Going solo – Page 2 – The Wknd Travel

Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 912 – Singapore to Manila – 3-Hour Remarkable Economy Class Experience Aboard A 15-Year Old Aircraft

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.

Now that I am on my last flight to Manila, let me walk you through my 19-day European trip last October to November 2019. I started my journey in the Netherlands, around Amsterdam, Utrecht & North Holland. After a few days, I took the bus & went down to Belgium & explored the cities of Brussels, Bruges & Ghent. I flew to Czech Republic & spent 4 days walking around Prague, Kutná Hora & Český Krumlov. Then, I flew to Copenhagen where I spent my last days in Europe. I shared my experiences in these cities in this blog & I placed it under the Going Solo in Europe category.

I also shared by previous flights with Singapore Airlines on my flights from Manila to Singapore, Singapore to Amsterdam & Copenhagen to Singapore under the flight report category. Make sure to check them out! Let’s jump back to this last flight to Manila.

Singapore Airlines

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!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 351 – Copenhagen to Singapore – Cozy & Enjoyable 12-Hour Window Seat Economy Class Flight Back to Asia

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.

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.

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. Don’t forget to check out my posts under the Going Solo in Europe category. Thanks again & please stay safe.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Going Solo In Europe: COPENHAGEN – Walking Around Denmark’s Wonderful Capital City

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!

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.

Did you know that I applied for my own Schengen tourist visa? Yes! I did it all by myself & I got a multiple entry visa valid for 45 days. Check out this Tuesday Tip post to know how I did it.

Prague to Copenhagen

Prague, Czech Republic & Copenhagen, Denmark are not connected by direct trains. The fastest & most comfortable way to travel from one city to the other is via airplane. I took the sole Czech Airlines flight to Copenhagen from Prague last 5 November 2019. Check out the details of this flight in this Czech Airlines OK 508 Flight Report.

Steel House Copenhagen

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 17^th 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.

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 50^th 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.

Before you go, can I ask you to please follow me on my social media pages? Here are my Facebook & Instagram accounts. I hope you can also share these pages to your family & friends. Thank you!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Going Solo In Europe: ČESKÝ KRUMLOV – Czechia’s Quaint Fairy Tale Town

After spending a wonderful day around Old Town Prague & Prague Castle & an interesting walking tour around Kutná Hora, I decided to visit another Czech town down south called Český Krumlov. I initially thought of going to the spa town of Karlovy Vary but I figured Český Krumlov is the better option. Join me in today’s photoblog as I show you the beauty of Czech Republic’s quaint fairy tale town in the south of Bohemia.

In case you missed it, I went on a 19-day journey from the Philippines to Europe last October to November 2019. I flew to The Netherlands via Singapore & visited Amsterdam, Utrecht & North Holland. I also spent a few days in Belgium – around Brussels, Ghent & Bruges. I flew to Czech Republic & visited Prague, Kutná Hora & this town, Český Krumlov. I spent the last leg of the trip around Copenhagen in Denmark with a friend. If you want to know more about this trip, check out my Going Solo in Europe Series in this website.

Český Krumlov

Český Krumlov is a small Czech town 170+ kilometers down south of Prague by the Vltava River. The town rose as a settlement of the Vítkovci family in the early times. When the family line came to an end, King Wenceslaus II handed the town to the Rosenberg Family. The prominent Bohemian noble family built the castle in the 14^th century. They also promoted trade & development in town where both Germans & Czechs live.

In the 1600s, the Rosenbergs sold the town to Habsburgs of Austria which was then handed to the House of Eggenberg. The Eggenberg Family ruled the town for a century until the family line came to an end. The town was then handed over to the House of Schwarzenberg. This Bohemian (Czech) & Franconian (German) aristocrat family owned & ruled Český Krumlov until the end of the world wars. The Czech government expelled the town’s German population after the World War II. The government took control of the town since then.

In 1992, the Historic Centre of Český Krumlov made it to UNESCO’s List of World Heritage Sites. Today, Český Krumlov is a popular tourist destination to holiday makers. Big part of the town’s economy comes from tourism. The town’s main attraction is the Český Krumlov Castle. It also has museums, galleries, breweries, shops, restaurants & old buildings which tourists can visit. The best way to explore the town is by foot. The town is so small; one can literally walk to the other side of town in 20 minutes.

