Tag Archives: denmark

Stockholm Stopover

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On our travels from Denmark to Iceland, we had a short stopover in Sweden, which, despite uncooperative weather (blustery rains from start to stop), we really enjoyed.

We began by visiting the Vasa Museum, which houses the eponymous Viking warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628.  Located on the island of Djurgarden (Stockholm is comprised of 14 islands), we then took the ferry to Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s old city, and one of the world’s best-preserved medieval towns.  Gamla Stan also is home to many of Stockholms best cafes and restaurants  – and more importantly, the majority of the handful of restaurants open on a Sunday evening.

From Gamla Stan, we took the T-Bana metro back to Normalm, where we were staying, stopping at Icebar at the Icehotel/Nordic Sea Hotel along the way.  Despite the kitsch, the atmosphere was fun and the drinks were cold (vodka + lingonberry juice, anyone?).  With the summer sun, it was still light out when we left, creating the illusion our one Stockholm day was not as brief as it really was.

Where to eat:  We loved Kryp In in Gamla Stan.  Housed in a cozy space in Gamlsa Stan, this top rated restaurant serves beautifully presented traditional Swedish food, such as baked smoked salmon, dill potatoes, and bleek roe.

Where to stay: I’d aim for the neighborhoods of Normalm or Gamla Stan to be centrally located near the city’s top sites.

Ice Bar

Ice Bar

Ice Bar

Gamla Stan

Gamla Stan

Stockholm, Sweden

Amusement Park on Djursgarden overlooking Gamla Stan

Vasa Museum, Stockholm

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Filed under Europe, Sweden

Food, food, and more food: 2 Days in Copenhagen, Denmark

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It is said that it’s difficult to have a bad meal in Copenhagen, Scandinavia’s culinary capital.  Having spent the past 2 days eating our way from site to site in the Danish city, we would resoundingly agree.  From open-face smorrebrod sandwiches to the confectionary shops found on nearly every street, we loved every bite.

Nine out of every ten adults here rides a bicycle, making this walkable city also one of the most green in the world.  In just two days, we saw most of the city’s  notable sites.  I should note Copenhagen’s famous architecture  – with the contemporary settled in next to the Renaissance and Rococo.   Highlights include the colorful houses along the Nyhavn quay, the late-Baroque Amalienborg Castle, and Henning Larsson’s Opera House.

Other highlights of our walking tours include seeing the Little Mermaid Statue, dining in the trendy neighborhood of Vesterbro, meandering through the controversial semi-autonomous free-zone of Christiana (photos not allowed!), strolling down Stroget – Europe’s longest pedestrian only street, and exploring Tivoli – the world’s oldest amusement park.

When to go:  Summer months –the weather is at its warmest (we had beautiful 70 degree days), and the summer sun doesn’t set until nearly 10PM.

Where to stay:  We used airbnb and found an amazing apartment centrally located in Vesterbro – in walking distance of all of our top destinations.

Where to eat: Madklubben Vesterbro for a trendy build-your-own meal experience,  Kanal Cafeen or Hallernes Smorrebrod (in Torvehallen artisinal food market) for the best open-faced sandwiches, La Glace for decadent pastries.  Oh, and Noma, the restaurant that replaced El Bulli as the S. Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurant (reservations need to be made months in advance).

bikes everywhere!

Tivoli

Tivoli

3 Types of Herring: Mustard Herring, Wasabi Herring, and Herring Salad, served on Scandinavian rye

Town Hall

Guerilla Marketing!

King’s Gardens

Rosenborg Palace

View of the Marble Church from the Opera House

Hans Larsson’s Opera House

Exiting Christiana and re-entering the EU and all its laws…

Street art in Christiana

Christiana: No hardcore drugs, weapons, or violence…everything else is game

Entering Christiana

Our Savior’s Church

Thorvaldsen’s Museum

Smorrebrod!

Copenhagen Sunset

Nyhavn

Marmokirken marble church

Late-Baroque Amalienborg Castle

Amalienborg Castle Royal Guards

the park near the Citadel

charming Copenhagen

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Filed under Denmark, Europe

May Travel Booked!

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After days of deliberation, we finally booked our May post-graduation trip!  A big thank you to everyone who helped and shared ideas and itineraries on facebook, via email, and here on the blog.  All of our in-country activities are still tentative, so please keep sending suggestions if you have them!

 

Scandinavia + Iceland, May 2013

May 23:  Depart from NYC

May 24:  Arrive & Explore Copenhagen, Denmark

May 25: Copenhagen, Denmark

May 26: Stockholm, Sweden

May 27: morning: Stockholm, Sweden, afternoon: Reykjavik, Iceland

May 28: Golden Circle, Iceland

May 29: TBD Iceland

May 30: Fly back to NYC

Scandinavia + Iceland Trip May 2013

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Filed under Denmark, Europe, Iceland, Sweden