With scenery like this (the canal-side Copenhagen district of Nyhavn), one of the greenest capital cities, a history of inventing things like Lego toys and homeware that looks like art, it's no wonder the Danes are officially the happiest people on Earth.
Reasons to be happy —
With scenery like this (the canal-side Copenhagen district of Nyhavn), one of the greenest capital cities, a history of inventing things like Lego toys and homeware that looks like art, it's no wonder the Danes are officially the happiest people on Earth.
Kateryna Negoda/Flickr RF/Getty images
Don't be fooled by these stationary bicycles -- they're just resting. More than half of the city's population cycle to work and compete with cars not only in numbers but speed. Pedestrians beware -- or get on a bike.
Bicyclists can be as aggressive as drivers —
Don't be fooled by these stationary bicycles -- they're just resting. More than half of the city's population cycle to work and compete with cars not only in numbers but speed. Pedestrians beware -- or get on a bike.
ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images
Danes are pretty informal, but it'd be strange if you could just grab a table at the restaurant -- Noma -- voted best in the world three times running. Thankfully, only two of Copenhagen's 13 Michelin stars are attached to this modestly lower-cased pinnacle of gastronomy. Former Noma chefs have gone on to open their own praised "new Nordic" restaurants.
It's sprinkled with Michelin stars —
Danes are pretty informal, but it'd be strange if you could just grab a table at the restaurant -- Noma -- voted best in the world three times running. Thankfully, only two of Copenhagen's 13 Michelin stars are attached to this modestly lower-cased pinnacle of gastronomy. Former Noma chefs have gone on to open their own praised "new Nordic" restaurants.
Casper Christoffersen/AFP/Getty Images
"Hygge" is hard to define, but Copenhagen pubs such as this one are good places to start looking. Or to stop looking. An elaborate version of "coziness" connoting warmth, sociability and woolen items, hygge takes a while to cultivate.
The hunt for hygge is widespread —
"Hygge" is hard to define, but Copenhagen pubs such as this one are good places to start looking. Or to stop looking. An elaborate version of "coziness" connoting warmth, sociability and woolen items, hygge takes a while to cultivate.
Martin Moos/Lonely Planet images/getty images
Colored seats from the esteemed late Danish designer Arne Jacobsen display the Danish genius for stylish and functional homeware. There's nowhere better than Copenhagen to sample it in all its manifestations -- from cutlery to crystal and even desirable washbowls.
They're colorful creators —
Colored seats from the esteemed late Danish designer Arne Jacobsen display the Danish genius for stylish and functional homeware. There's nowhere better than Copenhagen to sample it in all its manifestations -- from cutlery to crystal and even desirable washbowls.
Freya Ingrid Morales/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Not only the happiest country on Earth, Denmark is also one of the greenest. Copenhagen leads the way with electric buses, wind farms (such as this one near the capital) and a recycling-crazy citizenry. By 2025, Copenhagen aims to be the world's first carbon-neutral capital.
It's greener than thou —
Not only the happiest country on Earth, Denmark is also one of the greenest. Copenhagen leads the way with electric buses, wind farms (such as this one near the capital) and a recycling-crazy citizenry. By 2025, Copenhagen aims to be the world's first carbon-neutral capital.
AXEL SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images
With its roller coasters, pantomime shows and amusement arcades, Tivoli, the world's second-oldest amusement park, is a sometimes tacky place that should cheer up almost anyone. Whether Copenhagen's famed miserabilist Søren Kierkegaard ever went is unknown.
Tivoli is a near-guaranteed cheer —
With its roller coasters, pantomime shows and amusement arcades, Tivoli, the world's second-oldest amusement park, is a sometimes tacky place that should cheer up almost anyone. Whether Copenhagen's famed miserabilist Søren Kierkegaard ever went is unknown.
Rob Ball/Getty Images
The Danes are brilliant at inventing things. The pedal bin? Danish -- dreamed up by Holger Nielsen for his wife's hairdressing salon. Pick one up in Copenhagen. And Lego. This scene seem familiar? It's Nyhavn again -- as rendered at Legoland Denmark.
It's the land of Lego —
The Danes are brilliant at inventing things. The pedal bin? Danish -- dreamed up by Holger Nielsen for his wife's hairdressing salon. Pick one up in Copenhagen. And Lego. This scene seem familiar? It's Nyhavn again -- as rendered at Legoland Denmark.
MyLoupe/UIG via Getty Images
Recent events suggest the Danes probably don't regret sticking with the krone -- and rejecting the euro -- too much.
There's no euro —
Recent events suggest the Danes probably don't regret sticking with the krone -- and rejecting the euro -- too much.
Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Copenhagen comes into its own in the festive season, when the city hosts some of Europe's best Christmas markets. Of course, it all remains fabulously tasteful -- even down to the preference for white over gaudy Christmas lights.
Christmas is white (and tasteful) —
Copenhagen comes into its own in the festive season, when the city hosts some of Europe's best Christmas markets. Of course, it all remains fabulously tasteful -- even down to the preference for white over gaudy Christmas lights.
Niels Poulsen/getty images