In Singaporeans Abroad, we share the stories of locals who—thanks to living in a globalised world—have found success in different corners of the globe, whether financially, romantically, or for the pure joy of adventure.
We recently heard from Gang Kai Poh, who moved to the US to study space physics at NASA. Then, there’s Eleazar Ng, who left the RSAF and moved to Japan to play professional baseball. Now, we bring you Joelle Yeo, a Singaporean who embraced a new chapter by trading Singapore’s fast-paced work culture for the Danish art of cosy living in Copenhagen.
Top image: Kim-Lena Sahin
When my friends ask me why I love living in Copenhagen, I always say there’s a cosy magic to this city. The effortless blend of laid-back charm and thoughtful design—from striking architecture to beautifully crafted chairs. Even everyday objects are as functional as they are stylish.
People cycle everywhere (there are more bikes than people), and that brings a sense of freedom and connection. It feels like you can go anywhere, effortlessly weaving through cobbled streets, along canals, and into green spaces at your own pace. Everyone seems a little happier when the sun shines, adding to the city’s warm and welcoming vibe.
It’s that same sense of ease that makes exploring the city feel so special. The best spots aren’t always obvious—they’re the tucked-away cafés, beautiful parks, and vibrant festivals that don’t always make it into travel guides.
From lively summer concerts and cosy Christmas markets to scenic running routes and creative workshops, there’s always something new to discover.
Oh, and of course, the endless natural wine bars—the kind of places where you can easily lose track of time, sipping wine on a lazy afternoon or deep in conversation late into the evening.
Over the years, I’ve come to know Copenhagen inside out—not just the tourist hotspots, but the places you’d only stumble upon if you knew where to look.
Friends often ask me for recommendations, and I love curating itineraries, from wine bars with the best sunset views to live music events. Whether it’s a quirky pop-up café, an Instagrammable corner, or a hidden spot in Tivoli that feels like a secret garden, I’ve built a mental map of the city’s best-kept secrets.
And yes, my Google Maps is overflowing with hundreds of saved spots too.
I love sharing these finds. While gatekeeping hidden gems might be a thing back home, I’ve happily become an ungatekeeper here.
There’s something joyful about helping others experience the best bits of Copenhagen; the places that made me fall in love with this city.
Singapore. London. Copenhagen.
Funny thing is, I never expected to stay this long. After completing my master’s degree in London, I moved to Copenhagen in 2018 to join Ørsted, the Danish renewable energy company. In my head, I always thought I’d end up moving to the US after Denmark. But more than six years later, this city has truly become home. I’m even looking to buy an apartment here!
Contrary to expectations, I didn’t experience much culture shock when I moved to Denmark—perhaps because I had already spent six months here back in 2015 for a semester abroad. Maybe it was because I was young and enthusiastic, or perhaps because I was eager for new adventures. Either way, the feeling was more excitement than anxiety.
The environment was also a great help. Even though the Danes constantly apologise for their ‘bad’ English, most people in Denmark speak superb English. Communication has never been an issue, and that makes travel here surprisingly smooth for Singaporeans.
Some people claim that Danish people are ‘unfriendly’ or ‘cold’. I don’t really agree. Let me explain.
It’s more like a deep respect for personal space. They’re not overly schmoozy, but once you get to know them, you’ll find they’re incredibly loyal. I was surprised to learn how many Danish people still actively keep in touch with their kindergarten and high school friends— connections that often last a lifetime.
That sense of lasting friendship actually reminds me of Singaporeans, who also tend to maintain close ties with friends from school, whether it’s reconnecting during festive gatherings or keeping in touch across the years. There’s a similar kind of loyalty and warmth that feels familiar.
That’s part of what I love most about Copenhagen. There’s a quiet sense of connection that runs through everyday life. It’s not always obvious, but you feel it in the way people value quality time, whether it’s long dinners with friends or unhurried weekends spent outdoors.
But it’s more than just a great place to live. It’s a refreshing contrast to the hustle and bustle of Singapore. In Copenhagen, there’s a sense of balance—people work hard, but they also know when to switch off. It’s a city where life feels a little calmer, where cafés invite you to linger, and where every street corner looks like a postcard.
I say this because Copenhagen is often overlooked as a vacation destination compared to London or Paris—yet it’s a place that shows you there’s another way to live well. And at the heart of it all is hygge.
