Travel: Keep on running in stylish and cosmopolitan Danish capital

A large chunk of our great continent which has eluded me until now is Scandanavia, so when I took the plunge and decided to visit Copenhagen, in a country thought to be one of the happiest in the world, I couldn't wait to get there.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Jan 2018, 14:46 BST
Updated 29th Jan 2018, 12:16 BST

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The stylish Absalon Hotel on Helgolandsgade, Vesterbro.The stylish Absalon Hotel on Helgolandsgade, Vesterbro.
The stylish Absalon Hotel on Helgolandsgade, Vesterbro.

I didn’t know much about the Danish capital apart from it being the home of Carlsberg, but after spending a fun-packed few days in the city, I can now appreciate why it attracts so many tourists from across the globe.

There’s certainly a feel-good factor about the place and I’m not the only one who thinks so as Copenhagen always rates highly on the‘Best in the World’ lists for livability, environmental friendliness and other desirable traits.

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Packed with numerous palaces, castles and winding waterways, there’s plenty for culture vultures and the shopping is good, too, not to mention the food as the city is also renowned for its fantastic cuisine.

One of the colourful bedrooms at The Absalon.One of the colourful bedrooms at The Absalon.
One of the colourful bedrooms at The Absalon.

Like in other Scandanavian countries, Copenhagen can be expensive, but with sensible planning there’s plenty of fun to be had even if you are on a tight budget.

Home for our four-night stay was the stylish Absalon Hotel on Helgolandsgade, based in the heart of the popular meatpacking district of Vesterbro.

One of the city’s oldest family-owned hotels founded more than 75 years ago, it was re-launched in 2015 after a major refurbishment and now plays a huge role in attracting visitors to the city.

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We were booked into a superior double room on the fifth floor – there’s 161 in total – which was easily reached via the quirky lifts cleverly disguised as bookcases.

Absalons trendy dining area.Absalons trendy dining area.
Absalons trendy dining area.

The hotel decor is colourful and easy on the eye, and there’s other nice touches like the sweet and cookie jars along the corridors, which you can dip into at any time of day.

Guests can enjoy the perk of a complimentary ‘wine hour’, when at 5pm every day you can nip over the road to the Absalon’s sister hotel – The Andersen – for some on-the-house tipples.

When it comes to city breaks, eating, drinking and sightseeing are the norm for me but, although I like to keep fit, I’m not one for working out on holiday.

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On this occasion, I decided to break the mould and pack my running shoes so I could enjoy one of the unique sightseeing excursions offered by Running Copenhagen.