Where to Stay in Vesterbro, Copenhagen: The Best Hotels from Budget to Luxury

Our first home in Copenhagen

Our first apartment together was in Vesterbro, where we lived from 2012-2020, so the neighbourhood is very much one we hold dear to our hearts.

Back in the day, Vesterbro used to be dirty and poor; now it’s a prime example of gentrification with organic bakeries, third-wave coffee shops, fancy bars, local breweries, luxury vintage clothing and trendy restaurants everywhere.

Although it’s now one of Copenhagen’s most popular places to live with kids, there’s still a kind of raw atmosphere in Vesterbro – especially close to the central station; a small area that can best be described as Copenhagen’s wild west.

The rest of the neighbourhood is a nice mix of residential and commercial with many small shops, cafés and hidden squares with green spots and playgrounds.

In our opinion, Vesterbro really is the best place to stay in Copenhagen where you both get to live as a local and still have all of the city in easy grasp.

Our favourites: Where to stay in Vesterbro

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• Ultra-luxury: Nimb Hotel – Fairytale luxury meets Nordic chic at this world-class boutique retreat inside Tivoli Gardens.
• Luxury: Radisson Collection Royal Hotel – Iconic Danish design and monochrome 1960s chic in what was once Copenhagen’s tallest skyscraper.
• Value for money: Coco Hotel – Paris meets Copenhagen with a sustainable twist. The best hotel in Scandinavia (says Travel+Leisure).
• Budget: Urban House Copenhagen by MEININGER – Sleep in a cheap dorm room or standard room just steps away from the central station in the former red-light district.

Search for the cheapest and best hotels in Vesterbro here (adlink).

Vesterbro map

Where and what is Vesterbro? Vesterbro is a vibrant, centrally located district in Copenhagen, Denmark, just west of the city centre.

The most interesting parts of Vesterbro are the two main streets of Vesterbrogade and Istedgade as well as The Meatpacking District (Kødbyen) and Enghave Plads. Copenhagen Central Station (Hovedbanegården or København H) is also located in Vesterbro.

Clockwise, Vesterbro borders the southernmost of The Lakes (Sankt Jørgens Sø), Tivoli, the canal (with Islands Brygge and Amager on the opposite side), Sydhavn, Valby and Frederiksberg.

Who should stay in Vesterbro?

The way we see it, Vesterbro can be a great place to stay for a wide array of travellers to Copenhagen.

Its main selling point is its location. Vesterbro is so central that it almost rivals the Inner City as the actual centre of Copenhagen.

Yet, Vesterbro is more laid back than Copenhagen’s City Centre. It’s evident that more families live here and it feels a lot less touristy.

Staying in Vesterbro is ideal for tourists who:

• Enjoy vibrant nightlife and diverse dining, from cheap grubs to gourmet street food and exceptional restaurants. Kødbyen (The Meatpacking District) is great for a night out.
• Like exploring eclectic shops, boutiques, galleries and live music venues.
• Seek a trendy, central location with a relaxed vibe, popular among both locals and visitors.
• Appreciate a romantic urban setting with cosy cafes and intimate wine bars perfect for couples.
• Are open-minded families looking for a culturally rich experience with lots of parks, playgrounds and family-friendly attractions. Jump down to the best hotels in Vesterbro for families if that sounds like you.
• Value staying in an area with a unique character and history, now transformed into a hip neighbourhood with specialty coffee bars and high-quality fashion shops.

Where to stay in Vesterbro, Copenhagen

While all of Vesterbro is rather central, there’s no doubt that it’s most convenient to stay in the northeastern part of the district; near Frederiksberg and the Inner City.

This is also where most hotels are located.

Staying right next to Copenhagen Central Station on Istedgade or some of its side streets is a very popular (and affordable) option as many budget hotels are to be found here.

Most travellers thankfully have a problem-free experience but it should be noted that the area around Copenhagen Central Station and Halmtorvet is a former red-light district (and still a hotspot for s*x work and drugs). Heading west, Istedgade changes character and becomes much more mundane after Gasværksvej.

Vesterbrogade is probably our favourite main street in Vesterbro with its many nice shops, restaurants, grocery stores and vibrant atmosphere during the day.

The best hotels in Vesterbro:

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• Ultra-luxury: Nimb Hotel – Fairytale luxury meets Nordic chic at this world-class boutique retreat inside Tivoli Gardens.
• Luxury: Radisson Collection Royal Hotel – Iconic Danish design and monochrome 1960s chic in what was once Copenhagen’s tallest skyscraper.
• Value for money: Coco Hotel – Paris meets Copenhagen with a sustainable twist. The best hotel in Scandinavia (says Travel+Leisure).
• Budget: Urban House Copenhagen by MEININGER – Sleep in a cheap dorm room or standard room just steps away from the central station in the former red-light district.

