As we sat down to plan our latest getaway, my best friend and I found ourselves craving something different. Our usual haunts – the sun-soaked beaches of Sardinia, the pulsating streets of Paris, or the non-stop energy of Athens – suddenly felt exhausting just to think about. We yearned for a change of pace, a breath of fresh air, both literally and figuratively.

That’s when Copenhagen caught our eye. It wasn’t an obvious choice, especially for two city girls used to the constant hum of urban life or the lazy luxury of tropical retreats. But there was something alluring about the Danish capital’s promise of tranquility mixed with understated sophistication.

Our recent getaway to Copenhagen, Denmark was unlike any trip I’ve taken before. Usually, my best friend and I are all about exploration and adventure, but this time we decided to embrace the Danish concept of “hygge” and truly connect with nature and ourselves.

Hygge, pronounced “hoo-ga,” is a Danish word that doesn’t have a direct English translation. It’s best described as a feeling of cozy contentment and well-being through enjoying the simple things in life. It’s about creating a warm atmosphere, enjoying the company of good friends or family, and finding comfort in life’s little pleasures. This concept stands in stark contrast to our  lifestyles, where we’re always on the go, trying to hustle in our day jobs and side hobbies, trying to appease our various friend groups, grow our marriages, and multitask. Rarely do we take a step back to breathe.

Throughout our trip, we really saw these elements of wellness and slowing down incorporated into daily life. Nowhere was this more evident than at our chosen accommodation, Hotel Kong Arthur. Nestled in a quiet corner of Copenhagen’s city center, in the charming Nansensgade neighborhood, this hotel perfectly embodied the hygge lifestyle we were seeking.

The location of Hotel Kong Arthur was ideal – we had the city buzz on one side and the tranquil famous city lakes on the other. Despite being in the heart of Copenhagen, there was a sense of calm that permeated the air. We could easily walk to the public transport hub Nørreport, the Food Hall, and shopping streets when we wanted to, but we often found ourselves content to stay in and around the hotel, and especially enjoy the hotel’s complementary happy hour each evening or the range of Italian La Rocca, Spanish Pintxos, and Japanese Sticks’n’Sushi restaurants offered at the property.

What really helped us decompress was the hotel’s spa. After years of high-stress city living, it felt incredible to indulge in treatments and simply relax. We spent hours there, letting go of our usual need to constantly be doing something and instead allowing ourselves to just be.

In the evenings, we’d curl up in the hotel’s cozy common areas with a book and a cup of tea, or chat quietly with other guests. There was no pressure to be anywhere or do anything – a refreshing change from our usual packed itineraries. When we were yearning for some physical activity, we strolled through Copenhagen’s abundant green spaces, and walked along its bicycle-friendly streets.

This trip taught me the value of slowing down and appreciating life’s simple pleasures. By embracing hygge, we found a sense of peace and contentment that had been missing in our busy city lives. The idea of swapping our usual frantic sightseeing for leisurely bike rides along tree-lined paths was suddenly irresistible. Instead of crowded beach bars, we imagined ourselves in cozy cafés, sipping hot chocolate and eating Danish pastries. The gentler pace of life was what we needed for our annual girls’ trip.