Copenhagen: Midnight Arrival & Sticker Shock Sandwiches
In 2003, another ridiculously cheap Ryanair flight meant I got to visit Copenhagen and Stockholm for a weekend.
I landed at Sweden’s Malmö Airport late evening and just managed to catch the direct bus across the border to Copenhagen. I checked into my hostel and went for a wander to grab a snack – and soon realised just how expensive Denmark is – at 27DKK for a sandwich in 7-Eleven, I felt robbed.
Carlsberg, Canals & Tivoli Happy Hour
Up early, I booked my train to Stockholm for the next day, which cost twice as much as my return airfare from London. Ouch.
I walked the length of Strøget, Copenhagen’s main pedestrian street, all the way to Nyhavn – where colourful buildings lined the street, boats lined the canal, and quaint-looking cafes filled the pavements. It postcard‑perfect.
Next up was the Carlsberg Brewery – which surprisingly had free entry and two free beers at the end. That helped.
Back in town, I climbed the Round Tower with for great views over the city.
The sun finally came out in the afternoon hitting 23 degrees, so I wandered into Tivoli Gardens.
Whilst it was mostly for kids, with rides, games and play areas, it was a pleasant place to stroll around and take in the green space. Although tired, I did manage to squeeze a nap in on a secluded bench, under the trees.
I returned to Tivoli in the evening as I had heard it’s a different vibe. I found a live band, a much more vibrant adult-crowd, with bars open and great festival kind of vibe. I got chatting to a few friendly locals and had a great night out.
Train to Stockholm: Delays, First Class & Sunshine
My delayed train left around 8am – and somehow, I ended up in first‑class seat on the 4½‑hour train to Stockholm. I wasn’t going to question it – I needed a rest.
Stockholm greeted me with 24‑degree sunshine, so I wandered around and found an Irish bar called The Thistle and had a few drinks whilst watching football.
Back at the hostel I met a multicultural group who were heading out for the night, so I joined them.
It’s fair to say that Stockholm is good night out. We walked to Södermalm, down Götgatan, both full of bars as we hopped between them – the highlight being a bar called Mest.
At midnight we moved on to Patricia, a nightclub on a converted boat. It was heaving, loud, and fun. The Swedes really know how to have fun.
Stockholm: Boat Trips, Parks & One Last Guinness
The next morning, I took a one‑hour boat trip along the river but found it fairly lame.
I then chilled in Djurgården, a lovely park area close to the city centre.
Took photos of the Royal Palace and then that was pretty much it.
My Scando flying visit was over.
It had been great fun – meeting some great people, getting to see a few sights, and check out the nightlife. Stockholm would end up being a city I would visit several times more – all a fun time.
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