Search for the cheapest and best hotels in Vesterbro here (adlink).

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The best budget hotels and hostels in Vesterbro

Being one of the most sought-after areas of Copenhagen, Vesterbro is generally considered a pricy place to stay – which is also reflected in the many boutique and luxury hotel options.

However, there are also quite a few more budget-friendly digs. So what’s the catch, you might ask? Well, one is space. Or rather the lack thereof if you stay in a hub or dorm room. Forego a private bathroom and you’ll also have more money to spend on fun stuff.

The other is the relative rowdiness of Istedgade close to the central station where some families in particular might be uncomfortable seeing s*x shops, s*x workers and drug use here and there (though primarily at night).

Something has to give if you want to stay in the middle of the city for less. But we think these three budget options might end up fitting the bill just fine.

The 3 best budget hotels and hostels in Vesterbro:

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• CityHub Copenhagen – Futuristic capsule hotel offering budget-friendly king-sized ‘hubs’ in prime Vesterbro location.
• Urban House Copenhagen by MEININGER – Sleep in a cheap dorm room or standard room just steps away from the central station in the former red-light district.
• Go Hotel Saga – Simple private rooms near the central station with shared or en-suite bathrooms.

Search for the cheapest accommodation in Vesterbro here.

CityHub Copenhagen

Not surprisingly, one of the cheapest places to stay in Vesterbro is not a standard hotel but a hostel – although CityHub Copenhagen is very different to the hostels we have stayed at over the years.

More reminiscent of a Japanese capsule hotel, each super-functional hub (as the “rooms” are called) is basically just a bed – king-sized it should be noted – as well as a square metre or two of storage space.

(While the design is clever for minimising each inhabitant’s footprint and keeping costs down, it’s probably not great if you’re prone to feeling claustrophobic.)

The common facilities thankfully aren’t nearly as cramped and include plush sofas, communal tables and private alcoves for socialising, dining and working as well as neatly designed bathrooms and sauna.

Location-wise CityHub is placed right at the junction of Vesterbrogade and Enghavevej – just a stone’s throw away from where we used to live ourselves. Call us biased, but this is a magnificent location where you have tons of food and transport options right outside the door.

Tip: Travelling as a group? Check out the private dorm room-style XL hubs with private bathrooms.

Check prices and availability at CityHub Copenhagen here (adlink).

Urban House Copenhagen by MEININGER

You can’t fault Urban House Copenhagen for not being central – it’s literally a two-minute walk to the central station.

Located on the corner of Colbjørnsensgade and Istedgade, however, means you’re right in the heart of the former red-light district (which is still a very happening place). For the vast majority of people, this is not an issue, but it’s worth knowing.

While there are cheap dorm rooms available if you really want to keep the budget low (as low as around 150 DKK per person per night!), you can also choose between different-sized standard rooms with private bathrooms which can also be great for families and groups.

Facilities include a movie room, billiards lounge, bar, laundry room and communal kitchen.

Be aware that luggage storage isn’t free and seems unable to hold very big bags.

Check prices and availability at Urban House Copenhagen by MEININGER here (adlink).

Go Hotel Saga

Go Hotel Saga is also located on Colbjørnsensgade (as Urban House Copenhagen mentioned above) and is super central as well.

Go Hotel Saga offers private rooms with or without private bathrooms – so there is money to be saved if you go with the shared option.

Note that there is no elevator available.

Check prices and availability at Go Hotel Saga here (adlink).

The best value for money hotels in Vesterbro

Surprisingly, the following four hotels manage to tick the sustainability box as well as anyone without slapping on a luxury price tag.

They’re not cheap, mind you, but for the eco-conscious traveller who wants to sleep well in both senses, they offer green stays that won’t leave your wallet seeing (too) red.

Upgrade from a dorm room in the budget category and you’ll have more private space and more beautiful surroundings but you’ll also get access to rooftops and other funky facilities (ping pong room, anyone?).

The 4 best value for money and sustainable mid-range hotels in Vesterbro:

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• Grand Joanne – Brand new hotel with homely rooms and a cool rooftop.
• Coco Hotel – Paris meets Copenhagen with a sustainable twist. The best hotel in Scandinavia (says Travel+Leisure).
• 66 Guldsmeden – Eco-friendly Bali-inspired boutique hotel in prime Vesterbro location.
• Hotel Ottilia by Brøchner Hotels – B-corp-certified industrial decadence in Carlsberg City’s brewing heritage.

Search for the best value for money and mid-range hotels in Copenhagen here.

