Hotels
Where to stay in Copenhagen: the best neighbourhoods explained
Copenhagen is easy to get around, but each neighbourhood gives you a different weekend. These are the areas we would choose between, who each suits and the hotel we would book.
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It is Friday afternoon and you have just arrived on the train from the airport. From Central Station you can walk to Tivoli in two minutes, reach Nyhavn in fifteen, or pick up a bike and be in Nørrebro before your coffee cools. You can stay almost anywhere in Copenhagen, but the weekend changes depending on where you wake up.
The city is simple to use: the metro runs around the clock and distances are short. We have chosen the neighbourhoods we would stay in and explain who each suits. The hotels themselves are in our guide to the best hotels in Copenhagen.
Short answer: where should you stay in Copenhagen?
For a first weekend, stay in Indre By around Kongens Nytorv and Strøget, close to Nyhavn and the palaces. Vesterbro suits food and nightlife, Christianshavn offers calm by the canals, and around Tivoli you are practically placed near the station.
Best for a first visit: Indre By
Best for food and nightlife: Vesterbro
Best for calm: Christianshavn
Best for families: around Tivoli
Best for something new: Carlsberg Byen
Hotel Sanders
Hotel Sanders in Indre By.
Indre By: Strøget, Nyhavn and the palaces
Indre By is the old medieval city, with Strøget, Kongens Nytorv, Nyhavn and Amalienborg all within half an hour's walk. You can reach almost everything on foot, and evenings by the canal in Nyhavn are classic Copenhagen.
It suits first-time visitors and anyone who would rather walk than cycle. The catch: prices are high and the streets around Strøget are packed with visitors at weekends.
Hotel Sanders: a small hotel by Kongens Nytorv
Sanders sits on a narrow street by the Royal Danish Theatre, a short walk from Nyhavn, with a lounge of plants and a fireplace that feels like a private club. Strøget and the harbour are minutes away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Sanders
Nimb Hotel
Nimb Hotel in Tivoli.
Around Tivoli and City Hall Square: practical for a short break
Tivoli and City Hall Square sit right by Central Station, with direct trains to the airport. The area is practical for a short weekend, and with children Tivoli is a natural centre of gravity.
The catch is that the streets around the station are busy and lack charm, so choose a hotel that is a destination in itself.
Nimb: the hotel inside Tivoli
Nimb occupies the Moorish-style palace inside Tivoli, with a rooftop pool, two restaurants and the gardens as its backyard. In winter you wake up to the Christmas lights, in summer to the sound of the rides.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Nimb Hotel
Absalon Hotel
Absalon Hotel in Vesterbro.
Vesterbro: the meatpacking district and the cafés
Vesterbro lies behind Central Station and was long the city's rough quarter. Today Kødbyen, the old meatpacking district, is full of restaurants and bars, and Istedgade and Værnedamsvej are lined with cafés and small shops.
It suits travellers who want to eat well and go out at night. The catch: parts of Istedgade closest to the station still feel worn.
Absalon: colour in Vesterbro
Absalon is in Vesterbro, a few minutes from both Central Station and Tivoli, with colourful rooms, several with deep bathtubs. Kødbyen and Istedgade are a short walk away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Absalon Hotel
Kanalhuset
Kanalhuset in Christianshavn.
Christianshavn: canals and houseboats
Christianshavn lies across the harbour from Indre By, with canals, houseboats and cobbled streets. It is home to Christiania and the spiral spire of the Church of Our Saviour, and within walking distance of both the centre and the food markets on Refshaleøen.
It suits couples and anyone who wants quiet evenings. The catch: there are fewer hotels to choose from than in the centre.
Kanalhuset: on the water in Christianshavn
Kanalhuset faces the canal with houseboats right outside, and in the evening guests gather for a social hour included in the rate. A calm base with a short walk to both Indre By and Refshaleøen.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Kanalhuset
Hotel Ottilia
Hotel Ottilia in Carlsberg Byen.
Carlsberg Byen and Nørrebro: the newer side of the city
Carlsberg Byen is a new neighbourhood in the old Carlsberg brewery buildings, a short way west of Vesterbro. Nørrebro, north of the lakes, is multicultural and packed with small restaurants and bars around Jægersborggade.
Choose these if you have been to Copenhagen before and want to see how the city lives beyond the centre. The catch is that you will need a bike or the metro for the classic sights.
Hotel Ottilia: round windows in the brewery
Ottilia sits in the old brewery buildings of Carlsberg Byen, and its round windows are its signature. Guests praise the breakfast, and the Carlsberg visitor centre is a few minutes away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Ottilia
Good to know before you book
The metro runs all night: the line from the airport reaches Kongens Nytorv and Christianshavn without a change.
Hire a bike: Copenhagen is built for cycling, and many hotels lend or rent bikes.
Christmas markets and big weekends: from mid November to Christmas, prices rise in the centre.
Tivoli has seasons: the gardens close for periods in winter and spring. Check the dates before choosing a hotel for Tivoli's sake.
Where to stay in Copenhagen: frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Copenhagen for first-timers?
Indre By is best for a first visit, close to Strøget, Nyhavn and the palaces.
Is Vesterbro safe to stay in?
Yes. Vesterbro is now a popular neighbourhood with restaurants and families, though a few streets near the station still feel worn.
Where is quiet to stay in Copenhagen?
Christianshavn and Carlsberg Byen are calm in the evening yet still close to the centre.
Where should families stay in Copenhagen?
Around Tivoli and City Hall Square works well for families, with the gardens, the station and museums within walking distance.