Location: Denmark (Scandinavia - Northern Europe)
Language: Danish (90%+ speak English)
Background: Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and boasts an urban population of over one million residents. The city was first founded in the 10th century as a fishing village and eventually grew to become the Danish capital in the 15th century, making Copenhagen truly rich in Danish and Scandinavian history. The city today is a major urban and cultural hub for Scandinavia. Named one of the happiest places on earth, Copenhagen has grown into a city that is admired for its ecofriendly environment, lively student population, active nightlife, and beautiful cityscape.
The Things You Will Love:
1) The quality of living is suburb.
As mentioned earlier, Copenhagen is often ranked amongst the happiest and most livable cities in the world. The public transportation is phenomenal, the environmental policies and cleanliness of the city is unbeatable, and the city is prime for walking and cycling (the cyclists in Copenhagen actually outnumber those that drive cars on a daily basis).
2) The nightlife is truly active.
It may come as a surprise to many, but Copenhagen is actually really well known in Europe for its lively nightlife and attractions. Copenhagen is said to have the most restaurants and bars per capita in the world, and the nightclubs and bars are often open until 5-6 in the morning. No wonder why Copenhagen has nearly 100,000 students studying in the city.
3) The city is both modern and historical.
Copenhagen is a very progressive city; hence why it is considered one of the happiest cities in the world. Being the progressive city that it is, it is said to feel very modern. The infrastructure and cityscape is truly world class, and Copenhagen continues to improve and adapt for its citizens and students. However, this does not take away from Copenhagen’s historical significance. The cityscape is beautiful and there are a plethora of historical museums and parks that emphasize Copenhagen’s important role in Scandinavia’s history.
The Things That Might Catch You Off Guard:
1) It is EXPENSIVE.
Like, really expensive. So it is advised for any student planning to study abroad in the city to save and budget their finances wisely.
2) The winters are pretty harsh.
After all, it is a Scandinavian country. Copenhagen is not necessarily a snowy city; however, the cold and brisk air does bring about temperatures that fall below freezing in the winter months. Also, during the winter months, the sun rises really late and sets really early, so that is something that may take some time to get used to. The Danes do, however, have a term that describes the coziness and warmth they feel in the presence of their friends and family during the winter months – hygge.
3) The city is not as centrally located as other European cities.
Being so far north, other European cities aren’t as easily and readily accessible as central European cities are. So, that may require some extra planning and money for those that would like to branch out and visit as many European cities as possible (good thing Europe is known for its plethora of low-cost airlines).
Copenhagen is a beautiful city that has attractions and sites that are desirable by any student, and with the many world-renowned universities located in the city, it has become a popular study abroad destination.
Disclaimer: I have not yet studied abroad in Copenhagen, but I have spoke to many that have. It is currently my destination of choice for my future study abroad endeavors.
