Going around Copenhagen with a friend made my Denmark experience a unique one. I learn a lot from walking tour guides, hostel staff & co-travelers but I believe nothing beats learning from someone who actually lives in the same city or country, showing around their own culture from his or her personal experiences. I spent 2 full days around Copenhagen with my Danish friend, Mads. This good friend is based in Aalborg, one of the smaller cities up north of Copenhagen but he flew all the way to the capital to show me around.
In case you missed it, I also wrote about the places I saw in Copenhagen, the 7 Danish delicacies one must not miss & the luxury hostel I stayed with during my stay – Steel House Copenhagen.
Today’s P’s List will show 7 interesting observations or learning I had about Danish people, Copenhagen & Denmark during my stay in the country. Please note that these are all personal observations & learning & that they not reflect or represent anyone.
Danish people use bicycle a lot.
Danish people are like Dutch people – they use bicycle a lot. They use it to go to work, to go to the supermarket, to go to the park or to go wherever they need to go. Most roads in Copenhagen & in the other cities have dedicated bicycle lanes.
Danish architecture is unique & beautiful.
Danish architecture evolved from its Viking-inspired style to the usual baroque, gothic & renaissance styles to functionalism & then now to its contemporary unique style. Their neo-futuristic style taps more on the proper use of natural elements, sustainable energy & people comfort.
Copenhill from afar – a cheese wedge-like building that serves as a power plant & a ski slope! 🧀
Copenhagen has notable buildings like Copenhill, a cheese-like structure which operates as a power plant & an artificial ski slope designed by Bjarke Ingels Group & the ‘toaster-like’ Copenhagen Opera House designed by Henning Larsen. Denmark produced architects that has worked on many iconic & world-famous architectural masterpieces including the Sydney Opera House designed by Jørn Utzon.
Axel Towers Copenhagen is a mixed-use building designed by Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects 🇩🇰Closer look at Axel Towers Copenhagen. Look at the curvy design – unique & beautiful element! 😍
You can go out in a day without bringing cash.
Yes, majority of the stores in Denmark accept mobile or cards as form of payment. My friend Mads even said that the locals know if the person buying is a tourist if they pay their goods in cash. Almost all establishments, including hotdog stands & food stalls, use a cashless mode of payment. Train stations don’t have ‘cash counters’ – all tickets must be paid by card.
Tap water in Denmark is safe to drink.
Tap water is Denmark is potable. It has one of the world’s cleanest tap water. Their tap water undergoes strict quality controls up to the point where it is as safe as the bottled water you buy from the stores. The canals & rivers in Copenhagen also has clear & very clean waters. Impressive!
Steel House Copenhagen had this water-refilling section in the hostel common area. Free water!!!
Danish people like getting cozy.
Danish people love being cozy, comfortable & contented. This ‘hygge’ culture is popular among Danes where they slow down a certain time of the day or week, feel contented about life & enjoy the simple things it has to offer.
Look at how cozy these couches are. Perfect places in Steel House Copenhagen to practice hygge 🥰
Danish people value equality.
Like other Scandinavian countries, Denmark values equality in all aspects. Danish people follow the Law of Jante where they don’t think they’re better than the other. The government does everything to lessen the gap between men & women in jobs, wages & societal benefits. Danish people also don’t care about people’s sexuality. They respect people regardless of their preference.
Denmark is a happy country with happy people.
Denmark is a consistent placer in the yearly world’s happiest countries list. Why? The Danish welfare state works. Danish people pay higher taxes than most in the world & get more social services (free healthcare, free education & unemployment subsidy) out of it. As mentioned above, Danish people respect each other & value equality. They also have work-life balance. I remember Mads told me they only work less than 35 hours a week; while in the Philippines, we work 40 hours a week on a regular job. Their ‘hygge’ culture also plays a big part in making them happy & contented.
Denmark is a safe country to visit.
Never have I felt unsecured in those 4 days of walking around in Denmark, be it in day time or late at night. Copenhagen, in particular, felt to safe at any time of the day. Danish people are nice & friendly. People respect each other. Neighborhoods are clean & quiet. It just feels like a perfect place to visit.
Denmark is a wonderful country to visit. It may be more expensive than the other ones I’ve been to but it’s a country that I easily fell in love with. It may not have the stunning canal houses of Amsterdam, the beautiful Grote Markt of Brussels or the picturesque buildings of Prague but it surely has the most modern & unique buildings & the warmest & happiest people. Everything about Copenhagen felt right at the moment. I didn’t regret spending the last days of my Going Solo in Europe 2019 trip in this happy country. I know most Filipinos first go to France, Italy, Spain & Netherlands but I hope people start visiting Denmark too.
Which of the 7 interesting observations above hit you the most? Have you been to Copenhagen or any other Danish city before? How did you find it? If you haven’t been to Denmark, what’s that one thing you look forward to seeing in the country? Share your responses in the comment section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above, about Copenhagen or Denmark in general? You may send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.
Thank you for joining in me today’s P’s List! Check out my Going Solo in Europe 2019 series where I talk everything about my first ever solo trip to Europe – from flights, to hostels to day trips. Also, be on alert for cheap fares & fun posts like this by following by my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram.
After walking around Copenhagen for a day with SANDEMANs New Europe, I took the time to slow down & relax for 2 days before flying back home. I met up with my buddy Mads, who flew from Aalborg to Copenhagen to go around the city with me. He took me to some interesting sights around the city, introduced me to their local culture & asked me to try Danish delicacies. Yes, I lived like a Dane for 2 days. Check out the 7 Danish delicacies we tried in my last 2 full days in Copenhagen.
