The Best Hotels in Copenhagen

Copenhagen is a bit more laid-back than your average capital city, but that’s one of its biggest attractions. A city of cobbled streets where you’re more likely to notice the smell of baking bread or the salt coming in from the sea, than the neon lights or hustling pedestrians of other metropolitan centers, Copenhagen still has plenty of vibrant life to offer a visitor. From the cafés to the clubs, the bars and increasingly gastronomically inventive restaurants, Copenhagen is a beautiful city where the height of success is to find your own slice of what the locals call hyggelige, or coziness.

Things to see

The Tivoli Gardens is one of the world’s oldest amusement parks, and if it’s more pleasure garden than white-knuckle fest that’s part of the charm. Whether you’re wandering among the painstakingly landscaped gardens or boarding some of the many rides – such as the wooden rollercoaster which has been wowing crowds since 1914 – there’s plenty for the whole family. A theater, concert hall and aquarium are among the Gardens’ other highlights. City Hall Square is not just a centrally located corner to while away a lazy afternoon, it’s also home to a number of outdoor events and demonstrations, thanks in part to it being home to the City Hall, the offices of one of Denmark’s leading newspapers and the iconic Weather Girl – a golden statue which lets you know whether you’ll need your umbrella. The 17th Century waterfront of Nyhavn is also a must-see, with its pastel-colored townhouses, bars, and museums celebrating the city’s seafaring past.

Hotels in Copenhagen

Copenhagen might be a relaxing place to visit, but its high-end hotels aren’t too laid back to cater to your every whim. You’ll have plenty of options when it comes to luxury hotels in Copenhagen, with a few recognizable chains based in the city offering the five-star treatment. In the elite hotels you can expect to find on-site spas, fitness centers, and restaurants. In-room you should expect to have complimentary WiFi, flat-screen televisions, and tea and coffee making facilities. Design and style are king in Denmark, so many of the luxury hotels will feature marble surfaces or period furniture and fittings.

Where to stay

You’ll find yourself going medieval if you opt to stay in the City Center. But the winding, narrow streets aren’t the only reason to choose this central location – as well as putting you close to the squares and main attractions you’ll also be on hand for the cafés, the architecture, and the pedestrianized Stroget which give the city its fairytale flavor. Nyhavn is marked out by its canals, its gabled houses, and its many colorfully shaded buildings, as well as the fact one of Copenhagen’s most famous sons – Hans Christian Andersen – once called it home. Exclusive, leafy Frederiksberg is an upmarket option to the west of center.

How to get to

Around 9 kilometers to the southeast of the city center, Copenhagen’s Kastrup Airport is a busy, international hub and the most likely gateway into the city. There are a number of options for transferring from the airport to the city center, with a free shuttle bus running regularly, and speedier but still inexpensive train and Metro links which will have you in the heart of the city in around 15 minutes. The stylish, wooden-beamed Central Station may be from the 19th Century, but it’s a very up-to-date center for travel into and out of Copenhagen by train, linking the city with the rest of Denmark and Europe.