How To Plan A City Break In Copenhagen
Where to Stay
71 Nyhaven
71 Nyhaven is set on Copenhagen’s iconic waterfront. Spread across two former warehouses, 130 rooms are decked out with nautical touches, like pinewood beams, cabin staircases and shutter windows. Couples should book the Junior Suite Deluxe which has a living area and modern en-suite bathroom, while those travelling alone will love the Executive Rooms. Breakfast is a hearty affair with a continental buffet and hot and cold options served in the atmospheric warehouse cellar, while dinner can be enjoyed at the hotel’s new Italian restaurant, Il Rosmarino.
Rooms from £189 per night.
Visit 71NyhavnHotel.com
Nobis Hotel Copenhagen
Head downtown to stay at Nobis Hotel, loved for its spacious rooms with ultra-high ceilings and contemporary interiors. Located opposite the beautiful Tivoli Gardens, it’s a great place from which to explore the city. All the bedrooms have great views, whether you’re after a luxury suite with a spacious living area or want to go all out and experience the sleek penthouse, complete with its own courtyard. Book a table at Noi restaurant (housed in a cool 60s annex), then enjoy drinks at the hotel bar or terrace.
Rooms from £310 per night.
Villa Copenhagen
Located in the city’s former head post office, Villa Copenhagen only opened last year and has already established itself as a central hotspot. The building itself has been carefully restored with modern interiors that reflect the best of Scandi design. There are 390 hotel rooms and suites on offer, as well as a restaurant, bar and gym. Head to the roof terrace to relax in the impressive heated pool, order drinks from the bar, and take in great city views.
Room from £150 per night.
Visit VillaCopenhagen.com
Hotel Danmark
Hotel Danmark is a four-star boutique hotel with 89 rooms and suites offering great value for money. Ideal for a weekend, rooms are compact, with everything you need for a comfortable stay – order a fitness kit to your room, indulge in a glass or two during ‘wine hour’, and kick back with room service. The hotel is within walking distance of Denmark’s National Museum and Thorvaldsen Museum, and the on-site restaurant serves great Danish food. There’s also a rooftop bar where you can mingle with other guests, and a slick indoor ‘vineyard’ for late-night drinks.
Rooms from £60 per night.
Visit Brochner-Hotels.com
Hotel Sanders
Loved by travel insiders, Hotel Sanders has some of the most luxe interiors on this list. Located just behind Nyhavn Canal, there are 54 rooms to choose from, ranging from single rooms for solo travellers, to suites which feel particularly homely thanks to cosy fireplaces and free-standing baths. Guests can take advantage of all-day dining in Sanders Kitchen, or head to the impressive Roof Terrace for light dishes and cocktails with a view. Drinks at the award-winning cocktail bar TATA are also a must.
Rooms from £265 per night.
Visit HotelSanders.com
Hotel Skt. Annæ
Hotel Skt. Annæ is the epitome of a chic Scandinavian hotel. Rooms are decked out with Vilhelm Hammershøi artwork and contemporary furniture, and the lobby is a great place to relax with a drink by the fire. Guests can take in city views at the rooftop terrace and hire bikes from the hotel to explore the local neighbourhoods. Skt. Annæ has recently partnered with Arndal spa, just a 10-minute walk away, where there’s a sauna and steam room, a pool to soak in, and a team of therapists to soothe, scrub and beautify you.
Rooms from £105 per night.
Visit MrsAndMrsSmith.com
Nimb Hotel
For something a little different, Nimb Hotel oozes glamour with an interesting mix of Arabic and Scandi design. Guests can stay in a range of suites, each differing in size and luxury – the Balcony Serena Suite with its spacious bathroom is a good choice for a long weekend. Walk around the gardens to visit the Chinese pagodas or hire a boat on the lake, then unwind at the on-site spa, complete with a hammam and relaxation area. At Nimb, the food is the star of the show where you can enjoy fine dining, drinks at the bar, pizza in the casual Italian diner and cocktails and music at the rooftop pool.
Rooms from £350 per night.