Flødeboller
Known as Danish dream puffs, Flødeboller are chocolate-covered marshmallow puffs. It’s a traditional dessert served in parties & gatherings. It’s also the go-to dessert of locals who want something sweet & delicious. We tried flødeboller from one of the stalls in the Nyhavn Christmas market.
Gløgg
Gløgg is a traditional Scandinavian winter or Christmas drink. It is usually made of spiced, mulled wine or spirit. It’s always served hot. It tasted different at first but I enjoyed how the wine or spirit blended well with the spices. The small stalls in Nyhavn’s Christmas market offered a free taste of gløgg. We tried it from there.
Æbleskiver
Æbleskiver is the Denmark’s version of pancakes. The word itself means apple slices in local language with the snack traditionally mixed with apple bits or apple sauce inside. Nowadays, these Danish pancakes are made of the usual batter & cooked into spherical bite-size pieces. It’s usually sprinkled with powdered sugar & served with fruit jam (strawberry, raspberry, black currant or blackberry) dips. Like the flødeboller, we bought this from one of the stalls in Nyhavn’s Christmas market.
Hakkebøf Med Bløde Løg
Mads & I ate at Frk. Barners Kaelder on my last night in Copenhagen. This restaurant is known for service authentic & classic Danish cuisine. I had Hakkebøf Med Bløde Løg (Danish minced beef steak) for this last full meal in Denmark. This 300-gram beef steak meal is usually served with fried egg, soft onions, pickled cucumber, brown sauce (tasty one!) & boiled potatoes. This meal was really good – one of the best beef dishes I had in the trip. The dish itself cost 159 DKK – around ₱1,200 in our currency. Expensive (for me) but it was damn good.
Pølser
Pølser, or gourmet hotdog in English, is a popular Danish snack bought in pølsevogn, or sausage wagons, found around the city. The traditional Danish hotdog is served in a not-so-long bun with mustard, ketchup & rémoulade plus fried onions, fresh onions, pickles & sometimes cucumber slices on top. Each hot dog cost 37 DKK, around ₱280 in Philippine currency. We had this traditional hotdog snack in the stall near Rundetårn (Round Tower) – the same stall featured in Somebody Feed Phil’s Copenhagen episode.
Smørrebrød
Smørrebrød is a traditional Danish open-faced sandwich made from buttered sour-dough rye bread, fish (usually pickled herring or salmon) or meat (usually roast pork, roast beef or cold cuts) toppings, spreads & spices. Torvehallerne is a famous place to have smørrebrød.
Mads reserved seats at Skagen Fiskerestaurant in ILLUM Rooftop for lunch. We both ordered their smørrebrød (forgot the exact name in the menu) & were shocked by the size of the fried herring. It completely covered the rye bread! They served the meal with fresh greens, perfectly fried herring on top of the bread & tasty rémoulade-based spread. I paid 185 DKK (around ₱1,400) from the usual less than 100 DKK price for that open-faced sandwich but it was worth it. I’ll take friends & family for a meal in that restaurant!
Danish Beer
One of the things I try in every place I visit is their local beer. I tried Heineken (duh) in the Netherlands; Floris, Barbe D’Or, Brugse Zot, Duvel, De Garre & Delirium Tremens in Belgium; Pilsner Urquell, Holba, Kozel, Krumlov Light & Kutná Hora Lager in Czech Republic. I did the same thing when I was in Denmark. I tried their famous beers Carlsberg Pilsner, Grøn Tuborg & Royal Pilsner. All these beers originated locally in Denmark has been part of their culture & everyday lives.
And that’s it for today! The Danish cuisine still has a lot of delicacies to try but I didn’t have enough time & money to try the others. Their food is not cheap like those from Czech Republic & even more expensive than those from Netherlands & Belgium. I am still thankful I had the chance to try those included in the list above. I didn’t have regrets splurging a bit for the smørrebrød & beef steak; these meals were really good.
Didn’t mind splurging more than the usual for these 2 meals – minced beef steak & smørrebrød 🇩🇰
Which snack or meal appealed to you most? Which one are you going to try & which one will you avoid? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about those listed above? You may also send the questions to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.
Make sure to check out my blogs about my Europe visit last year. You’ll surely love everything about as much as I did. All these posts are under the Going Solo in Europe category. Please follow my social media pages to get details on cheap fares & fun posts like this – Facebook & Instagram. Thank you for joining me in today’s P’s List! See you next time.
After 12.5 hours with Singapore Airlines on SQ 351 from Copenhagen, we finally touched down in Singapore Changi Airport, the world’s best airport. I had 4 hours of layover to spare until my last flight home – Singapore Airlines SQ 912 from Singapore to Manila on a Boeing 777-300 aircraft. Join me in today’s flight report as I walk you through this remarkable 3-hour economy experience on a 15-year old aircraft.
As mentioned in my previous SQ flight report, Singapore Airlines is Singapore’s national carrier. The airline is based in the world’s best airport, Changi Airport in Singapore. This multi-awarded 5-star airline flies to over 60 destinations in more than 30 countries across 5 continents. They are one of the leading carriers in the Southeast Asian Region with the help of their subsidiaries – Silk Air (which operates to some regional destinations) & Scoot (which operates on a low-cost business model). The airline flies both Airbus & Boeing jets & boasts a young fleet of new generation aircraft.
