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Overview: A guide to traveling to four countries in Northern Europe during December; Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Iceland. Please note, this guide is utilizing a layover in Iceland.

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National Foods to Try:

Copenhagen, Denmark

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/capital-region/copenhagen/restaurants

Foods to try:

  • Pastries, Danishes

  • Hot dogs

  • Smørbrød (open faced sandwich)

  • Fish

  • Pork

  • Danish beer

Berlin, Germany

Foods to try:

  • Turkish and Greek food

  • Currywurst

  • Doner kebab

  • Jelly donut

  • Beer with flavor added

  • Eisbein - pork knuckle

  • Bouletten -

  • Kassler - thick boiled ham

  • With cheese noodles

  • Ka- Potato pancake with applesauce on top

  • Turkish simit (pastry) with Turkish tea

  • Turkish bakery breakfast (sukush? Turkish?)

  • Dong Xuan Center - viatnamese food store

Malmo, Sweden

Foods to try:

  • Kanelbulle

  • Filmjölk

  • Toast Skagen

  • Foraged berries

  • Husmanskost

  • Prinsesstårta

  • Lingonberries

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Foods to try:

  • Kjotsupa

  • Lamb (Stew)

  • Hot Dog (Lamb)

  • Seafood (Lobster Soup)

  • Skyr (Cake)

  • Fermented Shark

  • Ice Cream

Stay Info

Copenhagen, Denmark

Berlin, Germany

Malmo, Sweden

Airbnbs available

  • Going for a day trip

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

  • Airbnbs available

  • Hotel at airport (ideal for layovers)

Flights & Transportation

Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Uses officially marked taxis

  • Denmark doesn't have Uber or Lyft

  • Bikes are very popular and common, along with renting bikes

  • 4 metro lines 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Easy way to go all over town

  • How to get around Copenhagen

Berlin, Germany

  • Clever Shuttle

  • A bus taxi: rideshare eco-taxi where you share the ride with other peeps, almost like a bus

Malmo, Sweden

  • Malmo is walkable

  • Can walk to most landmarks

  • Bikes are very common

  • Most hotels offer bike rentals

  • Bike rental apps: Donkey Bike or Malmö by Bike

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

  • City Center area is walkable

  • Location: from Old Harbour to the Hlemmur bus terminal

  • Electric scooters are available

  • Bus transportation in Reykjavik is easy, cheap, and gets you to the best spots in the city

  • Straeto, Reykjavik’s public transport company: bus routes, times, and fares

  • Regular bus ticket: 480 kr (3.30 USD) during the day and 960 kr (6.55 USD) at night

  • Buses travel up and down Hverfisgata street, but it's best to wander Laugavegur, the main shopping street, on foot

  • There’s no Lyft or Uber


Travel Between KEF airport and Reykjavik

  • Airport transport bus service:

  • Shuttle bus is fairly priced and travels to and from Keflavik Airport frequently

  • Ride time: 45 to 60 minutes

  • Taxi:

  • Starting price is around $110 USD


Reykjavik

  • Bus transportation in Reykjavik:

    • Regular bus ticket: 480 kr (3.30 USD) during the day and 960 kr (6.55 USD) at night

  • Airport transportation:

  • Bus service:

    • Shuttle bus is fairly priced and travels to and from Keflavik Airport frequently

    • Ride time: 45 to 60 minutes

  • Taxi:

    • Starting price is around $110 USD


If your layover is in Iceland and you are flying Icelandair

  • Icelandair allows a free stopover for up to 7 days due to Iceland promoting tourism

    • Check out Reykjavik if you can

      • There is an option to buy bus tickets from the airport to Reykjavik on an Icelandair flight

    • Keflavik is a nice option too

    • Blue Lagoon is near the airport

      • Hot springs with geothermal seawater surrounded by volcanoes

      • Will not be open at times due to volcanic activity

Important Info

Copenhagen, Denmark

General

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US Department of State for Denmark

PASSPORT VALIDITY:

  • Recommend at least 6 months beyond your period of stay

BLANK PASSPORT PAGES:

  • One page per stamp

TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:

  • Not required for stays under 90 days

VACCINATIONS:

  • None

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY:

  • 10,000 Euros (or equivalent)

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR EXIT:

  • 10,000 Euros (or equivalent)

Berlin, Germany

General

  • Danka - thanks

  • Skoal - cheers

  • Prosit - drinking to one’s health

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US Department of State for Germany

PASSPORT VALIDITY:

  • Three months beyond planned date of departure from the Schengen area including transit (strictly enforced).

BLANK PASSPORT PAGES:

  • Two pages.

TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:

  • Not required for stays under 90 days.

