Amsterdam & Copenhagen
Introduction
In 2016, when our daughter decided to study abroad in Copenhagen for a semester, we decided we would travel to a place we never before imagined visiting, and we were so happy we did! Although we went in Spring, it was still a bit cold, but definitely manageable and worth it! Since we would be traveling far, we also decided that we would stop somewhere new along the way, and that’s how we ended up in Amsterdam. As a general note, I always try to order as many museum and tour tickets before leaving on my vacation, so that I can avoid as many lines as possible while there.
My daughter has compiled a list of activities, sites, food, and shopping from her time in Denmark. Download here.
My Itinerary
April 12
Arrive
Check into Hotel Fita
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Central location
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A little noisy outside (there’s a preschool outside)
Lunch at Blushing Cafe
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Very good
Tulips and I Amsterdam sign in Museumplein Park
Beer and wine at Cobra Café
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Good atmosphere
Dinner at The Pantry
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Authentic Dutch restaurant
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Really good
Walk back, started raining
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Beautiful rainbow
April 13
Breakfast at Bagels and Beans
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Cute local coffee house
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Large national museum
Lunch at Le Pain Quotidien
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Make sure to purchase your tickets ahead of time, so you don’t have to wait in a very long line. Keep checking the website daily because tickets open up all of the time
Dinner at Casa di Sergio
April 14
Breakfast at Hotel Fita
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Yummy pancake
Tour of Royal Palace
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This wasn’t part of our original plan, but I found the history provided incredibly interesting!
Lunch at Mandarijn
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Chinese food
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REALLY good
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Walk around
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Yummy poffertjes (little pancakes)
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Lots of fun
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Reserve this before heading to Amsterdam to ensure that you will get to do this activity when you want
Dinner at La Luna
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Argentinian steak house
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VERY good meal
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Cute, small place
April 15
Breakfast at Hotel Fita
Fly to Copenhagen
Check into Copenhagen Marriott Hotel
Walk into inner Copenhagen
Dinner at Café G
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Cute Danish ambience
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Good food
April 16
Train station to get Copenhagen Card
Take train to Vesterbro for breakfast at Mad & Kaffe
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Good but really long wait (get there early!)
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Create-your-own breakfast/brunch (pick 3, 5, or 7 items from menu)
Train and Metro to Kongens Nytorv
Walk to Nyhavn
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Saw colorful houses along canal/harbor
Walk to Amalienborg Royal Palace
Walk to Kastellet (The Citadel)
Walk to Little Mermaid statue
Walk around Rosenborg gardens
Late lunch at Paludan Bog & Café
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Self-seating - usually really busy, so have someone in your group find a table while someone else waits in line
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Really good food
Walk up Round Tower
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Beautiful views of the city
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Very pretty inside
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Not fully open yet - seasonal closings, so check in advance
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Amusement park
Dinner at Grøften
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Typical Danish setting
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Good food
Walk around Tivoli
April 17
Train to Malmö, Sweden
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Customs at first train stop
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Art exhibit about dads and kids
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Art exhibit about refugees from WWII
Walk into town square
Lunch at Mello Yello
See St. Petri Church
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Malmö's oldest church
Train back to Copenhagen
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Green light district
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No cameras allowed!
Dinner at Paper Island
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Food trucks inside a warehouse
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Really fun and good
April 18
Breakfast at Baresso
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Big coffee chain in Denmark
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Based on my research, Baresso was acquired by a different company and is now Espresso House
Walk around
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Parliament building
Lunch at Torvehallerne (Glass Market food court)
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AKA "Hamlet's Castle"
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Really interesting
Walk through Tivoli again
Dinner at El Viejo Mexico
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REALLY good
April 19
Coffee and croissant at train station
Take train to Humlebæk station
Walk to Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
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Located outside of Copenhagen but worth a visit
Train back to Copenhagen
Take train to Farum
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This is where my daughter lived when she studied abroad
April 20
Head back home