Where to stay in Copenhagen
Copenhagen is small, flat and built around bikes, so almost every area is a short metro ride or a pleasant walk from the next. Stay in Indre By, the old center, for a first visit and a lot of walking, or in Christianshavn if you would rather sleep beside a canal. Vesterbro has the best choice of restaurants and bars and the station at its edge, Nørrebro is the local, mixed neighborhood, and the streets right around the central station and Istedgade are the part to choose with care. Denmark has no tourist tax on hotel stays, and the metro reaches the middle of town from the airport in about fifteen minutes.
The short answer
- First trip
- In Indre By, the old center, with Strøget, Rosenborg and the harbor on foot.
- Canals and quiet
- Christianshavn, across the water, or Nyhavn and Frederiksstaden for a harbor view.
- Food and nightlife
- Vesterbro, a few minutes west of the station, with the Meatpacking District.
- A local base
- Nørrebro, for cafes and independent shops, or Østerbro for calmer streets.
- Space and green
- Frederiksberg, the leafy district beside the Frederiksberg Gardens.
How we judge an area of Copenhagen: walking time to the sights, noise at night, how quickly the metro or S-train gets you out, and price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Copenhagen's neighborhoods, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Nyhavn | Tivoli Gardens | Central station | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indre By, the old center | A first visit, sights | Busy at weekends, quiet on side streets | 15 min | 15 min | 15 min | Metro M1, M2 and M3; many buses | €€€€ |
| Nyhavn and Frederiksstaden | The harbor, views | Loud on the quay in summer, quiet beyond | 5 min | 30 min | 30 min | Metro: Kongens Nytorv; harbor bus | €€€€ |
| Christianshavn | Canals, quiet | Quiet, busy canal bars in summer | 15 min | 25 min | 30 min | Metro M1 and M2: Christianshavn | €€€ |
| Vesterbro | Food, nightlife | Lively, loud at weekends | 40 min | 15 min | 10 min | S-train and metro near the station; buses | €€€ |
| Nørrebro | A local base, value | Busy, quieter on side streets | 55 min | 45 min | 45 min | Metro M3 and M4 nearby; buses | €€ |
| Østerbro | Quiet, families | Quiet | 45 min | 55 min | 60 min | Metro M3 and M4: Trianglen, Østerport | €€€ |
| Frederiksberg | Calm, parks | Quiet | 60 min | 35 min | 30 min | Metro M3 and M4: Frederiksberg, Forum | €€€ |
| Around the central station and Istedgade | Trains, early flights | Mixed after dark | 30 min | 5 min | 5 min | Central station: S-train, regional train, metro | €€ |
Walking times run from the middle of each area: the straight line plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes. Copenhagen is compact and the metro runs all night, so the outer areas are a short ride, not a long trip. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until booking-site prices replace it.
Where the neighborhoods are
Indre By, for a first visit
Strøget, Rosenborg, the university quarter and the harbor on foot, at the highest prices in the city.
Indre By is the medieval center, inside the old lakes and the harbor. Strøget, the long pedestrian street, runs through it, Christiansborg is about ten minutes from the middle, Rosenborg Castle and its garden about fifteen, and Nyhavn about fifteen to twenty. The Latin Quarter around the university has small cafes and bookshops, and the metro stops at Kongens Nytorv and Nørreport.
It is also the dearest part of Copenhagen for rooms and for a meal. Strøget is crowded by day and quiet after the shops close, and the streets near Kongens Nytorv and the bars around Gråbrødretorv stay busy on weekend nights. Ask for a room away from the main squares if you sleep lightly.
Good for
- A first trip of two to four nights
- Walking to most of the sights
- Metro at Kongens Nytorv and Nørreport, and the airport line with it
Think twice if
- You want to save money: rooms and meals here cost the most
- You sleep lightly and your room faces a square on a weekend night
- You want a street that feels local
Staying in Indre By, the old center: nearby sights, food and getting around
Nyhavn and Frederiksstaden, for the harbor
The colorful canal on the postcards, and beyond it the palace square and the quiet streets of the royal quarter.
