Hotels
Best hotels in Copenhagen: 10 places we would stay
Copenhagen is one of Europe's easiest city breaks, and its hotels have never been better. These are the ones we would book, from the palace in Tivoli to a canal house in Christianshavn.
Copenhagen is compact, flat and made for cycling, the food is among the best in Europe, and from mid November Tivoli glows with thousands of Christmas lights. It is no surprise it is one of the most popular city breaks in the north.
The hotel scene has also come alive in recent years, with grand old buildings given new lives: a post office, a music academy and a university are now hotels you can sleep in.
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Where to stay in Copenhagen
The old town and the area around Tivoli and City Hall Square are handy if you arrive by train from the airport and want to walk everywhere. Vesterbro is the liveliest district, with bars and restaurants in the old Meatpacking District. Christianshavn is calmer, with canals and houseboats.
Indre By and Tivoli for easy access to everything
Vesterbro and Kødbyen for food and nightlife
Christianshavn for canals and calm
Carlsberg Byen for a new neighbourhood close to Frederiksberg
Around Tivoli and City Hall Square
Nimb Hotel
Nimb lit up in Tivoli at night.
Nimb Hotel: the palace in Tivoli
Nimb is inside Tivoli, in the Moorish style palace that glows above Hans Christian Andersens Boulevard. In winter you wake up to the Christmas lights in the gardens, in summer to the screams from the rides.
The hotel has two restaurants, two bars and a rooftop pool. This is the hotel for a big occasion, or for anyone who wants Tivoli as their garden.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Nimb Hotel
Villa Copenhagen
The glass-roofed courtyard at Villa Copenhagen.
Villa Copenhagen: a hotel in the old post office
Villa Copenhagen occupies the former central post office next to Copenhagen Central Station, so you can walk straight from the train to reception. The glass roof floods the courtyard with light, and Tivoli is across the street.
There are two bars and two cafés, and guests especially love the location.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Villa Copenhagen
Nobis Hotel Copenhagen
A lounge with tall windows at Nobis.
Nobis Hotel: design in the old music academy
Nobis is in a grand early 1900s building that was once the Royal Danish Academy of Music, a couple of minutes from Tivoli. The interiors are light and Scandinavian, with marble, wood and tall windows.
A good choice for a calm design hotel in the centre.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Nobis Hotel Copenhagen
Hotel Alexandra
The facade of Hotel Alexandra.
Hotel Alexandra: Danish design by City Hall Square
Hotel Alexandra is a few minutes from City Hall Square, and the rooms are furnished with classic Danish design. It feels more like an elegant apartment than a hotel.
Guests especially love the location, and there is a restaurant on site.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Hotel Alexandra
Manon Les Suites Guldsmeden
One of the suites at Manon Les Suites.
Manon Les Suites: a jungle pool in the city
Manon Les Suites is an aparthotel with an indoor pool surrounded by plants, like a small jungle. Every suite has a fridge, and many have their own kitchen.
It is a few minutes from Tivoli and suits families and friends who want more space.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Manon Les Suites Guldsmeden
The old town, Vesterbro and Christianshavn
Hotel Sanders
The lounge at Hotel Sanders.
Hotel Sanders: a boutique gem by Kongens Nytorv
Sanders sits on a narrow street next to the Royal Danish Theatre and Kongens Nytorv, a short walk from Nyhavn. The lounge, with plants, a fireplace and cosy corners, feels like a private club.
There is a restaurant and a bar, and guests praise the staff. One of the most charming small hotels in town.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Hotel Sanders
25hours Hotel Indre By
The courtyard at 25hours Hotel.
25hours Hotel Indre By: in the old university
25hours is in the Latin Quarter, in the building that once housed the University of Copenhagen. The rooms are colourful and playful, and there is a courtyard for sitting outside on warm days.
There are two bars and a restaurant, and guests praise the breakfast. Strøget and the Round Tower are just around the corner.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at 25hours Hotel Indre By
Absalon Hotel
The lobby at Absalon Hotel.
Absalon Hotel: colour in Vesterbro
Absalon is in Vesterbro, a few minutes from Central Station and Tivoli. The rooms are full of colour, and several have deep bathtubs.
There is a bar and a café, and the restaurants of Kødbyen and Istedgade are close by.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Absalon Hotel
Boutique Hotel Ottilia
Round windows at Hotel Ottilia.
Hotel Ottilia: a brewery and round windows
Ottilia is in Carlsberg Byen, in the old Carlsberg brewery buildings. The round windows are its signature, and the Carlsberg visitor centre is a few minutes away.
Guests praise the breakfast, and there is a restaurant and a gym. Stay here to see a newer side of the city.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Boutique Hotel Ottilia
Kanalhuset
The bar at Kanalhuset in Christianshavn.
Kanalhuset: by the canal in Christianshavn
Kanalhuset sits by the canal in Christianshavn, with houseboats and cobbled streets outside. In the evening the hotel invites guests to a social gathering that is included in the price.
Guests especially love the location, and there is a restaurant on site. A calm base close to both the old town and Refshaleøen.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Kanalhuset
When to visit Copenhagen
Copenhagen is lovely all year, but December is special, with Christmas markets in Tivoli and at Højbro Plads and lights over Strøget. Hotels near Tivoli fill up quickly on Advent weekends, so book early. In summer locals swim in the harbour and the city moves out onto the quaysides.
Book early if you want to stay near Tivoli in Advent
Hire a bike, it is the fastest way to get around
Take the train from the airport, it is around 15 minutes to the centre
See also European cities to visit at Christmas and our Christmas breaks.
FAQ: hotels in Copenhagen
Where should I stay in Copenhagen?
The old town and the area around Tivoli are the most practical for a weekend. Vesterbro suits food lovers and night owls, while Christianshavn is calmer with canals and houseboats.
Which Copenhagen hotel is inside Tivoli?
Nimb Hotel is inside Tivoli, in the Moorish style palace in the gardens. It has a rooftop pool, two restaurants and two bars.
When does Christmas in Tivoli open?
Christmas in Tivoli usually opens in mid November and runs until just after Christmas. Check Tivoli's own website for this year's dates before you book.
How do I get from the airport to the city centre?
Trains and the metro from Copenhagen Airport reach the centre in around 15 minutes, and the train stops at Central Station next to Tivoli.
Is Copenhagen expensive?
Copenhagen is an expensive city, but many hotels include a good breakfast, and the city is easy to explore on foot and by bike.