Hygge in Copenhagen: A Cosy Winter Guide to the Best Things to Do

Hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) is a Danish word that doesn’t really translate into English. It’s a feeling more than a definition. A feeling of warmth, comfort, and cosiness. It’s lighting candles at 3pm because it’s dark outside. It’s sitting by the window with a hot drink whilst you watch the raindrops trickle. It’s slowing down and enjoying the simple things in life. I come from a city that keeps you wired 24/7, as everything is so fast-paced and you can rarely switch your brain off, with a long list of things that need to be done. So I decided to take a short trip to the land of hygge for a moment of peace. Here’s how I embraced hygge in Copenhagen during my winter trip….

Visiting The Little Mermaid

Seeing The Little Mermaid is one of the classic things to do in Copenhagen, and in winter, it feels surprisingly peaceful. It was the first thing I did, as I’ve been to Copenhagen before but never got around to seeing this statue. After dropping off my bags at the hotel, I did a 20-minute walk through some peaceful side streets until I reached the Langelinie promenade, which was peaceful. Temperatures were in the minus, but the air was crisp, and I had conjured up enough heat from the 20-minute speed walk.

Shopping on Strøget

Nothing says “hygge” more than wandering along Strøget and dipping in and out of the Danish design stores. The stores I would recommend visiting are Søstrene Grene, Studio Arhoj, Magasin du Nord, and HAY House. Copenhagen is very expensive… I mean, like I was seeing jeans and jumpers for £100+ type of expensive. But some things are affordable if you look properly. Magasin Du Nord had a sale when I visited, so I was able to get some wool socks for £6 each. I also got some pretty candles for around £1.50 each…and an organic cotton hand towel for around £6. Denmark has a really unique sense of style, and I could see into the apartments across the road from my hotel room (nobody had curtains). Everyone’s kitchens/living rooms looked so cool! colourful lamps and decor with interesting shapes.

Eating a Traditional Rød Pølse

You can’t write about Copenhagen without mentioning the iconic rød pølse. Grabbing a bright red Danish hot dog from a street stand while it’s cold outside might not sound glamorous, but it’s comforting, affordable, and very local. The contrast of freezing air and hot food in your hands is oddly satisfying. It’s a little hygge moment of pure bliss whilst you stand on the street and “people watch.” The stall owner I bought this hotdog from was telling me that many tourists get scared when they see the colour of this hotdog. They think it’s raw because it’s bright red, but it’s actually food dye that makes it that colour.

AIRE Ancient Baths: Winter Self-Care in Copenhagen

Unfortunately, they have a “no phone” policy at this spa… and the staff are constantly patrolling everywhere (including the changing rooms), so you can’t get away with sneaking it in. I would have loved to have snapped photos of how beautiful this place looks. Dimly lit pools…candlelight reflecting on stone walls…soaking in warm water while the city outside feels icy. They also have signs everywhere saying “silence,” so you really do get to relax without hearing any voices. I loved it! I went for the Ultimate experience, which included the following:

90 minutes in the thermal baths– there are different baths with different temperatures (hot, warm, cool) and a steam room.

DIY wellness kit– this includes eye patches and a little tub of body scrub (I took it home, as there is already a free salt scrub to use in the floating salt pool).

A refreshing drink– you have the option to choose between a glass of sparkling wine or juice.

Coffee and Pastries at BUKA Bakery

When people imagine hygge in Copenhagen, they’re usually picturing cosy cafés, and BUKA Bakery delivered exactly that. Soft lighting, the smell of fresh pastries, and people chatting quietly while escaping the cold. This is one of those “viral TikTok” bakeries, but it really did live up to the hype, and locals also eat here. I am not kidding when I say this place probably had one of the best pastries and matcha I have had in my life. I ordered a pastry with raspberry and ricotta.

Walk Along Nyhavn

A trip to Copenhagen isn’t complete without visiting Nyhavn. Luckily, I am naturally an early riser, and my hotel was a 10-minute walk away. So I visited at 7.30 am when most tourists were probably still sleeping. I was able to have the place to myself to snap photos and watch the locals running. The lake had frozen, and it was cool to see.

Changing of the Guard at Amalienborg Palace

Watching the changing of the guard at Amalienborg Palace added a traditional touch to my Copenhagen winter trip. The square is open and elegant, the architecture minimal and refined. There’s something very calming about Danish design and symmetry, even in royal spaces.

Eating Smørrebrød: A Danish Classic

Trying smørrebrød is one of the most essential things to do in Copenhagen. These open-faced rye bread sandwiches are beautifully presented, and as a seafood lover, the ones in this photo were perfectly aligned with my tastes.

Customise Your Own LEGO

Until this trip, I didn’t realise that LEGO originally came from Denmark. If it starts to rain or gets too cold outside, you can embrace your inner child at the LEGO store by customising your own little LEGO figure and getting your name printed on the block. There are multiple LEGO stores in Copenhagen, so it’s important to note that you can only do this at the shop near Tivoli.

Street Art in Christiania

Exploring Freetown Christiania brought a completely different energy to the trip. It was full of colourful murals, creative buildings, and a more “alternative” atmosphere. Freetown Christiania has been around since the 70’s, and is a self-proclaimed autonomous neighbourhood with its own rules. There is a strong emphasis on community in Christiania, and it feels like a tight-knit but warm and welcoming community. I definitely felt a BIG difference in comparison to the rest of Copenhagen. Danish people are friendly in general, but they are also quite reserved, so I instantly noticed the difference in how people interacted with each other in Christiania. It’s important to note that photography is also restricted in certain areas in Christiania, and you will see signs where people don’t want photos to be taken.

If you’re debating whether to visit Copenhagen during winter or wait for summer, I’d genuinely recommend embracing winter at least once. Copenhagen in winter isn’t about packed city squares or long daylight hours. It’s about candles in café windows, comfort food, warm layers and slowing down.

…And that’s what makes it such a beautiful winter city break.