Europe's 'best sustainable hotspot' has colourful harbour and epic nightlife
An ancient European city with a beautiful harbour has been named the most sustainable destination in Europe.
Copenhagen has been given the honour by Tripadvisor as part of its Travellers' Choice Awards, which scrutinised more than 100 destinations based on a wide range of factors. If you have been to the Danish capital, you will probably understand why the city has topped the charts.
"Copenhagen is one of Europe’s oldest and most popular cities. It’s also one of the cleanest and most metropolitan," Tripadvisor writes. "The dynamic Danish capital features progressive modern architecture, the must-visit Tivoli Gardens amusement park, stunning palaces, and all the activities and amenities you would expect in a world-class destination. Explore the canals and pretty narrow streets, appreciate beautiful old homes, and find great shopping and people watching on The Ströget."
The city is known for its eco-credentials (AFP/Getty Images)If you enjoy travelling by train and want to keep your trip as sustainable as possible, then it is not too tricky to head from the UK to Copenhagen on the rails.
"It's easy to travel from the UK to Denmark without flying. Take Eurostar and onward trains from London to either Brussels, Cologne or Hamburg, stay overnight, then travel from Brussels, Cologne or Hamburg to Copenhagen next morning," writes train expert The Man in Seat 61. "Or sail overnight to Holland and catch a train from Amsterdam to Copenhagen, A great alternative to an avoidable flight, where the journey becomes part of the holiday. This page explains the routes, trains, fares & how to buy tickets."
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When in the city itself, travel is easy and particularly sustainable. Everywhere in Copenhagen is accessible by public transport while the city is currently switching from diesel buses to electric.
More than 50% of the population commute to work by bicycle and Copenhagen’s ambition is to be carbon-neutral by 2025. All of that peddling has had a big impact on the way the city feels and is structured, with many well built cycle lanes making getting around by bike feel safe - even if you're on the wrong side of the road.
The city is packed with eco-friendly hotels (Getty Images/EyeEm)The country at large was the first in the world to establish an environment ministry and begin developing commercial wind power in the 1970s. There is a good chance you will return from a holiday to Copenhagen instilled with a new enthusiasm for saving the planet and lots of ideas about how to do so, given enthusiasm is infectious.
The Danes love to avoid creating rubbish and have shelves on public waste bins for drinks bottles that can be recycled in return for a few kroner - a similar system to one the UK used to have but ditched for unclear reasons. Danes have been voted the most climate-friendly nation on earth by the UN, with the country aiming for a 'Denmark without waste’ by 2050 - meaning everything will be recycled or reused at that point.
When it comes to finding somewhere to stay, Copenhagen has a long legacy of sustainable joints. Three decades ago a group of Danes set up ‘Green Key’ ecolabel, which is a sign an accommodation provider is making efforts to reduce their waste. Today 70% of hotels in the city are eco-certified.
If you head there during the winter, you won't be short of cosy places to lock out the bitter weather. The Danes are famous for the concept of hygge - the art of banishing the cold and embracing the inner warmth. There are also plenty of great tourist attractions well worth visiting if you don't mind heading outside.
Sitting right in the centre of the city and filled with tall objects encrusted with flashing lights, it's hard to miss Tivoli Gardens. The theme park opened on 15 August 1843 and is the third-oldest operating amusement park in the world.
What better way to spend a frosty Danish evening than eating a traditional open sandwich and downing a litre of beer at one of the park's cafes, before finding out exactly how strong your stomach is on one of Tivoli's many rides.
Alternatively Christianborg Palace - which sits on Slotsholmen island - is surrounded by canals, and houses the Danish parliament, prime minister and Supreme Court. Expect opulent interiors, colourful art works, sparkling chandeliers and jaw-dropping architecture.
Translated as New Harbour in English, Nyhavn is a row of colourful houses that sits along the waterside form what is probably the most recognisable spot in Denmark. They are also home to many great restaurants and bars, serving delicious traditional food as well as frothy beer in a relaxed, divey atmosphere.
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