Where To Stay in Copenhagen: 5 Top Neighborhoods + Best Hotels

Copenhagen is an amazing city famed for its chic design, beautiful architecture, and rich history. Located along the Baltic Sea coast, Denmark's vibrant capital is quickly becoming a must-visit destination for European and non-European travelers alike. There's so much to do in this city and each neighborhood offers something different and a totally unique vibe.

When considering where to stay in Copenhagen, there are a couple of things to think about. Do you want to be in the city center, connected to everywhere by Copenhagen's great subway? Or do quieter neighborhoods with a more local feel sound better to you?

The great thing about this Nordic city is that it has something for everyone. Whether you're a solo traveler or going with family, Copenhagen is a stunning, safe, and diverse place to explore!

The Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Copenhagen

Having been to Copenhagen 3 times, one of my favorite things about the city is how the vibe changes from neighborhood to neighborhood. The last two times I've been, I've stayed in Vesterbro, which is definitely my personal favorite area in the city but there are other areas closer to the harbor or more in the city center that might suit you.

Vesterbro: Best for bars and restaurants and a cool, relaxed atmosphere

Indre By: Best for first-timers and a central location

Nørrebro: Best for artsy vibes, food, and slightly lower accommodation prices

Christianshavn: Best for restaurants and location

Østerbro: Best for families and a longer stay

1. Where to Stay in Copenhagen for Nightlife, Charm, and a Hipster Feel: Vesterbro (My Favorite!)

Best for: A great location with plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from.

Vesterbro is a brilliant place to stay if you're looking for Copenhagen's hipster district, with plenty of fun and trendy cafes, restaurants, markets, and bars. Home to Copenhagen's Central Station, it's also a great location for those traveling around and it's easy to get to from the airport.

Vesterbro used to be the red light district of Copenhagen and its slightly gritty past has helped the area transform into a fun place that locals and tourists love to visit. One of the most popular areas in Vetserbro is the Meat Packing District. These long, warehouse-style buildings have been transformed into boutique shops, restaurants, cafes, and galleries.

The Best Hotels to Stay in Vesterbro

($$$) Villa Copenhagen

A beautiful and stylish hotel in the heart of Vesterbro that has a rooftop terrace and pool, fitness area, and great views over the city. There's also a restaurant, different suites, and a cute garden.

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($$) Scandic Kødbyen

Scandic Kødbyen is a modern hotel close to the central station, offering a fitness studio, spacious rooms, and excellent service. There's a great cafe to enjoy breakfast in and a popular grill restaurant too.

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($) Zleep Hotel Copenhagen City

This is a vibrant hotel close to Copenhagen Central Station, Tivoli Gardens, and the main attractions in Vesterbro. The rooms are bright, clean, and well-decorated, and breakfast is available.

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Pros of Staying in Vesterbro

• Fun yet relaxed city vibe

• Well located for all the main sights

• Plenty of restaurants, bars, and cafes

• Within walking distance of both the central station and the city center

• Lots of great accommodation options

Cons of Staying in Vesterbro

• The main tourist sites aren't on your doorstep, but they're still close!

• It's popular, so accommodation prices can be higher

Things to Do in Vesterbro

Visit the Meat Packing District for One of the Best Pastries! A couple of friends of mine in Berlin own a bakery and they both told me I had to go to Hart Bageri when I went to Copenhagen. And it didn't disappoint! There are a couple of branches to be found around the city, but I went to the one in the Meat Packing District and it was great. I can thoroughly recommend getting a Danish Tebirke, it's a kind of flaky pastry covered in poppyseeds and filled with caramelized marzipan – it's one of the best pastries I've ever eaten!

Go to the Paris of Copenhagen. Værnedamsvej is another great street to visit in Vesterbro for its chic style, great restaurants, and beautiful architecture. It's a very relaxed area with upmarket wine bars, art galleries, and independent shops. It's also a great place to take kids.

Hang Out with the Locals at a Vibrant Spot. Somewhere else I really liked in Vesterbro was KIHOSKH, which was actually the place we had to pick up our keys for the apartment. This bustling business is part wine store, brewery, bakery, grocery store, and bar. At night, it's full of locals enjoying a drink outside and I can really recommend the almond croissants!

Another reason why Vesterbro is one of my favorite places to stay in Copenhagen is that it's within walking distance of Tivoli Gardens, City Hall Square, and other areas of the inner city. It's a great place to base yourself to explore more of Copenhagen.

2. Where to Stay in Copenhagen as a First-Time Visitor: Indre By

Best for: Being close to tourist attractions, canals, and shopping.

Indre By, meaning Inner City, is really the heart of the Danish Capital. Full of canals, parks, historic buildings, vintage shops, tourist attractions, and those iconic Copenhagen cobbled streets, it's obviously a very popular place for people to live and visit.