Singapore Airlines is a full-service carrier. They offer free 30-kilogram check-in baggage allowance, in-flight meals & have personal entertainment screens in all of their flights. Please note that their subsidiaries, Silk Air & Scoot, do not offer the same services as the mother airline. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance & has a loyalty program called Krisflyer.
Airfare & Inclusions
As mentioned in my Copenhagen to Singapore flight report, I got this promotional ticket from Manila to Europe via Amsterdam, Netherlands & back from Copenhagen, Denmark for $719.23. My bank charged me ₱37,669.40 for the ticket, including foreign currency conversion charges.
The $720 ticket includes 30-kilograms baggage allowance for all flights, meals (up to 2 in long flights) & snacks on all legs & personal entertainment screen with movies, series & songs on all aircraft. Flying 3 hours each from & to Manila & 12+ hours each to & from Europe for ₱38,000 pesos with an airline like Singapore Airlines was definitely a steal!
Flight & Aircraft Information
This flight from Singapore (SIN) Changi Airport to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in Manila, Philippines took 3 hours & 27 minutes. It flew 2,377 kilometers non-stop to Manila. We left Singapore Changi Airport 7 minutes early & arrived Manila Airport 20 minutes earlier than the scheduled arrival time.
This flight was operated by a 15.3-year old (that time) Boeing 777-300 aircraft. It was delivered to Singapore Airlines in 2004 & consistently has been in their fleet. It has 284 seats in total – 8 seats in first class suites (old layout), 50 lie-flat seats in business class (their old game-changer design) on a 1-2-1 layout & 226 economy class seats on a 3-3-3 configuration. Singapore Airlines uses this aircraft only in their short-haul Asian market.
Airport & Transit Experience
Unlike my Copenhagen to Singapore flight, I didn’t have to go through check-in process & immigration again. I already checked-in for this flight when I was in Copenhagen & I was only in Singapore as a transit passenger. Singapore Changi Airport is an excellent airport to transit on. It has facilities & amenities which passengers can enjoy while waiting for their onward flights. Upon arrival, I took the train to Terminal 3 to check Jewel. It was unfortunately not yet operational that day. I went back to Terminal 2 & sat in one of those comfortable chairs with charging outlets & a watched football in the big screen. I fell asleep for an hour & woke up in time for boarding.
Our flight boarded from Gate E26 in Terminal 2. All gates in this terminal have their own final security check before entering the boarding area. Business class, Krisflyer & Star Alliance status holders boarded the plane first. The passengers in the rear economy cabin came next & those in the forward economy section boarded last. Boarding process took about 30 minutes.
In-Flight Product
Seat – Economy class seats on this Boeing 777-300 aircraft are 1 inch bigger than those from the Airbus A350-900 ones at 19 inches. Seat pitch is at 32 inches. Seat recline is generous. Each seat features an adjustable headrest. All economy class seats have the old-style personal entertainment screen with the old-generation remote control. These seats also have a fold-able table with the signature mirror, individual reading light, separate cup holder, coat hook, USB charging outlet & seat pockets full of in-flight literature. The seat was alright for me – the space is great but the ‘look & feel’ is better on the new generation economy class seat.
Meal – Singapore Airlines served a full meal on this 3-hour flight. There were 2 options – fish & chicken meal; I went for the chicken one. This chicken with mashed potato came with tuna salad, bread roll with butter, chocolate mousse for dessert, a cup of water, coffee / tea with milk & another drink of choice – red wine for me. Before I forget, the meal service started with hot towels, crackers & drink of choice (wine again for me) for all passengers.
In-flight Entertainment – All seats on this 15-year old Boeing 777-300 aircraft feature the old-generation 10.6 inches touch-screen personal entertainment screens. The IFE features the old-layout thus hard to navigate. The content (music, movies, series & features) are the same with that of from the Airbus A350-900. I had the flight map open throughout the flight.
Flight Amenities – All economy class passengers were given pillows & earphones for this 3.5-hour flight. Blankets are available upon request. The airline doesn’t give out menu cards & amenity kits for this short-haul flight but has the complete amenities in the toilets.
Cabin Crew Service
Singapore Airline assigned a hospitable set of cabin crew on this flight. They welcomed all passengers with all smiles & made sure everyone is having a great flight. The crew offered snacks after take off & then started with the meal service about an hour into the flight. I didn’t have any issues with the crew on this flight.
Flight Experience
It was another remarkable flight with Singapore Airlines. I was tired from that 12.5-hour journey from Copenhagen to Singapore yet I didn’t mind taking another 3-hour flight with them. Transit & airport experience in Singapore Changi Airport was excellent – no wonder they’re the world’s best airport for a few years now.
This flight was operated by a 15-year old (that time) Boeing 777-300 aircraft. Due to its old age, some of the seat features didn’t work up until the engine was turned on. The entertainment screens were still off & the IFE system was also hot. The seats didn’t have individual air vents. It was hot inside the plane during boarding process. It took a while for the cabin temperature to reach the bearable ‘cold’ point.
These aircraft shortcomings were then overturned by the amazing cabin crew hospitality & the onboard service. Meal service was quick. It started off with hot towels, followed by crackers & drink of choice & then the full meal – all done in 1.5 hours after take-off. It was a full flight so the crew did a great job there. I asked for another round of their signature Singapore Sling drink after the meal service & I was served by the flight crew with his best smile.