Nyhavn is the old harbor with the painted townhouses, and it is the most photographed street in the city. Kongens Nytorv and its metro are a few minutes away, Strøget about ten, and Frederiksstaden, the planned quarter to the north, has Amalienborg Palace and the Marble Church. The harbor bus stops here, and the walk along the water to the Little Mermaid is about thirty minutes.
Nyhavn itself is a tourist street. The restaurants along the quay are dear and aimed at day visitors, and the terraces are loud on summer evenings. Frederiksstaden is much quieter, and its hotels sit in handsome old buildings. A room on the quay costs more than an equally good one a street back.
Good for
- Harbour views and the evening light on the water
- Quiet streets in Frederiksstaden, beside Amalienborg
- Walking to Kongens Nytorv, the Opera and the harbor bus
Think twice if
- You want good value food: the quayside restaurants are dear
- You sleep lightly in summer and your room faces the quay
- You want a local neighborhood
Staying in Nyhavn and Frederiksstaden: nearby sights, food and getting around
Christianshavn, for canals and a calmer stay
Canals, houseboats and the Church of Our Saviour, across the water from the center.
Christianshavn is a small island of canals, gabled warehouses and houseboats, reached by bridge from the center. Strøget and Christiansborg are about fifteen to twenty minutes' walk, the metro station at Christianshavn is on the airport line, and the Church of Our Saviour with its spiral tower is in the middle. Bars and cafes line the canal, and Christiania, the free town, is at the eastern edge.
It feels like a village, and the side streets are quiet at night. The bars near the canal stay busy on summer evenings, and the cannabis trade on Pusher Street in Christiania means you will see some rough edges near its gate. Hotels are fewer than in the center, and many are small or in converted warehouses.
Good for
- Canal walks, houseboats and a village feel
- The metro to the airport in about ten minutes
- Quiet nights a short walk from the center
Think twice if
- You want a wide choice of hotels
- You'd rather not be near the edge of Christiania
- You want to walk to Tivoli: it's about twenty-five minutes
Staying in Christianshavn: nearby sights, food and getting around
Vesterbro, for food and nightlife
The best restaurants and bars in the city, behind the station, with a rougher edge near the tracks.
Vesterbro was the working-class and red-light district and is now the city's main place to eat and drink. The Meatpacking District, Kødbyen, has restaurants in old slaughterhouses, Værnedamsvej and Absalonsgade have cafes and wine bars, and Tivoli and Rådhuspladsen are about ten to fifteen minutes from the middle. The central station is at the eastern edge, so trains and the airport line are close.
Evenings are lively and the bars and clubs around Kødbyen and Halmtorvet are loud on weekends. Prices are lower than in Indre By but not low. The streets near the station and Istedgade are covered in their own section below, and the further west you go, the calmer and more residential it gets.
Good for
- The widest choice of restaurants and bars
- Trains from the central station and the airport line
- Lower hotel prices than Indre By
Think twice if
- You need quiet on a Friday or Saturday night
- You'd like old streets and sights outside the door
- You'd choose a hotel on the streets just beside the tracks
Staying in Vesterbro: nearby sights, food and getting around
Nørrebro, for a local, mixed neighborhood
Independent cafes, shops and parks, with the most varied population in the city.
Nørrebro is the neighborhood north-west of the lakes, a mix of students, families and people from all over the world. Jægersborggade is a short street of small shops and restaurants, Assistens Cemetery is also a city park, and Nørrebrogade runs down the middle with the buses and cycle lanes. Nørreport and Rosenborg are about twenty to thirty minutes' walk away, or a short bus or bike ride.
Rooms and apartments cost less than in the center, and the streets feel lived in. There are fewer hotels, and the area is better for apartments. It is busy and a little gritty in places, and the outer streets are quieter and less lit late at night. Most visitors have no trouble; ask your host which streets they'd take after dark.