More than just a word, hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) is a feeling—the Danish art of effortless comfort, where good company, warm spaces, and simple pleasures come together. It’s sharing a hearty meal with friends, lighting candles on a chilly evening, or finding joy in life’s little moments, no matter the season.
Still, no matter how much I’ve embraced life here, Singapore has never felt far away. Friends often ask me if I get homesick, but honestly, I don’t. At least, not in the way they expect. Knowing that home is just a direct flight away makes all the difference.
Singapore Airlines operates daily non-stop flights from Copenhagen to Singapore. Get top-tier service across all cabin classes. Plus, stay connected with complimentary Wi-Fi available to Business Class passengers, PPS Club and supplementary cardholders, as well as KrisFlyer members flying in Premium Economy Class and Economy Class. Image: Singapore Airlines
Culture. Music. Summer.
As for the city itself, I fell in love almost immediately.
The best way to describe it is a capital city, but yet with small-town vibes. You still get all the perks of being in a capital—from a wide variety of restaurants, including some of the best in the country (and the world), to concerts and cultural events—but it never feels overwhelming or overcrowded.
The city remains compact, with plenty to do, and everything is easily accessible. Public transport is super convenient, with the metro from the airport to the city centre taking under 20 minutes, making it simple to explore all that Copenhagen has to offer.
When summer comes around, that’s when the city goes into full swing. Sunshine is a huge deal for us, after the long, dark winters!
One of my must-dos every July is the Copenhagen Jazz Festival. The open-air concerts at Kongens Have and Pumpehuset are always a highlight, and even if jazz isn’t your thing, the good vibes and summer sunshine make it a special experience. It’s an event that really brings the city to life.
Another summer favourite of mine is Tivoli Fredagsrock, a weekly open-air concert series inside Tivoli Gardens. Over the years, I’ve had some unforgettable nights there—from dancing along to Jason Derulo and Macklemore to singing along with Tom Jones, Ronan Keating, and Chris Isaak.
With concerts every Friday and Saturday, it’s always worth checking the lineup and planning your visit around it. Spend the day exploring Tivoli’s rides and gardens, then end the evening with live music—and if you visit on a Saturday, you’ll even catch the 11:30 PM fireworks lighting up the sky. It’s one of those perfect summer experiences that feels like a little bit of everything.
If you’re in the mood for a day trip, my absolute favourite place to go is the Louisiana Art Museum in Humlebæk, just an hour north of the city centre. If you’re like me (a massive fan of both modern art and Danish architecture), it’s the perfect destination.
The museum itself is a beautiful example of Danish design—a modernist landmark that seamlessly blends design, nature, and creativity. It’s a place where you can enjoy both the indoors and the outdoors, with expansive green spaces and stunning sea views.
There’s a focus on 21st-century art, so expect plenty of thought-provoking installations that will either leave you in awe or have you scratching your head. In the best way possible, of course. Oh, and there’s also the iconic Yayoi Kusama Infinity Room, a fun experience that’s always a highlight of any visit.
I try to visit the Louisiana Art Museum throughout the year, but August is always a highlight because that’s when the Louisiana Literature Festival takes place. As someone who has always loved literature but never pursued it academically, I find it a joy to experience.
In 2023, I had the pleasure of seeing Haruki Murakami, who read an excerpt from his new book, set to music by a live pianist, enhancing the experience! This year, I know I’ll definitely be attending, especially with big names like Sally Rooney and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie headlining. It’s always exciting to see such influential voices in contemporary literature live.
The best part is how easy it all feels compared to other big cities. For the Louisiana Literature Festival and Tivoli Fredagsrock, your entrance ticket grants you admission to the events and concerts. For the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, many concerts are free to enjoy.
It’s all much more relaxed—you can just check online and decide spontaneously: ‘Oh okay, let’s do it!’
Carbs. Fusion. Theatrics.
To me, the best part of Denmark is the work-life balance. There is a clear delineation between work and leisure, accompanied by a serious respect for personal time. Most days, my workday ends around 4:30 PM, which gives me plenty of time to exercise, meet friends, and whip up delicious dinners.
That said, I get it. Cooking will be the last thing on your mind (who wants to cook on holiday anyway?).
Trust me, as a self-respecting Singaporean foodie, you cannot miss out on the chance to indulge in some incredible Nordic cuisine as soon as you touch down.