VACCINATIONS:

  • None

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY:

  • 10,000€ (euros or equivalent).

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR EXIT:

  • 10,000€ (euros or equivalent).

Malmo, Sweden

General

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US Department of State for Sweden

PASSPORT VALIDITY:

  • At least three months beyond the period of stay

BLANK PASSPORT PAGES:

  • Space for entry and exit stamps

TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:

  • Not required for stays under 90 days

VACCINATIONS:

  • None

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY:

  • 10,000 Euros (or equivalent)

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR EXIT:

  • 10,000 Euros (or equivalent)

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

General

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US Department of State for Iceland

PASSPORT VALIDITY:

  • Three months required, six months recommended beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area.

BLANK PASSPORT PAGES:

  • Two pages required for entry stamp

TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:

  • Not required for stays less than 90 days

VACCINATIONS:

  • None

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY:

  • Any amount over 10,000 Euros or equivalent must be declared

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR EXIT:

  • Any amount over 10,000 Euros or equivalent must be declared

General Prep

  • Bring cash

  • Alert credit cards and banks of travel

  • Practice DuoLingo phrases (not required)

  • Tipping not expected but rounding to 10% for exceptional service is nice to do

  • Take photos of documents

  • Print out to back up (passport, ID, Covid card), leave copy at home and take one with

Budget

and

& Personal Expenses

Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Stays

  • Transportation

  • Food

  • Other

Berlin, Germany

  • Stays

  • Transportation

  • Food

  • Other

Malmo, Sweden

  • Stays

  • Transportation

  • Food

  • Other

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

  • Stays

  • Transportation

  • Food

  • Other

Flights and Transportation

  • Train: Copenhagen to Malmo - $12/person

  • Train: Berlin to Copenhagen

  • EasyJet Flight: Copenhagen to Berlin - about $100 round trip

  • EasyJet Flight: Copenhagen to Berlin with 2 bags - about $215 round trip

    • Small cabin bag: 1 x under seat cabin bag (max. 45 x 36 x 20 cm)

    • Large cabin bag: 1 x large cabin bag (max. 56 x 45 x 25 cm

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Coffee Shops & Breakfast Spots

Museums, Castles & Memorials

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Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Buka

  • Kaf Bar

  • Cafe Claude’s Hands (hot egg)

  • Hart Bagery (bakery - owner worked at Noma)

  • The Villa Hotel (pastry and espresso cafe inside)

  • Bastard Cafe (board games, Hygge culture)

  • Landbageriet (focaccia and cinnamon rolls)

  • Le Petit something [find name and insert] (breakfast with skyr)

  • Lagkagehuset Groennin (cafe by castle park)

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Berlin, Germany

  • Coffee Fellows Cafe

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Malmo, Sweden

  • Katarina

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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

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Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Danish Architecture Centre

  • Castles: Website

  • Christianborg Palace

    • 800+ years of history and today, the palace is home to the Parliament, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Supreme Court

  • Rosenburg Castle

  • Royal Library Gardens

    • Garden haven, small pond, looks like a medieval garden with hedges

  • Other castle and cathedral [find name and insert]

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Berlin, Germany

  • The Wall

  • East Side Gallery

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Malmo, Sweden

  • Malmö Castle

    • Malmö Castle was built from 1537 to 1542 on top of ruins from an old fort

    • It is the oldest preserved Renaissance castle in Scandinavia, and today it is used for a variety of different experiences and exhibitions

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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Theaters & Theme Parks

Bars & Breweries

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Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Cinema [find name and insert]

  • Tivoli Gardens

    • Amusement park dating from 1843

    • Raclette mac and cheese food stand

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Berlin, Germany

  • Lichtblick-Kino

    • Compact cinema, seating 32 people, showing documentaries & foreign-language films with subtitles

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Malmo, Sweden

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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

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Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Cucaracha bar

  • Carlsberg Brewery Tours

  • That one bar with graffiti after Kebabistan [find and insert]

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Berlin, Germany

  • Eschschloraque (hidden bar)

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Malmo, Sweden

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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Grocery & Retail Shops

Food Halls & Markets

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Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Stroget Shopping Mile

    • 5 minutes from Christiansborg

    • Shopping area with boutiques, cafés, and restaurants

  • Fotex Foods

  • Netto

  • Botanical garden shop [find name and insert]

  • Pharmacy Apotek

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Berlin, Germany

  • Thrift store [find name and insert]

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Malmo, Sweden

  • Stortorget

    • Shopping square and historic market created in 1540

  • Historical Square, Lilla Torg

    • Square located in the centre of the city, close to the main shopping square “Stortorget”

    • Created in 1540 and was used as a shopping square then and still is today

    • Oldest square in Malmo

  • Triangeln

    • Eclectic, urban mall offering eateries and high-end stores

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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

