Nicola EasterbyCopenhagen has long been a global poster child for sustainable design, hygge culture and cutting-edge gastronomy, and in 2025, Denmark’s capital only gets more enchanting. From its city-wide electric bike network and solar-powered ferries to rooftop urban farms and Copenhagen’s celebrated New Nordic dining scene, every corner offers something to delight the senses.
Whether you’re savouring a seaweed-infused ice cream, wandering through interactive botanical gardens or marvelling at revolutionary architecture that doubles as public art, this Scandinavian hotspot remains a perpetual grin-inducer. I certainly couldn’t wipe the smile off my face during my latest visit. Despite the famously high cost of living, Copenhagen’s mix of green innovation and timeless charm makes it utterly irresistible. Here are five compelling reasons why you simply have to experience Copenhagen in 2025!
Also read: Exploring Freetown Christiania: Copenhagen’s Iconic Alternative Haven
1. They ride bikes everywhere
In a place where cars are the lowest in the road food chain, bicycle paths, bicycle racks, even bicycle traffic lights seem to dominate everywhere you go! There is no shortage of places of hire yourself a two-wheeled friend and it really is the best way to get around and see the city.
2. The food is just so unbelievably delicious
The only thing better than a danish? A danish danish. Along with these traditional pastry squares of heaven, Copenhagen rocks some of the best ice-cream around (check out Vaffelbageren at Nyhavn for waffle cones so fresh that you actually watch them make it), mind-blowing bagels (I still have dreams about the bagels from The Bagel Co, Gothersgade), and a plentiful array of traditional Nordic cuisine (smorgasbords are a very popular style of eating here). Eating out is pricey, so it’s lucky that the price does actually equal really great food.
3. There are so many nice parks to explore
Copenhagen is littered with beautiful expanses of green to break up its metropolitan area. With rose gardens, lakes and botanic gardens to explore, you’ll never fall short of a place to have a picnic or a stroll. You may even find yourself walking through a park called Frederiksberg Have and casually encounter an elephant enclosure in the middle of the park! Outrageous, but this city seems to pull outrageous off quite nicely.
4. The city is filled with the weird and wacky
Let’s set the scene. It’s your average Sunday afternoon; we are sitting by the waterfront at Nyhavn eating some ice cream. Suddenly, a group of 30 men dressed as Vikings come storming through, acting out a full battle scene and proceeding to jump in to the freezing-cold water and hijack a nearby ship , all in the name of a very elaborate and hilarious spectacle. This is the kind of weird that occurs in Copenhagen, and once you spend a little time here, you begin to see that this city has more quirks than you think.
Take Christiania as another example. Christiania is a wacky self-governing ‘free town’ located in the city centre of Copenhagen. The place is characterised by a very alternative culture and the free dealing of marijuana, and despite efforts of the local authorities, has not yet been shut down. Instead, it attracts hundreds of curious tourists walking through each day. It is worth a visit to see such a unique phenomenon with your own eyes, especially as you are disallowed to take photographs in the main street. You’ve literally got to see it to believe it!
5. It is a beautifully-designed city
Known as one of Europe’s design capitals, the whole city reflects the keen eye the Danish have for design. Geometric, rich textures and a restrained but aesthetically-pleasing colour palette really do characterise Copenhagen. Nyhavn is a perfect exemplar of the strong stylistic element running throughout the city. This visual appeal makes the place a dream to explore and photograph.
Ready to Fall for Copenhagen?
From pedalling along solar-lit cycle lanes and indulging in the city’s world-famous pastries to stumbling upon guerrilla Viking performances and exploring Christiania’s alternative enclave, Copenhagen in 2025 rewards every traveller with moments of genuine surprise.
Embrace the Danish passion for design as you wander through rose-filled parks and along vibrant harboursides, then recharge at one of the city’s Michelin-starred cafés or on a biodegradable-boat cruise. Book your flights, download the local bike-share app and prepare to discover why Copenhagen remains Europe’s happiest, and most innovative, capital. Happy exploring!
Also read: 15 Cities in Europe So Beautiful You Need To Visit Them All
Contributed by Polkadot Passport
