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The Independent
07-02-2025
- The Independent
The best hotels in Copenhagen for family-friendly city breaks
Renowned for being a family-friendly place to live and a delightful city to bring up kids, Copenhagen is a good bet for a family holiday, too. The country that brought us Lego has a quieter pace of life than many other countries, and has a playful personality, whether that's in its safe cycle lanes, kerbside mini trampolines or via trail of giant wooden trolls – really. Family-friendly hotels are relatively easy to find in the city, but bear in mind that smaller historic hotels don't traditionally have the largest rooms – depending on your family set up, you might be better off booking an apartment or two connecting rooms – and bathrooms typically only feature showers. There's plenty of choice for those with babies and young children and you'll be welcome everywhere. There's not really a bad location in the city if you're visiting with kids; bear in mind that when bike rental is mentioned, it usually only means adult bikes. If you want to rent kids bikes or a cargo bike, which is a very fun way to get around, ask if it can be arranged. Here are the best places to stay in Copenhagen for families. The best family-friends hotels in Copenhagen 1. Nimb Hotel This iconic five-star hotel opens on to Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen 's historic theme park, where peacocks strut about like they own the place. Staying here will make you feel like you do, too. Nimb guests can ride roller coasters without having to queue before and after hours, in just one of the many VIP perks available. Its exquisite 38 rooms and suites are the height of luxury, decorated with antiques and sumptuous fabrics, Danish design lighting and four poster beds, and its service level is exceptional throughout. If money is no object, look no further. The pampering experience for parents is superb – a rooftop pool plus a divine subterranean spa and the best concierge team in town on hand for your every whim. It's pretty special for kids, too: there's a child-ready mini bar, a gift for kids on arrival, kid-friendly body care products and even bedtime stories on demand. Book babysitting so you can enjoy a night out without the kids, or arrange a personal shopping trip around the city for your teens. The attention to detail is extraordinary and you won't want to leave. 2. 25Hours Hotel Indre By High energy is the vibe at 25Hours Hotel Indre By, which has bags of colour and character and isn't your typical family hotel. It's designed for hip, attitude-rich visitors who want to stay somewhere with personality – and it's got that in spades: if you happen to have kids with you, well, why not just come along for the ride? In a 19th century building steps from the Round Tower in the heart of old Copenhagen, it's especially good for those with teens, with shopping right outside and a vinyl room they can listen to music in. The hotel has multiple restaurants and offers bike rental. Book a single room for your teen and a double for yourselves, and give them space. For those with babies or toddlers, the hotel's large, extra large and gigantic rooms have space for a cot and myriad design tchotchkes, colour and patterns to keep them stimulated. Toddlers can wear themselves up running up the Round Tower's wide and flat paved path. 3. Kanalhuset For stylish families who want to feel like a local during their stay, Kanalhuset fits the bill. It's fine for those with babies (though it may be loud at night, given its bar and communal dining room), and best for those with older kids or teens as there's not a lot of room for noisy toddlers to run around. A historic house dating to 1754 in glorious Christianshavn overlooking a canal, it has 12 boutique bedrooms in the well-lit basement, some sleeping up to five, and 14 larger apartments on the upper floors with a kitchenette, living room and dining area. Decor throughout has a boutique, reclaimed-retro vibe: pieces come from flea markets, private collections and auctions and include graphic print wall hangings and velvet-upholstered sofas. After a day out, relax in the lounge and drink hot chocolate. It's decidedly low-tech, with no lift and few mod cons. 4. Scandic Kødbyen A rule of thumb for Scandinavia: if you're looking for a budget stay, think Scandic. The same goes if you're looking for a good-value family stay. The