Indre By is very picturesque and is almost completely surrounded by water. In fact, it used to be the island of Copenhagen with a moat, which over the centuries has expanded into the much larger city you'll see today. It's a great area to go shopping in Copenhagen too, with some of the largest brands having stores there.

Indre By has a really busy feel about it, with lots of people, large streets, and stunning canals with cafes and restaurants.

The Best Hotels to Stay in Indre By

($$$) Nimb Hotel

This uber-luxury hotel is located right in Tivoli Gardens. Offering designer rooms, an outdoor pool, a fitness center, and a spa, it's arguably the most luxurious hotel in Copenhagen.

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($$) Apēron Apartment Hotel

This apartment hotel is in a great location, just 200 meters from the center of Copenhagen. It has a fully equipped bathroom, private bathrooms, a terrace, and you can also rent a bike to go exploring the city!

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($) Hotel Skt Petri

A wonderful hotel located in the heart of Copenhagen's old Latin Quarter, Hotel Skt Petri is modern, stylish, and just a few minutes walk from Copenhagen's main shopping street.

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Pros of Staying in Indre By

• Tourist attractions are very close

• Beautiful area full of canals and interesting buildings

• It's what everyone imagines Copenhagen to look like!

• Lots of restaurants, cafes, and bars

• Great parks

• Very well connected by public transport

• More luxurious accommodation

Cons of Staying in Indre By

• Can feel a bit touristy

• Lots of people

• Prices for accommodation can be high

Things to Do in Indre By

Relax by the Canals. Whenever anyone thinks of Copenhagen, they always think about canals. The city, and particularly Indre By, is full of these waterways winding their way through the streets. Locals and tourists love to relax by the canals with some food or a few drinks and soak up the colorful atmosphere.

Go to Nyhavn. Nyhavn is the famous street in Copenhagen. You know the one – lined with wooden ships, colorful buildings, and lots of busy restaurants. It's a beautiful street to walk along to enjoy the canal and do some people-watching.

Visit Rosenborg Slot. Copenhagen's Castle is a beautiful building located in the middle of the city. You can go inside or wander around the grounds. If you don't fancy actually entering, you can get a pretty good view of the building by just walking by.

Go to One of Copenhagen's Best Parks. Copenhagen has a surprising amount of amazing parks including Kongs Have and Østre Anlæg. My favorite, however, is the Botanical Garden of Copenhagen. It's free to enter and is a total little oasis in the middle of the city.

Have a swim! You can't wander around Indre By without seeing someone swimming. Really! All year round those living in Copenhagen love to take advantage of the harbor and go for a dip. There are specially designed beaches and harbor pools as well as popular areas people love to jump in. You can even rent a hot tub along the harbor to enjoy too!

Go to Tivoli Gardens. Not many cities can say they have an amusement park right in the center. But Copenhagen can! Tivoli Gardens is home to the oldest roller coaster in Europe, as well as many other impressive rides.

Enjoy City Hall Square. The City Hall in Copenhagen is a beautiful building and the square outside is worth a visit. I actually got married in the City Hall in Copenhagen and if you go, you'll see lots of other couples hanging around on the steps waiting for their turn to enter!

3. Where to Stay in Copenhagen for Food-Lovers: Nørrebro

Best for: Restaurants, multiculturalism, and an artsy vibe.

Nørrebro is my second favorite district in Copenhagen and is only very slightly behind Vesterbro. Located to the north of the city center, this neighborhood is brimming with restaurants from around the world. Famed for its multicultural roots, this area has a vibrant and fun vibe, especially in spring and summer when all the restaurants spill out onto the streets.

Nørrebro is home to some of the best and most famous restaurants in Copenhagen, including Kiin Kiin, the only Thai restaurant outside of Thailand to have a Michelin Star. There's also Bæst, a famous pizzeria that we went to after we got married!

As well as eating and drinking, Nørrebro is a great place to wander around and get a feel for the city. Blågårdsgade is a particularly cool and beautiful street brimming with restaurants and cafes as well as art and classic Danish design shops.

The Best Hotels to Stay in Nørrebro

($$$) Nabo Hotel Apartments

This beautiful apartment hotel is a great place for couples and families to stay. It's close to all the main attractions in Nørrebro and has a fully equipped kitchen, a spacious living area, and 2 bedrooms.

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($$) Hotel M18

Out of all the Copenhagen hotels, Hotel M18 is a more budget-friendly option that's clean, comfortable, and has everything you need. The location is great too!

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($) Globalhagen Hostel

This non-profit hostel is run by volunteers who are conscious of the hostel's environmental footprint. There are different types of dorms to choose from and all share common bathrooms.

