The ultimate hotel guide to Copenhagen (2024)

It could be a trick of the soft Scandi light, but everything in Copenhagen seems blessed with good looks. Immaculate royal palaces have dodged the ravages of time, while modern pieces of architecture are daring to the extreme. The accommodation is no exception either, with many of the city’s best hotels much more than just somewhere to sleep. Bringing the past bang up to date, recent openings include a converted Carlsberg malt house and a century-old post office. Newer builds are equally head-turning — if only because of the remarkably affordable rates. Defying Copenhagen’s pricey reputation, a new raft of fun, quirky hostels has popped up in the past few years, too, from stackable cabins to indoor tents. There’s also been a shift towards more sustainable stays, with efficient, water-saving shower systems, vegan menus and eco materials all part of the city’s drive to become carbon-neutral by 2025.

Bedroom at Nimb Hotel.

Photograph by Line Klein

Best for nostalgia

Bright, brash and irresistibly different, one of the city’s most iconic properties has kept visitors spellbound for more than a century. A Moorish-style palace illuminated by thousands of bulbs, Nimbblends perfectly into the fantasy fairground of Tivoli Gardens. Originally opened as a restaurant in 1909, it’s always been a family business and the focus on fine food remains strong. Thirty-eight suites are divided between the original building and a modern wing; older rooms have fireplaces, bathtubs and quirky artefacts, while later additions benefit from a vast terrace. Indulge in afternoon teas served beneath glittering chandeliers, or spring forward several decades in the high-tech wellness centre, kitted out with a wave-simulator in the pool and a hypoxicchamber for cross-fit training sessions.Rooms: DKK 2,902 (£332).

Guest bedroom at Hotel Sanders.

Photograph by Hotel Sanders

Best for style-seekers

Embrace the Danish obsession of hygge at Hotel Sanders, where flames flicker in open fireplaces and shelves are stocked with good books. Owned by a former ballet dancer, the venue attracts a local crowd of creatives, who you’ll find chatting away in the low-lit bar. The 54 rooms range from spacious apartments to compact singles inspired by the train cabins of golden-era travel. Book the property’s private wooden boat for sightseeing tours along Nyhavn canal, with its famous row of coloured houses. Alternatively, borrow a bike to explore the neighbourhood, home to the Royal Theatre and the Royal Danish Opera. Rooms: DKK 2,107 (£241).

Inspired by retro music halls, the bar-lounge is decorated with vanity lamps and lightbox readographs.

Photograph by Jesper Rais RaisFoto www.raisfoto.dk

Best for theatregoers

Copenhagen’s answer to the West End, fashionable Frederiksberg has a colourful, theatrical past. Since 1958, the Falkoner Center has hosted a roll call of stage greats; look out for posters of Ella Fitzgerald and Judy Garland hanging from the walls of this 334-room hotel attached to the original venue. Inspired by retro music halls, the bar-lounge atScandic Falkoner is decorated with vanity lamps and lightbox readographs. Rooms are modern and comfortable, and the top floors command exceptional views. Pretty Frederiksberg Gardens is only a 10-minute walk away. Rooms: DKK 787 (£90).

Built in 1912, a few footsteps from Central Station, nostalgia radiates from Villa Copenhagen’s wooden staircases and grand doorways, and the 390 rooms cut an equally fine figure.

Photograph by Stine Christiansen

Best for romantics

Hosting travellers for more than 200 years, the five-star iconHotel D’Angleterre is the city’s finest address, with crystal chandeliers and marble-floored halls. It’s primed for a period drama, although modern touches — such as a glamorous Michelin-star restaurant, superb spa and indoor pool — mean the 92-room property never feels old fashioned. Book a balcony suite overlooking cobbled Kongens Nytorv square and pack your finest wardrobe to sip co*cktails at the high-end bar, Balthazar, which has 160 varieties of Champagne. Rooms: DKK 4,974 (£569).

Book a balcony suite overlooking cobbled Kongens Nytorv square and pack your finest wardrobe to sip co*cktails at the high-end bar, Balthazar, which has 160 varieties of Champagne.

Photograph by xxx

Best for backpackers

Made of a series of stacked metal boxes, there’s something a little unnerving about CityHub Copenhagen, a space- and money-saving hotel aimed at Generation Y. But thanks to clever lighting, the hotel’s functional two-person hubs are inviting, and there’s also an option to book larger rooms for four. Shared bathrooms are gleaming and immaculately clean, and the art-filled, self-service bar is equipped with workstations and cosy seating. A free app connects guests to local hosts, who can share tips on places to visit in cool Vesterbro. That said, it shouldn’t be too hard to find your own haunts in this former red-light district electrified by a thriving nightlife scene. Rooms: DKK 402 (£46).

Made of a series of stacked metal boxes, there’s something a little unnerving about this space- and money-saving hotel aimed at Generation Y.

Photograph by Willemstein Fotografie

Best for urban adventurers

Enjoy the feeling of sleeping in a tent without the risk of bad weather at Urban Camper Hostel, a quirky hostel pitched up in vibrant Nørrebro. Rows of wooden frames have been draped with canvas, each with bunk beds and lockers inside. Choose between four-person dorms, private twins or the option of ‘normal’ rooms with concrete walls. Digital nomads can also book in for longer stays. Although there’s no campfire, a games room with shuffleboard provides a lively communal space. Don’t miss out on the neighbourhood buzz, either: discover late-night kebab shops, arty cafes and cool bars tucked away down side streets. Rooms: DKK 149 (£17), B&B.

Enjoy the feeling of sleeping in a tent without the risk of bad weather at this quirky hostel pitched up in vibrant Nørrebro.

Photograph by Philip Gath & Marie Gantzler

Best for beer buffs

Best for eco-warriors

Best for bargain hunters

This slick, streamlined hostel strikes a healthy balance between style and substance. Once home to the Danish Union of Metalworkers, the building clings to its industrial past: bare concrete walls, steel panels and exposed pipework dominate the design. Despite the steely aesthetic, the place is far from austere and service is anything but mechanical. Dorms (including a women-only option) are fitted with space-age pods, while a selection of small doubles and singles suit those seeking privacy. The hostel’s communal spaces include a games room, cinema and buzzy bar. Rooms: DKK 122 (£14).

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