Oh, Copenhagen. The little capital of Denmark has just below 800.000 residents in the core of the city, however it’s far from small when it comes to personality.<\/p>\n
When you hear the word\u00a0Copenhagen\u00a0<\/strong>you may instantly think ‘The Little Mermaid” or “Crown Princess Mary”, but I’m here to tell you, and take it from some one who’s from Denmark themselves, there’s so much more to Copenhagen than what first meets the eye.<\/p>\n
Here are my\u00a0Top 5 Reasons You Should Put Copenhagen On Your Bucket List:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Year on year, Denmark has earned a top-spot on the list according to the\u00a0UN World Happiness Report<\/strong> and having grown up in Denmark, I can nod\u00a0yes\u00a0<\/strong>to this fact.<\/p>\n
Then, why are we so happy and how do you get a piece of the pie?<\/p>\n
Yes, Danes have a stable government, low levels of public corruption, and access to high-quality education and health care. The country does have the\u00a0the highest taxes in the world, but the vast majority of Danes\u00a0happily pay: They believe higher taxes can create a better society.<\/p>\n
Perhaps most importantly, however, they value a cultural construct called \u201chygge\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n
The word HYGGE, refers to high-quality social interactions. Hygge is sometimes\u00a0translated\u00a0as \u201ccozy,\u201d but a better definition of hygge is \u201cintentional intimacy,\u201d which can happen when you have safe, balanced and harmonious shared experiences. A cup of coffee with a friend in front of a fireplace might qualify, as could a summer picnic in the park.<\/p>\n
Research\u00a0on hygge has found that in Denmark, it\u2019s integral to people\u2019s sense of well-being. It acts as a buffer against stress, while also creating a space to build camaraderie.<\/p>\n
So, it’s time to get your HYGGE on & snatch up some of that happiness!<\/strong><\/p>\n
It’s true – we’ve spent hundreds of years to create a city that is completely functional just by riding your bicycle. Bicycle paths are almost as wide as a normal car-lane, because there are actually\u00a0more bicycles in Denmark than there is people\u00a0<\/strong>– crazy, right?<\/p>\n
Copenhagen is flat as a pancake, which makes sightseeing ideal on a bike and in return, you get your adrenalin rushing & your blood pumping and it all helps to promote those happy-hormones in your brain, too. Cultural + Happiness + Exercise = Win, Win, Win.<\/p>\n
(Tip: Rent a Donkey Rep Bike which is through an app on your phone and located on most streets throughout Copenhagen)<\/p>\n
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