Assistens Cemetery is a popular spot for sunbathing and picnics, but if you’re not completely comfortable with the idea of baring skin among the tombstones, there is a fine alternative very close by. Behind the cemetery and between Holy Cross Church and The Metropolitan School is Hans Tavsens Park. The park was founded in the early twentieth century in a former part of the cemetery and is Copenhagen’s first public park.

In the park are some beautiful statues such as The Artemis Fountain by Johannes Bjerg.and Michelangelo’s Moses (well, a copy of it, anyway).

The park’s grill can be used free of charge and behind The Metropolitan School there are paved ball courts and climbing walls and a mini golf course. During opening hours you can borrow golf equipment in the playgroup buildings next to the golf course.

At the other end of the park near the church is a playground for smaller children.

Whereas Assistens Cemetery is a very tranquil place, Hans Tavsens Park is quite naturally a lot livelier, but you can easily find a peaceful spot away from the hordes of soccer-playing boys.

You can enter the park through the cemetery, or from Jagtvej via a somewhat humble reddish brown wooden gate, or from Hans Tavsens Gade.

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Hans Tavsens Park | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Hans Tavsens Gade | Nørrebro
Park 24 hours daily | Mini golf Mon – Thu 09:30 – 17:00, Fri 10:00 – 17:00

I first saw them November last year. Back then there were only four of them: two bears, a monkey and a rabbit to be precise. One day they were just there, sitting in a tree.

Last time I counted, the number had grown to more than thirty, and almost every week new stuffed animals arrive to join the party. For the most part it’s good old teddy bears, but dolphins, crocodiles, elephants and a great deal of other plush creatures have come to join in. They have spread from their original tree, and now occupy the whole of two trees.

I pass their hangout every day twice, but I still haven’t been able to catch a glimpse of any of them arriving at the scene. It is quite a mystery what makes them gather in this particular area, where (to be honest) not much else is going on.

Maybe they are there to keep an eye on the skaters on the nearby ramp, or maybe they are looking after the friendly, harmless bunch of unemployed that hangs out drinking beer and having a smoke in a shack on the same spot of green.

Whatever the reason, they are not telling.

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Where teddy bears meet | Art & culture, Relaxing
Prags Boulevard | Amager
24 hours daily

No, there is absolutely nothing political about the name of this area. It’s called The Red Square because the coating on the ground is red, all kinds of different reds. The new park is not entirely finished yet, but a large part of it is already open and in use, and basically it’s a playground for adults.

So after you have spent a few days in Copenhagen, eating a little too well, and now feel the urge for a quick workout, this is the place to go, and it’s all free. There are sandbags for punching and different kinds of equipment for outdoor exercise. There’s also an elephant-shaped slide, but I haven’t tried that one: I’m rather confident it’s put there so children will have something sensible to do while their parents are playing. In places the ground is covered with a soft padding that makes it more comfortable to do exercises on the ground, and it’s also quite fun to walk on.

If outdoors exercise together with a bunch of strangers isn’t your thing, then sit down in one of the big swings and enjoy the beautiful cherry trees and the sight of other people playing.

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The Red Square | Relaxing | Free
Nørrebrogade 210 | Nørrebro
24 hours daily

Usually it is just a hackneyed figure of speech when we say that a city has a heart. But Nørrebro actually has one. On a pedestal at Aksel Larsens Plads near Nørrebro Parken and directly opposite The Red Square there is a big red iron heart. It is engraved with the words ‘We want to live together’ in many languages. If you look closely at the heart, you will realize that it is made out of pieces of metal from different kinds of weapons.

Nørrebro has had its trouble in the past, and the heart stands as a symbol of the joint effort and desire to live peacefully and respectfully together. All the weapons used to make the sculpture have been either confiscated or submitted voluntarily to the Nørrebro police. The artist himself, Bjørn Nørgaard, was born in Nørrebro not too far from where the heart is located.

