SOLO TRAVELING IN SCANDINAVIA-DAY III
Rosenborg Castle, Skt. Peders Bageri, Nyhavn & more
Denmark, Day III
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| Definitely stop for a pastry |
I'm starting DAY III, by browsing TripAdvisor for "good bakeries" near me, and I finish my search with Skt. Peders Bageri. This bakery was founded in 1652, equivalent to nine years of Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty! This independent bakery sits on one of the cutest streets in Copenhagen. Aside from their legendary Onsdagsnegle (an extra large cinnamon roll sold at a discount on Wednesday), they also make a variety of delicious, fresh sandwiches, pizza slices and other bread-based items. This is a great pit-stop for takeaway goodies (including some of the best Danishes in Copenhagen!) and a stroll through the centre of the city or a nearby park.
"If you ask a Danish what to eat on Wednesday, they will most likely say "Onsdagsnegle (Wednesday snail)". This is to say that Wednesday's cinnamon bread, sankt paders baker cinnamon bread is basically the synonym for Wednesday".
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| Explore King's garden & visit Rosenborg Castle |
After I finish with my breakfast, I take the bus to reach Rosenborg Castle which is located in the center of Copenhagen. It was built by one of the most famous Danish kings, Christian IV, in the 17th century and it features 400 years of royal treasures, and the Crown Jewels and Royal Regalia. I get off the bus, I walk for approximately ten minutes and somehow I end up in the opposite direction to Rosenborg Castle. Specifically, I walked towards a protest with Danish locals who were working in the food industry and were protesting, because they received pay cuts and some of them have been laid off.
"I mention this as it is only fair to showcase the effects of the inflation in the population of Denmark, and that in every country there are economical & political issues, that don't always reach your eye when you are a visitor or tourist".
I started this blog as a journal, and I would like to stay true to the story. So... I stay for a while and finally I find someone to ask directions for the King's Garden. It takes me only a few minutes to find the right path and I close up to one of the most beautiful and majestic gardens in Europe.
Rosenborg Castle was built in the Dutch Renaissance style, typical of Danish buildings during this period, and has been expanded several times, finally evolving into its present condition by the year 1624. My advice? You need to prepare your visit in advance and maybe purchase your ticket online, in order to avoid big queue lines. I will include the link in the next paragraph; it will take you to the official website.
Rosenborg Castle is part of the museum district Parkmuseerne in and around King’s Garden. A ticket to Parkmuseerne costs 245 DKK and gives you access to all six great museums in one ticket. Tickets are sold at all of the six museums and online. You can follow the link for more information
I personally opt to explore the gardens, wander along tree-lined paths, under rose-bound arches and to the Hercules Pavillion & the statue of Hans Christian Andersen among a multitude of different sculptures. The King's Gardens include herbaceous borders, a rose garden and several fountains, and most importantly are free!
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| Here we see the fight of a soldier with a snake |
After I finish with my walk in King's Garden, I head towards the metro station, in order to get to Strøget and from there to walk towards Illum Rooftop for brunch. At this point, I think it is useful to include again some information about the metro, trains & buses in Denmark (don't forget that I covered some info on my first post, for the distance, & prices between the airport and the central station). You can read my blog post about DAY I in Copenhagen here.
Now, when it comes to public transportation in Denmark, there are many articles online. I will include the link from the official guide, which is 100% free, and it will help you navigate through the streets of the city like a local. You can buy a daily ticket, that is valid for all public transport, and it's probably less expensive than buying its individual ticket every time you get a bus or use the metro. Furthermore, you can download the DOT tickets app on your phone. Not only does the app make purchasing tickets easy, but it also suggests the most convenient routes for your journey. Follow the above link for more information in regards with Denmark's public transport.
Illum Rooftop
There’s nothing better after a day of shopping (or browsing) than having a drink, coffee, or meal while overlooking central Copenhagen. Restaurants on the ILLUM rooftop run from casual to more upscale.
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| Illum ROOFTOP |
In ILLUM you will find a wide selection of wonderful restaurants, cafés, and take away. You can visit the ROOFTOP and enjoy a romantic dinner with the best view, looking over the historical architecture of Copenhagen. Moreover, the underground level at ILLUM has a large food market with some fantastic booths. If you’re looking for food items to take back home as gifts, or the perfect thing to take to your next dinner party, the food market is for you.
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| A great place for brunch & dates |
ILLUM ROOFTOP
Opening Hours:
Sun - Weds 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Thurs – Sat 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Kitchen 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
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| The "Marble" Church |
After I finished my brunch in ILLUM, I decided to take a walk towards Frederiks Church. It's probably worth stopping by, if you are for example in Strøget and you decide that you want to walk towards Amalienborg, or do a U turn and end up in Nyhavn. In general, the distances, may seem long, but in reality they are not for someone who likes to walk and explore the city a foot.
Frederiks Church is also known as the Marble Church, & it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Copenhagen. You can see the dome, in many parts of the city; it is the largest dome in Scandinavia, & Frederiks Church is the tallest in Denmark. This dome spans 31 meters and is supported by 12 columns. The Marble Church has an interesting background story, since it is not made from marble! Although that was the original plan, the design of the church changed many times. For over a hundred years, the building stood as a half-finished ruin. Due to a tight budget, Ferdinand Meldahl took over the design of the Church & was forced to swap from marble to limestone blocks in its construction. The church finally opened in 1894, 145 years after the first stone was laid
It is definitely worth the hype, since it is indeed a magnificent construction, that is visible from afar. Visiting the church is free. Tower tours cost SEK 35 for adults and SEK 20 for children under 18.
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| An award winning restaurant! |
I finished my day with a glass of white whine and some aperitifs in Høst. An award winning restaurant that focus on the Scandinavian kitchen with lots of surprises! Høst is part of Cofoco - Copenhagen Food Consulting - known for its quality food and very reasonable prices. For a main course, you will approximately spent 150-220DKK.
I'm positive that you will find a restaurant that will suit your tastes, and experience the local cuisine. I briefly mention a variety of restaurants here, all of them with different price points. Take my advice with a pinch of salt & water, but know this. In the future I will definitely write a list of all of the budget-friendly places in Copenhagen, or food experimenting cuisines. Stay tuned for more.
I would like to finish this blog post by mentioning a god among the kitchens, and someone that inspired me to do this trip in the first place. If you are a lover of good food, maybe (not maybe) you definitely know him, ladies and gentleman, Claus Meyer. He is a gastronomy icon and co-founder of Copenhagen’s most famous restaurant, Noma. Unfortunately, visiting & dining at Noma, still remains on my bucket list! I envy those that have dined there and experienced the Nordic flavours and philosophy of Claus Meyer. If you are looking for a Danish icon, this is him.
In October of 2022 they announced that they are going in Kyoto; specifically, studying kaiseki cuisine. So, you should definitely check out Noma's website, or if you want to find out more about Claus Meyer, I will include a link from National Geographic's website.
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