Good for
- A neighborhood of cafes, markets and parks
- Lower prices than the center
- Cycling to the lakes and the center
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the main sights
- You want a wide choice of hotels
- You'd be uncomfortable on busy streets with a rough edge
Østerbro, for quiet streets and families
A calm, well-off residential district beside Fælledparken and the lakes, with few hotels.
Østerbro is the district north of the lakes, with wide streets, large apartment blocks and the Fælledparken park. Trianglen is the main square, with a metro station at Trianglen, and Kastellet and the Little Mermaid are about twenty-five minutes' walk. Rosenborg and Nørreport are about thirty minutes on foot, or a few stops by metro.
It is safe and quiet at night, popular with local families, and has good bakeries and coffee shops. Hotels are few, and most stays are apartments. It is a trip out for dinner, and the nightlife is thin.
Good for
- Calm nights and green space
- Families with children, with parks and playgrounds
- The Little Mermaid and Kastellet on foot
Think twice if
- You want to be among the sights and the restaurants
- You'd choose a hotel: there are few
- You want nightlife on your doorstep
Frederiksberg, for leafy streets and calm
A separate municipality inside Copenhagen, with a big park, cafes and a metro ride to the center.
Frederiksberg is a self-governing town surrounded by Copenhagen, with the Frederiksberg Gardens, a palace on a hill, and the zoo on its edge. Gammel Kongevej and Værnedamsvej are lined with cafes and food shops, and the metro stops at Frederiksberg and Forum. Tivoli is about twenty-five to thirty minutes' walk, or a few minutes by metro.
It is a calm, leafy, well-off area where hotels are few and rooms cost a little less than in the center. The cafes close earlier than in Vesterbro, and for sights you will use the metro or a bike. The park is lovely in summer, and the Christmas lights along Gammel Kongevej are worth a walk.
Good for
- Green space and a calm base
- Cafes and food shops on Værnedamsvej
- The metro to the center in a few minutes
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the sights
- You want nightlife nearby
- You expect many hotels in the choice
Staying in Frederiksberg: nearby sights, food and getting around
Around the central station and Istedgade, with care
Close to every train and to Tivoli, and the part of the center with most street trouble at night.
The streets around Copenhagen Central Station, Reventlowsgade and the stretch of Istedgade toward the tracks, have plenty of hotels, most of them cheaper than in Indre By. Tivoli's gate is across the road, Rådhuspladsen is about ten minutes' walk, and the S-trains, regional trains and the airport line leave from the station.
It is also the area where visitors are most likely to see open drug use, street dealing and begging, mostly after dark. Most visitors have no trouble, but we would choose a hotel on a busy main street over a cheap one on a side street, and take a taxi or walk home with company late at night.
Good for
- An early train or flight, with the station at the door
- Tivoli across the road
- A wide choice of hotels and lower prices
Think twice if
- You'll be walking back on foot after dark
- You want to feel at ease on the street outside your door
- You're traveling alone and want a calm evening
Staying in Around the central station and Istedgade: nearby sights, food and getting around
Where not to stay in Copenhagen, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Copenhagen. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- A cheap room on a side street by the central station, if you'll be out late
The rate looks good until you walk home after dark past Istedgade's western end. Choose a hotel on a busy main road, or stay in Indre By or Vesterbro proper.
- A room facing the Nyhavn quay in summer, if you need sleep
The terraces are loud until late and the prices are the highest in the city. Stay a street back or in Frederiksstaden, and walk to the quay.
- A hotel by Copenhagen Airport, for a city break
It saves a ride on the first and last day, but the airport is a quiet commercial area. The metro takes fifteen minutes, so stay in town.
- A room above a weekend bar in Kødbyen or on Gråbrødretorv
Great for the evening, and loud until the early hours. Ask for a room at the back, or on a high floor.
- A stay far out in the suburbs, to save money
Rooms cost less, but you spend the savings and the time on trains. Nørrebro or Frederiksberg save money and keep you on the metro.