The seat was great as always – legroom was good, recline was generous. The personal entertainment system was outdated but its contents were up-to-date. I don’t see the point of refurbishing these seats / IFEs if this aircraft won’t be used in the next 10 years or so. I just prefer the entertainment systems in the newer planes.
No doubt, it was a lovely flight with Singapore Airlines. I didn’t feel I was tired from that 12.5-hour Copenhagen to Singapore flight. Everything, except the aircraft’s age & features (which were inevitable), was great. I look forward to flying with the airline again in the future; I just don’t know where will that be.
For those of you who want to know the technical details of the flight, please see below:
Airline: Singapore Airlines Flight Date: 10 November 2019 Flight Number: SQ 921 Route: Singapore (SIN) to Manila (MNL) Philippines Duration: 3:27 hours Seat Number: 51K Aircraft: Boeing 777-312 Aircraft Registration: 9V-SYI Aircraft Engine: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent 892 Age: 15.3 years old (on the day of the flight) Year Delivered: 2004
Have you ever flown with Singapore Airlines in the past? How was your experience? Which type of aircraft do you prefer flying with them? Share you thoughts & experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about the flight or the on-board service? You may also send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I’ll answer them as soon as I can.
Stay up-to-date with all my recent posts & blogs by following my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram. Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. I know we are all grounded at this time but I hope we all go back to the skies in the future. Please stay safe!
After 2.5 weeks of going solo around the Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark, it is time to fly home. I flew out of Denmark from Copenhagen Airport to Singapore’s Changi Airport onboard Singapore Airlines. Today’s feature will be about this enjoyable Singapore Airlines SQ 351 flight from Copenhagen to Singapore on its Airbus A350-900 new generation aircraft. Find out everything about the airline’s ground & in-flight service, the aircraft used & flight information on this newest flight report.
In case you missed it, I also flew with Singapore Airlines from the Philippines to Europe in October 2019. I flew with their new-generation Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner on my 3-hour flight from Manila to Singapore & took another 13-hour flight from Singapore to Amsterdam, Netherlands onboard their newest (that time) Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Check out those 2 flight reports to know more about those excellent flights.
For sure by now you’re aware that I went solo around 4 countries in Europe late last year. I spent the first few days in the Netherlands, around Amsterdam, Utrecht & North Holland. I went down to Belgium & explored the cities of Brussels, Bruges & Ghent. A few days after, I flew to Czech Republic. I had the craziest nights around Prague & the quietest days around the beautiful towns of Kutná Hora & Český Krumlov. I finished my European journey in Denmark – around Copenhagen, living like a Dane & meeting up with a friend. This solo trip is my best yet & I cannot wait to go back there after all these world happenings. I posted a lot about this trip to Europe, check them out under the Going Solo in Europe category. Now, let’s go back to the flight report!
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines is Singapore’s national carrier. The airline is based in the world’s best airport, Changi Airport in Singapore. This multi-awarded 5-star airline flies to over 60 destinations in more than 30 countries across 5 continents. They are one of the leading carriers in the Southeast Asian Region with the help of their subsidiaries – Silk Air (which operates to some regional destinations) & Scoot (which operates on a low-cost business model). The airline flies both Airbus & Boeing jets & boasts a young fleet of new generation aircraft.
Singapore Airlines is a full-service carrier. They offer free 30-kilogram check-in baggage allowance, in-flight meals & have personal entertainment screens in all of their flights. Please note that their subsidiaries, Silk Air & Scoot, do not offer the same services as the mother airline. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance & has a loyalty program called Krisflyer.
Airfare & Inclusions
As mentioned in my first Singapore Airlines flight report, I got this return ticket to Europe from Singapore Airlines & Bank of the Philippine Islands credit card promotion. The return economy class ticket from Manila to Amsterdam (via Singapore) & from Copenhagen to Manila (via Singapore) cost me $719.23. My credit card charged me ₱37,669.40 including conversion charges.
The ticket includes 30-kilograms check-in baggage allowance in all sectors. It also provides access to complimentary in-flight meals & snacks (drinks & liquor included) & a personal entertainment screen in front of every seat. Add to that the airline’s excellent service & hospitality. Not bad for a 5-star carrier, right?
Flight & Aircraft Information
This flight from Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH) to Singapore (SIN) took 12 hours & 24 minutes. It flew 10,713 kilometres non-stop from Denmark to Singapore. We left Copenhagen on-time & arrived Singapore 24 minutes late. We had a delay because we had a last-minute route change causing extra flight time.
Singapore Airlines used a 3.5-year old Airbus A350-900 for this long-haul flight. The aircraft was delivered to the airline in late 2016. The plane has 253 seats across 3 classes – 42 business class lie-flat seats on 1-2-1 layout, 24 premium economy class seats on a 2-4-2 seat configuration & 187 economy class seats on a 3-3-3 layout. This flight used the same aircraft type (not exactly the same body) I flew with on my Singapore to Amsterdam SQ flight.
Airport & Ground Experience
Singapore Airlines flies out of Copenhagen Airport Terminal 2. Their check-in desks are found on counters 88-94, near the escalator up to security check. The counters are sorted according to class – economy class, premium economy class & business class plus an additional lane for those who checked-in online.
This is Singapore Airlines’ check-in area in Copenhagen Airport Terminal 2. Not busy, no queues.
