Going green in Copenhagen
Jennyfer Bayliss checks out the Danish capital's eco-credentials
Who would have thought that a city so obsessed with cool design would also be so hot on keeping things green? Copenhageners currently consume more organic products than any other city in the world and the locals are rightly proud of their eco-credentials.
Down to earth dining
Organic eating is booming in the Danish capital. The owners of BioM, an organic restaurant in the north of the city at 78 Fredericiagade,believe that greener thinking is becoming a part of mainstream modern dining.
The restaurant relies on local produce and prides itself on being totally organic, right down to the paint on the walls. The menu changes monthly and is a fresh take on traditional Danish cuisine.
Prices are reasonable for Denmark, with three courses for around £30. But if you've more kroner to spend on organic dining, then Michelin-starred Geranium could be a better bet. Next to glorious park Kogens Have that surrounds Rosenborg Palace, the philosophy of the restaurant is one of ‘unconditional love for the finest, pure ingredients’.
If you’re in Copenhagen over a weekend, sample some jazz and a hearty brunch at Cap Horn, one of the city's oldest-established organic restaurants. Scrubbed wooden floors, weathered leather seats, candles and deep green walls make you feel like you're comfortably at sea, with picturesque Nyhavn and its canal boats out the front.
Stylish sleeping
As for accommodation, an increasing number of hotels are adopting a green policy. There's even an eco-conscious back-packers hostel, Sleep-in-Green, with solar panels and organic breakfasts at Ravnsborggade in Norrebro.
A tad more upmarket is Hotel Alexandra. Plush and luxurious, it takes the concept of recycling to a new level with 'pre-owned' classic Danish furniture by Arne Jacobsen and Nanna Dietzel. The coveted Green Key certification adds weight to the hotel's consideration for the environment and wellbeing of guests.
In trendy Vesterbro, Hotel Bertrams Guldsmeden is part of a chain of three boutique hotels with an organic policy. With white walls, stylish furniture and exotic Mexican rugs and china, it is a fusion of global influences.
Getting around
From Vesterbro it’s a short walk or an even shorter bus ride to the centre. Walking is by far the best way to get around the city, although buses have helpful English-speaking drivers and there's also an efficient metro network. Get a Copenhagen Card (CPH card) from around £20 to give you unlimited travel, with free entry to museums plus discounts on restaurants and attractions.
Alternatively, hire a bicycle - more than a third of the locals ride one and the roads are supremely cycle-friendly as a result. You put 20kr into the slot and the bike is yours for as long as you cycle. Alternatively, try a city cycle tour to check out highlights of Danish design or to explore the city's nightlife.
Sightsee by canal boat or try kayaking your way around Copenhagen on a 90-minute tour for around £20 with Kajak-Ole (available from May). The waterways here are clean enough for city officials to have approved two outdoor bathing sites with decking, pools and diving available to locals and visitors in the summer.
Planet-friendly shopping
For those in need of retail therapy, there are plenty of eco options. Aniel, at 70 Frederiksberg Allé, sells all-natural children’s items, including gorgeous pink and blue striped babygrows, and the kind of wooden toys parents and their little angels will delight in.
If you’d rather look after number one, allow yourself a little indulgence at CommonZenz (Danish only) at 14 Jægersborggade in Norrebro (closed on Mondays). The boutique fashion brand is MakeZenz, created by Julie Villumsen, the shop’s owner and designer. Everything here is planet-friendly, including lotions that will give your skin a healthy Scandinavian glow.
Getting there
Rail Europe (08708 304 862) offers return fares at £260 from London to Copenhagen, which involves an overnight train between Brussels and Hamburg. The total journey time is around 18 hours and you arrive at Copenhagen train station – a short walk from most of the city's main sights.
Flying is a less eco-friendly option, but it might save you some time and money. If you really want to fly, Scandinavian Airlines have launched a programme to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent by 2020, with a target of zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050.
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