Ria and Aman’s Denmark Tour Review with Thrillophilia
It was a monsoon evening in Mumbai when I sent the WhatsApp message that changed everything:
“Aman, Denmark, in March? Are you in?”
Barely two replies later with a joyful thumbs-up emoji and an excited “Count me in!” we had created our friendship pact. We were colleagues turned best mates, who were craving a break from our usual routine. We needed a wide, clean, and Nordic space, and Denmark called to us.
That night, I booked the 6-day trip through Thrillophilia that took us through Copenhagen, Aarhus, and a quick stop at vibrant Odense (home of Hans Christian Andersen).
Hidden Gems in Colourful Copenhagen
We landed in Copenhagen early, and the air was calm and fresh. As soon as we stepped outside, we inhaled deeply to satisfy my soul’s craving. Our first stop was Nyhavn, where colourful houses lined the canal.
Aman and I grabbed cinnamon buns and coffee from a tiny cafe situated between the pastel buildings. I watched him take a big bite, and his eyes lit up.
“This tastes like what we had tasted in Paris,” he said.
We drowned our laughter in hot chocolate and listened to a Danish jazz duo playing nearby. Tourists clicked photos with bright smiles against the chilly wind. We stayed until the sun nudged towards the horizon and painted the sky in rose gold.
Bicycles, Castles, and Cloudy Cannons
Our second day transformed into a whirlwind of bicycle explorations. We rented rust-orange city bikes and explored the pathways of Copenhagen. The cobblestone streets led us through the Round Tower, leafy squares, and along canals.
We paused at Rosenborg Castle to admire its fairytale spires reflecting in the moat. In the crown jewels room, Aman joked about mortgaging his old Nokia phone for a necklace. I laughed so hard that I almost dropped my phone.
By afternoon, we cycled to Christiania, the famous free town in Copenhagen. The graffiti walls spoke in Soviet and hand-painted dreams. We grabbed smoothies at a fruit stand and sat by the water to watch the local fish.
That night, we shared dinner at a nondescript brasserie, where we tasted smørrebrød with pickled herring. I still shiver at the memory, but Aman swallowed his second piece, saying, “We are here; we eat it, we own it.”
Rainbow Reflections and Artistic Angels
A 3-hour train ride took us north to Aarhus on the third day. The transition from capital buzz to a slower mid-sized city felt welcoming.
Our highlight was the ARoS Art Museum and the Rainbow Panorama, which was a circular walkway suspended above the city in every colour of the rainbow. We entered the red section, and our laughter sounded too loud and happy.
“Every colour looks different through here,” Aman observed while standing in an electric blue light.
Then we wandered through Den Gamle By, the outdoor museum of old Danish homes and streets. In a 19th-century kitchen, a guide served us spiced apple tea. At a carpenter’s workshop, we tried carving words onto wooden spoons. Mine read “Ria & Aman.” Reading it, we felt shaky and sentimental.
A Fairy-Tale Stop in Odense
Day four brought us to Odense, the hometown of Hans Christian Andersen. I spoke softly:
“When I was a kid, Mum read me his stories every night. This feels… special.”
We visited Andersen’s childhood home, which was a small and quiet house with walls worn by time. Nearby, a statue of Andersen sat in the park. Aman slipped a coin into my palm: “For good luck,” he said gravely.
As we wandered riverbanks and cobbled alleys, I felt pulled between past and present. We shared a Danish pastry under a cherry tree and watched blossoms fall like confetti.
Hygge in Every Heartbeat
Back in Copenhagen on Day Five, we embraced a slower rhythm. We trailed into cosy cafés, where we tasted hot chocolate with salted caramel and watched locals read books in soft corners.
At one café, we shared a cinnamon roll bigger than our faces. We held a silent competition: I, with a powdered sugar moustache, and Aman, with the last bite, refusing to leave his lips.
That afternoon, we stopped at Tivoli Gardens. My eyes widened at roller coasters wrapped in fairy lights. I tugged Aman’s sleeve. “One ride. Just one.”
He smirked and led the charge. We screamed and laughed until we buzzed with that unique, fearless, loud, and alive energy.
Farewell, with Hearts Full
On our final evening, we met for dinner at a canal-side restaurant. There was a soft lantern light, wooden benches, and a single flickering candle.
Aman raised his glass. “To friend trips, hygge hearts, and no office talk.”
I clinked my glass. “To Thrillophilia for the easy bookings and smooth days.”
We ordered roast pork and potatoes, lokken cheese balls and caramel custard. We shared dreams of books to write, marathons to run, and coffee shops to open. And somewhere in that conversation, Nordic calm seeped into us.
Read More: Thrillophilia Denmark Reviews