Copenhagen
By 2025, Copenhagen hopes to the world’s first carbon neutral capital. By 2050, the city’s goal is to be completely independent of fossil fuels. With goals like these, it’s no surprise the capital city in Denmark is filled with interesting sustainable experiences. Here are some top picks:
1. Ride Your Bike
Biking is an easy way to get around Copenhagen
One major goal of Copenhagen is to be the biking capital of the world by 2015, although it may already be true. Walking around Copenhagen, your first thought will be, “Wow, is there a biking event today? There are so many cyclists out!” The truth is, it’s just everyday people getting around the city on their favorite mode of transport, the bike. In Copenhagen, there are 540 kilometers (335 miles) of bike trails, with many cycle super highways, green bike routes and national bicycle routes to help people quickly, safely and sustainably get around the city, country and beyond. Fifty-two percent of Copenhagen residents use the bike as their main mode of transportation, while about 75% of locals bike in all types of weather. This means exploring Copenhagen by bike is a great way to stay active, save money, do something good for the environment and have a local experience.
Riding your bike isn’t the only way to get active and experience Copenhagen in an eco-friendly way. For example, signing up for a Small Group Copenhagen Running Tour is another option. The excursion takes you on a 5-mile (8-km) route around the city, showing you iconic landmarks like Christiansborg Palace, the Little Mermaid Statue, Amalienborg Castle (home to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark), the Citadel and a number of green spaces. Another sustainable tour option is a Copenhagen Harbor Kayaking Tour, which allows you to not just enjoy waterfront views, but be in the water. You’ll explore Copenhagen’s canals, waterfront district and bridges while also seeing old Navy ships, the Black Diamond and Copenhagen Opera House.
2. Stay at the Hotel Kong Arthur
Hotel Kong Arthur is a family-run carbon neutral hotel (it’s part of the world’s first carbon neutral hotel chain, Brochner Hotels) located in Copenhagen’s Lake District. In everything they do, their focus is sustainability and helping the environment. For example, all food and drink is either locally-sourced or organic, and in the few instances where it’s not, such as with some of the Italian and Spanish wines, it is shipped over in the most environmentally-friendly way possible. They also use carbon credits to help offset any negative impact they may have on the environment, for example, when guests use electricity in the rooms. For the future, they’re working to use only green energy powered by windmills. Other ways this informal and cozy accommodation goes green is by offering bike and electric car rentals to guests, a spa with natural ingredients, using Eco Cosm.Ethic bath products, asking guests to reuse towels, donating money to drinking water projects in Africa, and more.
3. Experience the New Nordic Food Movement
Tasty meal at the Radio Restaurant
The New Nordic Food Movement is a philosophy of eating created by Chef and food entrepreneur Claus Meyer, who owns a number of restaurants in the city including the world-famous Restaurant Noma (which he co-owns with Chef Rene Redzepi). It focuses on using local, nutritionally-rich, seasonal ingredients, with a focus on fresh vegetables, seafood and ancient grains. This style of preparing and enjoying food works to preserve traditional recipes and help the environment. Along with Restaurant Noma, Meyer — along with Partners and Head Chefs Jesper Kirketerp and Rasmus Kliim — is behind the locavore-driven Restaurant Radio. The relaxed nature-inspired venue is free of pretension, simply focusing on crafting innovative meals made with what ingredients are freshest at the moment. Dishes play with textures and unusual food combinations to create meals that are both tasty and healthy. It’s also a fun experience, as they feature a tasting menu where you choose between three or five courses and wine pairing.
Manfreds & Vin in Norrebro
Another option for experiencing farm-to-table-inspired fare is Manfreds & Vin in Norrebro. The restaurant focuses on rustic shareable dishes made with biodynamic vegetables, roots and local meats for better quality food that’s also good for you and the environment. For drinks, natural wines and local craft beer make up the menu. Some dishes you might sample include artisanal cabbages; fried eggplant with fennel cream and fennel salad; hearty slices of local grass fed beef; and cold cucumber soup with lemon oil and fennel, to name a few. To further explore the city’ local cuisine, opt for a Copenhagen Food Tour. You’ll sample traditional dishes, artisanal cheeses and organic hot dogs; experience some of Copenhagen’s best delis and restaurants; and even sip on Danish apple wine at the Copenhagen Botanical Gardens.
4. Peruse the Local Market
Fresh veggies at the market
At Torvehallerne near Copenhagen’s Nørreport metro station, visitors can sample delicious local and organic foods. Opened in 2011 when locals began demanding farmers markets in addition to their already-existing grocery stores, Torvehallerne has become a cultural and epicurean hub in the city. There are a range of sustainable experiences to be had at Torvehallerne, like trying free samples of homemade dips at stations around the space, smelling ecological spices from around the world at ASA Trading, cava and seafood pairing at Cava Bar, sampling traditional Danish tapas and canapes at Hallernes Smorrebrod, tasting Danish queso at Cheese Square, sipping farm to cup coffee at The Coffee Collective and organic ice pastries at Fougaz Per Brown Seleccion, organic wine tasting at Le Pinard and more.