Planning to go to Europe once everything goes back to normal? You don’t have to worry about the Schengen visa. It’s easy to apply for one. Check out my blog on how to get a Schengen tourist visa on your own.

Prague to Český Krumlov

I took the subway to the bus terminal.. This is how Prague subway stations look like. Old & unique!

There are different ways to go to Český Krumlov from Prague. The easiest way is to rent a car & drive south for about 2-3 hours. If you don’t drive, you can opt to take the train or bus. Český Krumlov & Prague are linked by a direct train service that takes close to 3 hours per way. Several bus companies operate between these 2 places several times a day. The bus is the cheapest option; the bus trip takes about 3 hours per way.

Seats have personal entertainment screens!

I took the bus on both ways just because it’s cheaper & more comfortable. I booked with RegioJet & paid 368 CZK (about ₱750 return). I took the 7:00 am trip from Prague & arrived in Český Krumlov at 9:45 am. I left Český Krumlov at 5:00 pm & arrived back in Prague a few minutes before 8 in the evening. The bus had comfortable seats, on-board personal entertainment screens, charging & power outlets & a lavatory. I’m glad I took the bus on both ways – it was the cheapest & most comfortable option.

Wiseman Free Walking Tour

You guys know that I’m a fan of free (well tip-based) walking tours. I took these free walking tours in Amsterdam, Brussels, Ghent, Bruges & even in Prague. Český Krumlov also has its own free walking tour in the name of Wiseman Free Walking Tour. Just like the ones I before, this walking tour uses a ‘donation-based’ system where joiners give tips or donations after every tour.

The walking tour starts in front of the Tourist Information Center on the Main Square (Náměstí Svornosti) in Český Krumlov. The tour takes about 2 hours & walks the guests around Český Krumlov, from the old buildings, churches & halls to the Český Krumlov castle grounds & breweries while sharing the story of how the town developed & survived through the years. Our group had a great walk with Libor that day. He gave us a lot of information about the town’s history, way of living & culture. He also answered our questions about the town.

Libor, our guide from Wiseman Free Walking Tour, took us around Český Krumlov for 2.5 hours!

This free walking tours occur ever day at 10:30 am & 2:00 pm from April to October & 10:30 am only from November to March. Just look for the guide wearing a red shirt with a red umbrella in front of the tourist information office.

Allow me now to share with you the photos I took during this DIY day trip to Český Krumlov.

This is *Český Krumlov*‘s main square – it’s not your typical busy & crowded European town square.

Inside St. Vitus Church in *Český Krumlov*

*Český Krumlov* Castle from the Vltava River somewhere in in the town. A magical place to visit!!!

A random beautiful & colorful street in *Český Krumlov*. You can have your photo shoots anywhere!!

The view of *Český Krumlov* town from the eastern part of the *Český Krumlov* Castle. Stunning, eh?

*Český Krumlov*‘s draft beer! Of course I had to try it – this 500 ml pint was priced 46 CZK / PHP 43!

This is Czech’s National Meal – Roast Park with Dumplings & Cabbage. Tbh, bothing fancy there.

I hope you enjoyed the photos! Český Krumlov is a lovely place to visit especially on a sunny cold autumn day. It feels like a fairy tale come true walking around the old houses, the castle & the cobble stone covered streets. The town’s quiet & relaxing. The locals are nice & cheerful. Český Krumlov is easily one of the favorite small towns I visited in this Going Solo in Europe trip.

One last look at *Český Krumlov* town from the castle grounds. Beautiful town – felt like a fairy tale!

What do you think of Český Krumlov based on the photos above? Is it a town you’ll visit when you go to Czech Republic in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about the town? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll answer them soon.

Thank you for joining me in Český Krumlov today. Unfortunately, our time in Czech Republic is soon coming to an end. Watch out for the upcoming blogs on the Going Solo in Europe Series. For the meantime, you may follow me on my social media accounts – Facebook & Instagram.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Going Solo In Europe: KUTNÁ HORA – Day Trip To Central Bohemia’s Medieval Silver Mining Town

Before coming to Europe, I already knew about the Church of the Bones in Czech Republic. I didn’t know it is in Kutná Hora until our tour guide Katerina told us that they offer a day tour to that site. I got excited upon knowing it & immediately booked a tour for the following day.

