Zero To Travel Podcast

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

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June 24, 2025 5:00am

1h 15m

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 

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