We hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas, a happy New Year’s Eve, that you are ready for 2025, and that your resolutions last longer than two weeks. 

This issue is of Copenhagen Unfolded is written by Christina, who is an assistant on VisitCopenhagen's digital channels. Her favourite thing about winter is to explore the Copenhagen coffee scene and enjoy a hot beverage while reading. She is currently working her way through Ulysses by James Joyce - very much recommended!

An old boyfriend, who is not Danish, once asked me what the whole deal with ‘hygge’ is. My response was that it is a sort of strategy for Danes, where we worship the light and warmth during winter. And if you didn’t already know, Copenhagen is warmest when it’s cold!

• Explore Copenhagen’s diverse art scene
• Hot and cold dips outside
• Food for the soul
• January Specials

If you can't get enough of our recommendations for Copenhagen, you can always check out our Instagram or visitcopenhagen.com

Copenhagen is filled with fantastic museums. Regardless of your art interest there will be something to tickle your curiosity specifically.

Copenhagen Contemporary is one of my favourite museums in the world, not only because of the cool location of Refshaleøen and it being in an old shipyard building, not to forget their fantastic café Connie Connie, but also because I have not once been disappointed with any of their exhibitions. The museum shows contemporary art from both artistic superstars and up and coming artists. I’m especially excited for Marta Minujín’s exhibition “Intensify Life.”

Photos: Daniel Rasmussen & Mellanie Gandø

If the ancient and modern art scene is more up your alley, you cannot miss out on Glyptoteket. With a timeframe of 3500 years, with the earliest being Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman art, the spectacular range will blow your mind. The centrepiece for me is the beautiful Winter Garden in the middle of the museum, which will give you a tropical sense even in winter times.

One of the more unconventional choices is Museum of Illusions, which is an interactive experience, where learning and play go hand in hand. The museum offers multiple optic illusions, plays with your perception of reality, and is all around just really good fun! 

Did you know that with a Copenhagen Card you have free access to all three attractions and 80+ others in Copenhagen and beyond? I'd definitely recommend getting one if you need to do more things in just a few days, as there's a lot of money to be saved.

One of my new year’s resolutions is to finally join the massive gang of Copenhageners who winter bathe. My curiosity has sparked, because it seems that everyone I know jumps in the freezing cold water. The health benefits are endless, the community is strong, and Copenhagen has multiple public places to winter bathe. I will probably start out my journey at La Banchina, as they have a sauna and a café, so I quickly can warm up again.

Photo: Mellanie Gandø

If this whole plan fails, there is always the option of visiting a spa or a hot tub in Copenhagen. Many of the hot tubs in Copenhagen are outside, including Copenhot and Hottub Copenhagen, where you can soak up the atmosphere of winter while staying warm.

If you want to completely disregard anything outside, there are multiple great indoor spas in Copenhagen. My favourite by far is AIRE Ancient Baths, where I always start the new year with a good soak and massage. Bring on 2025!

Excuse me for being a stereotypical Danish person for a second, but I LOVE 'smørrebrød' – the opened face sandwich. Nothing makes me happier. I could have a piece of smørrebrød for every meal and still not get sick of it. Probably because there are so many variations of it, and all of them are equally good. I am for sure warming up this winter in one of the many restaurants selling this delicacy here in Copenhagen.

Photo: Maria Kathrine Preisler

I am also going out for a few dinners with friends this January, at some of the restaurants where lit candles and hygge comes with the food. As mentioned previously, Danes have adapted this 'hygge' into the cold winter nights, and the restaurants are no different. I’m especially excited for a night at Paté Paté in the Meat Packing district, where their tapas and wine will be the perfect setting for a hygge night that can warm up both my body and soul.

I am also going ice skating since several of the outdoor ice-skating ranks are still open, such as the ones on Enghave Plads, Broens Street Kitchen, Reffen and Frederiksberg.

Winter is all about staying warm - not just your body, but also your mind and soul. I hope my recommendations have inspired you to find the warmth in the cold month of january!

But remember, these are just my recommendations. At the editorial office, we're just as interested in hearing yours, so please let us know if there's anything you feel that we've missed.

We’ll be back in a month with much more on all the best of Copenhagen. 

Copenhagen Unfolded is published by VisitCopenhagen. Our goal is to tell the world about Copenhagen and the great experiences that are to be had here. This issue of Copenhagen Unfolded is put together by Kasper Syhler, Christina Daubjerg Newman, Andrea Lundgaard and Emil Kristensen. 

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Copenhagen Card

Save money on your trip to Copenhagen. With a Copenhagen card you get free entry to the city's most popular attractions, free public transport and you can bring two children under 12 years old. 

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