hotel chain is all over the region – there are 13 Scandics in Copenhagen itself – and offers reliable hotels that welcome families. While its Kødbyen branch is styled for nightlife lovers and situated next to the Meatpacking District, a hub of bars and restaurants, it's pretty good for families as well, a stroll from the excellent Skydebanehaven playground, John's Hot Dog Deli, and DGI swimming pool and sports centre. The stylish master suites sleep up to four with a loft bedroom for kids; those age 12 and under stay for free (as with all Scandic hotels), and there's a discount if you book a separate room next door for your teen. Best for the kids, breakfast always includes pancakes. 5. Rye115 Hotel This family-run boutique hotel will make you feel at home, with just 20 rooms and decor sourced from the best vintage furniture stores in the Nordics. It's an intimate affair and is set up well for families, with beautiful colour-themed double, triple and family rooms with stucco ceilings and tastefully-striped wallpaper. One thing to note: the hotel has shared bathrooms, and toilets, rather than en suites. It's in a quiet location, a couple of streets from the green playgrounds and expansive park at Fælledparken, as well as the Copenhagen Lakes and Trianglen Metro Station, which can take you everywhere in the city. It's a well-loved hotel, by its guests and owners alike, and you can expect to eat organic bread for breakfast and pick up tips on the best places to go from the hosts. 6. Villa Copenhagen One of the city's chicest big hotels, Villa Copenhagen's rooms are inspired by grand Copenhagen residences and are located in the city's old post office. It's an impressive building, with a huge bright lobby and elegant, thoughtfully decorated rooms in grey and neutral tones. Eco-luxury is the watchword, and the hotel has a strong commitment to sustainability. It's not your typical brightly coloured, energetic kid-friendly hotel, and perhaps that's no bad thing. The calming and historic vibe sets the scene for a relaxing family stay; family rooms sleep one adult and one child; for larger families, book an extra room. There's a small rooftop swimming pool and a brasserie, bakery and courtyard bar for hungry tummies, and the city's best family attractions, from Tivoli Gardens to boat trips and the National Museum, are all an easy walk away. 7. STAY Bryggen For a family stay, it can be useful to have a bit more space; Copenhagen's hotels aren't renowned for offering much in the way of cat-swinging options. STAY Bryggen is one of four designer apart-hotels in the city that works for families with one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom options to suit the configuration of most families. Their design apartments in Islands Brygge are close to the green space of Amager Fælled as well as the harbour swimming pools, and offer easy access by bike or metro to the heart of the old town too. Expect to find minimalist chic and design furniture from the likes of Hay and Vitra (so maybe it's not the right place for an energetic toddler) as well as a fully-equipped kitchen with KitchenAid and Siemens appliances. There's a three-night minimum stay, and it's great for those travelling with older kids, babies or grandparents. 8. Copenhagen Strand There are a lot of design-led hotels in Copenhagen with tasteful colours and mid-century furniture. What is hard to find is a hotel with trampolines right outside the door for kids to bounce out their energy on to go with your Danish-style stay. Copenhagen Strand is right on the harbourside path beside a set of public trampolines (ideal for those with toddler energy) and a stroll from the boat tour dock at Nyhavn. Their elegant small, standard and superior family rooms, styled with a Nordic nautical navy, blue and white colour scheme, are set up as two connected rooms, and can sleep up to four. It's a fairly grown-up hotel inside – no play area and a kind of muted atmosphere – but it's well located for exploring the city and quiet at night. 9. Tivoli Hotel Tivoli Hotel isn't in Tivoli Gardens, or even all that close to it, but it is one of the city's most family-focused hotels. It's large and modern – with 679 rooms – and its biggest draw for families is its pool, something of a rarity in Copenhagen. Ask for a family room, set up for three to five guests with extra beds and pull out sofas, or a connecting room. It's also got a playroom with family films on the weekends, an outdoor playground and a rooftop garden, plus kid-pleasing meals like burgers and pasta on its brasserie menu. Depending on the time of year, the team puts on special events for families, with bouncy castles and ping pong in the winter, and a large summer playland playspace in the summer. 