Is Copenhagen easy to get around?

Yes, Copenhagen is a compact city and very easy to get around. If you stay in or near the city centre, you can walk to many major attractions. The metro and buses are frequent and efficient, with plenty of stations around the city and short journeys between the suburbs and Indre By.

What is the best area to stay in Copenhagen for first-time visitors?

Indre By, the city centre, is the best area to stay in Copenhagen if it is your first visit. You will be close to Nyhavn, Strøget, Rosenborg Castle, the Round Tower and countless cafés and bakeries. Everything is very walkable and you are never far from a metro station, making it ideal for sightseeing and shorter trips.

Where should I stay in Copenhagen for nightlife and trendy cafés?

Vesterbro is one of the best areas to stay in Copenhagen for nightlife, trendy cafés and an arty vibe. The neighbourhood is full of independent cafés, craft beer bars, street food markets and some of the city’s best restaurants, while still being close to the city centre by foot or metro.

Which area is best for a local, family-friendly vibe in Copenhagen?

Østerbro is a great choice if you want a quiet, family-friendly area with lots of green space. It has calm residential streets, Copenhagen’s largest park Fælledparken, and popular spots like Juno the bakery and Atelier September. It offers a relaxed local feel while still being well connected to the city centre by metro and bus.

Where should I stay in Copenhagen to be close to both the city centre and the airport?

Amager East is ideal if you want easy access to both Copenhagen city centre and the airport. It is mostly residential but has plenty of local cafés, shops and parks, and direct metro connections. For example, Go Hotel City in Amager East is about 7 minutes from the city centre and 6 minutes from Copenhagen Airport on the metro.

What is the best area to stay in Copenhagen on a budget?

If you are travelling on a budget, staying slightly outside the very centre in neighbourhoods like Vesterbro, Nørrebro, Østerbro or Amager East can give you better value for money while still being close to the main sights. These areas offer a mix of affordable hotels, hostels and aparthotels with easy public transport connections to Indre By.

Where to Stay in Copenhagen: Best Areas & Hotels

Written by Chloe Butcher after visiting in person, using our own photos and notes. This post may contain affiliate links — if you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we research

Copenhagen is compact, but the neighbourhood still changes the feel of the trip — canal-side Indre By is a different week from beachy Østerbro or design-y Vesterbro.

This is a straight area breakdown with hotel picks for each.

A Quick Overview of Copenhagen

As I mentioned in the introduction, Copenhagen is a compact city and is very easy to get around via walking, the metro or buses.

view of colourful buildings in Copenhagen

If you stay within the city centre, you'll be able to walk to most attractions as it's such a compact area.

If you stay in a suburb just outside, it's only a short metro ride into the city centre. There are plenty of metro stations all around the city and regular trains every couple of minutes.

Best for First-Timers & Sightseeing: Indre By (City Centre)

If it’s your first time visiting Copenhagen, Indre By is the most convenient place to stay. This is the heart of the city, where you'll find Nyhavn’s colourful harbour, Strøget’s shopping streets, Rosenborg Castle, the Round Tower and countless cafés, bakeries and cosy side streets.

colourful buildings lined up along canal with boats, Nyhaven, Copenhagen

Everything is walkable and you’ll never be far from a metro station, so it's incredibly easy to explore the rest of the city too.

It’s the ideal base if you want to be close to all the major attractions, stay somewhere atmospheric, or only have a few days in Copenhagen and don’t want to spend time commuting.

The trade-off is that hotels here to be more expensive and the area can feel busy, especially around Nyhavn - but for convenience, it doesn’t get better.

Where to stay in Indre By:

Manon Les Suites Guldsmeden (luxury) - tropical-inspired boutique hotel with a stunning indoor pool and beautiful rooms.
25hours Hotel Paper Island (mid-range) - design-focused hotel with harbour views and great food.
Generator Copenhagen (budget) - social, budget-friendly hostel with private rooms available and a central location.

