Adam Aspinall finds that Copenhagen is an old capital with a young and vibrant feel.

To paraphrase the Bard, there is something special in the state of Denmark.

And that something without doubt is its super-cool capital city Copenhagen.

It seems like the major cities in Scandinavia have been duelling for the title of best in show for a while now and, while I would not want to crown a winner, I do think I can make a case for Copenhagen.

For such an old and esteemed city, it seems remarkably young, and as I was led around its streets by my Danish tour guide, I picked up a warm sense of welcome and conviviality outside the cafes and bars.

The Danes refer to this cosy atmosphere as “hyggelige” and it was a feeling I would come across more than once in my 48 hours in the city.

But with a torrential thunderstorm on the way, which would flood parts of the capital just hours after I departed, many of the people were huddled in blankets and doing their best to ignore the drizzle and cold winds blowing in from the Baltic.

In fact as natural as this cafe culture seemed, it was pointed out to me that it was still a relatively new addition to the city’s social scene and that it had taken a while for the Danes to embrace it.

In fact, the further I looked the further I found more and more signs of re-invention, signs of a city that rather than fossilise like many European capitals, had decided to hang on in the fast lane of modernity.

There are few major destinations in Europe that still feel vibrant, London with its schizophrenic architecture and fast pace is the best example while Amsterdam retains its edge no matter how many stag parties dilute its essence and Berlin sizzles with energy.

There really are few examples on the continent of a city on the move but I am glad to say that Copenhagen is one of them.

It was helped in no small part by the annual jazz festival which was taking place during my visit and which saw cool cats and hipsters from across the globe descend on the city.

The event dominates Copenhagen for one weekend every July and is one of the largest music events of its kind in Europe.

Apparently more than 250,000 guests swamp over 100 venues and attend 1,000 concerts, but I have to admit I fear this year may have been somewhat of a wash-out due to the adverse weather although that did nothing to dampen the electric atmosphere I found in some of the late night clubs and the frenzied vibe outside some of the concert venues.

But however much the scene may be pulsing at the moment, the backdrop is still as fine as you would expect from such an old setting.

And while it is lazy to say there is something for everyone I would actually say that Copenhagen justifies that hoary old cliché at the moment.

While the Danes are thrusting themselves forward with massive architectural projects such as the wonderfully mirrored walls of the Black Diamond building or the graceful lines of the new Opera House, there is no getting away from architectural gems such as the Amalienborg, the Royal Castle, and the splendid Church of Our Saviour, with its vertigo-inducing golden staircase and spire.

The surprisingly small Little Mermaid statue, synonymous with the city and so beloved by its inhabitants they have beheaded it twice, attracts throngs of tourists.

Although it is a long walk outside of the city centre I would advise seeing it on one of the excellent boat tours which circle the city’s canals and harbour throughout the day.