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

Zero To Travel Podcast

Jason Moore

Entrepreneurship, Places & Travel, Business, Society & Culture

4.5 • 828 Ratings

🗓️ 24 June 2025

⏱️ 76 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	It's the cinematic event of the year.
0:03.4	Critics are saying a stunning, breathtaking triumph of savings.
0:08.1	It's two-for-one cinema tickets from Compeza Market in cinemas all year.
0:12.8	That sounds like a great movie.
0:14.1	Sergei, it's no movie.
0:15.4	It's two-for-one offer on cinema tickets.
0:17.7	Oh yeah.
0:18.4	I knew that.
0:19.3	Get two-for-one cinema tickets every Tuesday or Wednesday
0:21.8	with compares the market. Simples. When you take out a qualifying product to compare the market,
0:26.2	one membership per year participating cinemas, two standard tickets only cheap as free. T's and Cs
0:29.6	apply. And I know this is going to sound odd for some people. I found out in this job
0:36.0	that apparently it's not normal to go and hang out at cemeteries
0:39.4	around the world. No? Okay. Well, here in Copenhagen, the cemeteries are also considered
0:47.9	green areas, so it's also space for the local people. I bet you didn't see that one coming. Which
0:53.6	cemetery should you
0:55.7	hang out with when you're traveling in and around Copenhagen? That's today's guest, Rika Biscard
1:01.9	Svensson. She is the perfect person to have here today because when it comes to Copenhagen, Denmark
1:10.0	expertise, Rika has both sides covered. She spent years
1:14.4	traveling the world as a, quote, travel addict before founding the Copenhagen free walking
1:19.9	tours 13 years ago. She actually lives in the city's authentic neighborhoods rather than just
1:24.8	the tourist areas and has built her recommendations from both
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 26 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Jason Moore, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Jason Moore and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.