The airline offers online check-in 48 hours into the flight. Passengers who use this option can choose regular seats at no extra charge. I checked-in before the flight & chose window seat 53A. I normally prefer aisle seats for long-haul flights like this but there were no aisle seats during my check in. I didn’t want to end up in the middle seat so I opted for the window one. Check-in process didn’t take long. The guy on the counter was friendly & accommodating. I checked in for both Copenhagen-Singapore & Singapore-Manila flights. I left my heavy luggage in Copenhagen & picked it up in Manila Airport upon arrival.
Copenhagen Airport has a very efficient airport security screening process. I finished the whole security check in less than 5 minutes. There was also no queue in immigration. It didn’t take long for me to clear the border control. My flight’s assigned gate was gate C37 – one of the farthest gates of the airport. It took me around 10 minutes to reach the gate. I also saw an Emirates Airbus A380 arrive & park near our gate.
Singapore Airlines boards its passenger by class. Business class passengers & Krisflyer & Star Alliance status holders boarded first, followed by premium economy class passengers. Economy class passengers boarded the plane last – those seated at the rear part of the aircraft went in first, followed by us in the middle rear part of the aircraft. Forward economy class passengers boarded the plane last. The boarding process took less than 30 minutes.
In-Flight Product
Singapore Airlines is known for its quality in-flight product. Check out what this flight offered to its passengers.
Seat – Singapore Airlines’ economy class seat on the Airbus A350-900 has a pitch of 32 inches & width of 18 inches. Seat recline is generous enough. Each seat has an adjustable headrest & a foldable footrest. Leg room is adequate for an average person like me. All seats feature a touch-screen personal entertainment screens with remote. Seats also had USB & power outlets & many seat pockets in front of the passenger. Seats also have a foldable table with the signature mirror. It also features a coat hook & a separate cup holder. Seats are comfortable to sleep especially for this long-haul flight.
Meals – The airline gave 2 full meals for this flight with unlimited snack & drink options in between. The started the meal service with the menu & a hot towel for all economy class passengers. They gave out crackers & drink of choice while the main meal is being prepared. They gave out lunch about 1.5 hours into the flight. The crew offered snacks & drinks almost every hour. 2 hours before landing in Singapore, they served breakfast for everyone. The meal servings were just right but they tasted great.
I got the sweet & sour pork with rice & vegetables option for lunch. What a complete meal by SQ!Had raspberry ice cream for dessert. It was really good. I’m happy to see SQ use metal cutlery! 🙂
In-Flight Entertainment – All seats in this Airbus A350-900 have decently sized personal entertainment screens. The system had a separate remote control but its touch-screen feature responded very well. Krisworld, Singapore Airlines’ entertainment system, offered over 100 recent movie choices & television series to watch on this 12.5-hour flight. It also had over 800 music albums to listen to. I didn’t get bored on this flight like I usually do on other ones.
Flight Amenities – Singapore Airlines offered a long list of amenities & features in this flight. All seats had earphones, newly cleaned pillows & warm blankets upon boarding. The crew gave out menu to all passengers & offered hot towel to all passengers. Passengers can personalize an amenity kit (from those available in the menu) & ask it from the crew. The lavatories had complete amenities – dental kit, moisturizer, mouthwash, hand soap & tissue. It was also spot clean throughout the flight.
Passengers can ask for amenities such as eye shades, earplugs, comb & a small kit from the crew.
This particular SQ flight from Copenhagen to Singapore offered a complimentary 30 MB internet chat access to all its premium economy & economy class passengers. The free data allocation was valid for 2 hours after log-in. This promotion / offer was only available for a limited period last November 2019.
All premium economy & economy class passengers on this flight got a free 30MB internet session.
Cabin Crew Service
Like my previous Singapore Airlines flights from Manila to Singapore & Singapore to Amsterdam, cabin crew service on this 12.5-hour flight from Copenhagen to Singapore was outstanding. The crew welcomed all guests with their warmest greetings & smiles. They checked on everyone before take off & landing. The set of crews on this flight was friendly, nice & hospitable.
This is my favorite drink on every Singapore Airlines flight – their signature Singapore Sling! 🙂
The crew made sure passengers don’t get hungry & dehydrated throughout the flight. They served snacks & drinks between meals. They gave out chocolate biscuits midway through the flight. Water service runs almost every hour. They granted by request of crackers & Singapore sling about 7 hours into the flight. They even gave me a glass of water with it – even if I didn’t ask for it. Cabin crew service was top-notch!
Verdict
It was another enjoyable flight with Singapore Airlines. I never thought I’ll enjoy this 12.5-hour flight from an economy class window seat! Let’s start with my airport experience. Check-in process, security check & immigration queue didn’t take long. If I remember it correctly, I arrived in the airport 2 hours before the flight & made it to the gate (after long minutes of walking) after 45 minutes. Copenhagen Airport has a very efficient passenger flow system.
Seating at 53A gave me amazing views of the A350’s wing & winglet. The windows were huge; it gave me beautiful views of the clouds & sunset somewhere in the Middle East. I sat beside a friendly & nice Danish couple who were on a holiday. The seat was pitch was just right. It was also comfortable to seat in for a 12.5-hour flight. The footrest & adjustable headrests helped me have a good sleep during the flight. I particularly liked the separate cup holder & the small mirror found in the foldable tray table. It was a simple but nice touch from Singapore Airlines. The entertainment system was alright – not the best in the market but it had decent movie, series & music choices. The earphones were so-so.