10. Hotel 9 små hjem For those looking for a stay in a quiet family-orientated neighbourhood that will make you feel like a local, Hotel 9 små hjem (the name means 'small home') is a bit of a find. The apart-hotel in chi-chi Østerbro has a range of simple minimalist-designed apartments from studios for one to two guests through to four-room apartments for up to six. It's walking distance from the excellent playgrounds at Fælledparken, and you can join local parents wheeling their pushchairs and prams around the Copenhagen Lakes on a morning walk. 11. Wake Up Copenhagen For families on a budget, Wake Up Copenhagen's Bernstorffsgade hotel is a reliable option. It is a towering concrete building with 585 rooms set over 11 floors, located between the harbour and central station, right down the street from the family fun palace of Tivoli Gardens and the many food options available at Tivoli Food Hall (especially good for picky eaters). Rooms are simple, white and clean, with graphic design-style curtains giving a little pop of colour, and while they are not so large that you'd want to lounge around in them all day, at these prices and with this location, it doesn't matter so much. As well as double rooms, triple and family rooms (sleeping four), are available; you can also rent bikes and there is a basic 24-hour cafe in the lobby. 12. Danhostel CPH City This youth hostel is on one of the city's busiest roads, but it's also steps from the harbour and at a pocket-friendly price. It's a big hostel – 192 rooms – and works well if you're travelling as a family, offering triples, four bed rooms, small apartments and family rooms. All rooms have a private bathroom and cots are also available to rent; the hostel also has a kitchen and laundry room. Its best kept secret is the four private apartments on the 17th floor, all blonde wood and minimalist style, which look out over the harbour and provide an excellent base for a family in the city, on a budget or not. Walk over the bridge to find the city's best harbour swimming pool, complete with two kids pools, in the summer. FAQs What is the best area to stay in Copenhagen? There are several neighbourhoods to choose from to fit the vibe of any traveller. One of the coolest neighbourhoods is the meat-packing district Vesterbro, which is popular among younger visitors and home to live music venues, vintage stores and trendy drinking holes. Over in Refshaleoen, the former industrial area and shipyard, the neighbourhood has been transformed into a vibrant patchwork of markets, bars and artist's studios. The area of Nørrebro provides a buzzing street culture, Østerbro is an elegant part of town full of greenery and Frederiksberg, full of royal history, is sophisticated and upmarket. What is the currency in Copenhagen? Copenhagen uses the Danish krone. Where to shop in Copenhagen Strøget is one of the city's most notable streets, with the department store Illum plus contemporary furniture and design store HAY, alongside some other recognisable high street shops. Check out the fashionable Pilestræde, as well as Blågårdsgade, Jægersborggade and Elmegade, for boutique and vintage shopping. What is Copenhagen most famous for? One of Copenhagen's best-known landmarks is the Little Mermaid Statue on the banks of the Langelinie promenade, based on the 1827 fairy tale of the same name by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, who lived most of his life in the city. Tivoli Gardens, one of the world's oldest amusement parks, is also a major attraction, as well as Freetown Christiania, a hippie settlement founded in 1971 and occupied by counter-culture residents. Where to eat and drink in Copenhagen Copenhagen has an impressive coffee bar and bakery reputation. Some of the best include The Coffee Collective, Andersen & Maillard, Juno, Hart, Lille and Meyers Bageri. Smørrebrød (an open-faced sandwich), Danish hot dogs and natural wine are popular in the city. If you can't decide on dinner, the famous Reffen street food market, the largest of its kind in the Nordics, offers a wide range of choices to tuck into while overlooking the waterfront.
