Culture — Copenhagen is a city that takes design seriously, and shopping here means exploring beautiful Danish brands, gorgeous home goods, and one of the most thriving vintage clothing scenes we’ve ever encountered. For something special, visit Studio Arhoj, where you can watch glass and ceramic artists working right in front of you. The pieces are stunning and one-of-a-kind. We may have come home with a few. The Pastry Crawl: Our Greatest Idea Yet We planned a self-guided pastry crawl across Copenhagen — by bike, naturally, because a little exercise between buttery stops felt like the right approach — and it was, without question, one of the greatest mornings of the entire trip. Copenhagen’s bakery culture is extraordinary. The pastries here bear almost no resemblance to what we call “danishes” at home. They are flaky, precise, beautifully crafted, and made with ingredients that taste alive. Our recommended stops: Skt. Peders Bageri — A Copenhagen institution with lines that tell you everything you need to know. Get there early. Buka — Warm, welcoming, and absolutely delicious. Hart — Stunning, minimalist, and worth every calorie. Rug — A beautiful neighborhood bakery with an excellent selection. And then, our absolute favorite, the one we cannot stop talking about: Juno the Bakery. We had the cardamom bun, a cheese sandwich, a rhubarb vanilla cream danish, and butter cookies — and every single thing was transcendent. We are not exaggerating when we say that these are worth traveling back to Denmark for. If you do nothing else on our list, go to Juno. Dinner Reservations Worth Making Copenhagen’s restaurant scene is as impressive as its bakeries. We recommend booking ahead at The Olive Kitchen for Mediterranean-influenced cooking with the freshest produce, Sticks’n’Sushi for a Copenhagen institution that manages to be both casual and exceptional, and Bloom for…
Adventures/Travel
Pack Your Bags, Girls…We’re Headed to Paris
We’re Planning a Perfect Ina Garten–Inspired Trip! There is a scene in almost every episode of Barefoot Contessa where Ina Garten walks into a Paris shop, picks up something beautiful — a bunch of peonies, a round of aged cheese, a bottle of wine with a particularly lovely label — and you think to yourself: I want to be exactly where she is right now. If you’ve ever felt that feeling, this post is for you. We’ve been planning the most perfectly curated girls’ trip to Paris, and we couldn’t be more excited. This is not your typical tourist itinerary. This is a slow, savoring, stop-into-every-beautiful-shop kind of trip — the kind where you end the day with a glass of wine, a wedge of something extraordinary from a fromagerie, and the particular glow of a person who has spent a full day in one of the most beautiful cities in the world doing exactly what they love. We’re staying in the 7th arrondissement near Rue Cler — Ina’s own neighborhood, and arguably the most charming, livable, local-feeling street in all of Paris. This pedestrian market street in the heart of the 7th is where real Parisians do their daily shopping — fresh produce, wine, charcuterie, flowers. It’s the kind of street that makes you understand, on a cellular level, why the French live the way they do. Now, let’s talk about where we’re going. First Stop, Always: Adriane M. Fleuriste We are starting exactly the way Ina starts every Paris trip — at Adriane M. Fleuriste on Rue Saint-Dominique. According to Ina herself, this beloved neighborhood florist is her very first stop when she arrives in Paris, and honestly, can you think of a better way to begin? Artfully arranged blooms, classic French style, and the kind of floral arrangements that make your apartment feel instantly like a film set. We’re picking up something lush and beautiful to brighten up our Rue Cler apartment, and we’re not apologizing for it. Wine First, Questions Later: Legrand Filles et Fils Just around the corner from the Palais-Royal, Legrand Filles et Fils — also known as Le Comptoir et les Caves Legrand — is one of the most quintessentially Parisian wine shops imaginable. Ina has featured it in multiple episodes of Barefoot Contessa, and it is everything: well-stocked, knowledgeable, not even slightly pretentious, and set inside a gorgeous space with a beautiful glass-enclosed courtyard you’ll want to linger in for at least an hour. Pick up a bottle (or two) for the evening. Then wander back for the accessories shop. Then sit in the café. You’ll understand. Cheese, Beautifully: Barthélémy If there is a more perfect cheese shop in all of Paris than Barthélémy on Rue de Grenelle, we haven’t found it. This tiny, family-run fromagerie has been operating since 1959 and has earned a devotion that borders on religious among those who know it — Ina Garten included. She shared her love of Barthélémy in an Instagram post in 2022 and recommended building a cheese board with a blue, a hard, and a soft — Roquefort, Salers, and Chevrot being her particular favorites. We will be following her lead exactly, buying more than we probably should, and having absolutely no regrets. The Most Enchanting Macarons in Paris: Hugo & Victor We could debate Parisian macarons all day, but for this trip, we are firmly in the Hugo & Victor camp. This sleek, sophisticated patisserie — its name a playful nod to Victor Hugo — is designed like a dark, beautiful library, with chocolates and confections nestled in packaging that looks like tiny leather-bound books. Pastry chef Hugues Pouget offers two distinct personalities in his creations: the innovative Hugo and the more classic Victor. The macarons are stunning. The chocolates are extraordinary. The fruit tarts and millefeuille have been known to stop grown women in their tracks. Go. Buy something delish. Mustard on Tap and So Much More: Maison Maille This is one of those stops that sounds like a simple errand and turns into one of the best hours of your day. Maison Maille on Place de la Madeleine is a boutique entirely dedicated to mustard — and they serve it fresh, on tap, in over 50 varieties. Classic coarse-ground à l’ancienne, honey, tarragon, cognac, black olive, mushroom — many of these flavors are only available in Paris and Dijon, nowhere else in the world. The shop itself is gorgeous: warm, fragrant, beautifully designed. Pick up the mustards, yes, but also don’t miss their selection of chocolates and specialty pantry items. We are leaving extra space in the suitcase for this stop alone. The Best Breads on Earth: Poilâne & Erik Kayser You haven’t had bread until you’ve had sourdough from Poilâne and olive bread or croissants from Erik Kayser. There, we said it. These legendary Paris bakeries have been producing their specialties the same way for generations. The result is bread with a crackling crust, a complex, slightly tangy crumb, and flavors that genuinely haunt you after you come home. We are picking up a few loaves, adding them to our collection of goodies and finding the nearest park bench to sit on and snack on a bite of it immediately. A Whimsical Dream: Marin Montagut This is a personal favorite discovery, and we want everyone to know about it. Marin Montagut’s boutique on Rue Madame in the 6th arrondissement is one of those shops that exists in a category entirely its own. Artist, author, and modern-day Parisian flâneur Marin Montagut has filled his namesake shop with hand-painted porcelain mugs depicting Parisian street signs, silk scarves that map the Luxembourg Gardens, hand-blown recycled glass, tarot cards, embroidered napkins, illustrated postcards, and scented candles — every single thing made in Paris or France by craftsmen who have been doing this for generations. It is, in the most literal sense, a portal to the Paris of yesterday. We are going in with a list and coming out with many things that…