Experience Copenhagen’s hygge season 

Dark nights erupt into a twinkling of lights. A warm, inviting glow spills from the cafés and onto the streets. Yes, winter in Copenhagen is dark and cold, but it can also be romantic. It’s a time of indulgence, too.  

In this famously food-obsessed city, that means long tasting menus and communal dinners, as well as wandering cobbled streets amid beautiful architecture, shops and art. And if you want to join the locals with a leap into the harbour, then why not? It’s the perfect season for it. 

As one of the most food-forward cities in Europe and the birthplace of New Nordic Cuisine, Copenhagen is bursting with culinary invention.  Start your morning by heading to Østerbro bakery Juno, which was voted the best in the city last year and is known for its cardamom buns. It’s not the only local gem, though. Among a slew of new places to eat, check out Kismet, a bakery and café close to the beautiful Marble Church, and Mother in the City, a relaxed pizza bar with great wine in the central Kongens Nytorv area.  

Copenhagen has been at the heart of the ‘community dining’ trend over the last few years. At Absalon, a communal dinner is served nightly on long tables in a former church. You can also try it at Nordhus in Nordhavn and Kanalhuset in Christianshavn. The idea is always to come away with a full belly and maybe even a new friend. 

Copenhagen’s old town is lined with independent boutiques making distinctive pieces of work. Whether you’re seeking a specific example of Nordic design or just browsing, it’s always a good idea to leave a little space in your luggage for things to take home.  

Dora, an Aladdin’s cave of contemporary design selling unique trinkets for the home, is a great example. It lies on Værnedamsvej, a small but mightily charming shopping street between Vesterbro and Frederiksberg.  

Elsewhere, Elmegade in the hip Nørrebro quarter is known for being home to some of the city’s best second-hand and vintage stores. And not so far away, the characterful Jægersborggade street is a busy hub for creative studios, jewellers, interior design stores and caramel makers. 

It’s not unheard of for the harbour in Copenhagen to freeze in winter. But does that stop the Danes from swimming in it? Definitely not! If you’re interested in the local take on wild swimming – winter bathing – this is your chance. Pack your swimmers and a dose of courage and join them at Kalvebod Bølge, where the boardwalk is set up for a bracing dip in the harbour.  

Danes love the water, and it doesn’t have to be cold. The city’s spas let you warm up and immerse yourself in local culture at the same time. CopenHot has al fresco saunas and hot tubs overlooking the water in Nordhavn;  

AIRE is a spa-bath experience inspired by ancient rituals, located in the former Carlsberg brewery; and SofieBadet is set in an early 20th-century bath house in Christianshavn. The latter, in particular, has been immaculately preserved, and it is as much a living museum as it is a working sauna and hammam. 

With shows featuring conceptual artist and performer Marina Abramović and the late painter Jean-Michel Basquiat upcoming in 2026, Denmark’s art scene is poised to catch fire.  

Find out what the fuss is about with a tour of SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark, whose collection gives a great overview of the country’s art history. Denmark’s 19th-century artistic Golden Age is particularly luminous, offering a chance to gaze on scenes of beaches and workers from 100 years ago that feel like they could have been painted yesterday.  

Copenhagen Contemporary’s challenging and dramatic exhibitions include James Turrell’s permanent installation Aftershock, a room of intense light and colour that is the perfect antidote to the winter darkness. And don’t miss a visit to the Glyptotek museum, whose elegant and classically inspired building hides ancient marble sculptures and a winter garden. In fact, all three are well worth making time for – not least for their cafés and beautifully curated shops, which are among the best in town.