…and also where DIS is located! Coincidence? Probably not.
As the area DIS students come to know the best only behind their housing location, Rådhuspladsen is one of those parts of Copenhagen that seems to have no end. As the City Hall Square, those exiting the metro are greeted with a fantastic, flat area of cobblestone and brick watched intently by the City Hall itself. To the right, a massive building adorned with brand names. To the left, a thick mass of buildings, some named and others unknown from a distance.
No matter the initial allure of the fantastic buildings to the right of the City Hall, every DIS student that stops at Rådhuspladsen is disciplined in the art of going to the left; their classes are held in such buildings as Vestergade 7, Vestergade 10, and Vestergade 23/Frederiksgade 24 (aka the home of the DIS Student Hub). However, DIS students also know of the hidden gems that lay in wait in the near area.
First off, let’s start with the most important thing for any student: food. Whether your school day lasts an hour or eight hours, at some point or another you’re going to need a refuel. Luckily there are quite a few places at your disposal. When entering Vestergade from Rådhuspladsen, there is a quaint Netto there, stocked with all of your discount grocery needs until 11 PM. Going past the Student Hub, there is an intersection that you well get to know well that, among other boutiques, hosts a bagel sandwich shop and a pizzeria/kebab shop. With so many different eateries and specialties around though, I can’t possibly list them all here; Google Maps is a fantastic friend, but not all shops will show up there.
One of these shops is the one I decided to treat myself to; Kopan Street. Located near the intersection of Vestergade and Norregade, it’s a small shoplet specialized in bao bun sandwiches with a healthy mix of carnivorous and vegetarian (not sure if they’re vegan) options. On the more expensive side of food, costing around 100kr (approximately $14) for a bun and drink combo, it is definitely good to have as a treat for a job well done on a test, as a pick-me-up, or as an accompaniment for a fine 20 degree Celsius day.
Food aside, you might be asking; well, I know that Rådhuspladsen is a metro stop, but what is the area itself? How do I know I’m still in the area and not somewhere else? Short answer: you don’t, and that’s part of the fun of learning about Copenhagen!
The long answer: As a compact city, the various areas of Copenhagen blend together, to the point that I managed to stumble across the Gammel Strand and Kongens Nytorv areas without knowing they were so close by! But, as with any area, there are some marks and hotspots that unmistakably designate Rådhuspladsen (or what I refer to as Rådhuspladsen; it’s not so black and white). Take a look below!
Writing this now, I also wish I had taken a picture of another important spot for students; Studenterhuset (The Student House). Students of University of Copenhagen or DIS are automatically members of this multicultural hub which offers various events such as pub quizzes, karaoke, swing dancing, multilingual exchanges, and more. so make sure you take advantage of the atmosphere there!
After such a long day of traveling and taking in the environment, I decided dinner was in order. In my exploration I had run across several eateries of interest, but none quite as stand-out as Guðrun’s Goodies, an Icelandic-style cafe and sandwich shop that offers student discounts and a warm welcome from its hostess. For about $8 I managed to get a well-sized salmon sandwich that came with a free supply of water to wash it down, wrapping up the day in perfect fashion.
Well, you reached the end! Give yourself a pat on the back and stay tuned for more posts – As a reward for coming this far, here are some snapshots of Gammel Strand and Kongens Nytorv!
Henry's European Escapades 
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