The Independent
05-02-2025
- The Independent
The best luxury hotels in Copenhagen for stylish interior design and excellent service
In Copenhagen, the term 'luxury' has a different definition. Denmark is an extremely equality-driven place, where people find privilege a bit distasteful and open displays of wealth in bad form. There's even an unofficial cultural rule about it, called Janteloven, which criticises anyone who thinks that they're better than anyone else. So, when it comes to swanky hotels, don't expect too much in the obvious glitz and glam category: luxury in these parts is understated rather than showy. The very best of the city's luxury hotels are supremely tasteful, with excellent service, and an approach that prioritises your comfort, making you feel at home. They focus on the little things that Danes hold dear: minimalist style (so no gold taps), a thoughtful approach, exquisite details and a sense of hygge. The best of the city's luxury hotels make you feel special and are set in locations where you're in the heart of the action and able to experience the very best of the city. The best luxury hotels in Copenhagen 1. Nimb Hotel The best of the best that the city has to offer is at Nimb, the fairytale-like faux castle in Tivoli Gardens whose 38 divine rooms and suites include behind the scenes and out of hours access to the historic theme park. Nothing is too much trouble here; rooms and suites are exquisitely designed with antiques and the best of the best Danish design, and service is the best in town. A rooftop pool, underground spa and tea room serving lavish cream teas in the afternoon and excellent champagne in the evening rounds it off. 2. Hotel Sanders Comfort is a watchword at Sanders, an intimate boutique hotel just off the city centre where comfy sofas and an excellent bar attract the best of the city's well heeled locals. There's an exclusive air to the hotel, whose 54 luxurious rooms are decked out in muted browns, golds and creams with rattan and bamboo touches, and were inspired by the golden age of train travel. The hotel is owned by a former ballet dancer, Alexander Kølpin, and it's renowned as one of the classiest joints in town. Its bar, Tata, was inspired by theatre bars and regularly wins awards for its cocktails. 3. Nobis Hotel Copenhagen In the city's former music academy, this beautifully-restored building is full of culture and history. Rooms are huge with high ceilings, four poster beds and marble bathrooms; there's a spa in the basement and apartments to rent on the upper floors for anyone staying longer in the city. Being close to Tivoli Gardens, where international touring musicians play in the summer, it's hosted a fair few celebrity guests. All the furniture is hand-picked with a heritage feel; expect buttery sofas in the lounges, beautifully handcrafted desks in the bedrooms and an organic bath bomb beside your egg-shaped tub in the bathroom. A compact spa in the basement offers a Danish-style cold water plunge without having to go to the harbour; the courtyard garden hosts summer drinks events and there's a Nordic restaurant in the basement. The vast breakfast buffet is fantastic. 4. Audo Copenhagen hotel The northern Copenhagen harbourside district of Nordhavn is becoming renowned for its modern architecture and liveability. On Århusgade, the area's buzziest street, The Audo is part design and furniture showroom, part exhibition space and part hotel. Its suites and double rooms are tastefully, romantically designed, at least by Copenhagen standards, and feel like a retreat. All of them have a fridge, mini bar and coffee machine, as well as the most beautiful curated art and furniture collections, terracotta walls, sloping ceilings reflecting the historic building, and collections of art books to browse. Bike rental is on offer and there's a cafe on the ground floor but there's little else in terms of services (though they do provide a curated city guide); it's sold as a home-from-home style apartment stay. 5. d'Angleterre hotel You can't talk about luxury in Copenhagen without mentioning d'Angleterre, the grande dame of the city's hotels. Dominating one side of Kongens Nytorv, one of the city's main squares, it wouldn't look out of place in Paris with its neoclassical architecture and in many ways, looks more like a palace than the King's residence at Amalienborg. Inside, it is a classic five star hotel, very upmarket and rather formal. Rooms have chandeliers, sumptuous fabrics and an elevated, exclusive air; the Royal Suite has one of the largest balconies in the city, overlooking the square. Marchal, the hotel restaurant, serves modern French with a Nordic touch and has a Michelin star; the hotel also has an exclusive spa with an Asia-meets-Nordic charm. 6. Hotel Kong Arthur The setting for a superlative Copenhagen experience, Kong Arthur is hidden off a street by the Copenhagen lakes and feels like a special hideaway. While they sell it as a 'live like a local' experience, it feels more elevated than that, with muted colours on the walls, a superb art collection, parquet floors, beautiful furniture and a minimalist touch. The lobby-lounge has a welcoming fireplace and a modern meets classic feel; the stand out rooms are the loft apartments which include a living room as well as a bedroom. There's a spa next door offering massages and beauty treatments, and Copenhagen's popular food market, Torvehallerne, is just down the street. 