5. Get a GoGreen Copenhagen Map
Copenhagen has a strong green philosophy. To experience sustainable local business, you can pick up a GoGreen Copenhagen Map and visit the shops, services and attractions. To be included on the map, a business must fit a certain criteria, like having at least 60% environmentally certified products and operating under a philosophy of social responsibility by donating to charity or being Swan-marked because of your reduction in carbon emissions. Some of the more than 240 green businesses featured on the map include the Valby Nature Playground, Olde’s Kaffetaar Restaurant, Royal Danish Horticultural Society’s Garden, the Muda Nashi second hand luxury shop and the Eco Ego organic shop. You can obtain a GoGreen Copenhagen map at the tourist office in Central Station, at the airport, at participating businesses and on some buses. You can also download the GoGreen app.
6. Taste Sustainably-Grown Wine
Not only does Copenhagen’s food scene focus on sustainable offerings, so do their wineries. At Le Pinard in Torvehallerne Market visitors can sip on organic and biodynamic wines in an al fresco setting. Instead of using large harvesters, the wines here come from farms where grapes are harvested and the wine is made with the vintner’s own two hands. Moreover, at the Hotel Kong Arthur their bar features organic and locally-sourced wines in a laid-back, cozy setting with plush couches, bookshelves and a fireplace. Guests can enjoy a complimentary wine hour each night from 5pm to 6pm. And at Manfreds & Vin you can enjoy natural wines from the city’s first natural wine bar paired with fresh and healthy New Nordic cuisine. Make sure to also check out Terroiristen, where you can sample traditional-style vinos made with organic or biodynamic grapes. And at Krone Vin, organic and biodynamic wines are the name of the game, supplying farm-to-table restaurants and green companies.
7. Stroll Through City Garden
Stroll through Copenhagen’s many parks
Strolling through Copenhagen’s green spaces allows you to get in touch with nature and appreciate its beauty and offerings. City gardens help keep the Earth green, and by appreciating them you’re creating a demand for natural beauty within the city. Moreover, many of Copenhagen’s parks teach visitors the importance of sustainability. The Royal Danish Horticultural Society’s Garden, located within the Frederiksberg Gardens, is often touted as one of the most tranquil locations in the city and is home to a delicious vegetable garden. At the Vertical Garden you can visit the Copenhagen Living Wall, where plants grow up a building wall outlining a map of Europe. These types of walls are believed to improve air quality by trapping nitrogen dioxide. And at Kalvebod Fælled Vestamager, one can explore a more untouched environment full of deer, cows, horses, salamander, toads and a number of bird species. Encompassing 2,000 acres (20 square kilometers), it’s a protected area with wild and untamed flora as well as an educational nature center. Some other great parks and gardens to visit in Copenhagen include Deer Park, the Botanical Garden and The Rose Garden. Visiting the city’s parks and gardens is also great family-friendly experience in Copenhagen.
8. Sample Sweets at an Organic Bakery
Try some organic French Macaroons
As Copenhagen is home to an overall passion for sustainability, it’s no surprise you’ll find some of the world’s most innovative and flavorful organic bakeries here. Claus Meyer is the father behind the health- and sustainability-focused New Nordic Cuisine, which takes farm-to-table even further with an emphasis on foraging and wasting as little as possible. It’s no surprise then, that Meyers Bakeries (locations at Jægersborggade 9 & Store Kongensgade 46) immerses carb lovers in a world of tasty breads. Sample fresh baked bread made with organic, locally-sourced ingredients, and watch bakers prepare fresh loaves throughout the day using everything from wholegrain rye flour to Øland wholegrain wheat flour to. Moreover, their heavenly chocolate chip cookies, French Macaroons and cinnamon buns made with Valrhona chocolate are satisfying and ethical.
9. Shop Sustainably
Copenhagen is a great destination for the shopping enthusiast, and for those who want to shop sustainably there are many options. While Gågrøn offers sustainably crafted gifts and housewares, Eco Ego is full of fair trade finds. At The Green Suitcase, you can purchase certified organic cotton cosmetic bags and pajamas, handmade raw material jewelry and cards made from recycled materials, while at Pure Shop organic perfume, cosmetics and body products can be found. For ethical fashion finds, O-S-V, Aniel and Moshi Moshi Mind are top picks. And if you need to pick up some groceries, Irma Islands Brygge is Denmark’s first Swan-certified grocery store, offering organic products and operating under energy-efficient practices.
10. Visit the Inspiration House
At Copenhagen’s Inspiration House, located in the Frederiksberg neighborhood, one can get excited about sustainability through innovative ideas and concrete initiatives focused on green, eco-friendly living. The attraction hosts talks, is home to the Frederiksberg Food Community where you can order organic and biodynamic produce, and guided tours of the house where you’ll learn more about solar energy, biological air-purification and natural insulation. The Nature House is another green attraction that works to educate the public on sustainability and the environment, with a natural area as well as an ecological demonstration house.
-Jessica Festa
This trip was sponsored by Visit Copenhagen.
Copenhagen, the Next Great Green City by Jessica Festa from Viator Travel Blog