Food portions & service were excellent. It started with a hot towel, crackers & drink of choice – I went for red wine. I chose the sweet & sour pork with rice & vegetables option for lunch. It came with salmon salad, bread roll with butter & cheese with crackers. It also came with a delicious raspberry ice cream & a drink of choice. I got full up to the point where I only had crackers, chocolate & Singapore sling for snack. For breakfast, I went for the stir-fried noodles with prawn, chicken & vegetables served with fruit bowl, bread roll with butter & fruit-flavored yogurt. It came with a glass of water & orange juice. Oh, we used metal cutlery & reusable food containers for both meals. Overall, these are pretty nice meals by Singapore Airlines.
Went for the stir-fried noodles with prawns option for breakfast. I really liked the yogurt here! 🙂
The lavatory was clean & well-maintained. It had enough amenities throughout the flight. The free 30MB internet allocation was a plus! Connection was fast even if we were above the clouds. I used it to connect with my family & friends back home & those I met in Europe. Two things I didn’t like about the flight were the following: Too much use of plastic & lack of individual air vents per seat. The flight used a lot of plastic throughout the flight, from blanket covers, to cutlery covers & plastic cups. I hope they reduce the use of plastic in the future. The seats didn’t have individual air vents. It’s always a struggle for people who easily sweat like me. Good thing I already removed my jacket before seating down & only wore a shirt throughout the flight.
The flight’s highlight was the cabin crew service. The crew on this flight were passenger-friendly, accommodating & outstanding. They truly cared for the passengers & I felt it. Thank you, Singapore Airlines for another amazing flight with you; thank you for making this 12.5-hour flight enjoyable. Will I fly Singapore Airlines again in the future? Definitely. I was supposed to fly with them to Melbourne & from Brisbane last April but I didn’t push through because of the risks of Covid-19. I still look forward to flying with them once the pandemic is over.
Here are some details of this flight I took with Singapore Airlines:
Airline: Singapore Airlines Flight Date: 9 November 2019 Flight Number: SQ 351 Route: Copenhagen (CPH) Denmark to Singapore (SIN) Duration: 12:24 hours Seat Number: 53A Aircraft: Airbus A350-941 Aircraft Registration: 9V-SMH Aircraft Engine: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB Age: 3.5 years old Year Delivered: 2016
It was another excellent flight with Singapore Airlines. I never thought I’ll enjoy that long-haul flight from a window seat. Have you flown with Singapore Airlines on their long-haul sector? How was your experience? Share your experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about this flight or the airline in general? Feel free to shoot me an e-mail with those questions to contact@thewkndtravel.com.
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Day 14 of 19 – I arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark from Czech Republic. After spending days around Amsterdam, Brussels & Prague, I am in Copenhagen – the last stop of this memorable 19-day solo trip around Europe. I had bittersweet feelings landing in this beautiful Scandinavian capital. It’s another country to add to my list; the first Scandinavian country I’ve been to. It’s one of the happiest countries in the world with one of the happiest citizens. I’ve heard great things about this city & country. It is also the last of 4 countries in this Europe trip of a lifetime.
Hello from Rosenborg Castle Grounds!! One of the very few photos of me (in it) in Copenhagen.. 🇩🇰
You might ask why am I chose Copenhagen of all places to be the last stop of this trip. First, it was the cheapest way out of Europe when I booked my ticket with Singapore Airlines. Second, I took this chance to personally meet Mads, a Danish good friend of mine I virtually met during my HTC fanboy days with Elevate. Mads is based in Aalborg, Denmark’s fourth biggest city, but flew in to Copenhagen to meet & take me around Copenhagen. We had nothing but great times walking around the city & me being like a local for 2 full days. To Mads, thank you!
This is Nyhavn with its iconic colorful buildings – defo my favorite place in Copenhagen, Denmark.
My stay in Denmark was not as busy & eventful as my stays in the Netherlands, Belgium & Czech Republic. I didn’t go outside of Copenhagen & decided to just relax & walk around the city. It was the last few days of my trip so it was the perfect time to slow down, live like a local & enjoy the remaining time in Europe. Join me as I share with you below details about my last few days in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital of Scandinavian country Denmark. It is the country’s biggest & most populous city; it is also the country’s center of government, business, trade, finance & economy. The city started as a Viking fishing village in the early centuries & has evolved into a religious & trading town under the influence of Bishop Absalon. In the 1400s, the city became the official capital of Denmark & home of the royal family. Denmark, with Copenhagen as capital, flourished during the time of Christian IV. He created new cities, opened up trade & started companies that can trade to foreign entities. Copenhagen survived natural & man-made disasters & territorial battles throughout the years & emerged now as Scandinavia’s most important city.
Sunset view from the Round Tower observation deck. Beautiful place to see the the majestic sunset.
Denmark is one of the Schengen states & is also a member of the European Union. The country’s official currency is Danish Krone with kr. (with period) as sign & DKK as code. The same currency is being used by the Faroe Islands & Greenland. Conversation rate is 1 euro is to roughly 7.5 kr. For a budget traveler like me, Denmark is an expensive city to visit. The country has a different vibe compared to the others I’ve been to but is surely worth a visit. I felt super safe & secured when I was in this country compared to the other ones I’ve been to. People are very friendly, accommodating & happy in general. No wonder they’re consistently in the happiest countries in the world list.
All my 4 nights in Copenhagen were spent in Steel House Copenhagen. This New York-inspired luxury hostel in Vesterbo is owned & managed by ARP-Hansen Hotel Group – Copenhagen’s biggest hotel group. I wrote about my experience in Steel House Copenhagen in my latest hostel of the day feature. Check out my feature & review about the hostel here.