7. The Darling hotel This one is straight out of the little black book of design-loving travellers: The Darling is in prime location on Amagertorv in the historical centre of Copenhagen and offers two perfectly appointed apartments for rent. Choose from The Classic or The Grand – each sleeping two – where you can enjoy the best location in town twinned with the absolute pinnacle of Danish design, with pieces from Arne Jacobsen and Finn Juhl as well as an art collection hand selected from local galleries and a kitchen that you will drool over. It's like staying at the house of your most cultured and tasteful design-loving friend – and everything, right down to the wallpaper, can be bought as a souvenir. Book a private chef for an exquisite meal to remember, or just wander down the street to one of the city's many excellent restaurants. 8. The Krane hotel Another of Copenhagen's unique one-roomed hotels, The Krane is a piece of maritime history, located on the harbour beside a marina in one of the city's newest neighbourhoods, Nordhavn. You've guessed it: it used to be a crane, and it's been converted into a sweet and quirky luxury stay for two, with all black furniture, black walls and uplifting views of the sea and sky. A stay here includes access to an exclusive spa, concierge team, plus breakfast, drinks and snacks. Guests are met from the airport; nothing is too much trouble. It's a thoroughly unique experience. 9. Radisson Collection Royal Hotel The world's first design hotel, Radisson Collection Royal Hotel is a bold 1960s tower down the street from Copenhagen's central station, emblazoned with SAS on the top. It was designed by Arne Jacobsen, the city's famed completist architect, who attended to every detail from the architecture to the door handles and ash trays. You can still see his historic designs if you ask the concierge: room 606 has been preserved as a time capsule, complete with graphic print bedlinen and blue-green colours, referencing the city's copper rooftops. The hotel's modern day bedrooms have a more modern Nordic style, with wood panelled walls and beige colours; the Panorama Suite at the very top is the best of the best, with views from all four walls over the city, parquet flooring and Arne Jacobsen's famous mid century modern furniture throughout. 10. NH Collection Copenhagen hotel The city's newest five star hotel is also perched on the harbour, this time in historic Christianshavn, and offers a spoiling experience. Enter up the escalators to a darkly-lit lobby and lounge area, and then relax in an opulent hotel room decorated in gold, dark chocolate and chartreuse. It's an elegant and professional business hotel with 394 rooms, and has hosted royalty, dignitaries and politicians including Catherine, Princess of Wales, thanks to its location close to the Danish parliament. The hotel's stand-out feature is its rooftop bar ROOF, which offers views across the whole of the harbourside served with cocktails, mocktails and superlative snacks. 11. Copenhagen Marriott Hotel While many of Copenhagen's historic boutique hotels struggle to give their guests much space, that's certainly not true of the Marriott. A five-star experience right on the harbour in a quiet, largely business-focused part of town, it's a modern hotel offering huge rooms and vast floor-to-ceiling windows with sea views. The double height lobby is dazzling on a good day, looking out to a harbourside walk and the yellow harbour ferry route. Inside, expect to find modern Nordic rooms with plenty of blonde wood and blue hues, along with an American-style grill restaurant, sauna, steam room and fitness centre. Just along the harbourside from the hotel at Kalvebod Byrgge you can watch daring kids jump off high platforms in summer, or join in with a little harbour swimming yourself. FAQs What is the currency in Copenhagen? Copenhagen uses the Danish krone. Where to shop in Copenhagen Strøget is one of the city's most notable streets, with the department store Illum plus contemporary furniture and design store HAY, alongside some other recognisable high street shops. Check out the fashionable Pilestræde, as well as Blågårdsgade, Jægersborggade and Elmegade, for boutique and vintage shopping. What is Copenhagen most famous for? One of Copenhagen's best-known landmarks is the Little Mermaid Statue on the banks of the Langelinie promenade, based on the 1827 fairy tale of the same name by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, who lived most of his life in the city. Tivoli Gardens, one of the world's oldest amusement parks, is also a major attraction, as well as Freetown Christiania, a hippie settlement founded in 1971 and occupied by counter-culture residents. Where to eat and drink in Copenhagen Copenhagen has an impressive coffee bar and bakery reputation. Some of the best include The Coffee Collective, Andersen & Maillard, Juno, Hart, Lille and Meyers Bageri. Smørrebrød (an open-faced sandwich), Danish hot dogs and natural wine are popular in the city. If you can't decide on dinner, the famous Reffen street food market, the largest of its kind in the Nordics, offers a wide range of choices to tuck into while overlooking the waterfront.
