How to Feel Like Royalty in Copenhagen

The key to a charmed trip to Copenhagen is basing yourself at the regal Hotel d’Angleterre. The iconic 5-star hotel has been hosting everyone from the Danish royal family to Hans Christian Andersen since 1755, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a fairytale, from the glorious chandeliered foyer to the sumptuous three-room suites with balconies that allow guests to look over the bustling Kongens Nytorv (that’s King’s New Square) below.

As if staying in a virtual palace wasn’t enough, the hotel is in the heart of the city, walking distance to most top sights like the colorful harbor of Nyhavn and the Royal Theatre, both of which can be seen from the hotel. Additionally, it’s only 12 minutes by metro from the airport; perhaps the greatest luxury here is having the entire city is at your fingertips.

You don’t have to leave Hotel d’Angleterre to experience the Michelin-starred cuisine Copenhagen is known for. Downstairs is the renowned Marchal, serving up traditional French cuisine with a Nordic influence. Start with champagne, oysters, and caviar; then, order what’s become a rite of passage, the canard à la presse, where a whole duck is transformed, tableside, into a delectable sauce to garnish several preparations. The dish is so exclusive that attendees are invited to sign a book of past guests who’ve ordered it. After, pop over to the Champagne bar, Balthazar, for a memorable finish (or order Champagne service to your room and sip in your enormous tub).

For those looking to venture outside of the hotel, there is, of course, amazing food to be had all throughout Copenhagen. If you want to eat at the legendary noma, you’ll have to secure reservations months in advance. Otherwise, consider dining at Aamanns 1921, a Denmark favorite serving a must-try open-faced sandwich, Smørrebrød, juniper schnapps, and refreshing homemade passion fruit soda. The hip Fiskebaren, awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide, offers good quality and value in the meatpacking district. From seaweed buttered sourdough bread to a 30 (yes, 30!)-year-old horse mussel from the Faroe Islands, the dishes are fit for a really-down-to-earth queen or king.

One of the best spas in Copenhagen—and the only indoor pool in the inner city—is at Hotel d’Angleterre’s aptly named Amazing Space spa. It’s based on the idea that luxury comes in many forms, including taking care of your physical and mental wellness—snaps for that. In addition to massages, you can order Laura Bonné’s “skin food,” beautifying juices and oils made with Scandinavian ingredients like seabuckthorn collagen. We recommend taking a yoga meditation class, set in a chandeliered room that would not look out of place if a throne were also found there, before heading to a personalized Nordic sauna ritual. Complete with a cold plunge, traditional Nordic music, and aromatherapy sauna sessions, it will connect all your senses with Scandinavian culture and you will emerge feeling like a rejuvenated Nordic god or goddess.

At d’Angleterre, you’re within walking distance from the stunning Amalienborg royal palace, a huge 360-degree complex. Try and spot the changing of the guard if you can, and check to see if the royal family is home—like Buckingham Palace, if the flag is raised, they’re in. But perhaps nothing in town feels more regal than strolling through the manicured hedges and rose gardens of the King’s Garden that surrounds the Rosenborg Castle, where inside are the crown jewels can be found.

Take a short but sweet ride on the new Cityringen metro line to one of Copenhagen’s most affluent neighborhoods—technically its own municipality—Frederiksberg (exit at Frederiksberg Allé on the M3 line). Along the tree-lined avenue you can fantasize about spending your royal fortune on one of the beautiful apartments while walking to the Frederiksberg Gardens and palace. Warning: the shops and cafes on Vaernedamsvej Street may leave you wanting to pack your bags and move there forever.

An easy way to offset some of the costs you’re going to incur on this whirlwind Copenhagen trip is to save on your flights, or at least get more for your money. The secret is to fly with a lower cost airline like Norwegian. It’s probably the most non-budget budget airline out there, and their Premium class can cost about the same or less than other airlines normal economy fare; plus, they have nonstop options from major cities like New York, Fort Lauderdale, Oakland, and Los Angeles. Really, the only thing you have to worry about now is how to fit your entire royal wardrobe into your suitcase.