Deluxe Copenhagen

Get ready for some deluxe shopping, dining and relaxing in Copenhagen this December, as this city is particularly wonderful at Christmas time. The cool capital of Copenhagen is a great weekend destination for splashing out on hot Danish designer items, enjoying great gourmet experiences (the city boasts eight Michelin-starred restaurants) and for relaxation at a chic design or boutique hotel.

In December, expect a cosy, authentic Christmas atmosphere during your stay too, as the Danes simply love this time of year…

Spend a fortune…
Few cities' shops can match the Danish capital's for inspiration per square metre. The city centre, though not on the scale of London or Paris, is full of independent retailers, small and exclusive boutiques, and several grand department stores. What Copenhagen lacks in size, its shopping district makes up for in diversity and quality. For one, there is the elegant mile-long pedestrian thoroughfare “Strøget” (northern Europe’s longest) with an abundance of shops and stores and festive with holiday garlands, made of genuine fir twigs with tiny lights and a big red heart at the centre.

So what to buy for Christmas, then? How about some of the 20th century Danish Design that is in such high demand at home and abroad and featured extensively by trend-setting magazines like Monocle, Wallpaper and Vogue. Still “hot” on the list are “the grand old men” of Danish design including Arne Jacobsen, Hans J. Wegner, Kaare Klint and Poul Henningsen, but young talents like Louise Campbell are also on the rise, and the designs – old and new – can be seen in many of the city’s coolest cafés, restaurants and retro-style bars – all year round!

For exclusive Christmas gifts and that special Danish decoration for the Christmas tree, a visit to Illums Bolighus, a department store for both Danish and international design is therefore a “must”. Next door, on Amager Torv Square stands the exclusive Royal Copenhagen flagship shore, a wonderful 17th century building filled with fine porcelain and crystal and the exclusive Georg Jensen silverware. Royal Copenhagen is also known for its display of “Christmas tables” decorated by a group of famous Danes - this year’s group is still a secret - so be prepared to queue for this annual highlight (22 Nov. - 30 Dec.).

If Strøget is getting too crowded and you are in the mood for a quiet walk and unique Christmas gifts, then the charming side streets and speciality shops in Kompagnistræde, Klosterstræde, Niels Hemmingsensgade, Kronprinsensgade and Store Regnegade might be your thing. This is where the Copenhageners go to purchase their exclusive furniture, clothing and interior decoration and hang out…

Nearby, at the sweeping City Hall Square, you will find not only an impressive, lone evergreen, decorated with white lights and woven paper hearts, but also the Tivoli Gardens (the world’s oldest amusement park) and its annual Tivoli Christmas Market. This time of the year, Tivoli puts on a fabulous display with the best illuminated trees you will ever see in Europe and some 60 stalls are selling unique Danish handicrafts, seasonal foods and gifts (open from 16 Nov. to 30 Dec.). It is also the perfect place to linger over a traditional Danish Christmas meal at Danish chef Bo Bojesens’ Fregatten or enjoy a superb dinner at British chef Paul Cunningham’s Michelin-starred restaurant The Paul.

In the other end of Strøget you will find the picturesque canal Nyhavn filled with moored sailing boats and located just next to Kongens Nytorv Square. From mid-November until Christmas, Nyhavn too is full of “yuletide” with its own charming Christmas market. And next door on Kongens Nytorv, lies the Bang & Olufsen flagship store, the Royal Theatre and “Krinsen” with its giant ice rink, where locals and visitors alike hire skates and enjoy the fun - unless they prefer to watch it all from the square’s hip café and restaurant “Quote”, that is...

Cosmopolitan culture
Done with the shopping, a bit of sightseeing might be your thing: Linking Scandinavia with continental Europe, Copenhagen and the rest of Denmark has always benefited from a unique stream of cultural influences: A cosmopolitan culture with staunch traditions in art, the ballet, opera and theatre combined with Nordic simplicity and clean lines of the architecture and design.

Copenhagen’s ancient past almost tells its own story with its castles and cobbled streets, listed buildings, contemporary constructions and modern infrastructure. For music-lovers, Copenhagen has come to life with its new Royal Opera House. For art-lovers, an abundance of galleries have opened their doors to a new generation of cutting-edge Danish artists, rapidly making their mark… and there is lots more to see and do, by foot, on bike, at sea.

