Where are the best areas to stay in Copenhagen?
For the Copenhagen seen on postcards, cobblestone streets and snug townhouses included, head to Indre By – translated to ‘inner city’. Spy wooden ships from a canal-side cafe along the Nyhavn. Witness the changing of the guards under a noon sun at Amalienborg Palace and step into the home of the Danish parliament at Christiansborg Palace. Stay in this area for Copenhagen hotels close to historic landmarks.
Make your way over Dronning Louses Bridge to reach uber-cool Norrebro. This district is all about diversity and a visit to one of its lip-smacking shawarma shops is on many a foodie’s to-do list. Play chess in the eccentric and undeniably Instagram-worthy Superkilen park, spend a long afternoon alongside locals at Assistens Cemetery, then watch the swan boats bob on the lakes at a waterside restaurant.
Expect the unexpected in Vesterbro. You’ll find cafes, communal spaces and vast warehouses filled with offbeat art in what used to be Copenhagen’s red-light district. The neighbourhood even has its own ‘Little Paris’. The Meatpacking District in Vesterbro has also undergone a transformation and, thanks to the creative mixologists and brave new brewers who moved in when the butchers left, this industrial space is now the place to go for Copenhagen nightlife.
Try life like a local in Osterbro. Touted as one of the greenest neighbourhoods in Copenhagen, this affluent area sees many a serene couple walking hand in hand through its parks and along its promenade. Follow the crowds to spot The Little Mermaid before turning your attention to her sister, the ‘genetically modified’ mermaid, a few hundred metres away. Then lay your towel down on Svanemollen Beach – yes, Copenhagen has a beach.
Cross the city’s inner harbour to reach the collection of islands that make up Christianshavn. Amble along delightful walkways lined with higgledy-piggledy houses inside self-declared independent commune Freetown Christiania, remembering to respect its rules. Climb up the winding spire of Our Saviour's, a baroque church with bells that ring out across the district, and from way above the rooftops decide for yourself whether you think the nearby Opera House looks like a toaster. Take in the magnificent vista as you reflect on your Copenhagen holiday.