The best areas to stay in Copenhagen
Copenhagen is small enough that almost anywhere central works, and the metro and bike lanes connect everything. These are the six areas we would look at first.
Indre By and Nyhavn
Best for first-timers and sightseeingThe old city centre, with Strøget, the Round Tower, Rosenborg Castle, the royal palaces and the colourful harbour front of Nyhavn all within walking distance. Hotels cost more here, but you can see most of the city on foot, and Nørreport and Kongens Nytorv stations are around 15 minutes from the airport by metro or train.
Vesterbro
Best for food, nightlife and valueThe former working-class district west of Central Station, now full of cafes, bars and restaurants, with the Meatpacking District (Kødbyen) for nightlife and Værnedamsvej for food shopping. It has a good spread of budget and mid-range hotels, and Tivoli and the centre are a short walk away.
Christianshavn
Best for canals and a village feelA canal quarter across the harbour from the centre, with houseboats, cobbled streets, the spiral tower of the Church of Our Saviour and the freetown of Christiania. It feels like a village but is one metro stop from Kongens Nytorv, which makes it a calm, central base.
Nørrebro
Best for living like a localCopenhagen's most diverse and creative neighbourhood, just beyond the Lakes, with independent shops and coffee on Jægersborggade, Assistens Cemetery and the bars around Elmegade and Sankt Hans Torv. There are fewer hotels than in the centre, but it is a great choice if you want to see the city's everyday side.
Østerbro
Best for families and a quiet stayA leafy, residential district north of the Lakes, with Fælledparken, good bakeries and quiet streets, and Kastellet and the Little Mermaid at its southern edge. It is popular with families and longer stays, and the metro connects it to the centre in minutes.
Islands Brygge and Amager
Best for longer stays and the airportSouth of the harbour, Islands Brygge has a harbour bath and a long waterfront park, while the rest of Amager stretches out to Amager Strandpark beach and the airport. Newer apartment hotels and lower prices make it a smart choice for longer stays, and the metro reaches the centre in minutes.
Our 6 recommended places to stay in Copenhagen
These are the six places we would book first, ordered from budget to premium, with a pod hotel, two aparthotels for longer stays, a hotel by the Lakes and two boutique stays on the water.
Budget pickPod hotel · Vesterbro
CityHub Copenhagen
A pod hotel on Vesterbrogade, 1.3 kilometres from Tivoli, where you sleep in a compact private hub with air conditioning and a Bluetooth sound system. Check-in is self-service, there is a sauna, a shared kitchenette and a bar where you pour your own drinks, and guests rate the staff 9.6.
- Private pods for one or two, with self check-in and an app to chat to the hosts
- Sauna, shared kitchenette and a self-serve bar with local beers
- Best for solo travellers and couples who want a central, social stay on a budget
Budget pickAparthotel · Østerbro
Bob W Copenhagen Østerbro
A self check-in aparthotel in a brick building in Østerbro, a short walk from Parken stadium. Every unit has a kitchenette and a work desk, there is a gym and a laundry room, and guests rate the WiFi 9.6, which makes it an easy base for a longer stay.
- Kitchenette, work desk and WiFi rated 9.6 in every unit
- Gym, laundry room and self check-in
- Best for remote workers and longer stays in a quiet, residential area
Mid-range pickHotel · Indre By, by the Lakes
Hotel Kong Arthur
A hotel dating back to 1882 on the edge of the Lakes, about 10 minutes' walk from Nørreport Station, with stylish modern rooms, an organic Nordic breakfast buffet and the Ni'Mat spa with a sauna and hot tub. There are restaurants in the building and guests rate the staff 9.6.
- Organic Nordic breakfast buffet and an on-site spa with sauna and hot tub
- By the Lakes, 10 minutes' walk from Nørreport Station
- Best for couples and first-timers who want character and a central base
Mid-range pickAparthotel · Amager
Zoku Copenhagen
An apartment hotel built for living and working, where each Loft has a raised bed, a kitchen and a big table for four. The shared lounges, workspaces and terrace make it easy to meet people and get work done, the metro is close by and Central Station is about 2.6 kilometres away.
- Loft rooms with a kitchen, a raised bed and a table for four
- Shared workspaces, a terrace, a restaurant and a bar
- Best for digital nomads and anyone staying a week or more
Premium pickBoutique hotel · Christianshavn
Kanalhuset
A boutique hotel in a historic building on one of Christianshavn's canals, three minutes' walk from the Church of Our Saviour. The rooms are warm and full of character, there is a restaurant and a bar, and guests rate the location 9.7 and the breakfast as superb.
- Canal-side setting in Christianshavn, a short walk from the metro
- Restaurant, bar and a breakfast guests rate as superb
- Best for couples who want a quieter, characterful stay close to the centre
Premium pickHotel · Nyhavn
71 Nyhavn Hotel
A hotel in two converted warehouses from the 1800s at the end of Nyhavn, with exposed wooden beams in the rooms and views over the water from many of them. Canal boat tours leave from outside the door, Amalienborg Palace is ten minutes on foot, and guests rate the location 9.8.
- Waterfront warehouse rooms with the original wooden beams
- Canal tours from the door and Strøget 650 metres away
- Best for couples and first-timers who want the classic Nyhavn setting
Ratings are from Booking.com guest reviews at the time of writing and can change. We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Getting to and around Copenhagen
Copenhagen Airport is in Kastrup on Amager, about 8 kilometres from the centre. The M2 metro runs around the clock to Christianshavn, Kongens Nytorv and Nørreport in about 15 minutes, and regional trains reach Central Station in a similar time. Trains also cross the Øresund Bridge to Malmö in Sweden, which makes an easy day trip.
The centre is compact and very walkable, and Copenhagen is one of the best cycling cities in the world, with bike lanes almost everywhere and plenty of places to rent a bike. The metro, including the City Circle line, runs day and night, and buses and harbour buses fill the gaps. Tickets cover all three and are easiest to buy in the DOT app.
To stay connected, see our guides to the best eSIMs for Denmark and the best digital nomad insurance for Europe, and for where to open the laptop, our list of cafes and coworking spaces in Copenhagen.
Still deciding?
Copenhagen hotels fill up quickly in summer and around big events. Check availability for our top budget pick, CityHub Copenhagen, on Booking.com.
Check availability on Booking.com