There are plenty of benches in the immediate vicinity of The Heart, so sit down and take a little break to enjoy this unusual sculpture.

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Nørrebros Hjerte | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Aksel Larsens Plads, Nørrebrogade 209 | Nørrebro
24 hours daily

Nørrebro truly is one of the most interesting areas to explore in Copenhagen. The urban, lively and exiting area offers numerous oriental shops, restaurants, small boutiques, parks and squares, enough to spend an interesting weekend – or two – in.

On the pedestrian street Blågårdsgade , just a stone cast away from the Lakes , you can find a super cozy café called Props Coffee. Though the area has plenty of coffee shops (and cool restaurants like Kate’s joint, (check out the article here.)), my points go for this little one. This is a very ideal place to go to, whether you grave for a steaming cup of coffee after a walk in the nearby Assistens kirkegård in the fresh winter-air or want to just sit outside in the summer, chill and watch the people passing by.

The place has been decorated with old, mostly wooden furniture, simple old-style pictures and signs on the walls and dim lighting. While you enjoy your delicious coffee (very fair prices!) and listen to the calming music from the good old days of Ella Fitzgerald and co, you simply cannot become totally relaxed. They also have a couple of board games (backgammon, chess…) to entertain you and your friends during the visit to complete a moment of relaxation.

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Props coffee shop | Coffee & tea, Relaxing | Cafe Latte DKK 25
Blågårdsgade 5 | Nørrebro | +4535369955
Mon – Wed 11:00 – 00:00, Thu – Sat 11:00 – 02:00, Sun 12:00 – 23:00

Adventure or relaxation? They have it all! DGI -Byen is a home to all kinds of activities you can imagine -and right in the middle of the city. They are specialized in offering business-meeting/relaxation -combos, parties for companies and clubs and -of course- experiences to everyone.

This is a fantastic place for the whole family to spend a day doing what interests them  the most. Up for some action? Go try one of the cool sports they offer: water spinning, rock-wall climbing, scuba-diving, badminton, shooting or my favorite, bowling. There is also an inside rock climbing wall and jump towers in the Water culture -house, a certain high point for every teenager -kids family trip. It’s also possible to buy a training pass for a day to their well-equipped gym.

Tired of all the walking and travelling? Pamper yourself with a day in the Spa with loads of the incredible treatments included to the entrance fee. How does a long afternoon with sauna, swimming and cozying in front of a fireplace with a cup of good tea sound like? And if the relaxation isn’t enough to get your mind off the busy life, one can also book a massage to make the trip to DGI -byen absolutely perfect.

After all the action and relaxation is nice to have something to eat, and I recommend to go have a dinner at Vestauranten, the center’s own restaurant. Delicious way to end a perfect day.

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DGI -byen | Coffee & tea, Music, Relaxing | Spa entrance DKK 250
Tietgensgade 65 | Vesterbro | +4533298000
Mon – Thu 15:00 – 22:00, Fri 14:00 – 22:00, Sat 09:00 – 19:00, Sun 09:00 – 18:00

Let’s say you are in Christianshavn’s area and you are hungry and want something quick, organic and cheap. Well, the best place I know is Organic Corner, a little place with some of the best sandwiches I tried in Copenhagen.

They have options for all kinds of taste. I am vegetarian and their falafel sandwich is simply the best. I also tried all the other vegetarian options and they were all a very good surprise! The staff are very friendly and they are always smiling or willing to talk, if that is what you want! You should also try their hot plates, great spices and large portions, and/or their salad options.

You can take away or eat in, up to you. Since it’s a small place, if you are lucky, you will be able to sit in their cozy corner, with a couch and a table, or outside, if the weather let’s you!

The restaurant uses 30% to 60% organic products, which in my opinion is better than nothing!

Just stroll down from Christianshavn to Organic Corner (right in the beginning of Amagerbrogade). There are many things to see in this walk, from lakes to old churches. Also many interesting shops to look at. Nice views and certainly very nice food!