Which neighborhood suits you
First time in Copenhagen
In Indre By, or Frederiksstaden for a quieter street.
Couples
Christianshavn for the canals, or Nyhavn and Frederiksstaden for harbor views.
Families with children
Østerbro or Frederiksberg: parks, quiet nights and space.
A tight budget
Nørrebro, or a main-street hotel by the central station.
Restaurants and bars
Vesterbro, with Kødbyen and Værnedamsvej on foot.
Sights on foot
Indre By, with Strøget, Rosenborg and Christiansborg close.
Peace and quiet
A local feel
Nørrebro, for cafes, shops and the Assistens Cemetery.
An early train or flight
The central station streets, with care at night, or Christianshavn for the metro.
Before you book a room in Copenhagen
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Copenhagen makes a good stay.
- The tourist taxDenmark has no tourist tax or overnight levy on hotel stays today. The tax in the news is a passenger charge on flights, which started in 2025 and is built into the ticket, not added at your hotel. We'll update this page if a stay charge is introduced.
- From Copenhagen AirportThe airport is about 8 km south-east of the center. The metro M2 runs from Terminal 3 round the clock, every few minutes by day, and reaches Christianshavn, Kongens Nytorv and Nørreport in about 15 minutes. Regional trains run from the same terminal to Copenhagen Central Station in about 15 minutes. You need a ticket for the right zones before you board; buy it at the machines or in the DOT app.
- TaxisA taxi from the airport to the center takes 20 to 30 minutes and costs a few hundred kroner, more at night and at weekends. The metro is quicker at rush hour.
- CyclingHotels will often lend or rent bikes. Cycle lanes are everywhere, and traffic keeps to them strictly, so learn the hand signals and never walk in them.
- Lifts and stairsMany old buildings in Indre By and Christianshavn have steep stairs and small lifts or none. If stairs are hard for you, check the floor and the lift before you book.
- Book early in summer and at ChristmasRooms are scarce and dear in July and August and in December around Tivoli's Christmas market. Book as soon as your dates are fixed.
Where to stay in Copenhagen: questions people ask
What's the best area to stay in Copenhagen for a first visit?
Indre By, the old center. Strøget, Christiansborg and Rosenborg are within fifteen minutes' walk, and the metro stops at Kongens Nytorv and Nørreport. It is also the dearest part of the city, so Christianshavn or Vesterbro are good alternatives.
Is Nyhavn a good place to stay?
It is pretty and central, but it is a tourist street with dear restaurants and loud terraces in summer. Frederiksstaden just north is quieter and as handy for Amalienborg and the harbor.
Is Vesterbro or Nørrebro better?
Vesterbro for restaurants, bars and the station, and closer to Tivoli. Nørrebro for a local feel and lower prices, but further from the sights and with fewer hotels.
Is Copenhagen safe at night?
Mostly, yes. It is one of the safer capitals in Europe. The streets around the central station and Istedgade have open drug use and street dealing after dark, so choose a hotel on a busy, well-lit street there if you'll be out late.
How do I get from Copenhagen Airport to the center?
The metro M2 reaches Christianshavn, Kongens Nytorv and Nørreport in about 15 minutes, round the clock. Regional trains reach the central station in about the same time. A taxi costs a few hundred kroner.
Do you need a car in Copenhagen?
No. The metro, S-trains, buses and the harbor bus cover the city, and cycling is easy. Parking in the center is dear, and you only need a car for the north coast or the Louisiana museum if you prefer not to take the train.
Is there a tourist tax in Copenhagen?
No. Denmark has no overnight tourist tax on hotel stays today. Flights carry a passenger charge that is part of the ticket. Ask your hotel if you're not sure.
How many nights should I stay in Copenhagen?
Three nights cover the center: Nyhavn, Rosenborg, Christiansborg, Tivoli and a canal walk in Christianshavn. A fourth night adds a museum such as Louisiana or a day on the coast.