Grand Joanne

Opened in April 2023, Grand Joanne is the new kid on the block – although the building from the 1800s has been used as a hotel for about 100 years.

The interior design is homely and the whole place just looks nice. Don’t miss the rooftop!

At just 9 m², the smallest room available is indeed rather small. Consider upgrading unless you either travel alone or just don’t feel the need for floor space.

Check prices and availability at Grand Joanne here (adlink).

Coco Hotel

Travel+Leisure named Coco Hotel the best hotel in Scandinavia (barely beating Grand Dame d’Angleterre to the punch!) and it does indeed look like an amazing place to stay in Copenhagen.

Coco Hotel’s aesthetic thoughtfully mixes elements of Parisian style with typical Copenhagen choices. We like the pops of colour, the pattern play and the wide range of artworks and photographs – especially the swimming pool ones.

The hotel is part of the Cofoco (Copenhagen Food Collective) family, which operates 18 restaurants citywide. The hotel’s breakfast is served at their chic Delphine restaurant, conveniently located opposite the hotel on Vesterbrogade.

Sustainability is being taken seriously with a Green Key certification and all of the hotel’s energy needs are met by Cofoco’s dedicated solar panel farm in Northern Jutland.

Check prices and availability at Coco Hotel here (adlink).

66 Guldsmeden

Guldsmeden Hotels’ first hotel in Copenhagen is about as green as they come with both a Green Key and Green Globe certifications – which includes a 90-100% organic breakfast buffet offering.

With 74 rooms, Guldsmeden on Vesterbrogade isn’t very small, yet it still retains a boutique, kinda boho vibe with Bali-inspired furnishings including lots of natural light and two bookable Airstream caravans in the courtyard.

In our opinion, the hotel is pretty much optimally located in Copenhagen being close to the Inner City, The Lakes, Frederiksberg (including the always popular Værnedamsvej) and all that Vesterbro has to offer.

Check prices and availability at 66 Guldsmeden here (adlink).

Hotel Ottilia by Brøchner Hotels

Hotel Ottilia is located on the opposite end of Vesterbro than the rest of the hotels in this guide in Carlsberg City – one of Copenhagen’s newest neighbourhoods built on the former brewing grounds of beer-giant Carlsberg.

The rest of Vesterbro and the Inner City is either just a short bike or bus ride away and in return, you get to live in an (upscale) up-and-coming area that’s already full of cool spots; don’t miss Københavns Bageri!

Apart from the location, Hotel Ottilia also stands out on this list as a much more industrial-looking place with a monochrome colour palette and rough yet elegant features, most notably its impressive floor-to-ceiling heights that pay homage to the building’s brewery origins.

Speaking of impressive, Brøchner Hotels is the first B-corp-certified hotel chain in Copenhagen.

Check prices and availability at Hotel Ottilia by Brøchner Hotels here (adlink).

The best luxury hotels in Vesterbro

Not too long ago, luxury and Vesterbro were two words as far away from each other as a Michelin star and a late-night kebab shop (both of which can be found in the area!).

But now luxury and Vesterbro go together just fine as the area boasts some of the fanciest places in town.

This once-gritty district has evolved into a hotspot for refined travellers, offering a unique blend of Copenhagen’s edgy charm and world-class hospitality.

Vesterbro’s luxury and boutique hotels stand out for their ability to capture the area’s vibrant spirit while providing top-notch amenities and service. These establishments have masterfully repurposed historic buildings or embraced cutting-edge designs to create accommodations that are both luxurious and distinctively “Vesterbro”.

Let’s explore some of the standout accommodations that Vesterbro has to offer. But be warned: The best of the best isn’t exactly cheap.

The 4 best luxury and boutique hotels in Vesterbro:

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• Ultra-luxury: Nimb Hotel – Fairytale luxury meets Nordic chic at this world-class boutique retreat inside Tivoli Gardens.
• Luxury: Villa Copenhagen – Subdued grandeur and modern elegance by the central station.
• Luxury: Radisson Collection Royal Hotel – Iconic Danish design and monochrome 1960s chic in what was once Copenhagen’s tallest skyscraper.
• Luxury: Andersen Boutique Hotel – Friendly, personalised service with consistently high ratings across the board.

Search for the best luxury hotels in Vesterbro here.

Nimb Hotel

Nimb Hotel is located directly at the edge of Vesterbro and the Inner City – directly across from the central station (and technically inside the Tivoli Gardens – remember to take advantage of the free entrance for guests).

Being located in a fantasy land, it’s only fitting that the facade is very fairytale-like with its Moorish-style minarets, domes and arches. Inside the lavish hotel though, the design is all clean and Nordic with hints of antiques and lots of flowers.

