Copenhagen, Denmark

Our family traveled from three corners of the world to meet in Copenhagen for one week. Denmark is known for its discerning design and Danish pastry. We visited museums, outdoor sculptures, and bakeries and nourished our souls and our tummies.

Kastrup Sea Bath

One of many Danish architectural marvels is the Kastrup Sea Bath. It’s a swimming pool in the sea! The circular structure spirals upwards to a 5-meter (16.4 feet) diving platform.

Design Museum Denmark

One of the two museums we visited was the Design Museum. The exhibits included Japanese woodblock prints and modern Danish folk costumes. Our favorite exhibits were the Danish furniture designers of the 20th century and the 137-year-old IRMA supermarket’s design story.

IKEA Museum (Amhult, Sweden)

Wishing to wander further afield, we rented a car (at the Copenhagen airport) for two days. Sights we wanted to see included Thomas Dambo’s Forgotten Giants (aka Trolls), the Forest Tower at Adventure Park in Zealand, and the IKEA Museum in Sweden. The two-day car rental was $150 USD; however, the total cost doubled to $300 USD after adding the bridge toll for the Øresund Bridge that connects Denmark and Sweden.

If you are planning to drive to Sweden, you can buy the bridge ticket at the station on the Swedish side of the bridge in Danish or Swedish kroner. Tickets are also available online. Our car rental company offered the bridge tickets at a 10% discount.

Alternatively, there is a train from Copenhagen to Amhult, Sweden. The cost is $60 USD RT per person and takes the same time as driving. Moreover, once you reach Amhult, it is only a 4-minute walk from the train station to the museum (about 2 blocks). The train option makes sense for up to three, maybe even four people since you would come out ahead of the car rental and bridge fees. We opted for the car rental because we were a group of five people. Also, we wanted a car for two days.

As lifelong IKEA fans, we loved our visit to the IKEA Museum. Since engineers and designers made up most of our group, we appreciated learning about IKEA’s early years and their steadfast dedication to innovation, design, function, and safety. It was also inspiring to hear about their democratic approach to making furniture affordable to everyone, despite the 1950s boycott from the established furniture industry. IKEA was accused of undercutting its competitors by offering lower prices.

In 1958, IKEA opened its first showroom (now the museum). Recognizing a need for overnight accommodations for families driving across the country, in 1964, IKEA opened its first and only hotel on the property. IKEA Hotell is still a fully operational hotel today.

And, were you even at IKEA if you didn’t indulge in meat-, veggie-, chicken-, or plant balls?! If you have a larger group (or larger appetite), you also have the option of preordering a “sandwich cake” (smörgåstårta), from 6-12 pieces. And is it just me, or does food taste better al fresco?

Admission to the museum is inexpensive, under $6 USD, and free for kids under 18 years. There are free daily tours. Coffee and tea are free with admission. Kids will love the interactive exhibits and outdoor playgrounds.

Thomas Dambo’s Forgotten Giants and the Forest Tower

During our second day with the rental car, we devoted our morning to an open-air treasure hunt tracking down some of Thomas Dambo’s Forgotten Giants just outside the city. The sculptures were easy to find by just typing their names into Google Maps. Hunting for the giants was a peaceful activity in the serene landscapes, each sculpture is nestled into its own ecosystem of flora and fauna.

In the afternoon, 45 miles south of Copenhagen, you will find Camp Adventure. We walked the 2-mile raised footpath over the river and through the woods to walk up the gently sloped ramp of the 15-story (45-meter) high Forest Tower. Is anyone afraid of heights? At just under $30 USD per ticket for those 7+ years old, we saw more than one parent coaxing their child up. In addition to the Forest Tower, Camp Adventure has many activities on offer. There is a flower farm, petting zoo, climbing park, zip lines, and glamping.

Beautiful Things

Copenhagen is one of the most aesthetically pleasing cities we have visited. The art, urban landscape, and the people are stylish. We were flattered when Danes would mistake one of us for a local — and touched (if not slightly embarrassed) when they effortlessly switched to speaking English.

The biking culture is something to behold — and the public transportation was easy for the rest of us.

Lastly, I could not help but notice all of the young families and baby buggies. Parents really do leave their babies in their buggies outside of stores while they shop. And if I may, the parental leave policy in Denmark is how it ought to be. The mother is permitted four weeks of leave from work before the birth of her baby and each parent is entitled to 24 weeks after the birth, 52 weeks (one year!) in all. What a beautiful opportunity for a young family to bond.

And now I find myself counting my blessings again as I reflect on our trip. What a lovely opportunity our family had to bond in the picturesque and inspiring city of Copenhagen.

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