Loving summer in Copenhagen
Most places in the world seem to be at their best during the summer months.
While it can be fun to pull on hats, scarves, and gloves, and trudge around in the snow for a while, it's a completely different dynamic when the sun is out, and everyone can relax, take their time, and just enjoy what life has to offer.
Of all the places in Europe where you can spend summer, one of my favourite places has to be Copenhagen — the capital of Denmark.
Copenhagen is a beautiful city at any time of year, but during summer it really comes alive.
Swimming in the harbour
You'll be amazed at how clean and fresh the water in the harbour is. There's a swimming pontoon set up at a spot called Islands Brygge. Adjacent to this is a stretch of grass. On sunny days the grass is rammed with everyone, relaxing in the sun and working on their tans, while the energetic jump in and out of the water at the swimming pontoon. Included in the pontoon is a diving platform. It doesn’t look particularly high from the bottom, but when you're at the top and looking down at the water below it's a completely different proposition.
Eating the food
Copenhagen has a justifiably impressive reputation as a destination for food-lovers. From Noma (by all accounts one of the best restaurants in the world), to the simple open sandwiches that they do so well. I was eating some herring in a local restaurant when they poured me a glass of schnapps. I protested, I was just having a quick lunch, it really was a bit early to be laying into the schnapps, but they insisted that the schnapps had to be drunk with the herring “to help the fish swim.” It’s hard to argue with that kind of logic. Copenhagen is also the home of the Joe & The Juice franchise (who do great juices); The Coffee Collective (who do great coffee); and Grod — which translates as porridge (they do great porridge).
Dancing in the streets
Lots of places have music festivals in the summer months, and it's always a great atmosphere to head out into the fields and go camping somewhere remote. Copenhagen’s summer music festival is called Distortion. What makes it interesting is that it effectively takes over the city. They describe it as a party tsunami, because each day it moves from one neighbourhood to the next, building momentum, involving everyone, bringing music and dancing to the entire city. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, everyone out in the streets, enjoying the sunshine, drinking cans of beer, and having a good time. This is what a music festival should be.
If I was just a little bit taller, and a little bit blonder, I would move to Copenhagen in a heart-beat. There's so much to recommend this city — they cycle everywhere, they know good food, and they know how to have a good time. If you're looking for a city-break destination for summer then it is hard to look past Copenhagen.