How to entertain visiting Parents:
So, are your parents coming to visit you this semester? Do you have absolutely no idea what to do with them, where to go, what to eat and where to stay? No problem! My parents came this weekend and we had a blast! Here are some of the things we did:
Hotels
The Nimb hotel near Central station is rated #1 hotel in Copenhagen. It overlooks Tivoli Gardens and is beautiful, but really, really pricey!! First Hotel Skt. Petri Copenhagen is my #1 recommendation. It’s right next to DIS (near Paludan Cafe), on the walk to Nørreport and though the rooms are pretty tiny, the deco is not bad. Their breakfast is also delicious, so a plus for us hostesses!
Showing them the city:
Don’t know anything about Copenhagen except how to get from your house to Nørreport to DIS? No problem! …me too. There is this great tourist bus company called Hop-on Hop-off and its a great way to see the city. It costs about 125 kr per person and you can easily see all of these sites:
- City Hall Square
- Axel Torv
- Rosenborg Castle
- Langelinje ( cruise ship dock )
- The Little Mermaid Gefion Fountain
- Amalienborg Palace
- Nyehaven
- Strøget City Hall Square
- Axel Torv
- Rosenborg Castle
- Langelinje ( cruise ship dock )
- The Little Mermaid Gefion Fountain
- Amalienborg Palace
- Nyehaven
The bus goes in a loop and new buses come to each site every hour or so. So, you can get on and off at your leisure and look around the sites. They have more loops and other great tours here. (I also recommend the canal tour on warmer days! But, if you do do the canal tour, remember to get a family ticket (for 3 adults). It’s much cheaper than buying 3 adult tickets!)
Parent Approved Eateries
So, exclusively feeding my parents Shawarma and Ristet hot dog wasn’t an option. Therefore, I had to scrounge up some nicer restaurants to show them. Since I was 3 months too late to book a reservation at Noma (The world’s #1 restaurant, which takes reservations 3 months in advance and costs about $500 a dinner- woaaahhh) I took them to the next best option: one of Copenhagen’s 17 Michelin-starred restaurants, Herman at Nimb. It was mind-blowing, but also emptied my wallet in the process. Though it didn’t turn out to be $500 a person, it was still “I’m now only eating a Netto” worthy. After Hermans, we went to this restaurant near Kongens Nytorv called Geist and then had some comfort food at this Chinese buffet restaurant called Palace Gardens (right next to First Hotel Skt. Petri).
Now what?
After taking the water ferry to the Black Diamond, the hop-on hop-off bus around the city, the metro to “get lost” and the canal tour, I found that I didn’t really want to see everything in Copenhagen for a second time. Therefore, I decided “Let’s go to Malmö!” Since it’s located in Sweden, my parents got to say they went to two countries and it’s only a 30 minute train ride away. The city of Malmö was fantastic! We went to see the Turning Torso, the pedestrian street and the city’s two little squares. Malmö is pretty tiny, so it only took a pleasant afternoon to explore. We saw some cute Ma and Pa stores, incredible art pieces and ate the most fantastic meal at Johnn P, where we had the best green tea, fish platters and Swedish beer! After two glasses, my father got… bubblier and then had the most excellent time! (Tip: this an excellent way to make parents happier and much more easy going)
Conclusion
Though showing someone a city can be stressful, parents are awesome! It’s like having an ATM and bank at your disposal 24-7 ;) I kid, I kid. I miss them already! (except not my dad. He’s still here.)
Still have questions?? Ask here!
Anonymous