Eating Out
Seasoned visitors to Copenhagen may also have known this for years, but the news that the latest Michelin Guide awarded nine stars to the city’s restaurants - including NOMA**, Ensemble* and MR* - confirms that Copenhagen is the number one food-lover's destination in Scandinavia. Copenhagen now also ranks number seven out of the best culinary cities in Europe and has an abundance of restaurants and cafés showcasing new interpretations of Danish cooking, often imaginatively married with international styles and combined with creative and stylish décors.

Now, should you wish to combine your gourmet experiences in the city with the more traditional Danish holiday foods, then try that famous Danish lunch called “Smørrebrød”. For a twist of Christmas too, you should head for the Lumskebugten, Prémisse or Slotskælderen v. Gitte Kik.

For the best tasting glass of traditional Christmas “Glögg” in town, Hviids Vinstue back at the Kongens Nytorv Square has attracted old and young patrons alike since 1723. Glögg is a potent combination of hot red wine, aquavit, cinnamon, cloves, raisins, and slivers of almonds, and served only around Christmas time, as is Tuborg and Carlsberg's specially brewed, dark and strong “Julebryg” or Yule brew.

To taste some Danish holiday sweets, consider a stopover at the new Royal Café with its open air Christmas market serving cookies such as brunkager (crisp, flat ginger cookies) and steaming cup of hot chocolate. The café is located next to Royal Copenhagen and is facing a small cobble stoned courtyard.

And finally, come December or not, the nightlife in Copenhagen changes fast and starts late! Things get going on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights around midnight and the city has an ever-changing range of clubs, restaurants and bars catering to all tastes - cutting edge dance music; world-class jazz; and pop. The city also has a surprise up its sleeve when it comes to groovy DJ/bar/restaurant 'hybrids' that change mood as the evening passes by.

Where to stay – Deluxe
To take it all in, here is a list of some of the best designer and boutique hotels in the city:

• Avenue Hotel****: Friendly traditions with an international beat. The hotel has a unique courtyard patio, heated in winter months and the place to enjoy a glass of hot Glögg. Avenuehotel.dk
• Hotel Alexandra***: Design hotel full of tradition. As a special homage to Danish design the hotel has eleven rooms furnished with the work of Danish designers Arne Jacobsen, Ole Wanscher, Hans J. Wegner, Børge Mogensen and Finn Juhl. Hotel-alexandra.dk
• Bertrams and AXEL Hotel Guldsmeden****: Two fabulous four-star eco-friendly boutique hotels. At Christmas time original Scandinavian Yuletide recipes have been transformed into new contemporary organic versions, and every afternoon the lounge bar is serving organic glögg and other Christmas delicacies too. Hotelguldsmeden.dk
• Hotel Front****: New, exciting boutique hotel included on Condé Nast Traveller's 2007 Hot List! Distinct and decadent atmosphere. Understated luxury and fantastic views of the Copenhagen waterfront. Front.dk
• Hotel Skt. Petri*****: One of Copenhagen's leading design hotels. Unpretentious atmosphere and attention to detail has made it the talk of the town. The hotel’s Christmas buffet includes Danish pickled herrings, gravad laks (salmon), smoked eel, roast pork, Danish duck and a dessert called Ris a l'amande (like a rice pudding with a good-luck almond inside and topped with warm cherry sauce). Hotelsktpetri.com
• Radisson SAS Hotels: Choose between Denmark’s largest hotel Scandinavia**** incl. casino and the superb restaurant The Dining Room, or the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel***** boasting the city’'s first skyscraper and built by Arne Jacobsen in the 1960s (as a tribute to AJ, room 606 remains to this day a shrine featuring the original furniture and fittings he created for it), or stay at the Falconer**** in the district of Frederiksberg. Radissonsas.com
• Skovshoved Hotel****: A modern version of a romantic seaside hotel with over 350 years experience in excellent service. Located on Strandvejen (the old coastal road), only seven kilometres from the city and a stone's through from the sea. Skovshovedhotel.dk

And it’s easy to get there!
Treat yourself to a deluxe Christmas trip to Copenhagen and fly to the Danish Capital with Scandinavian Airlines from Dublin, Aberdeen, Manchester, Birmingham, London City or Heathrow Airports – visit Flysas.co.uk
(at the moment SAS’ fares start from £54 one-way, incl. tax.)

For more information on shopping, sightseeing and dining in Copenhagen: Visitcopenhagen.com
For more information on Denmark and latest offers, including accommodation and booking: Visitdenmark.com