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Organic Corner | Relaxing, Restaurants (Organic) | Falafel sandwich DKK 45.00
Amagerbrogade 13 | Amager
Mon – Sat 11:00 – 21:00, Sun 12:00 – 21:00

Ok, there are many good coffee places in the city, but I couldn’t let The Coffee Collective pass unnoticed. This place (a specialty coffee micro roastery and coffee consulting company) is heaven for coffee lovers. I have to admit one thing: I am a Brazilian girl that doesn’t really like coffee, but in this place, I drink at least 2 cups!

The place is small, but has a great lively vibe. People usually take coffee to go, but I like to sit there and see what is going on! There is always someone coming or going, but yet you feel relaxed. I sit by the window, get myself a book and immerse in the world of coffee! I was there once, right after they roasted some beans in the big roaster they placed in the middle of the shop. What a great smell!!

There are four owners and they all live for coffee. They have a World Barista Champion, a World Cup Tasting Champion, an internationally acclaimed roast master, etc. Another thing: not only they sell coffee, but it’s all Direct Trade. As they say, “good coffee begins with good ethics”.

You can also enjoy the surroundings of the charming neighborhood, Nørrebro, where the shop is located. Definitely go by Assistensens Kirkegård, an old cemetery, where H.C Andersen is buried (it resembles more like a park than an actual cemetery). The shop just opened another branch at the very cool Torvehallerne, a food market of modernist glass sheds. A must visit!

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The Coffee Collective | Coffee & tea, Relaxing | Coffee DKK 20.00
Jægersborggade 10 | Nørrebro | +4560151525
Mon – Fri 07:00 – 21:00, Sat – Sun 08:00 – 18:00

Have you heard of the trend of eating only raw food? Well, it is out there and getting more and more popular all over the world. And it’s not different here in Copenhagen. I’ve noticed a few more of these kind of restaurants around the city and many people talking about it.

I want to clarify that I am not trying to raise any flags here, and I’m most definitely not getting into whether is good or bad for your health. But I will tell you that this place has one of the best salads I ever tried. And instead of using the customary splash dash of dressing out of a bottle, Raw 42 has their own way of dressing your salad in the form of powder! Yep, they sprinkle a powdered oil over your food… it tastes absolutely amazing. I have to go back there and ask for the recipe.

The restaurant itself is very well located, close to Strøget and some of the most charming streets of Nørreport. You will find all kinds of shops around the area, from expensive brands to alternative stores. The place has a kind of harmony and warmth to it. You feel great just by sitting there and if you have one of their smoothies and/or salad next to you, even better!

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Raw 42 | Relaxing, Restaurants (Raw lasagne) | Main meal DKK 98
Pilestræde 32 | Inner City | +4532123210
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 20:00, Sat 10:00 – 18:00, Sun 11:00 – 17:00

The old part of Copenhagen is surrounded by an old fortification that goes from south to north around the medieval town. In fact both the “lakes” and most of central Copenhagen parks are remnants of this old fortification system. In the northern end, not far from the Little Mermaid statue you’ll find Kastellet. This old citadel was built in 1662 and is one of the best preserved in Europe.

While The Citadel remains an active military area it is open to the public and it’s one of my favorite places in Copenhagen to take a stroll in the sun. There is plenty of space to walk around the ramparts overlooking both the sea (the Øresund Strait) and the moats surrounding the citadel.

On the citadel grounds there are picturesque old barracks, an old church as well as a windmill and it is fantastic to walk around and just let your mind wander. You’ll truly feel as if you are back in the 17th century. Don’t forget to bring your camera.

Within walking distance of the citadel you can find prime Copenhagen touristic spots such as The Little Mermaid, Langelinie Promenade, Gefion fountain, St. Alban’s English Church and the Museum of Danish Resistance during WWII. All are well worth a visit and can all be done in a few hours.

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Kastellet | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Churchillparken | Inner City
06:00 – 22:00 daily