Why Copenhagen is Leading the Way in Sustainable, Creative Business Events

Everyone’s heard about the bike lanes in Copenhagen, but nothing quite prepares you for how deeply they’re woven into everyday life. Sure, there are commuters on standard bikes, but you’ll also spot kids bundled up in front baskets, dogs trotting alongside and even the occasional Segway gliding past. In Copenhagen, cycling isn’t just a sustainable transport choice, it’s a way of life. And more than that, it’s a shining example of urban design that puts people first.

I’m in the city for the How To Copenhagen study programme, with sustainability and transport high on my agenda. For summer 2025, Copenhagen has refreshed its successful CopenPay initiative, an innovative scheme that rewards conscious behaviour, now expanded to include sustainable travel choices. And it’s not just for leisure travellers: this year, the scheme is being integrated into three major business events and congresses, proving it works just as well for delegates as it does for tourists.

It’s a clever, light-touch way of encouraging change without preaching, showing how small shifts, like choosing trains over planes, can make a meaningful impact on your carbon footprint.

Curious to see how viable this could be for UK event planners, I gave it a go, travelling from London by Eurostar to Brussels, continuing to Cologne overnight and then on to Copenhagen via Frankfurt over two days. It could have been exhausting, but it felt more like a curated journey: lunch in Brussels’ Grand Place, a site visit to the iconic Hotel Excelsior Ernst in Cologne and the bonus of meeting fellow event prof Sabrina Meyers for a walking tour and shared onward travel. (You can watch highlights of our journey here).

One of the many advantages of travelling by train is arriving right in the heart of city, with great hotels just a short walk away, including Villa Copenhagen, where the idea of conscious luxury runs through the entire design of the former post-office building. These hotels aren’t just beautifully designed, they’re fully equipped for business groups too.

Design That Moves You

The Danes are, of course, known for their love of good design, not just for how things look (though there’s plenty of beauty here), but for how things work and how they make life better.

You see it everywhere; from hotels like 25Hours, set in a former porcelain factory, to museums like the DAC on the regenerated waterfront and public spaces like Operaparken, a green haven designed for quiet contemplation. We explored all this and more on a walking tour which gave us a real feel for how design and sustainability go hand in hand in this city.

Exploring a city on foot is always a great way for groups to get their bearings, and let’s be honest, Copenhagen is so easy on the eye you’ll want to see it all. But when you need to get around quickly, the city’s sleek, modern metro system is hard to beat. The driverless trains (yes, really) glide you smoothly from one side of the city to the other in minutes.

Not that anything’s ever too far, especially if you’re staying somewhere central like the NH Collection Copenhagen (if it’s good enough for Princess Catherine, it’s definitely good enough for your group!). It’s right by the metro, close to all the must-see sights, and even has a rooftop bar with sweeping views over the city.

You can hop on a river bus from here too and explore the city by water that’s so clean, you could drink straight from the harbour (as our captain casually demonstrated). The waterways are a brilliant way to help your group unwind; it’s totally possible to swap a breakout room for a boat ride, go from keynote to kayak, or end the day with a dip and a glass of Akvavit as the sun goes down.

We travelled by privately hired boat to The Opera House, where a group of ballet dancers performed just for us on the quayside, delivering a true pinch-me moment for our group (and a few lucky passers-by too). These moments reminded us how sensory experiences can boost engagement.

Where Inspiration Meets Imagination

Not every study trip comes with a fairytale moment but Copenhagen gave us more than one. We held meetings at Tivoli Gardens, a place so full of wonder it inspired both Walt Disney and Hans Christian Andersen; proof that even formal sessions can feel playful and fresh in the right setting. It was the perfect backdrop for a series of imaginative workshops and presentations, all designed to spark new ideas and help us dream up better, more meaningful events. And alongside the inspiration came practical tools too, including the latest Copenhagen Sustainability Guide.

