Culture
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk
One of the world’s greatest art museums, Louisiana is unmissable. In the coastal town of Humlebæk, just a 40-minute train ride north of Copenhagen, it displays outstanding art in a beautiful setting. Previous works on show have included ceramics by Pablo Picasso and Per Kirkeby’s large-scale bronze sculptures. There’s also a vast, well-kept garden – walk to the top of the hill for the vistas of the Øresund strait.
Copenhagen Contemporary, Refshaleøen
In a former welding hall in Refshaleøen – a rapidly evolving creative district just a short bike or bus ride from the city centre – Copenhagen Contemporary presents large-scale pieces and immersive exhibitions by leading artists and rising stars. David Shrigley’s inflatable earthworms have been displayed here, as has Elmgreen & Dragset’s tennis court installation titled “Short Story”. Nearby La Banchina is a great place to reflect on it all, coffee in hand.
Glyptoteket, City Centre
The extensive collection of art and archaeological objects here – Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities are shown alongside Danish and French works from the 19th century – makes for a nice foil to the city’s more experimental ventures. The impressive winter garden, with towering palm trees beneath a glass dome ceiling, has a World’s Fair feel about it.
Vester Vov Vov, Vesterbro
Both independent and mainstream films are screened at this small arthouse cinema, which is tucked away on a quiet pedestrian street in Vesterbro. The café, with Parisian-style interiors complete with chequered floors, is an ideal spot to enjoy a glass of wine before or after your film.
Designmuseum Danmark, City Centre
With furniture and object design being central to Denmark’s history and identity, a visit to Designmuseum Danmark – founded in 1890 and located in one of the city’s best-preserved rococo buildings – is a must. Its chair room is a highlight, showcasing some of the most iconic and recognisable designs by leading Danish designers, including Arne Jacobsen and Kaare Klint.
Copenhill, Amager
The hand of Bjarke Ingels is all around Copenhagen – but the architect’s crowning glory is Copenhill, the behemoth wedge-shaped waste plant in the city’s outskirts. Faced with aluminium “bricks” and topped with a ski slope, it’s an envelope-pushing masterstroke that counterbalances a sense of seriousness with play.
