An Introvert Solo Travels to Copenhagen

Some people think doing things alone is weird, but I simply believe those people aren’t as comfortable spending time with themselves. I consider myself a shy introvert but I have lived in New York and Los Angeles and loved both of them. I believe this is due to my comfort with being alone. I’m not saying I never get lonely, but simply that I can be perfectly happy wandering around a city on my own and interacting with others on a minimal basis.

So taking my first solo trip abroad wasn’t scary or intimidating to me. It all started out with an ad in The New York Times. At the beginning of the year, I saw Norwegian Airlines offering outrageously low rates from New York to Stockholm, Oslo, or Copenhagen.

Just as I was becoming really frustrated, I remembered my mom’s advice, “Have fun and breathe.”

I ended up booking a four-day trip to Copenhagen at the end of February. Funnily enough, on my flight, I ended up sitting in a row with two guys, about my age, who were each traveling solo as well. If I were more outgoing, I probably would have struck up a conversation with them, but it was enough for me to know there were other people out there like me.

The first thirty minutes I spent in Copenhagen proper, I got lost. I took the train from the airport to Kongens Nytorv. From there, I wandered into a great maze of streets in Copenhagen’s historic center. The streets were charming, curving cobblestones that followed one “strade” or “gade” but then abruptly turned into another.

One of the stereotypes about Denmark is that Danes are quiet and don’t extend overt pleasantries or conversation. As someone who is shy and introverted, I wasn’t concerned about this.

Just as I was becoming really frustrated, I remembered my mom’s advice, “Have fun and breathe.” Taking a deep breath, I looked at the map on my phone again and realized I could zoom in close enough to see building numbers. If I was standing by a building numbered 79, then I had to be on this street corner, which made my directions suddenly more clear. Even though I was excited to experience my first solo vacation, sometimes a little advice from home is welcome.

One of the stereotypes about Denmark is that Danes are quiet and don’t extend overt pleasantries or conversation. As someone who is shy and introverted, I wasn’t concerned about this. I found all the Danes I encountered to be extremely friendly. While it’s true that most of them speak better English than we (Americans) do, I at least tried to greet them and thank them in Danish, even if they laughed at my pronunciation.

Look up the definition of hygge; a language that has a word for such a comforting feeling wants you to feel at home (whether you are traveling through or moving there.)

An Introvert Solo Travels to Copenhagen.

If you are solo traveling and you’re looking to meet up with others, I’d recommend staying in a hostel. My first night, I stayed at the Copenhagen Downtown Hostel, which boasts a bar, dinners every night, and a large space for seating and hanging out. When I returned from my day wandering, the downstairs lobby was hopping. I could have gotten a drink at the bar and fallen into conversation with fellow travelers, but I had an early train and preferred a hot shower and a good night’s sleep.

Another way to meet locals if you’re a solo traveler and an introvert like me is to stay with locals! I spent my last two nights in Copenhagen in a room I found through Airbnb. It was a (large!) private room in a Danish couple’s home in the Norrebro neighborhood. Norrebro is located just north of the historical city center, but the entire city is walkable, or if you wish, there is reliable metro and bus service to take you to the local sights.

Staying with locals, you also get great insider tips. Since I arrived around lunchtime, I was able to ask the hostess about local places to eat. She explained Norrebro’s restaurant prices are much more reasonable than the city center’s. No wonder I had paid a Starbucks-esque amount for the half panini I bought at a coffee house in the city center. She also suggested I try the local “potato pizza.” I hadn’t heard of this delicacy but I told her it sounded delicious and jotted down her recommendations.

As I wandered through the neighborhood, I found she was right. Not only that, but the grocery store (Netto) was around the corner from the apartment. In the evenings, I popped over there for some good chocolate (Ritter) and cheap beer.

One of the stereotypes about Denmark is that Danes are quiet and don’t extend overt pleasantries or conversation. As someone who is shy and introverted, I wasn’t concerned about this.

While it’s wonderful to visit the historic sites in Copenhagen, try to find time to explore the other neighborhoods so you can experience the city more like a native. This is how I really take stock and start to understand the pace of a city. I spent a lot of time taking walks: from Norrebro to the Torvehallerne (food halls) and an evening stroll to the Black Diamond library.

If you’re not as comfortable spending time alone, there are always guided tours at local attractions where you can expend some social energy. And like many solo travelers do, you can also explore the local nightlife, whether it be at a hostel or local bar. No matter if you’re quiet and more reserved or comfortable being the center of attention, don’t be afraid to get out there and explore.

 

An Introvert Solo Travels to Copenhagen

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Happiness and Hygge in Copenhagen

Have you traveled to Copenhagen? What were your impressions? Email us at [email protected] for information about sharing your experience and advice with the Pink Pangea community. We can’t wait to hear from you.

An Introvert Solo Travels to Copenhagen photo credits by Unsplash.