Copenhagen: this year's must-visit winter destination

From ice swimming and sauna rituals to live jazz and world-class cuisine, here's why winter in Copenhagen is Europe's best-kept secret

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Danish people have a term - hygge which encapsulates a feeling of winter cosiness, best experienced in the capital city of Copenhagen. As the chilly nights draw in, the Danish capital becomes the embodiment of hygge. Think candlelit coffee shops, log-burning saunas and centuries-old streets decked with twinkling lights. Denmark's temperatures might drop below zero, but there's warmth to be found everywhere, from communal dining halls to intimate jazz clubs.

Embrace the cold by going ice swimming

Copenhagen has some of the cleanest water in Europe. The waterways are so unpolluted that you can swim in the harbour year-round and winter swimming has become so popular that there are eight designated winter bathing clubs across the city.

La Banchina, an organic vegetarian and sustainable seafood restaurant, sits right on the waterfront in Holmen. Brace yourself for a chilly dip alongside the hardy locals; they'll plunge into the Øresund, no matter the weather. Warm up afterwards in the onsite sauna, followed by a bowl of nourishing soup around the crackling firepit.

Or head to Margretheholm Harbour for a traditional Danish saunagus experience at the Butchers Heat. Inside the glass-fronted sauna, a 'gusmaster' will lead you through a one-hour session, which involves dousing the hot sauna coals with aromatherapy oils to create a fragrant, calming atmosphere.

Hit the slopes for urban skiing