A 5-Day Journey from Germany to Denmark (and beyond!)
This summer adventure took me from Germany 🚄 up through Hamburg 🌆, across the Danish countryside 🌾, and into the heart of Copenhagen 🇩🇰 — a city full of history, canals, cozy cafés, and a relaxed summer vibe. Here’s how the trip unfolded, day by day.
📅 Day 1 – August 17: Germany → Hamburg
The trip started bright and early 🌅 with the S9 train from Karlsruhe (6:26am) to the main station, where I caught the ICE to Hamburg (6:51am). The five-hour ride was smooth, with plenty of time for reading, podcasts, and gazing out at the rolling German countryside 🌳🚂.
By the time I reached Hamburg in the afternoon, there was just enough energy left for a simple dinner 🍝 and a walk around the neighborhood before heading to bed 🛏️. Tomorrow, the real journey north would begin!
📅 Day 2 – August 18: Hamburg → Copenhagen
After a quick breakfast ☕ and some time at a local playground 🛝 (perfect for stretching legs before another long train ride), it was time to board the train to Copenhagen at 10:53am.
The ride took about five hours 🚆 — passing through fields, lakes, and the pretty Danish countryside. Arriving in Copenhagen felt exciting: new energy, new streets, and bikes everywhere 🚲.
I checked into Urban House Copenhagen by Meininger 🏨, a lively hostel with a social vibe. After unpacking, I took a short evening walk 🚶♂️ around the city to get a feel for it. Tivoli Gardens glowed in the background with twinkling lights ✨, but instead of heading inside, I grabbed a quick dinner at McDonald’s 🍔 at the train station. Simple, but comforting after a long travel day.
📅 Day 3 – August 19: Classic Copenhagen
This was the first full day of sightseeing — and Copenhagen delivered.
⛵ Canal Tour – The best way to start! From the water, I passed the colorful houses of Nyhavn 🌈, old warehouses, and modern architecture. 🏛️ Christiansborg Palace – A striking building that houses Denmark’s parliament. The views from the tower gave a beautiful perspective of the city. 👑 Amalienborg Palace – The home of the Danish Royal Family. I was lucky enough to see the changing of the guards 🚶♂️. ☕ Café stop – Copenhagen is full of cozy cafés, perfect for a break between sightseeing. 🎡 Tivoli Gardens – The evening highlight! Opened in 1843, Tivoli is one of the world’s oldest amusement parks. I strolled through gardens, watched the lights come on, and soaked in the magic ✨.
Dinner was casual: sandwiches 🥪 from a local shop — a quick and tasty way to wrap up the day.
📅 Day 4 – August 20: Islands, Art & Street Food
This day was all about exploring beyond the obvious sights.
⛴️ Morning Ferry – A short boat ride to a nearby island, perfect for sea views and fresh air. 🪖 Kastellet Fortress – A star-shaped 17th-century fortress surrounded by grassy paths and historic buildings. Great for a calm walk. 🧜♀️ The Little Mermaid – Probably Copenhagen’s most famous statue. Small, but iconic — and definitely worth a photo stop. 🍴 Lunch at Reffen – A buzzing street food market by the water with stalls from all over the world 🌮🍜🍹. Great atmosphere and flavors! 🎨 Copenhagen Contemporary – A modern art center inside an old industrial building, with large-scale installations and unique exhibitions. 🚲 Bike ride – A quick spin around the city — Copenhagen is built for cycling 🚴. 🍗 Dinner at Chicky Grill – A casual, satisfying meal before winding down.
The day ended with a sunset walk 🌅 along the waterfront — the perfect way to see the city glow.
📅 Day 5 – August 21: Farewell Copenhagen
The last morning was about soaking in a few final sights before leaving Denmark.
🥐 Breakfast at the hostel + check-out 🧳. ⛪ Trinitatis Kirke – A peaceful church stop. 🔭 Round Tower (Rundetårn) – A gentle spiral walk to the top with panoramic city views 🌆. 🍽️ Lunch at Torvehallerne – A lively food hall full of Danish specialties like smørrebrød, fresh pastries, and more.
Finally, it was time to head to the airport ✈️ for the flight to Norway 🇳🇴, continuing the summer adventure northward.
✨ Final Thoughts
Copenhagen is a city of contrasts: historic palaces and modern art, busy food halls and quiet waterfronts, fairy-tale amusement parks and sleek bicycles zipping by 🚲. It’s easygoing, walkable, and full of little surprises.
Five days was just enough to see the highlights — but I could’ve easily stayed longer. Whether you’re into history, food, or just soaking in a relaxed summer vibe, Copenhagen has a little bit of everything 🌞.
