Along with a group of colleagues from the events industry, I recently took a trip to Copenhagen in Denmark to see what the City had to offer when it comes to events (particularly Incentive travel). To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Copenhagen prior to my visit but was excited to do some exploring and visit some of the many venues!
With just two days in Copenhagen it was an action packed 48 hours and I could certainly have spent longer there. Flying out of London Gatwick, Copenhagen is just a two hours away and as you would expect, is well serviced by a variety of airlines. Once on the ground, the City centre is really easy to get to and is approximately a 20 minute coach transfer from the airport.
If you really want to start your incentive travel programme with a bang, a high speed RIB transfer is a great idea and is exactly what had been organised for our trip. Departing from a small marina next to the airport, we were kitted out with all the necessary safety equipment before boarding the RIB’s for an adrenaline fuelled transfer straight into the heart of Copenhagen!
Once we were back on dry land we were issued with bicycles which would be our main mode of transport for most of the trip. The cycle network in Copenhagen is superb and this is certainly the best way to get around. As well as seeing much more as you cycle through the streets, it’s also a lot quicker and great fun.
After a welcome lunch stop to refuel after an early start, it was back on the bikes to visit a variety of Copenhagen’s event venues. There is something to suit every event when it comes to venues in Copenhagen, from huge formal spaces at the Glyptotek Museum and National Gallery to cool, quirky spaces such as Toldboden along the waterfront.
After frantic first day it was time to check in to our hotel. We were staying at the Scandic Front hotel which was perfectly located right on the waterfront with great views of the Opera House and Royal Danish Playhouse. The Scandic Front hotel was of a really good standard and was a great example of Scandinavian design. After a quick ‘freshen up’ we were met at the front of the hotel by a fleet of rickshaws (and drivers thankfully) who took us to Tivoli Gardens where we going to enjoy dinner.
For me, Tivoli Gardens was probably the highlight of the trip and is a real gem that needs to be included in any incentive travel event to Copenhagen. Tivoli Gardens was founded in 1843 and has become a national treasure and an international attraction. Don’t be fooled by people describing it as an ‘amusement park’, Tivoli Gardens is sooo much more! An abundance of superb restaurants, attractions, theatrical performances, stunning landscaped gardens, and an open air stage attracting some of the Worlds biggest acts make Tivoli Gardens a ‘must see’ when in Copenhagen.
After briefly exploring what Tivoli Gardens had to offer we made our way to Nimb Brasserie which is located inside the gardens. Attached to the Nimb Boutique Hotel, the Nimb Brasserie is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxed evening full of great food and wine. We ate in the main restaurant area but there are a number of private dining spaces available for larger groups that would prefer some privacy.
When it comes to food, Copenhagen leads the way with a total of 13 restaurants being featured in the coveted Michelin Guide, boasting a total of 18 Michelin stars between them!
As day two dawned the sun was shining and it was back on the bikes to visit more venues and hotels around Copenhagen.
Our final stop before heading to the airport was ‘Visit Carlsberg’ which is where the first ever Carlsberg beer was brewed. As well as a great visitor attraction, Visit Carlsberg also has a variety of unique event spaces which can hired exclusively for events. After exploring the venue and sampling a few of the beers on offer (it would have been rude not too), it was time to head to the airport and bid farewell to Copenhagen.
After a fairly manic few days in this great City we would have no hesitation in recommending it for a an incentive travel programme. With a short flight time from the UK, relaxed culture, great event venue options, and abundance of activities, Copenhagen ticks all the boxes and is a great incentive travel destination.