Where to stay · Copenhagen · Denmark
Where to stay in Copenhagen
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Olga Itenberg, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Indre By. Medieval lanes, Strøget shopping and the Round Tower in the old city. Best alternatives — families: Østerbro; budget: Vesterbro; nightlife: Vesterbro.
Key facts
- First visit
- Indre By
- Families
- Østerbro
- Budget
- Vesterbro
- Nightlife
- Vesterbro
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Indre By | Medieval lanes, Strøget shopping and the Round Tower in the old city |
| Families | Østerbro | Elegant apartment streets, Fælledparken and a city beach |
| Couples | Indre By | Medieval lanes, Strøget shopping and the Round Tower in the old city |
| Budget | Vesterbro | Old working-class streets turned bars, cafés and the Meatpacking District |
| Luxury | Nyhavn and Frederiksstaden | The postcard canal, royal Amalienborg and the Marble Church |
| Nightlife | Vesterbro | Old working-class streets turned bars, cafés and the Meatpacking District |
| Food lovers | Christianshavn | Canals, houseboats and a spiral church spire across the harbour |
| Solo travellers | Vesterbro | Old working-class streets turned bars, cafés and the Meatpacking District |
| Shopping | Indre By | Medieval lanes, Strøget shopping and the Round Tower in the old city |
| Quiet stays | Christianshavn | Canals, houseboats and a spiral church spire across the harbour |
| Beach | Islands Brygge | Harbour-front lawns, a free harbour bath and modern apartments on Amager |
Copenhagen neighbourhoods in detail
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and couples
Indre By
The medieval core between City Hall Square and Kongens Nytorv holds the pedestrian Strøget, the Latin Quarter around the university, the Round Tower and the Torvehallerne food halls at Nørreport. Everything is walkable, metro and train stations are close, and Tivoli is just across the road from City Hall.
- Good
- Walk to most sights; Excellent transport links; Shops and cafés everywhere
- Watch out
- Expensive hotels; Crowds on Strøget at weekends
- Nearby
- Strøget, Rundetårn, Tivoli Gardens, Torvehallerne
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples and luxury
Nyhavn and Frederiksstaden
Nyhavn's 17th-century canal of brightly painted townhouses and old wooden ships leads into Frederiksstaden, the rococo royal quarter around Amalienborg Palace and Frederik's Church. Hotels here are upmarket, the harbour promenade runs north to the Little Mermaid, and canal boats leave from Nyhavn itself.
- Good
- Iconic harbour setting; Short walk to the palaces and the Little Mermaid; Waterfront promenades
- Watch out
- Some of the city's most expensive rooms; Nyhavn restaurants are overpriced
- Nearby
- Nyhavn, Amalienborg, Frederik's Church, Royal Danish Playhouse
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers, quiet stays and culture
Christianshavn
Built in the 17th century on reclaimed land, Christianshavn is a compact grid of canals lined with houseboats, cafés and old merchants' warehouses. The Church of Our Saviour's corkscrew spire and Freetown Christiania are here, and the metro reaches Kongens Nytorv in one stop.
- Good
- Canal-side atmosphere; Excellent restaurants; Metro and harbour-bus links
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Busy with day visitors to Christiania
- Nearby
- Church of Our Saviour, Freetown Christiania, Christianshavn Canal, Copenhagen Opera House
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, budget and solo travellers
Vesterbro
West of Central Station, Vesterbro has changed from a working-class and red-light area into one of the city's liveliest districts, with cafés and shops along Istedgade and Værnedamsvej and bars and restaurants in Kødbyen, the white-tiled former slaughterhouses of the Meatpacking District. Many mid-range hotels sit close to the station and Tivoli.
- Good
- Lively bars and restaurants; Close to Central Station; Good hotel choice
- Watch out
- Streets near the station can feel seedy late at night; Noisy at weekends
- Nearby
- Kødbyen, Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen Central Station, Carlsberg City
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, budget and solo travellers
Nørrebro
North-west of the lakes, Nørrebro is Copenhagen's most diverse and youthful district, with cafés, natural-wine bars and small shops on Jægersborggade and Elmegade, the Superkilen urban park and Assistens Cemetery, where Hans Christian Andersen is buried. The M3 Cityringen metro runs through it.
- Good
- Local, creative atmosphere; Good-value food and drink; Metro to the centre
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Further from the harbour sights
- Nearby
- Assistens Cemetery, Jægersborggade, Superkilen, The Lakes
$$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and luxury
Østerbro
North of the lakes, Østerbro is a calm, upmarket residential district of 19th-century apartment blocks, with the big Fælledparken park, the national stadium and Svanemølle Beach. It suits families and longer stays, with Kastellet and the Little Mermaid a short walk away.
- Good
- Quiet and green; Excellent playgrounds; Close to the Little Mermaid
- Watch out
- Few sights within the district; Limited nightlife
- Nearby
- Fælledparken, Kastellet, The Little Mermaid, Svanemølle Beach
$$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and couples
Frederiksberg
Technically its own municipality surrounded by Copenhagen, Frederiksberg is a leafy, well-off area of avenues and cafés around Gammel Kongevej and Værnedamsvej, with Frederiksberg Gardens, the hilltop Frederiksberg Palace and Copenhagen Zoo. Metro lines reach the centre in under 10 minutes.
- Good
- Calm and green; Close to the zoo and gardens; Good cafés and bakeries
- Watch out
- Fewer hotels; Quiet in the evenings
- Nearby
- Frederiksberg Gardens, Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg Palace, Værnedamsvej
$$ · Best for families, beach and quiet stays
Islands Brygge
Across the harbour from the centre on the island of Amager, Islands Brygge's long waterfront park and harbour bath fill with swimmers and picnickers in summer. Cycle and footbridges link it to the centre, the metro stops nearby, and Amager Strandpark beach is a short ride away.
- Good
- Harbour swimming on the doorstep; Short bike ride to the centre; Better-value rentals
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Quiet outside summer
- Nearby
- Islands Brygge Harbour Bath, Amager Fælled, Copenhagen Opera House
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Indre By | $$$$ | Strøget, Rundetårn, Tivoli Gardens, Torvehallerne |
| Nyhavn and Frederiksstaden | $$$$ | Nyhavn, Amalienborg, Frederik's Church, Royal Danish Playhouse |
| Christianshavn | $$$ | Church of Our Saviour, Freetown Christiania, Christianshavn Canal, Copenhagen Opera House |
| Vesterbro | $$$ | Kødbyen, Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen Central Station, Carlsberg City |
| Nørrebro | $$ | Assistens Cemetery, Jægersborggade, Superkilen, The Lakes |
| Østerbro | $$$ | Fælledparken, Kastellet, The Little Mermaid, Svanemølle Beach |
| Frederiksberg | $$$ | Frederiksberg Gardens, Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg Palace, Værnedamsvej |
| Islands Brygge | $$ | Islands Brygge Harbour Bath, Amager Fælled, Copenhagen Opera House |
Getting to your hotel
Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup) is about 8 km south-east of the centre. Metro line M2 reaches Kongens Nytorv in about 15 minutes and runs around the clock, trains reach Copenhagen Central Station in about 13–15 minutes, and a taxi takes about 20 minutes.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Copenhagen for first-time visitors?
Indre By. The medieval core between City Hall Square and Kongens Nytorv holds the pedestrian Strøget, the Latin Quarter around the university, the Round Tower and the Torvehallerne food halls at Nørreport.
+Where should families stay in Copenhagen?
Østerbro: Quiet and green.
+Which area of Copenhagen is best for a budget stay?
Vesterbro ($$$): Old working-class streets turned bars, cafés and the Meatpacking District.