Just across the sea from Sweden, the Danish capital of Copenhagen is an excellent choice for package holidays. With a rich history and full of artistic, musical and commercial interest, Copenhagen is a particularly friendly European capital and offers plenty of cultural gems to discover.
Copenhagen Airport (CPH), just 15 minutes by car from the city centre, welcomes several flights from Dublin and Cork. The currency is the Danish krone and the time is one hour ahead of Ireland's. Whereas the local language is Danish, you'll find that most service workers in Copenhagen have a good grasp of English. City breaks here are a great chance to see a beautiful part of Scandinavia.
Copenhagen package holidays can be enjoyed at any time of year. Denmark, which has the mildest climate in Scandinavia, rarely sees winters much harsher than what you’d find in the UK. Summer is an excellent time to visit, as temperatures are usually in the 20s. At this time, you can also catch events such as the Copenhagen Summer Festival, when the air fills with the sounds of classical music and adds even more charm to the vibrant streets of this exciting city.
The weather is still mild in spring and autumn, the best time to avoid the bigger crowds. Denmark hosts excellent Christmas markets – if you visit in December, make sure to see the Nyhavn Harbour market.
With your Copenhagen flight and hotel booked, you may wonder what unique foods you can discover in Denmark. Denmark's food, influenced by its Scandinavian neighbours, also features many unique twists of its own. A simple lunch in a café may consist of attractive-looking open-faced rye sandwiches with sausage, eggs, herbs or seafood. Lobster, herring and salmon are among the many seafood dishes you'll find served here, and you can savour caramel or lemon puddings for dessert.
Vegetarians and vegans need not fret, as this cosmopolitan city has several familiar international restaurants. Italian and Mexican restaurants are also popular, and you'll even come across Turkish, Colombian, Lebanese and Ethiopian eateries on Copenhagen city breaks. On the drinks side, black coffee and saftevand (squash) are easy to find. Local beers such as Carlsberg and Tuborg and fruit wines such as blackcurrant and cherry make for interesting choices when dining out on Copenhagen weekends.
Copenhagen city breaks are an excellent opportunity to shop. Like the calm and car-free Strøget neighbourhood, Fisketorvet and Fields shopping centres are great for browsing and picking up some treats for yourself or loved ones. Torvehallerne, WestMarket and Verdenshjørnet offer a wealth of artisanal foods, including Danish chocolate, pumpernickel bread and marzipan sweets.
Apart from food, there’s also Royal Copenhagen china – pick up a fancy new tea set or a figurine. If you’re shopping for clothes, look for high-quality Danish wool products such as jumpers, hats and scarves. They’re extremely well made in Denmark and will keep you warm as you wander through the Christmas markets. Quirky gift ideas include Nisse gnomes, which are an important part of Danish folklore and can be found in the form of cute little toys, decorations and figurines. You'll find plenty of unique gifts during Copenhagen weekends.