After spending the day walking around Prague Old Town & Prague Castle, knowing about the city’s history & culture, I decided to take a day trip to Kutná Hora. Let me share with you the interesting photos I took during this trip outside Prague.

The main altar of Sedlec Ossuary – The Church of the Bones – in Kutna Hora, Czech Republic. 🇨🇿

Did you know that I went on a 19-day trip to Europe late last year? I flew to Singapore then to Amsterdam via Singapore Airlines. I went around The Netherlands & visited Amsterdam, Utrecht & North Holland. I also explored the cities of Brussels, Ghent & Bruges in Belgium. I flew to Prague, Czech Republic after then onward to Denmark before flying home. You can find the posts about this Europe trip under the Going Solo in Europe series category.

Kutná Hora

Kutná Hora is a small medieval town located 70 kilometres east of Prague. This town rose to economic power being the center of silver mining during the 13th century. The town produced a big part of Europe’s silver market at the end of that century.

One of the many quiet streets of Kutna Hora. The town is almost deserted – not much people out.

The town almost completed with Prague in terms of political & economic power for centuries until it succumbed to natural (floods), health (plague) & man-made (wars, invasions) factors. These eventually led to the downfall of the silver mining industry. The town was also affected during the world wars.

In 1996, UNESCO recognized the town as a World Heritage Site. Since then, the town attracts thousands of tourists every year. It has become one of the famous day trips from Prague.

Planning to make your Euro-trip dreams come true? Getting a Schengen tourist visa is easy! Check out my post on how I got my tourist visa without any help from any agency.

Day Trip To Kutná Hora

Kutná Hora is not that easy place to go from Prague. SANDEMANs New Europe offered the day trip for €38 per person. The day tour rate includes transportation in a comfortable coach, entrance fees to all sites & an English-speaking tour guide. Lunch is at the guest’s expense. The tour company has already reserved seats in a local restaurant & took lunch orders (menu provided) in the bus on the way to Kutná Hora. Sandeman’s rate is affordable compared to the €50 half day tours I saw online & in tour agencies around Prague. I forgot to mention this tour is offered in English & Spanish languages.

Our tour guide, Nicolo, met us in front of Cartier shop in Old Town Square at 9:45 & walked us to the coach. We left Prague a few minutes after 10:00 & took close to an hour trip to Kutná Hora. We first went to Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady & St John the Baptist then to Sedlec Ossuary (the Church of the Bones). After spending a few minutes in the church, we all went to St. Barbara’s Church in town & walked down to the town center. We had our lunch at Restaurace Dačický (I ordered the wild boar goulash with gingerbread dumplings & the Kutna Hora dark beer) & continued the tour around the old town. We went to the Italian Court & St. James Church before walking back to the bus. We left Kutná Hora at 16:30 in the afternoon & arrived back in Prague at 17:30.

Let me share with you the photos I took during this day trip.

This is outside the Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady & St John the Baptist in Kutna Hora CZ 🇨🇿

One of the main pieces in Sedlec Ossuary – made from bones of people. Interesting place to visit. 🇨🇿

St. Barbara’s Church in Kutna Hora – a Gothic-style church that took hundreds of years to finish.

I ordered wild boar goulash with gingerbread dumplings & Kutna Hora dark beer for 258 CZK. 😋

It was an interesting day trip to Kutná Hora! I am happy I finally saw the Church of the Bones in person. It felt weird at first going inside the church but it eventually became interesting when Nico told us why there’s a church like this. The other sites in Kutná Hora were extraordinary. Taking this tour with SANDEMANs New Europe was a big relief. Our tour guide was informative & very engaging.

One last photo of the Sedlec Ossuary – The Church of the Bones in Kutna Hora in Czech Republic 🇨🇿

Would you have the guts to go to Kutná Hora & visit the Church of the Bones? Are you planning to include this in your future plans in Czech Republic? You should! Do you have any questions about the town or the tour? Feel free post them in the comment section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll get to them soon.

Thank you for joining me in Kutná Hora today. Next up is a fairy tale town in South Czechia called Český Krumlov! Watch out for that post.

Don’t forget to check out my other Europe posts under the Going Solo in Europe category. Please don’t forget to follow my social media platforms – Facebook & Instagram.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.