Here’s how to make the most of a layover in Copenhagen

By Cristina & Kelly

Copenhagen is where design and recreation are seamlessly woven into daily life, where biking is the default, and where a swim in the harbor is as casual as grabbing coffee.

If Yardsale were a city, it would be Copenhagen. Everything is impeccably designed, yet nobody takes themselves too seriously. Whether you like going on long, flat runs, prefer a day laying out by the water, or enjoy a top-tier art and design scene, we truly believe Copenhagen has something for everyone.

We spent two days here before our FW25 photoshoot in Norway, chasing both sides of what makes this place unique — the outside adventures that keep the city moving, and the inside places with beautiful design, excellent food, and of course, Scandinavian hygge. Naturally, the new Day Bag came along for it all. It carried towels, wet swimsuits, our computers, wallets and passports, cameras, and several cardamom buns.

We split this recap in two: everything we recommend doing outside in Copenhagen, and our favorite bars, restaurants, and museums to check out when you're ready to head inside.

Copenhagen's outside gems

Take advantage of the plentiful bike lanes
Aside from Amsterdam, Copenhagen has the most bikes per capita out of any city we've ever been to. And there's a reason! Though the public transit is actually quite good, bikes are the most convenient way to get around all of the different neighborhoods. The city is completely flat, there are bike lanes (and bikers) on every road, and there's ample bike parking for wherever you end up. We snagged two bikes from our hotel, but there are rentals you can pick up on practically every street.

Swimming on the docks at Paper Island
The locals don't think twice about it, so neither did we. When the sun’s out, you swim. We lucked out with back-to-back 75-degree days and took full advantage of the sunny weather and warm, clean water. We jumped in at both Papirøen and Ofelia Plads across the harbor.

Take a GoBoat around the canals
This is touristy, yes, but also one of the best ways to see Copenhagen's canals without hopping on a huge tour boat. We picked up some lunch and rented a GoBoat for an hour to cruise around at our own pace.