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Pros of Staying in Nørrebro

• Incredible food and lots of restaurants to choose from

• Friendly and inclusive vibe

• The Lakes are a great area to walk around

• Better priced accommodation

Cons of Staying in Nørrebro

• Fewer accommodation options, especially for those looking for luxury accommodation

• It's a 40-minute walk to the center of Copenhagen, which might be too much for some

• Fewer tourist attractions

Things to Do in Nørrebro

Eat at Some of the Best Restaurants! OK, so Denmark in general isn't a cheap place to eat out – or do anything else for that matter – and restaurant bills can quickly stack up. But, saying that, the abundance of restaurants and food stalls in Nørrebro means there's more variety and you don't have to have a sit-down meal and pay lots. You can grab excellent falafels or a slice of pizza and keep on exploring!

Go to TorvehallerneKBH. This is just south of Nørrebro towards the city center but is well worth passing by. The food market is made up of two buildings, one selling fresh fruits and veggies and the other is full of food stalls from around the world. There are also local breweries, ice cream stalls, and a great stand where you can buy Smørrebrød, a kind of open sandwich with lots of different toppings.

Rent a Swan Paddle Boat. ‘The Lakes', as they're known, are three large, man-made bodies of water that lie between Nørrebro and Indre By. They're a really popular place for people to run or walk along or simply sit with friends. There are plenty of places to rent a boat and the swan paddle boats are very popular!

Superkilen Urban Park. Superkilen is a great park to go and see in Nørrebro. Designed by the Bjarke Ingels Group, it aims to bring locals and non-locals together to promote the multiculturalism that Nørrebro is famous for. It's a popular spot for skateboarders, couples, and families.

4. Where to Stay in Copenhagen for Cafe Culture and Relaxed Vibes: Christianshavn

Best for: A slower pace, alternative coffee shops, and for being closer to Freetown Christiania.

Christianshavn is an idyllic area of Copenhagen full of little canals and colorful canal boats. It's located on the other side of the river to Indre By, so you can easily get to the main tourist attractions.

Christianshavn is made up of lots of small islands connected by bridges. It's one of the smaller neighborhoods of Copenhagen and has a wonderful relaxed vibe which is very easy to get caught up in.

It's technically part of the inner city, but because you have to cross the river over the Kissing Bridge, it has a completely different feel to it. As you can imagine from such a water-based city, taking a boat tour around Copenhagen is very popular and a great way to explore the city from a different perspective. Most boat tours in Copenhagen pass through Christianshavn too!

The Best Hotels to Stay in Christianshavn

($$$) NH Collection Copenhagen

This is one of the best hotels in Copenhagen offering single, double, and family rooms. It's stylish and has a wonderful rooftop with a bar and restaurant.

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($$) Scandi-Hygge 2 Bedroom Apartment

This is a large and charming apartment in Chistianshavn. It has a terrace with river views, a fully equipped kitchen, and 2 spacious rooms. It's close to the bridges that take you to the rest of the city too.

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($) Kanalhuset

This is a beautiful, well-styled, and charming hotel in Christianshavn with private bathrooms, double and single beds, and an optional breakfast too. It's very close to Freetown Christiania and the rest of the sights to see in Christianshavn.

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Pros of Staying in Christianshavn

• Quiet and not so many tourists

• Idyllic and slower vibe

• Great views over the canals

• Easy access to the inner city

• Close to Freetown Christiania – which might not be a pro for everyone

Cons of Staying in Christianshavn

• Fewer accommodation options and not as many hotels

• There's only one bridge to cross to the rest of the city – and it's not always close by!

Things to Do in Christianshavn

Visit Freetown Christiania. Freetown Christiania is a fascinating place to visit and somewhere completely unique. It's a community that was first formed in 1971 when squatters occupied an abandoned military base in the area and is famous for its open but illegal sale of cannabis. The number of people that live there has grown a lot and there are now several businesses that run in the town, one such one is The Tap, a little pub serving local beers. Not only are the beers great, but the owner is also very happy to answer any questions you may have about the town and how it works.

Enjoy One of the Wonderful Cafes. There are many great cafes in Christianshavn and they're a great place to grab a coffee, read a book, catch up on some work, or just simply people-watch. Many of them are on the waterfront, meaning you can enjoy your drink as the boats go by.

Visit the Biggest Street Food Market in the Nordics! The Reffen Street Food Market is open every day and is a vibrant place to have a walk around and grab some food. Throughout the year there are music festivals, concerts, and parties so make sure you check the website to see if anything is on when you go.

The Copenhagen Opera House. The Copenhagen Opera House is a very impressive building overlooking the water and it's the most modern opera house in the world! World-famous artists have performed there and, even if opera isn't your thing, I'd still recommend going to have a look at the building.

