A COPENHAGEN ADVENTURE THAT CHARMINGLY TAKES YOU ON A DANISH EXPERIENCE; HISTORICAL SIGHTINGS, CULTURAL SETTINGS WHILE TRYING THE FANTASTIC FOODS AND DRINKS TO ENJOY!
By MARIANA MEJIA
Copenhagen is known to be the happiest city in the world, a unique city with its charmingly magical atmosphere. As charming it can be during the fall season in Copenhagen, the trees magically appear with bright oranges and reds everywhere, while the air gets crisp and the days get shorter. Autumn in Copenhagen is less crowded, and it’s at its peak season for hygge, meaning “cozy and comfortable.” Visiting Copenhagen this season isn’t just about the cool, crisp air and colorful season; it’s about the historical places and hotels that make up a memorable vacation. Stay at Manon Les Suites, a bohemian, breathtaking, festive, and luxurious atmosphere. Manon Les Suites is located at the heart of Copenhagen and is surrounded by the most attractive sights and areas. This luxury hotel is a dream, a happy and lush environment perfect for friends, couples, and families looking for the real Copenhagen experience. Also, with every overnight stay at the Manon Les Suites, they will plant a tree in your name to help restore global reforestation.
The service at Manon’s Rooftop restaurant at Manon Les Suites offers superb views while serving cocktails, exquisite wines, beers, soft drinks, and mouthwatering menus of several bistro classics made in Guldsmeden style. The seating is uniquely different for everyone; you can choose to be seated on soft rooftop beds or enjoy the rooftop view from the tables inside the restaurant. In autumn, drinking wine with a nice meal sounds like the best comfort food that any local or visitor alike can get while enjoying the cool breeze near a pyramid fire heater.
When autumn sweeps you off your feet, it’s time to head out and explore. The best way to get around Copenhagen is by train. By purchasing a Copenhagen card, will give you unlimited access to transportation via train, bus, metro, and harbor buses throughout the entire capital region, including to and from the airport. It will also grant your entry to several world-class museums and architectural sightings. Since COVID-19 is still a hit or miss when visiting different attractions, you will need proof that you’re vaccinated. Regardless of the results, it is mandatory to still get tested for COVID-19 and show evidence that you have received a negative result in order to enter any attractions or local areas. You must also wear a mask at all times, even if you’re vaccinated.
First, head out to the Botanical Garden. The Botanical Garden is part of the natural history museum at the University of Copenhagen known for its beautiful historic glasshouses. The Botanical Garden offers more than 13,000 plant species, and it’s aligned by sections that explain which plant species there are around the garden; Danish plants (600 species), Perennial plants (1,100 species), rock gardens with plants from mountainous areas in Central and South Europe and Conifer Hill, those are planted with coniferous trees. One of the many new inclusions is the rhododendron garden. Three years ago, on June 29, 2018, the Butterfly House opened up where visitors can explore and view a butterfly’s transformation up close; unfortunately, this exhibit normally closed during the winter and autumn season. The summer is usually when the Butterfly House is open. snm.ku.dk
The second-best place to visit is Rosenborg Castle. This historical site ventures off 400 years of the Renaissance Danish Kings’ and Queens’ most precious and valued treasures, like the architecture of the castle built by Christian IV, whose colorful personality left a strong mark on Danish history. In this particular season, Copenhagen’s everlasting greens turn into vibrant hues of reds and orange that surround the exterior of the Rosenborg Castle. When visiting, the guests will explore the castle’s residential rooms that hold several artistries covering the castle’s walls while learning about the castle’s secrets and peculiarities of the royal life. visitcopenhagen.com
After being out all day at two historical sites, head back to the Manon Les Suites doesn’t sound like a bad idea. If you are exhausted from walking all day, then take a dip at the main pool and relax under the stars with your favorite Copenhagen cocktail, brought to you by the bellboy from Manon’s Rooftop restaurant. When you have finished swimming, head up to your suite, shower and get ready for bed; Tomorrow will be a long day.
Good morning; it’s time to seize the day and start with your first walking group tour. A tour that begins and ends at Kobenhavn, Denmark. The itinerary is to go to Rundetar/The Round Tower (15 minutes), Nyhavn/ Famous Nyhavn (15 minutes), Christiansborg Slot/Parliament Building of Denmark (15 minutes), Copenhagen’s Kings Square/Kongens Nytorv (15 minutes), Nova Experiences Copenhagen/Walking Tour (three hours), and Strøeget or a car-free pedestrian shopping area (15 minutes). They recommend going to a fresh local market for these walking tours and buying your own food for lunch/dinner if you’re on a budget. Also, it is recommended to buy your own beverage to stay hydrated because this tour does not provide food, drinks, or any other gratuities. Another tip is to make sure to wear comfortable attire.