Visit Nimb.dk
Copenhagen Admiral
This hotel is set in a beautifully restored 18th-century warehouse that sits quayside in central Copenhagen. A great option for families, choose from bright and airy Waterfront View rooms or Loft Deluxe Suites spread over four floors, all of which have original features like timber posts and exposed walls. Guests can appreciate views towards the Opera House and take a short walk to Nyhavn where you’ll find some of the city’s most famous architecture. Booking a table at the hotel’s restaurant SLAT is a must – the menu changes every few weeks and showcases traditional Danish food made with local produce.
Rooms from £143 per night.
Visit AdmiralHotel.Dk/en
Where To Eat & Drink
Lidkoeb
Lidkoeb has a cosy, relaxed feel with a large Chesterfield sofa to sink into. An ideal spot to warm up near the open fireplace, it’s always busy thanks to their signature cocktails made with whisky and local spirits. A great choice if you're visiting in autumn or winter.
Visit Lidkoeb.dk
Selma
This Michelin-starred restaurant serves traditional Danish food made using quality produce from around the country. Head to its dimly lit dining room for dishes like blackcurrant, herring and sour cream sandwiches; beef tartare with sea lettuce and oysters; scallops with green peas anavocado; and grilled celeriac with buttermilk and truffle.
Visit SelmaCopenhagen.dk
Juno The Bakery
Located in the trendy area of Østerbro, Juno always has a long line of customers waiting outside their bakery each morning. The pastries are seriously good – the buns are light and fluffy, filled with unexpected flavours like cardamom and vanilla yuzu, and there’s an extensive patisserie selection with sweet and savoury options.
Visit @Juno_The_Bakery
Alchemist
If you want to go all out, Alchemist provides an experience to remember. Specialising in immersive fine dining, experiences last four to six hours, where you’ll be served a range of dishes and drinks with wine pairings. Food is created to ‘awaken the senses’, but the menu is kept strictly under wraps, so you’ll be surprised on the night.
Visit Alchemist.dk
Noma
Easily one of the city’s best restaurants, and often ranked amongst the top restaurants in the world, two-Michelin starred Noma only use fresh, local produce to create their seasonal menus. A great spot for a special occasion, September to December showcases Copenhagen’s game and forest season – expect the likes of preserved greens, foraged mushrooms and berries, and lean meat served with rich wine sauces. Be sure to book a table room in the atmospheric dining room well ahead of time to secure a spot.
Visit Noma.Dk
Toldboden Seaside
Stopping by the pretty waterfront area of Nordre Toldbod is a must during a city break. Once you’ve explored the area, stop for lunch at Toldboden Seaside, home to a selection of restaurants. You can dine alfresco or cosy up in the main room to enjoy everything from pan-Asian plates and grilled meats, to traditional Danish seafood dishes and Greek food. Mar Cevicheria serves oysters and seafood, while Haidan does hearty sharing platters of fish.
Visit ToldBoden.com
Apollo Bar
Facing the courtyard of the beautiful Charlottenborg Art Gallery, Apollo is a simple restaurant in the centre of the city. During the day, choose from a range of pastries, sandwiches and coffees, then head there for dinner for light meals, desserts and cocktails.
Visit ApolloBar.dk
La Fontaine
This classic jazz bar in Kompagnistræde is a great night out. There’s an extensive wine and cocktail list to choose from, and the venue holds regular open-mic nights, too.
Visit LaFontaine.dk
Ammas
Open from Tuesday through to Saturday, you’ll find Ammas near Refshalevej’s waterfront. All the food is made using locally sourced ingredients to showcase the best of Danish cuisine. Lunch is a simple affair with dishes like salted mackerel with tamari, confit pollock with smoked roe, and dark chocolate and walnut bread, while the dinner menu includes fish bone noodles with oyster mushrooms and blueberry sorbet with lavender cream.
Visit AmassRestaurant.com
Pompette
Half wine shop, half wine bar, Pompette serves natural wines at great prices. Stop by for a glass or two in the evening and stock up on a few bottles as souvenirs.
Visit Pompette.dk
Barr
This casual spot on Copenhagen’s waterfront serves classic dishes of northern Europe like salted waffles, schnitzel and Danish meatballs alongside selection of traditional beers and wine. The restaurant looks particularly beautiful at night when the light reflects against the water’s edge. Be sure to order the stå pandekage (traditional Danish pancakes) topped with blueberries and ice-cream.