5. Where to Stay in Copenhagen for Families and Peace and Quiet: Østerbro

Best for: Nice hotels, tranquility, and easy access to the rest of the city.

Østerbro is a large district of Copenhagen that borders Nørrebro and Indre By. The main street, Østerbrogade, passes directly through the middle of the neighborhood and is lined with restaurants, designer stores, and independent businesses.

Østerbro is certainly a quieter and more family-friendly area of Copenhagen, with large parks and houses and plenty of things for kids to do. While it may sound a little suburban for some, there are still some really interesting things to do and see in this neighborhood, including one of Copenhagen's iconic tourist attractions!

The Best Hotels to Stay in Østerbro

($$$) Charlottehaven

This apartment hotel offers different options, including a deluxe suite with panoramic views across Copenhagen. They're incredibly decorated with all necessary amenities and the location is excellent for exploring the neighborhood and wider city.

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($$) STAY Seaport

This is a wonderful apartment complex in the heart of the harbor district of Østerbro. They're all modernly designed and fitted with everything you need. There's a fitness center and many apartments have a balcony with a sea view.

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($) Comwell Copenhagen Portside Dolce

The Comwell Copenhagen Hotel offers well-priced rooms, each with a private bathroom. There's a sun terrace and breakfast buffet. It's a little further along the dock but the main places to visit are still within walking distance.

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Pros of Staying in Østerbro

• Quieter but still lots of things to do

• Close to the North Harbor, meaning boat trips are easy

• Kid-friendly

• Lots of green space

• Good amount of restaurants and cafes

• Close to the beach

Cons of Staying in Østerbro

• Very little nightlife

• Further out from the city center than some other neighborhoods

Things to Do in Østerbro

Visit Copenhagen's Little Mermaid! Since its unveiling in 1913, the Little Mermaid of Copenhagen has been a popular tourist attraction. It's beautiful, but I must say that when I first saw it I had expected it to be way bigger! It depicts Hans Christian Andersen's famous story of the Little Mermaid turning into a human and looking out over the water at Langelinie Promenade.

Go to the Beach. Svanemølle Beach in Østerbro is a cute little sandy beach with a lovely promenade. It gets quite busy in summer but there are some cafes and restaurants nearby.

Enjoy The Lakes. At the other end of the neighborhood from the beach are Copenhagen's Lakes – the same ones as in Nørrebro. This part of them is particularly beautiful and it's busy with people walking, jogging, and relaxing by the water.

Go to Copenhagen's biggest park. Fælledparken is in the heart of Østerbro and a really popular park for both kids and adults. There are lots of playgrounds, outdoor chess sets, and large grassy areas for having picnics.

Watch a game. Østerbro is home to Telia Parken, Copenhagen's football ground. If you're a fan of football, you could try to watch FC Copenhagen play!

Where to Stay in Copenhagen – Frequently Asked Questions

☀️ When's the Best Time to Visit Copenhagen?

Copenhagen is a great city to visit all year round but, in my opinion, late spring is the best time. It can be quite gray and cold in winter – although Christmas is also lovely!

👨‍👩‍👦 Is Copenhagen Kid-Friendly?

Absolutely! There are loads of fun things to do with kids in Copenhagen. There are plenty of fun museums and parks and, of course, Tivoli Gardens is a kid's dream!

💰 Is Copenhagen an Expensive City?

In comparison to lots of beautiful cities in Europe, Copenhagen is expensive. That means you're unlikely to find super cheap accommodation as you could in other cities. 2 pastries and 2 coffees are around US$25 and dinner can be much more expensive, depending on where you go.

🚊 Is It Easy To Get Around Copenhagen?

Yes! Copenhagen is a really easy city to walk around and there's also great public transport. You can get from the airport to the city center via subway or train.

📆 How Many Days Do You Need To Visit Copenhagen?

Copenhagen is a perfect destination for a long weekend. I'd say 3 days is optimal to see most of the spots and get a feel for the city.

😀 Is Copenhagen a Safe City?

Yes, Copenhagen is a very safe city and often ranks in the top 10 safest cities in Europe. Of course, there is some crime and you should always endeavor to keep yourself safe, but overall, it feels like a safe city to explore.

Where to Stay in Copenhagen – Final Words

Copenhagen is an incredible city and definitely worth visiting. There's loads to do and it's also an excellent city just to wander around – which is one of my favorite things to do anywhere! The food in Denmark's capital is particularly good and, whilst expensive, it's often worth what you're paying.

It's also a really well-located city for exploring other Nordic countries too. Malmö is just across a bridge from Copenhagen and there are often trains leaving the central station for other cities in Sweden such as Stockholm. It's a fun and beautiful city and one you're sure to enjoy!