Zero To Travel Podcast

Top 10 Copenhagen Hidden Gems: Hidden Trolls, Cemetery Hangouts, and the Secret to Danish Happiness with Rikke Bisgaard Svendsen


Listen Later

What if the best way to explore Copenhagen isn’t in the guidebooks, but in a cemetery, on a bike hunt for trolls, or over a plate of smørrebrød with locals? 

Rikke Bisgaard-Svensen is the co-founder of Copenhagen Free Walking Tours and a self-described travel addict whose life has revolved around two things: taking off to faraway lands and sharing her love for her hometown. What started as a side hustle born out of winter-season job loss turned into a 13-year journey building one of the most beloved free walking tour companies in Denmark. 

In this episode, we’re exploring the evolving spirit of Copenhagen and sharing 10 Copenhagen hidden gems for travelers who want to see the city like a local, plus the surprising backstory behind Rikke’s tour company and how she fell into entrepreneurship. 

If you want to experience Copenhagen beyond the usual sights, Rikke brings the kind of insight only a longtime local can offer. You'll hear about troll hunts in the suburbs, the deeper meaning behind a now-vanished statue, and what it’s really like to build a business in a country where modesty is a cultural expectation. Along the way, we talk about the unique Danish relationship with happiness (hygge), and hanging out in cemeteries (yes, really). 

What’s your favorite hidden gem in your hometown that you wish more people knew about? I'd love to hear what it is, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. 

Tune In To Learn: 

  • How Couchsurfing led to launching a tour company 
  • Why she never imagined becoming an entrepreneur (and what changed) 
  • How “janteloven” impacts ambition and leadership 
  • How Copenhagen has transformed over the past decade 
  • Where to find Copenhagen’s hidden troll sculptures (and why they matter) 
  • The oldest amusement park in the world, and it's very unusual location 
  • How locals use cemeteries as parks (and what that says about death) 
  • An alternative to the famous Little Mermaid statue 
  • Where to get the best smørrebrød, cinnamon snails, and pastries in town 
  • Advice to anyone wanting to run a travel business 
  • And so much more 
  • Resources: 

    • Sign up for our FREE newsletter 
    • Copenhagen Free Walking Tours 
    • Forgotten Giants 
    • Donkey Republic bike-renting app 
    • I Am Queen Mary 
    • Københavner Cafeen 
    • Hart Bageri 

      Want More? 

      • New Zealand: Top 10 Hidden Gems, Campervan Lifestyle (Tips and Tricks), and Doing Life Differently With Lisa Jansen 
      • Top 5 Hidden Gem Film Locations For Travelers w/ Rebecca Almost Ginger 
      • Hidden Norway: 7 Off The Beaten Path Gems You’ll Love, Popular Norwegian Concepts Worth Stealing, Trekking In Bhutan, & Living At The Crossroads of Magic & Science w/ Torunn Tronsvang from Up Norway 

        Thanks To Our Sponsors 

        • Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com 

          ...more
          View all episodesView all episodes
          Download on the App Store

          Zero To Travel PodcastBy Jason Moore

          • 4.6
          • 4.6
          • 4.6
          • 4.6
          • 4.6

          4.6

          784 ratings


          More shows like Zero To Travel Podcast

          View all
          Travel with Rick Steves by Rick Steves

          Travel with Rick Steves

          2,450 Listeners

          Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast by Chris Christensen

          Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast

          46 Listeners

          Rick Steves' Europe Video by Rick Steves

          Rick Steves' Europe Video

          232 Listeners

          Join Us in France Travel Podcast by Annie Sargent

          Join Us in France Travel Podcast

          1,029 Listeners

          The Frommer's Travel Show by Pauline Frommer

          The Frommer's Travel Show

          143 Listeners

          The Earful Tower: Paris by Oliver Gee

          The Earful Tower: Paris

          732 Listeners

          Women Who Travel | Condé Nast Traveler by Condé Nast Traveler

          Women Who Travel | Condé Nast Traveler

          638 Listeners

          Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast by A Travel Podcast

          Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast

          334 Listeners

          Travel Squad Podcast by Travel Squad Podcast

          Travel Squad Podcast

          216 Listeners

          Untold Italy travel podcast by Katy Clarke

          Untold Italy travel podcast

          645 Listeners

          Where to Go by DK Travel

          Where to Go

          25 Listeners

          All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins by Chris Hutchins

          All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins

          1,586 Listeners

          Kimberly's Italy Travel by Kimberly Holcombe

          Kimberly's Italy Travel

          191 Listeners

          UK Travel Planning by Tracy Collins

          UK Travel Planning

          163 Listeners

          The Thrifty Traveler Podcast by Thrifty Traveler

          The Thrifty Traveler Podcast

          86 Listeners