Nimb Hotel’s popularity skyrocketed after Condé Nast Traveller ranked it as #40 on their list of the best hotels in the world and it’s still one of the leading hotels in our small capital (and indeed the world) – which is also evident from the fact that it’s included in Small Luxury Hotels’ “Finest Collection” of just 21 boutique hotels from across the globe.

Check prices and availability at Nimb Hotel here (adlink).

Villa Copenhagen

After serving as Denmark’s Post & Telegraph office, this grand neo-Baroque building right by the central station underwent a complete renovation and reopened in 2020 as Villa Copenhagen.

With 390 rooms in total, this is quite a big luxury hotel. Yet all of the rooms are uniquely designed, blending Danish traditions with modern aesthetics through calming, neutral tones, sleek furnishings and quality materials.

Check prices and availability at Villa Copenhagen here (adlink).

Radisson Collection Royal Hotel

Also located right next to Copenhagen Central Station, the Radisson Collection Royal Hotel is an iconic Copenhagen hotel designed by none other than renowned designer and architect Arne Jacobsen and placed in a boxy, Manhattan-style skyscraper built in 1960.

Don’t expect too much colour: Everything here is monochrome or wood meaning the funky shapes of classic Arne Jacobsen furniture designs like the Swan and Egg chairs stand out (both of which were actually designed for the hotel).

We think the Radisson Collection Royal Hotel is darn cool, but it’s not for everyone.

Check prices and availability at Radisson Collection Royal Hotel here (adlink).

Andersen Boutique Hotel

Compared to Nimb, Villa and Radisson, Andersen Boutique Hotel isn’t as luxurious or plush.

With a more personal touch, Andersen’s offering is more about friendly service and a boutique feel with a lower price tag.

Ratings are consistently high across platforms and people seem to love staying here. Perhaps it’s details like the flexible check-out times, the 60-90% organic breakfast buffet or the (free!) wine hour.

Andersen Boutique Hotel is located at the corner of Istedgade and Helgolandsgade right in the heart of the former red-light district’s hotel cluster.

Check prices and availability at Andersen Boutique Hotel here (adlink).

The best hotels in Vesterbro for families

Copenhagen in general is very child-friendly with loads of fun activities and free, public playgrounds for the little ones. Vesterbro is one of the neighbourhoods with the most families and that’s also evident in the hotel offerings.

Many hotels have rooms with the option of adding single beds or cots but a few also offer you the possibility of booking dedicated family rooms or connected suites that are sure to give the whole family a comfortable night’s sleep.

The 6 best child-friendly hotels in Vesterbro:

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• Tivoli Hotel – The Tivoli-themed playroom, spacious pool and outdoor playground will help the kids feel right at home.
• Scandic Copenhagen – A behemoth of a hotel with nice facilities and views of The Lakes (and the rest of Copenhagen!).
• CPH Hotel – A wide array of family rooms (including connected suites) and free access to DGI Byen’s bowling, swimming pool and gym.
• Hotel Tiffany – Nicely designed rooms with small tea kitchens.
• Wakeup Copenhagen – Honestly not the most exciting hotel in Copenhagen but it’s fairly priced and children are well-catered for.
• Urban House Copenhagen by MEININGER – One of Vesterbro’s best budget places to stay double as a great hotel for families with a nice choice of rooms.

Search for the best family-friendly hotels in Copenhagen here.

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How to get to Vesterbro from Copenhagen Airport

The fastest, cheapest and therefore all-around best way to get from Copenhagen Airport to Vesterbro is to take the train to Copenhagen Central Station (København H or Hovedbanegården).

Trains leave from the airport almost around the clock several times per hour and the trip only takes about 13 minutes.

Many of the hotels listed in this guide can be reached by foot from the central station. For venturing further into Vesterbro, you can either take a bus or travel with the metro to the stations Enghave Plads or Frederiksberg Allé.

What to bring to Copenhagen

• Travel insurance (adlink). Never travel without it!
• A good camera – here’s a guide to the gear we use.
• Sunscreen if you’re visiting in summer (adlink).
• Good shoes. Copenhagen is very walkable.
• Swimwear if you plan to stay at a hotel with a pool and perhaps a towel if you want to swim in the clean harbour or at a beach.

You might be interested in:What’s in Our Camera Bag? Lightweight Photography Gear for High-Quality Travel Content What camera, drone and accessories we use to capture life on the road Read more

Thanks for reading

Thank you for reading our travel guide about where to stay in Vesterbro.

What do you think about Copenhagen? If you’ve been to Vesterbro, hearing your best tips and tricks would be awesome. Where did you stay?

Feel free to share your experience in the comments below or ask any questions about staying in Copenhagen!