After you have completed your walking tour and are back in your hotel room, you can freshen up. Once you have freshened up and dressed up into more admirable attire; A driver/guide will pick you up from the hotel and take you to Vesterhavegaarden Vineyard. This tour will take you on an adventure of a lifetime to venture off into a vast field filled with acres of land that has about 2,000 apple trees and vines spreading out into the areas; with apple trees that were planted 10 years ago and wine plants that were produced five years ago. This vineyard will show you how wine development is created and fermented. Along with the wine farmer, Jasper will give you a group presentation of decanting wine. At the end of the wine tour, the guide will take you and the group into a tiny wine farm shop, where you can see their organic production of wine. Here, you can sit down and relax while a demonstrator prepares you for a wine-tasting session in which you can choose three different types of wine. So, sit, relax, sip and enjoy! Just try not to have too much wine because your itinerary the next day depends on lots of rest and an appetite.
Psst! It’s time to wake up!
I know it’s super early in the morning, and I just want you to know that you’re just in luck! You actually made reservations for an entire day at the hotel’s spa until 4 p.m. to make your stay at the Manon Les Suites memorable, so head on over to the Rooftop Lounge Spa, where you can refine and cool down your senses, a rejuvenating space. An experience that will hydrate and detoxify you. After detoxifying and hydrating your whole body at the sauna, go over to the cold-water bucket bath and the essential oil steam bath area. Then head outdoors to the relaxation area and receive some vitamin D under the sun. A Nordic elemental escapes!
It’s 4 p.m., and you can get ready to wear your most comfortable bike wear with a sweater and backpack for a bike tour with your family and friends. This isn’t just an ordinary bike tour; it’s a three-hour culinary bike tour. A time where you and your group will need to make sure you come with an appetite for some tasty food tastings at different venues for a culinary Danish feasting experience. If you cannot finish all of your food, feel free to stop by a local store before the tour begins to buy some recyclable containers to store your unfinished treats in your backpack to eat later as a snack in your hotel room. The culinary bike tour starts by visiting Torvehallerne/Boutique Fisk (15 minutes), where you will be trying some tasty Danish fish – a fish cake served with rye bread and rémoulade, and while you’re still at Torvehallerne, go to the Summerbird Chocolaterie (10 minutes) where you get to try one of their amazing Flødeboller— a traditional chocolate-covered marshmallow puff. Next, hop back onto your bikes and burn off the calories from the food you just ate, just in time to eat some more food at our next destination Rundetarn (20 minutes), where you visit the organic hotdog stand next to the Round Tower; The Round Tower is one of the top 10 places to take professional photos to post on your social media platforms or Instagram story. boutiquefisk.dk
Then you’ll head to Islands Brygge (20 minutes) and try two different types of Danish pastries. What kind of tourist would you be if you didn’t try Danish pastries while in Denmark? The next stop is at Mikkeller Bar (20 minutes); in Vesterbro, you will be tasting some of their craft beers. Then finally, stop at Skaal (25 minutes), where beer is their passion, and you can select from over 100 different types of draft beer taps and bottled beers. They also offer Danish fare; their Smorrebrod is a favorite amongst visitors– a traditional Danish open-faced sandwich served with a shot of Akvavit.
On the last day, you can venture off through Copenhagen before going back home. The best thing to do is go into the local markets and shopping centers to do some last-minute gift shopping. Another great thing to do is to go into a walk-in/ reservation location at La Banchina. La Banchina is a hidden gem, where visitors and locals alike go to soak up in the sun and dip in the harbor; while serving natural, organic, biodynamic, and locally sourced food; Italian-inspired food. La Banchina is a 16-seat restaurant with a wine bar and an on-site reserved sauna. They serve food every day of the week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. During the fall/ winter season, this is the famous spot in the city. The city feels quite refreshing and relaxing and considering that La Banchina had a wood-fired sauna which contrasts with the cold water in the harbor that is cold enough to take a refreshing dip and then enjoy the rest of the day at the deck with family and friends. A fun, eventful, and memorable last day in Copenhagen! labanchina.dk
Farvel, indtil næste gang! (Goodbye, until next time!)