Visit RestaurantBarr.com
Where to Shop
Klassik
The Klassik showroom is a great place for chic Scandi interior inspo. Expect to find a vast selection of furniture, plus plush decorative accents and modern artwork.
Visit En.Klassik.dk
Illums Bolighus
Illum is a beautiful store which showcases home-grown talent, as well as household names, ranging from fashion to beauty and interiors. You could easily spend hours here discovering new brands.
Visit IllumsBolighus.com
Royal Copenhagen Flagship Store
Renowned for their ceramics, Royal Copenhagen make beautiful pieces for the home. Browse their selection of plates, bowls and jugs, all of which can be shipped back to the UK.
Visit RoyalCopenhagen.com
GANNI
GANNI was founded in Copenhagen, so it a trip to the city isn’t complete without popping into one of its stores. There are several to choose form, but one of the best is the branch in Østerbrogade if what you want to shop is new-season pieces.
Visit GANNI.com
Storm
A favourite of designer Anine Bing, this ultra-modern shop stocks a range of cool, elevated brands. A great place to discover Danish brands, browse through womenswear, coffee table magazines and accessories.
Visit StormFashion.dk
Magasin du Nord
To see how the Danish shop, head to department store Magasin du Nord to browse womenswear, beauty, homeware and accessories. The fragrance counter is a must-visit.
Visit Magasin.dk
ARKK Copenhagen
Sneaker heads, this one’s for you. ARKK is one of Copenhagen’s best trainer shops where you’ll find cool styles for both women and men. The new flagship store in Østergade even has its own design area where you can create your own.
Visit ARKKCopenhagen.com
What To Do
Nyhaven Canal
This 17th-century waterfront is home to a colourful array of buildings. One of the most famous spots in the city, there are countless things to do, whether you want to stop for food at a café or restaurant, visit a jazz bar, or see a show at the Royal Danish Playhouse.
Visit VisitCopenhagen.com
Tivoli Gardens
For a fun afternoon, Tivoli Gardens is an amusement park the whole family will love. Alongside its rides and beautiful landscaped garden, it also hosts opera and ballet performances throughout the year.
Visit Tivoli.dk
Louisiana Museum Of Contemporary Art
This gallery is seriously impressive. It’s 20 miles out of town on the Øresundstrait, but is well worth the journey to see a mixture of classical and contemporary art, as well as a fantastic outdoor sculpture park.
Visit Louisianna.dk
Kastrup Sea Bath
Kastrup Søbad, also known as the sea bath, is one of Copenhagen’s best-kept secrets and an architectural gem. A great spot for wild swimming, take a dip in the sea when the weather’s good, before drying off in the changing rooms.
Visit VisitCopenhagen.com
Kunsthal Charlottenborg
Kunsthal Charlottenborg is one of the largest exhibition spaces for contemporary art in Europe. It hosts regular exhibitions from artists from around the world, as well as weekly events and special performances – plus, it has a lovely courtyard and bookshop.
Visit KunsthalCharlottenborg.dk
Museum Of Copenhagen
This museum displays a vast selection of Danish objects and artefacts dating back to the 12th century. A must for history buffs, you can walk around the museum in around 30 minutes to see interactive displays and short films.
Visit VisitCopenhagen.com
Rosenberg Castle
Rosenborg Castle is located in the centre of Copenhagen. Originally built in 1607, it houses over 400 years of history of Danish kings and queens. Today, visitors can take a tour to see its grand interiors and walk around the beautiful landscaped gardens.
Visit KongernesSamling.dk
Botanical Garden & Torvehallerne
Copenhagen has a beautiful botanical garden which covers 10 hectares of land in the city centre. Walk through the 27 greenhouses, which date back to 1874, then stop for a refreshment at the café.
Visit Copenhagen.com
SMK – The National Gallery Of Denmark
This is the country’s largest museum and you could easily spend a whole day here, walking around the exhibitions and extensive collections of over 26,000 pieces. Spanning more than 700 years of art, the collection tells the story of how Denmark has changed through the ages – a must-visit for all.
Visit SMK.dk
*DISCLAIMER: Travel restrictions are changing daily, so please check the latest government advice and entry requirements to Denmark before you book anything. Visit Gov.uk for more information
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