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Copenhagen, Denmark

  • TorvehallerneKBH

    • Fresh food market

    • Website

      • Coffee Collective

      • Roert KBH (smorrebrod)

      • El Mercado (tapas)

      • Ma Poule (ham shop)

      • Tante T (tea)

      • Omegn & Venner (cheese shop)

  • Christmas Market by NyHaven

  • Christmas Markets

    • Gluhwein

    • Hot Toddies

    • Currywurst

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Berlin, Germany

  • Flea market [find name and insert]

  • Pop-up hidden Christmas Market on that one street

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Malmo, Sweden

  • Malmö Saluhall

    • In a repurposed dockside industrial space

      • Clemens Kott & Husman

      • Find pizza place name

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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

  • Lava at Blue Lagoon

Notable Neighborhoods

Notable Eats

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Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Nyhavn Harbor

    • Nautical vibe, colorful shore-side with tall ships docked along the quays

  • Neighborhood with orange houses [find name and insert]

  • Freetown Christiana

    • An intentional community and commune in the Christianshavn neighborhood

      • Functioning alternative society

      • No photos

      • Don’t interact with dogs due to recent tension there

      • Cars are banned, bicycles are the main mode of transport, and horses roam free

      • Pusher street is a little weird and the locals aren’t supporting it due to recent gang violence - can be avoided

      • Christmas Market (and maybe regular market?) is before pusher street and an exit exists next to the market

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Berlin, Germany

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Malmo, Sweden

  • Historical Square, Lilla Torg

    • Square located in the centre of the city, close to the main shopping square “Stortorget”

    • Created in 1540 and was used as a shopping square then and still is today

    • Oldest square in Malmo

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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

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Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Killer Kebab

  • Thai Takeaway

  • Kebanistan

  • Delicatessen

  • Dandelion Burger

  • Hidden Dim Sum

  • Studio X Kitchen (must get folded eggs)

  • Mum’s Deli

  • La Tre Street (Pho)

  • Aamanns 1921 (amazing new Nordic food $$$)

  • Kaffe Konceptor (alcoholic coffees)

  • Traditional Smorrebrod place? [find name and insert]

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Berlin, Germany

  • Hofbrau Munchen (well known)

  • Zeit Fuer Brot (amazing bakery)

  • Turkish place for breakfast (find name)

  • Doner place near laundromat for currywurst and doner [find name and insert]

  • House of Small Wonder (in that one neighborhood)

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Malmo, Sweden

  • Clemens Kott & Husman

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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Art Districts & Murals

Music Venues

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Copenhagen, Denmark

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Berlin, Germany

  • East Side Gallery

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Malmo, Sweden

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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

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Copenhagen, Denmark

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Berlin, Germany

  • M-Bia (underground industrial music)

  • Schokoladen (tiny disco dance hall but not necessarily disco music)

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Malmo, Sweden

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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Tours & Misc Activities

Hot Springs & Bath Houses

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Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Canal Tour

  • Ice skating area [find name and insert]

  • Superkilen

    • City block painted red and pink, public park in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Cisterne

    • Underground art

  • The Round Tower

    • Astronomy tower from 17th century

      • $6 per person

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Berlin, Germany

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Malmo, Sweden

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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

  • Northern Lights

    • Priority

  • Food Tour

    • Cost is about $100 for 3hr tour - which is about the cost of 3ish small meals (tacos, burger, entrees all cost about $45 each)

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Copenhagen, Denmark

  • The Ancient Baths

    • Ancient bath house

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Berlin, Germany

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Malmo, Sweden

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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Blue Lagoon Iceland

  • About:

    • Hot springs with geothermal seawater

    • Plethora of volcanic landscapes, rising pillars of steam

    • Winter months (December-February) offer the chance to see the Northern Lights

  • Getting there:

    • 15 min drive from Keflavik Airport

    • 45-minute drive from Reykjavik

    • Visitors can also take a bus or a guided tour from Reykjavik to the Blue Lagoon

  • Reservations:

    • Will want to book asap

    • Must book several months in advance to ensure your space, likely will be turned away at the door without a reservation especially during peak tourist season (June-August)

  • Things to note:

    • It’s a requirement to shower naked in public before entering the lagoon, to ensure that the highest hygiene standards are maintained. Though uncomfortable for some, nudity is not taboo in Icelandic culture, so worry not; no one’s looking.

    • Towels and swimsuits are available for rent, visitors are also welcome to bring their own towels and swimsuits

  • Hours:

    • January-May, 08:00-21:00

    • June 1st -August 20th, 07:00-24:00

    • August 21st - January, 08:00-22:00

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