Go to the two-Michelin-starred Alchemist if you’re looking for an immersive, theatrical dining experience, that once-in-a-lifetime dinner you’ll be telling your friends and family about. The good food and wine just kept coming and coming and coming. Thirty courses in total, and the entire meal was six hours long! It was a never-ending feast.
However, my personal favourite is still Noma (only the five-time winner of the title ‘World’s Best Restaurant’) because the food simply tastes the best. Eating there had been a bucket list item for me, and it didn’t disappoint.
Even though it’s more of a sit-down traditional dining experience compared to Alchemist —you can’t deny how delicious every bite tastes. And you better drop by quickly for the phenomenal experience, since NOMA might close its doors anytime now.
What’s more, you can feel a sense of pride knowing that the head chef leading Noma, Kenneth Foong, is Singaporean as well! It’s always nice to see fellow Singaporeans flying the flag high on the world stage.
However, if I’m being entirely honest, I do miss Asian food a lot. Whenever I return to Singapore for Chinese New Year, I go on an eating spree to devour all the char kway teow I can.
In Copenhagen, my Japanese roommate and I are always cooking Asian food at home. Two years ago, I hosted a pop-up mooncake tasting and tea pairing event—partly because I wanted to share a piece of my culture and tradition, and partly because snowskin mooncakes weren’t available in Copenhagen.
Luckily, the country has increasingly embraced Asian flavours and culture—particularly Japanese influences. You’d be surprised at how many Danish people have a strong interest in Japanese language and culture. The city even hosted a Bon Odori festival last year, complete with Koinobori fish and traditional Japanese dance.
Needless to say, fusion food is considered massively ‘hip’. Danish chefs like the ones at JATAK (which was awarded a Michelin star just six months after opening) love combining Asian techniques like tempura or bean sauce with high-quality local seafood and produce.
I love how they reinterpret and reinvent Asian classics, like turning pineapple tarts into a uniquely Nordic creation with squash or transforming cheung fan into a silky pumpkin-infused dish.
I always recommend sitting at the counter to watch all the action unfold—it’s the best way to see the chefs at work and fully experience the creativity behind each dish. It’s quickly become my go-to recommendation for friends looking for fusion cuisine in Copenhagen.
Aside from its fine dining scene, Copenhagen’s food culture has plenty of affordable gems too if you know where to look. Every guide will mention Denmark’s famous open-faced sandwiches, known as smørrebrød, but there’s so much more to discover beyond that.
For a fun, budget-friendly dining experience, head to Absalon, where you can join daily communal dinners and mingle with locals—just 60 kr from Sunday to Wednesday (that’s around S$11!) and still great value at 100 kr (S$19) the rest of the week. Craving a quick bite? DØP serves some of the best organic hot dogs in town.
But if you’re craving some rice (because #riceislife), head to Comé RICE Kitchen, where ex-sushi chef Machida-san makes onigiri and karaage so good, it’s even better than the onigiri in Singapore—and at just 35 kr (around S$6.70), it’s a steal by Copenhagen standards.
If you’re visiting in February or October, try to align your trip with Copenhagen Dining Week, where you can enjoy multi-course meals at popular restaurants for a fraction of the usual price. In the warmer months, Reffen is perfect for casual eats, with its lively outdoor vibe and endless street food options. The Domodar (Gambian peanut butter stew) from Baobab is my favourite!
And if you’re looking for something to do or eat on a Sunday, head to Grønt Marked, a weekly farmers’ market that runs from May to December and is dedicated to supporting small-scale Danish producers. It’s the perfect spot to pick up fresh produce, sample local bites, or soak up the relaxed weekend atmosphere.
The only food that I can’t wholeheartedly recommend, however, is liquorice…
Eat. Pray. Sauna.
Okay, but if I had to highlight one truly unique thing about Copenhagen, it would not be a museum or a restaurant. Its true obsession is with hygge.
One way you can experience these ‘cosy vibes’ is by renting a boat from FriendShips. It’s a summer speciality—you bring some delicious food, open a bottle of wine, bring your speakers and just cruise around with your friends, soaking in the sun all day.
If you’re a local (or a localised foreigner like me), it’s a great way to enjoy the summer after months of winter cold and darkness. And if you’re a tourist, well, it’s your golden ticket to explore the soul of Copenhagen: the canals. They wind through the city like arteries, pulsing with life and character.