Going Around Copenhagen
Copenhagen is a tourist-friendly city. Majority of the places to visit can be reached by walking. The city also has a very efficient & modern subway system that goes to almost all areas of the city. Another way to go around the city is by cycling. Danish people, like Dutch people, use bicycles in their daily lives. Tourists can rent bicycles from hostels & shops.
Random but very clean street & canal in Copenhagen. Their canals have crystal-clear waters! 😍
I was travelling on budget & was not in a hurry so I walked a lot during my time in Copenhagen. Every day, I walk out of the hostel, go to different places, explore tourist destinations & walk back to the hostel at night. I remember one time when Mads & I took the automated subway from Nørreport Station to Christianshavn Station on our way to Christiania. Believe it or not, that 3-minute subway ride cost me 21 DKK (₱160-ish). Expensive, right? Yes – but we took it because we were running out of time. It’ll take us 35 minutes to walk to Christiania. It was a good experience, though!
Copenhagen Walking Tours
Just like what I did in Amsterdam, Brussels & Prague, I joined SANDEMANs New Europe’s walking tours around Copenhagen. SANDEMANs New Europe offers 5 group tours & 3 private tours around Copenhagen. I joined the free (well you know it’s tip-based) tour in the morning with our guide Bryony. We started the tour in Rådhuspladsen, then walked through the old streets of Copenhagen, to Christianborg, then Nyhavn & finish off at Amalienborg. Bryony shared to us the history of the city – how it started before & how it evolved into what it is now. These free walking tours run daily at 11:00 am (English & Spanish) & 2:00 pm (English only) & takes about 2 – 2.5 hours. This walking tour has a 15-minute coffee & toilet break in Espresso House near King’s New Square. Again, this walking tour is only tip-based & there’s no required amount from the joiners.
After the free walking tour, I joined the Must-See Copenhagen Tour: The Untold Stories also with Bryony. She took us around the Copenhagen landmarks that were not visited by the previous tour – The Little Mermaid, Rosenberg Castle, Kastellet, Gefion Fountain, Nyboder & finished in front of Copenhagen Cathedral. She also told us stories about battles between the Danes & Swedes, about the Norse gods & goddesses & some notable figures in Danish history. This tour costs €16 & starts at Espresso House – Østerport Station. It runs every Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday & lasts for 2 to 2.5 hours. You may get your tickets from SANDEMANs website or during the free walking tour break.
This is the afternoon view from the helix viewpoint of Church of our Savior in Christianshavn, DK.
For me, these walking tours are the best way to know a cities & places you visit. These experienced tour guides share everything they know about a place’s history, culture, politics & even arts. Most free walking tours are tip-based; there are also some who ask for a small tour fee. These tours also help freelance professional tour guides earn for a living.
Places To See Around Copenhagen
Copenhagen has a long list of places to visit. Believe it or not, I didn’t get to see all sights in my 3 full days of walking around the city. These are the ones I’ve been to:
Copenhagen Central Station
Copenhagen Central Station, Københavns Hovedbanegård or København H in local language, is the city’s main train station & is also the largest train station in Denmark. It is the city’s gateway to domestic & international rail routes. It is the main hub of DSB, Danske Statsbaner, Denmark’s largest railway company.
City Hall Square
City Hall Square, Rådhuspladsen as locals call it, is a public square in the center of Copenhagen. It is in front of the Copenhagen City Hall & is an important venue for local celebrations & events. SANDEMANs New Europe’s free walking tour meets & starts in this square.
Copenhagen City Hall
Copenhagen City Hall, Københavns Rådhus in Danish language, is the city’s seat of government. This old building that I initially thought of a as a church is found in the City Hall Square, in the middle of Copenhagen.
Tivoli Gardens
Tivoli Gardens is a famous amusement & theme park in the center of Copenhagen. This is the second-oldest operating theme park in the world. It only opens during tourist-heavy seasons such as summer & winter. Unfortunately, the theme park was closed during my visit. It was due to open a day after my flight out of Copenhagen. Locals say Walt Disney got his Disneyland idea from this theme park – unsure how true this claim is. I’d love to visit Copenhagen again in the future just to go inside & try the rides of Tivoli Gardens.
Magstræde
Magstræde is one of the oldest streets of Old Town Copenhagen. This beautiful street has colorful old & preserved houses which existed way back in the early days. It is only one of the remaining streets which have the original cobblestones.
Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg Palace is the Royal Family’s winter residence. The castle has 4 identical palace buildings in an octagonal courtyard with the iconic King Frederick V statue in between. You will know if the members of the royal family are in if the Danish flag is up. Luckily, it was up during our walking tour. Bryony, our tour guide, told us that The Crown Prince sometimes waves to the people from his window.
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace houses the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office as well as the Supreme Court of Denmark. This palace also has the Royal Reception Rooms, Royal Stables & even the Royal Chapel used by the Royal Family. Our free walking tour group saw 2 royal horses being trained & fed during our visit to the palace grounds.
Christiansborg’s Tower offers a beautiful view of Copenhagen skyline. Access to the view deck is free of charge. Too bad I didn’t have time to visit this observation deck. I heard queues can be long at times.
Rosenborg Castle
Rosenborg Castle is a castle built by Christian IV in the 1600s. It is found within the King’s Garden in the center of Copenhagen. This castle now functions as a museum housing royal artefacts & historical collection.
