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No matter the season, many Danes begin or end their day with a sauna session — often followed by a bracing dip in the (remarkably clean) harbor. While most sauna clubs require membership — some with years-long waiting lists — Sauna House in Nordhavn welcomes day visitors via its app. The club features three distinct saunas: one with views of the harbor, one set aside as a quiet zone, and another tucked into a dark chamber. It also offers sauna gus rituals, where aromatherapy oils are theatrically swirled through the steam by a trained gusmaster. Best of all, the chilly harbor baths of the Øresund Strait are just steps away — the perfect cooldown after all that heat.

Hunt for timeless Danish design

Denmark has produced some of the greatest furniture designers of the 20th century — from Poul Henningsen to Arne Jacobsen — and continues to nurture outstanding talent today. Because design is so woven into everyday life here, shopping in Copenhagen feels like a cultural experience as much as a retail one. For heritage pieces, Illums Bolighus showcases porcelain from Royal Copenhagen and silver vases by Georg Jensen. For more contemporary finds, browse smaller boutiques like Stilleben, known for its beautiful textiles and glassware, or head to Hay , a modern Danish powerhouse that turns out playful furniture and accessories ranging from pendant lamps to couches and colorful kettles.

Splurge on a Michelin-starred meal

No trip to Copenhagen feels complete without experiencing at least one New Nordic tasting menu — the movement that helped put the city on the global culinary map. If you can’t snag a coveted table at Noma, there are other stars to try. Kadeau, a Michelin-starred restaurant led by a local chef, sets its seasonal, foraged-driven menu against the backdrop of a Nordic wood-clad dining room with sheepskin-draped chairs. Expected dishes like asparagus topped with caviar in spring and wild grey duck with preserves in autumn. For a more intimate experience, Alouette — awarded a Michelin Green Star for sustainability — offers a five-course menu that shifts with the seasons, spotlighting local seafood and produce. Reservations are essential at both.