For me, the best time to visit is the sunnier months of May to September. The worst month is January because you get the harsh winter cold without the Christmas markets of December to cheer you up.
But the upside of winter travel is the chance to sauna—a very Scandi thing to do. While saunas have long been a staple in Scandinavian culture, they’ve also become increasingly trendy in Denmark, especially in Copenhagen. Winter bathing and saunas are huge here because of their health benefits.
In fact, it’s so popular that they even have mobile sauna trucks. Butcher’s Heat is a military truck converted into a mobile sauna room complete with wood-burning stoves. It travels the city, so you can experience sweating and cold swimming in different scenic spots all over Copenhagen.
However, my favourite spot for an all-in-one wellness programme is the Plugin Heat Club. Their ‘Saunagus’ experience combines meditation, guided breathwork and aromatherapy, followed by a one-minute cold plunge to give the whole body a massive flood of endorphins. It’s basically a reset button for the whole body, complete with vibe-y music.
It’s also a great chance to mingle with the locals because this is where you’ll find them in their most relaxed and happy state.
(Some Danes will winter bathe without the sauna… but I’m not ready for that just yet.)
If you prefer to stay dry, Copenhagen offers plenty of peaceful nature spots to unwind in—or scenic running routes if you’re feeling active. One of my favourite runs starts at Charlottenlund Fort, follows the coast past Bellevue Beach, and finishes at Jægersborg Dyrehave.
Along the way, you’ll pass Oliver’s Garage and the iconic blue-striped lifeguard towers at Bellevue Beach, both designed by Arne Jacobsen (a must-see if you’re a design enthusiast). For a fun detour, you can even run through Bakken, the world’s oldest amusement park, which sits right at the edge of the deer park.
The route ends at Jægersborg Dyrehave, home to a thriving population of free-range deer. Unlike the deer in Nara Park, Japan, these ones are wilder and more skittish—no bowing for biscuits here! Whether you’re here for the deer, nature, or architecture, this route offers a peaceful escape from the city with a little bit of everything along the way.
If florals are more your thing, April is the perfect time to catch Copenhagen’s take on Sakura season. With cherry blossoms blooming earlier than usual in Japan this year, Copenhagen offers a great alternative if you’ve missed the season there.
Bispebjerg Cemetery is lined with a beautiful row of cherry blossom trees, making it one of the city’s most popular springtime spots. I’d recommend going early to avoid the crowds, and while you’re there, be sure to visit the striking Grundtvig’s Church nearby.
I always love going to the Sakura Festival at Langelinie Park. There are plenty of Japanese food options (a big plus for me!), along with cultural performances and even tea ceremonies. Everything’s very accessible too, making it easy to wander around and soak it all in.
If you don’t fancy battling the usual Singaporean crowds in Japan, Copenhagen offers the best of both worlds—a lovely way to enjoy the Sakura season with a touch of Scandinavian charm.
Rest. Recharge. Recalibrate.
In my previous role in Singapore, I often found myself working long hours, sometimes stretching to 60 hours a week. It made me realise that I needed a change, a shift in my environment, to find a better balance.
Since moving to Copenhagen, that pressure’s melted away. There’s a balance here that allows me to live fully—whether it’s running the Copenhagen half-marathon or rediscovering my passion for cooking.
But what really struck me was the space to breathe. It’s not just about having time; it’s about having time that feels good. Over the past six years, Copenhagen has taught me to appreciate life’s simple moments.
It’s not that I’ve stopped feeling FOMO—I still want to do and see everything—but there’s something about this city that encourages you to slow down and savour what’s already here: the warmth of the sun on your skin after a long winter, the deep blue skies that feel extra vivid on clear days, or the simple joy of lingering over a six-hour meal with friends.
Singaporean travellers will find that same sense of ease—a slower, more intentional pace of life that makes everyday moments feel more meaningful. It’s not just about what you do; it’s about the way you do it.
With Copenhagen’s hygge woven into the fabric of everyday life, you’ll find comfort in the little things like popping into a neighbourhood bakery for a freshly baked bun, wrapping your hands around a warm cup of tea, or taking a detour through a leafy park. I know I did.
The Singaporean side of me wants you to experience every single gem this city has to offer! But my Danish side just wants you to chill out and let Copenhagen unfold.