Frederik’s Church
Locally known as Frederiks Kirke, Frederik’s Church is a Lutheran church in Copenhagen. It is also known as the Marble Church (Marmorkirken) & is found near the Amalienborg Palace. It has one of the largest church domes in Denmark & in Scandinavia.
Round Tower
The Round Tower, Rundetårn as locals call it, is Europe’s oldest functioning observatory. It was built by Christian IV in the 17th century to continue the astronomical studies started by Tycho Brahe. The tower has a spiral way up (no stairs) – used before to bring heavy materials up to the observatory through horses & carriages. The tower has an open-air observation deck which tourists can access for 25 DKK.
View from the Round Tower open-air observation deck. You’ll also see Strøget on the botton left.
Strøget
Strøget is Copenhagen’s longest & most famous shopping street. This street has almost all kinds of shops, cafes & restaurants the locals & tourists need or want. It’s a nice place to observe Danish locals & their everyday lives.
The Citadel
The Citadel, Kastellet in local language, is Copenhagen’s fortress constructed in pentagon-shape. It used to protect the city from Swedes & international invaders. The citadel still functions as a military area at the same time a public park where locals & visitors can have a walk.
The Little Mermaid
If Brussels has Manneken Pis & Singapore has Merlion, Copenhagen has the famous Little Mermaid statue. Known as Den lille Havfrue in Danish, this bronze statue was made after Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale. This iconic statue is found on a rock by the Langelinie promenade.
Gefion Fountain
Gefion Fountain, Gefionspringvandet in local language, is a fountain structure that depicts Norse goddess Gefjon with large animals. The statue was donated by Carlsberg Foundation to the Copenhagen city government on the brewery’s 50th anniversary. The fountain is located near The Little Mermaid & beside St Alban’s Church.
St Alban’s Church
St Alban’s Church is an Anglican church in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is found near the Kastellet, the Little Mermaid & beside the Gefion Fountain.
Nyboder
Nyboder is a row of heritage yellow houses built by Christian IV in the former Naval barracks of Copenhagen. These houses were built to accommodate the increasing Royal Danish Navy & their families.
Nyhavn
Nyhavn is is one of Copenhagen’s popular tourist destinations. The row of colorful heritage buildings by the harbor makes this place unique. The harbor was built during the time of Christian V & it served as the docking place for market goods & seafood. Nowadays, the colorful builders are all cafes, pubs & restaurants. It still functions as a harbor for selected canal tours. This is one of my favorite places in Copenhagen. I can literally sit on one side & look at the colorful houses / buildings all day.
King’s New Square
The King’s New Square, locally known as Kongens Nytorv, is a public square constructed during the time of Christian V. On one side, the square is in the end of Strøget, Copenhagen’s famous shopping street. The other side of the square is also the end of Nyhavn; one side also has the Royal Danish Theatre.
Royal Danish Theatre
The Royal Danish Theatre, Det Kongelige Teater in local language, is Denmark’s most famous performing arts institution. Located at the King’s New Square, this theatre hosts operas, ballet performances, concerts & even plays.
Freetown Christiania
Freetown Chrstiania, known locally as Fristaden Christiania, is a self-governing community which considers themselves independent of Copenhagen, of Denmark & of European Union. It is a place in Copenhagen where illegal things are legal, if you know what I mean. It’s a cool & hippie place to visit – just to visit. Mads & I went to this place just to see it. People were harmless but they offered weed to all passersby, including us. We said no, of course.
Church of Our Savior
Just a few meters from Freetown Christiania is Church of Our Savior. Locally known as Vor Frelsers Kirke, this baroque church is famous for its helix tower accessed through an open-air staircase. Mads & I went up this viewing point & saw stunning views of Copenhagen.
Warning! The helix structure & external staircase becomes smaller as you go up. In the end, only 1 person can stay & at some point, you need to give way to those people going up or going down. Entrance fee to the viewpoint range from 35 DKK to 50 DKK, depending on season.
Gråbrødretorv
Gråbrødretorv is a small & quiet public area just off Strøget. The square has restaurants, shops & offices around & has a tree in between with seating spaces.
Torvehallerne
Torvehallerne is an urban fresh food market near Nørreport Station in Copenhagen. This market is the place to have local snacks including Danish pastries & the famous open-face treat smørrebrød.
Copenhagen Christmas Market
Copenhagen’s Christmas Market in Nyhavn – those small white huts sell food & Christmas goods.
Copenhagen’s Christmas Market opened on my second to the last day in the city. The market was in Nyhavn & sold everything from socks, to beanies, Danish food & drinks & a lot more. We went around every shop & tried all possible food we can try. The booth owners offered free taste of the treats they’re selling. It was a fun experiencing a Christmas market – definitely a memorable in this first solo trip to Europe.
Copenhagen has its own beauty, isn’t it? The city has a different vibe compared to the other ones I’ve been to in this trip. Have you been to Copenhagen or other cities in Denmark? What do you think of the city? How was your trip around the city? Share your experiences in the comments section below. You may send your questions, if any, to contact@thewkndtravel.com. To be honest, I feel like I want to move Copenhagen after visiting the place. I know it is expensive but it is a great city to live in.
One last look at Nyhavn. This is the other side of the famous harbor – still beautiful & colorful. 🇩🇰
And just like that, my journey around Europe is over. This Copenhagen post will be the last post about cities on the Going Solo in Europe series. I still have P’s Lists & Flight Reports coming up related to this trip so please stay tuned. Thank you very much for joining me in this trip of a lifetime. I am already excited to go back there & to explore new countries.
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