Today is the final blog of our Scandinavian road trip! You can find out what we got up to in Northern Denmark, Norway and Sweden as well as how we got around three countries in two weeks with a one year old.
Instead of taking the extortionate bridge from Sweden to Denmark, (yep, still not over this) we crossed countries via a twenty minute - and far cheaper - train ride from Malmö. We had been advised that if we wanted larger and more affordable accommodation it was best to find a place in Sweden, because hotels in the buzzing city of Copenhagen come at a price. When travelling with a one year old who was desperate to crawl, space is key selling point!
As we only came here on a day trip, we wanted to see as much of this uber-cool city as quickly as possible so opted to jump aboard one of the many tourist boat trips that glide up and down the canals. I’d definitely recommend seeing the city’s skyline from the waterways. Copenhagen’s unusual architecture and iconic museums were pointed out with the history explained in bitesized chunks by the friendly tour guides. It also meant we got really close to the Little Mermaid - still not the best view but with the hoards of tourists here it was never going to be an Insta-worthy shot!
Another form of transport that’s tres Copenhagen are bikes - a.k.a the king of the road - it also means that the city is accessible for pushchairs, too. We didn’t opt to get around on two wheels but we did follow the popular route to have a bite to eat at the trendy street food set up at the Bridge Street Kitchen. There are also too many fantastic bakeries to mention as well as adorable tree-lined squares dotted around the city with pavement cafes and street performers.
We took a wander away from the packed streets selling tourist tat in the main shopping centre on the search for more of a laid back hippy vibe. Freetown Christiania is a unique part of the city. Copenhagen’s alternative neighbourhood is a mix of homemade houses, workshops, art galleries, music venues and nature. It is a society within a society. The former military base sat abandoned for many years but in 1971, a group of hippies broke down the barricades and began squatting there. Nowadays, approximately 900 people live in the area, comprising a community that has its own rules and regulations completely independent of the Danish government.
I had hoped to feel peace, love and harmony from the free-thinking residents and visitors but all I got was a sense of unease as chavs stood around smoking weed and drunk men slept on benches. It just felt a little, well, grubby, like a crumbling hippie commune that had lost its way.
We only scratched the surface of this cosmopolitan, forward thinking and trendy city. From the regeneration of the harbour area to the small local businesses being given a platform in the street markets and fairs - it is a city that I imagine will feel different every time you visit. I’d love to return and see what it’s like when the sun sets - just maybe not with a toddler in tow!
