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Hamburg + Copenhagen - seeking recommendations

Hello,

My partner is scheduled for a relatively last-minute trip to Hamburg for work in mid-September. We'd like to tack on another week+ for personal travel. We have both wanted to visit Copenhagen for some time and are thinking that we could spend a few days in both Hamburg and Copenhagen. Having never been to either city, does it seem reasonable to allocate about 4 days in each, or do you recommend weighing the days more heavily in one place vs. the other?

Our tentative plan is to meet up in Hamburg for a night or two (my partner will already be there before I arrive), take the train up to Copenhagen (from what I've read, people have found this trip by train to be comfortable and interesting due to ferry crossing, but please let me know if you disagree), stay for 3-4 nights, then return to Hamburg for a night or two before flying back to the states. Ideally we'd do an open-jaw type flight out of Copenhagen, but we are somewhat limited by what my partner's employer books for his travel.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this itinerary, incl. any must-see places, great hotels and restaurants, and whether you suggest splitting the time differently or adding some other side-trips. I considered a day trip from Copenhagen to Malmo, but it seems that many folks thought Malmo wasn't anything particularly fantastic so our time may be better spent further exploring Copenhagen.

Thank you,
Sarah

Posted by
179 posts

Both cities have a great number of sights but I would have it less days for Hamburg and more for Copenhagen (+Sweden). If you add Sweden to your visit, go to Göteborg instead of Malmö. Nature is great there. In the Hamburg area, be sure to add Lübeck to your visit, maybe on your way to Denmark.

Posted by
768 posts

Sarah:
In case you check this thread rather than the one you posted on the Netherlands, see the few comments we offered about Hamburg on your Netherlands thread.

You thoughts about the train from Hamburg to Copenhagen are spot on. It is an unusual experience due to the ferry--being on a train that gracefully moves from land to boat to land is something you don't get to experience every day. We enjoyed it very much.

Posted by
7 posts

Thanks so much for the comments and suggestions, everyone! Plans have changed slightly due to schedules and airfare, and with my partner's employer agreeing to open-jaw, I am now flying in to Copenhagen and out of Stockholm! He will have a day (and maybe some evenings after work) on his own in Hamburg to explore, and will use the suggestions you have made to my two posts. He'll take the train up to Copenhagen to meet me and is looking forward to it!