Delta Air Lines' newly announced nonstop flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Copenhagen is not necessarily a game-changer. Minnesotans have long had budget access to the Danish capital via a brief stop on Icelandair, among other options.

Although Delta is doing the honors, the new route — which begins in May 2025 — was an anticipated result of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) joining Delta's SkyTeam alliance last month. But given Minnesota's more notable Norwegian and Swedish heritage, maybe a better destination from here would have been SAS's secondary hubs of Oslo or Stockholm? (The old Northwest Airlines last attempted an MSP-to-Oslo route in 1999.)

Still, our first Scandinavian nonstop in 25 years is great news, because Copenhagen is a vibrant, artful Nordic city. Here are some highlights, based on our recent trips.

Bicycling: While biking in Cophenhagen is not quite on the level of a haven like Amsterdam (it's more like Minneapolis with safer drivers), the bike infrastructure here is strong. Grab a basic loaner cruiser bike from your Airbnb to explore the liveable "bro" neighborhoods, aka Vesterbro, Norrebro and Osterbro.

Tivoli Gardens: This urban amusement park, opened in 1843, is best described as a Nordic, steampunk version of Disneyland (Walt Disney counted Tivoli as an inspiration). It's open year-round, often until midnight. Memorable attractions include a nighttime paddle on the "dragon boats" of Tivoli Lake, and the Flying Trunk, a stunning underground journey through 32 fairy tales of native son Hans Christian Andersen.

Freetown Christiania: In the heart of the grand island district of Chistianshvn, this anarchic hippie enclave/commune must be experienced to be believed. The scattered neighborhood is known for art, murals, live music, vegan restaurants and the open sale of cannabis by scary-looking vendors. Definitely worth a stroll.

Simon Peter Groebner, The Minnesota Star Tribune
Bicycling in the Vesterbro neighborhood of Copenhagen.

Mons Klint: These iconic chalk cliffs rise as high as 420 feet from a four-mile long beach on the gleaming Baltic Sea, and are a favorite among Danish families. The main staircase down through the woods to take in all has 497 steps. The national park is a two-hour drive south of Cophenhagen to the island of Mon, and the drive is half the appeal.

Bornholm: But where do the Danes themselves vacation? Look no farther than this Baltic island, which requires a short drive through the southern tip of Sweden and then a ride on a car ferry. The 227-square-mile paradise, steeped in Danish history and lore, is full of historic windmills and round churches, nature reserves, bike paths, cozy bed & breakfasts and boutique restaurants.