The morning kicked off with a group sing-along and it set the tone for the next few days. I don’t think I’ve ever been to an event with so much music! From a private performance by opera singer Gert Henning-Jennsen to an evening recital at Moltke’s Mansion by the all-female UngKlang choir (yes, the same group who once delivered an impromptu performance for Barack Obama on the streets of Copenhagen), music popped up everywhere. Meetings even began with sing-alongs to Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. It was a joyful, powerful reminder of how entertainment brings people together and creates lasting memories.

Food With A Story

The other sense that got a serious workout on this trip? Taste. You can’t really talk about Copenhagen without mentioning the food and yes, it was divine. Sustainable Nordic gastronomy was on the menu every day. But honestly, one of the most memorable bites wasn’t from a Michelin-starred restaurant. It was a humble snack made from recycled scraps, handed to us by a passing chef on a bike… on an IKEA rooftop. (Told you everyone cycles here!)

Study trips of this quality deliver such a great return on time. Not only do they showcase everything a city like Copenhagen can offer for MICE groups, but they also generously share best-practice ideas to help us all create better events, wherever we’re hosting them. That said, they do tend to pack a lot in (rightly so!), which is why the chance to tack on a couple of days of bleisure afterwards was one I grabbed with both hands.

Beyond Copenhagen | Elsinore Awaits

Just 45 minutes north of Copenhagen, the beautiful town of Helsingør, better known as Elsinore, was the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Hamlet. With glorious sea views and old-world charm, its timber-framed houses and cobbled streets invite you to slow down… or, if you’ve still got some energy left, jump on a RIB boat for an adrenaline hit.

Turns out our group did and we were rewarded with incredible views of Kronborg Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the largest Renaissance ballroom in Europe (a stunning setting for an event). Elsinore is also an events destination in its own right, with inspiring venues like the M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark, a bold modernist structure built around a former dry dock. With zigzagging bridges connecting galleries and meeting spaces, it’s a striking fusion of history, design, and innovation.

And then it really was time to unwind, with a night at the Marienlyst Strandhotel. With its sea-facing rooms, outdoor beach-style pool and luxurious spa facilities, it’s the perfect place to while away a lazy afternoon overlooking the Øresund before dinner at Restaurant 1861, Nordic and French cuisine come together in a menu inspired by the beach, the forest and the rhythm of the sea.

It’s also one of the most beautifully designed hotels I’ve stayed in. There are no stark white walls here, just a cocoon of soft, warm tones that wrap you in the ultimate sense of hygge.

It’s easy to see how this addition could work as a pre- or post-event incentive escape for groups already in Copenhagen for a conference or congress.

Copenhagen, Consider Us Smitten

If you’re picking up on a bit of a crush… guilty. Copenhagen and Elsinore totally won me over. It’s not often a destination gets everything so right. from inspiration and innovation to serious event potential.

Huge thanks to Lene Corgan and the brilliant team at Copenhagen Convention Bureau for hosting such a thoughtfully curated trip.

If you’re curious about business events in Copenhagen and how to create something unforgettable for your team here, just give us a shout – we’ve got plenty of ideas from incentive programmes to leadership retreats and stylish congresses and can’t wait to share them.

Travel Facts

• Route overview

  • Day 1
    09:01 London to Brussels
    12:05 Arrival + city exploration
    15:25 Brussels to Cologne
    17:15 Arrival + overnight
  • Day 2
    10:11 Cologne to Hamburg
    14:14 Arrival
    14:56 Hamburg to Copenhagen
    20:00 Arrival

  Carbon savings

  • Approximate reduction of 87 per cent in carbon emissions compared to flying

At Evolve Events we proudly champion sustainable travel options for MICE events. Our goal isn’t just to ensure events have no negative impact on the planet; it’s to reveal the myriad of positive benefits that overland travel can offer.

Want to learn more about how to deliver exceptional, low-impact events?

Whether you’re planning a corporate retreat, an incentive programme or a full-scale conference, Copenhagen offers infrastructure, creativity and sustainability in perfect balance. Get in touch with the Evolve Events team today to help you plan your sustainable journey and event. We possess the experience and local knowledge to assist you with venue finding, activities and logistics to create unforgettable experiences.