Exploring Copenhagen’s Neighborhoods: Where to Stay and Rent
Sprawling across a series of coastal islands, Copenhagen is one of Scandinavia’s coolest cities, with cutting-edge museums, beautiful parks, and a trend-setting dining scene. It not only offers a great introduction to Danish culture but serves as a convenient base for exploring nearby towns and villages. With so much to see and do in the Danish capital, it’s a destination that can be visited again and again, each time staying in a different part of the city.
In this guide, we’ll share with you 6 of the best neighborhoods to stay in during your Copenhagen vacation, whether you’re a first-timer or a regular visitor. A wide range of accommodation can be found via holiday rental sites such as Rentola Copenhagen, which conveniently connects hosts and travelers. Whether you’re after a design-driven apartment in the heart of Indre By, a family-friendly home in Østerbro, or a bohemian base in Christianshavn, Copenhagen offers something for all tastes.
Indre By
If it’s your first time in Copenhagen, then you can’t go past staying in Indre By, which lies at the very heart of the Danish capital. It’s home to many of the city’s big-ticket attractions, including the Amalienborg Palace (home to the royal family) and the Danish Parliament, as well as the picturesque parklands of Rosenborg Castle.
You can spend your days strolling the cobblestone streets and exploring the glasshouses of the Copenhagen Botanical Garden, then get your thrills on the historic rides of the Tivoli Gardens, which are beautifully illuminated at night. Indre By is also home to Copenhagen’s main shopping area of Strøget where you’ll find designer stores, eclectic cafes, and globally-inspired restaurants.
Østerbro
Roughly translated as “Eastern Bridge”, this affluent neighborhood hugs the waterfront to the north of Indre By and is a popular place for families to stay. It’s home to the Little Mermaid statue by Edvard Eriksen (one of Copenhagen’s most famous landmarks), as well as the sprawling green space of Faelledparken. In the summer months, you can rent a boat to explore one of the three lakes that separate Østerbro from Indre By.
While Østerbro is a great place for walking, cycling, and picnicking, it’s also home to the Experimentarium, a hands-on science and tech museum that kids will love. Opposite Østerbro Station is Den Frie Udstilling, a contemporary arts center founded in 1891 by artists protesting against the Royal Danish Academy of Art. On the weekend, you can head to the Remisen Flea Market to fossick for vintage clothing, books, and antiques.
Nørrebro
To the west of Østerbro is Nørrebro, a multicultural neighborhood that’s popular with creatives. While it doesn’t have many big-name attractions, it makes up for it with globally-inspired eateries, independent stores, and a laid-back lifestyle. If you’re staying in Nørrebro, you’re never far from great bars and trendy cafes, with many tucked away on the warren of side streets that radiate from the main thoroughfare of Nørrebrogade.
Nørrebro is the kind of neighborhood that’s best explored on foot while enjoying live music and street performances along the way. Foodies should make a beeline for Jægersborggade where you’ll find high-end restaurants and some of the best coffee in Copenhagen. Its gourmet establishments share the strip with one-of-a-kind clothing stores, artisan jewelers, and stores selling organic produce.
Vesterbro
Southwest of Indre By is Copenhagen’s former red-light district, which has transformed into one of the city’s most sought-after areas to live and stay. While it has retained some of its gritty vibes, the neighborhood has been refined slightly with the opening of art galleries, studios, and cafes in its warehouse buildings. Interior design stores cluster around Istedgade Street and Sønder Boulevard, offering plenty of inspiration if you are looking to add some Scandinavian style to your home.
Vesterbro’s proximity to the Meatpacking District makes it particularly popular with young professionals, with some of Copenhagen’s best bars and nightclubs on its doorstep. Here you’ll also find great seafood restaurants, craft beer breweries, and hip cocktail bars where you can mingle with the locals. Photographers shouldn’t miss the Fotografisk Center where some of Denmark’s best are represented.
Frederiksberg
If you continue heading west from Vesterbro, you’ll arrive in Frederiksberg, a prosperous residential area that’s home to the Copenhagen Zoo within expansive Frederiksberg Park. This 65-hectare green space encompasses English-style landscaped gardens, leafy walking trails, and man made canals, which can be explored by rowboat in the warmer months. Perched atop a hill overlooking the park is Frederiksberg Palace, an Italian Baroque-style mansion with opulently decorated rooms that can be visited on guided tours.
If you like things a little out of the ordinary, don’t miss Cisternerne, a subterranean art space that once held Copenhagen’s water supply. Also nearby is the Bakkehuset, a historic residence that has links to some of the most famous intellectuals of the Danish Golden Age. At the end of the day, you can dine at one of Frederiksberg’s romantic bistros, then enjoy an after-dinner drink at the neighborhood’s buzzing bars.
Christianshavn
While it’s just a stone’s throw from the city center, this collection of small islands has a distinctly different atmosphere from the rest of Copenhagen. Artificially created in the 17th century as a retreat for wealthy merchants, Christianshavn has transformed into a bohemian district that beats to its own drum. One of the neighborhood’s biggest appeals is that it is largely car-free, with walking and cycling the main means of getting around.
You can learn about Denmark’s shipbuilding industry at the B&W Museum and admire the serpentine spire of the Church of Our Saviour before watching the world go by from the cafes lining Wilders Square. Christianshavn is also home to one of the world’s most expensive opera houses, Det Kongelige Teater, where performances by touring companies take place. If you’re staying in the area, don’t miss a visit to the independent enclave of Freetown Christiania, an intentional community with mural-adorned buildings and a penchant for weekend jam sessions.