Best for nightlife, trendy cafés & an arty vibe: Vesterbro

Vesterbro is one of Copenhagen’s coolest neighbourhoods, it's a former working-class district and is now lively and full of personality. It’s full of independent cafés, craft beer bars, vintage shops, street food markets and some of the city’s best restaurants.

Despite its lively atmosphere, Vesterbro still feels local and relaxed once you move away from the main streets.

It’s a great choice if you want a neighbourhood with character and lots happening right on your doorstep, while still being a short walk or metro ride from the city centre.

Where to stay in Vesterbro:

NH Copenhagen Grand Joanne (luxury) - modern, stylish hotel with beautiful rooms and excellent amenities.
CPH Hotel (mid-range) - modern, comfortable and well-located with easy access to the city centre and local cafés.
CityHub Copenhagen (budget) - comfortable and unique hostel with compact pods and social spaces.

Best for cool, trendy vibes and bars - Nørrebro

Nørrebro is a creative and multicultural neighbourhood, with a cool and trendy vibe. It's packed with bars, live music venues, vegan eateries, eco shops, vintage stores and affordable restaurants.

pink trees and lines on pavement in copenhagen

It’s the perfect area for anyone who wants to experience the city like a local, enjoy nightlife and explore a neighbourhood full of character.

Where to stay in Nørrebro:

Numa Copenhagen Nørrebro (mid-range) - modern, stylish aparthotel with bright, roomy studios.
Hotel Nora Copenhagen (budget) - cosy, affordable hotel in a convenient location, perfect for exploring Nørrebro’s lively streets.

Best for families, green spaces & relaxed local life - Østerbro

Østerbro is one of Copenhagen’s greenest boroughs, known for its calm residential streets and the city’s largest park, Fælledparken. It’s very family-friendly while still offering excellent brunch spots, cafés and bakeries.

You'll find some of Copenhagens most popular spots like Juno the bakery and Atelier September!

Østerbro gives you a taste of local life away from the busy tourist areas but remains well connected to the city centre by metro and bus, so its perfect for anyone looking for a quiet spot to base themselves.

Where to stay in Østerbro:

Audo Boutique Hotel (luxury) - boutique hotel with stylish rooms, a calm atmosphere and easy access to parks and local cafés.
Fairfield by Marriott Copenhagen Nordhavn (mid-range) - modern, comfortable hotel right by the water.
Bob W Copenhagen Østerbro (mid-range) - relaxed, well-designed studios that are great for longer stays.

Best for quiet local vibe and airport access - Amager East

Amager East is a practical and convenient area if you want to be close to both the city centre and the airport. It's mostly a residential neighbourhood, but still has lots of local cafés, shops and parks - it's ideal if you don't mind being slightly outside the centre but still want direct metro access.

We stayed at Go Hotel City in Amager East, which turned out to be a great base. It’s just 7 minutes to the city centre and 6 minutes to Copenhagen Airport on the metro, so it was incredibly convenient for sightseeing and a late arrival.

The hotel was clean, modern and comfortable - but it was definitely more on the budget side, with small compact rooms and no luxuries such as a kettle or coffee machine.

Best Hotels in Amager East:

Dahei Apartment Hotel (luxury) - colourful, stylish studio apartments with full amenities in a peaceful, convenient location.
CPH Studio Hotel (mid-range) - comfortable hotel with studio rooms, a restaurant and on-site bar, and close to the metro.
Go Hotel City (budget) - simple, modern hotel on a quiet residential street with excellent metro connections.

Final Thoughts

Overall, choosing a place to stay in Copenhagen really comes down to what you’re after. If it’s your first visit and you have a bigger budget, the city centre is the best choice.

woman standing infront of colourful buildings and twinkling lights, Nyhaven in copenhagen

If you don't mind being just outside of the city centre or you're on a slightly tighter budget and want more for your money, a neighbourhood like Vesterbro, Østerbro or Nørrebro would be perfect.

Personally, we would choose either the city centre, Vesterbro or Nørrebro on our next visit, so that we could be in the middle of all the cafes, bars and attractions!

👋 We hope that you found this guide helpful! Before you go - don't forget to read our other Copenhagen travel guides for more tips, suggestions & advice.

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