The best Airbnbs and rentals in Copenhagen
They say the best way to experience a city is to live like a local. In Copenhagen, the capital of all things ultra-cool from fashion to food to art and design, it is downright necessary. There are plenty of very stylish Copenhagen hotels out there, but there's something a bit more enveloping about settling into your own hygge-ified apartment (likely complete with a Poul Hennigsen lamp), living the Danish life wrapped in the chicest Ganni knit, kanelsnegle in one hand and Hans Christian Andersen anthology in the other.
Flat booked but unsure what to do in the Danish capital? Let Copenhagen-cool local Michael Dansk show you around in his insider guide to the city. Or try the best Copenhagen hotels.
The best Airbnbs in Copenhagen
1/15Poetry's Nature, Vesterbro
In what is perhaps the city's ‘coolest’ neighbourhood, this flat is ideal for avant-garde free spirits looking to sink into the daily rituals and routines of artistic Copenhageners. Punctuated by colourful posters and shaggy patterned rugs, the flat is a welcoming, cheerful one, ready to be called home (if even just for a holiday).
Sleeps up to 2 guests, fom £285 per night, with a 24% weekly discount.
2/15Balcony Bolthole, Carlsberg City
Guests can expect to think pink, Copenhagen-style in this charming flat. With its stylish furniture (including a lengthy dining table), exposed brick and fabulous balcony, a weekend here is one guaranteed to be sweet. Nestled in the heart of Carlsberg City, there are plenty of hip shops and cool cafés to visit; however, if guests seek to venture further afield, Copenhagen's city centre is only a 10 minute cycle away.
Sleeps up to 3 guests, from £118 per night.
3/15French-style Flat, Frederiksberg
A family home, this ‘French-style’ flat is as gorgeous as it gets. With plenty of space to spread out – including a well-maintained patio – travelling families will relish their time in the chic Frederiksberg. Travellers seeking to party whilst on holiday may want to steer clear of this Airbnb; all the neighbours are young families, so a noise ordinance is in place past a certain hour.
Sleeps up to 4 guests, from £168 per night with a 5% weekly discount.
4/15Living Colour, Frederiksberg
Tucked away in leafy, upscale Frederiksberg is this serene apartment, chock full of fabulous artworks and vintage furnishings – the perfect home-stay for families or large groups of travelling art aficionados. An open kitchen is the ideal setting to take in one's morning coffee ahead of a big day of exploring: Tivoli Gardens is only five minutes away by bicycle and The Lakes are mere minutes walking distance from the front door.
Sleeps up to 6 guests, from £571 per night (with an 18 night minimum stay).
5/15Charming and trendy, Vesterbro
It doesn't get more hygge than this. Located in a prime location in Vesterbro, this one-bedroom flat is minutes from the trendiest bars, cafés and restaurants in the Meatpacking District, as well as a short distance from the Tivoli Gardens and the city's central harbour, Nyhavn. Whether in Copenhagen for a romantic getaway or a friendly weekender, this flat is the ideal home base.
Sleeps up to 2 guests, from £85 per night, with a weekly discount of 15%.
6/15Teak Me Out - Østerbro
A bohemian flat full of vintage mid-century furniture, plants and family heirlooms, this flat is ideal for artistic dreamers (and their merry band of mates). The flat's interiors flawlessly walk the line between cosy and cool, which also incidentally describes the flat's location, Østerbro. Not too far from the action (it's only a ten minute walk from Nyhavn harbour), the neighbourhood is a calm one full of independent coffee shops and über-cool fashion labels. Scandi perfection.
Sleeps up to 6 guests, from £213 per night.
7/15Luxurious living, Indre By
This elegant flat in the heart of Copenhagen is one sure to make for a welcoming home-stay. With a sunlit living space complete with massive L-shaped sofa, two bedrooms, one fitted with a king- and the other aqQueen-sized bed and a lovely, spacious kitchen, guests will have plenty of opportunity to spread out after a long day of exploring and living the Copenhagen life.
Sleeps up to 3 guests, from £236 per night.
8/15Penthouse chic, Indre By
Wake up to expansive views across Copenhagen during your stay at this vast penthouse in the city centre. Furnished in sleek modern style and with plenty of storage space, heavy-packers and minimalists alike will enjoy their stay here. Not too far from the centre of the action, too, the location means that guests can get up and get going in no time – city break perfection.
Sleeps up to 4 guests, from £319 per night.
9/15The Churchill Three, Indre By
Stark white walls give way to bold colours and fabulous detailing, making for an unforgettable stay in one of the most elegant flats for holiday rental in Copenhagen. With an open-plan layout, guests can spread out and enjoy the serenity. History buffs and royal fanatics, too, will enjoy the flat's location: the flat neighbours the Danish royal palace. How chic.
Sleeps up to 5 guests, from £363 per night.
10/15Quiet Timber, Østerbro
Blond timber floors covered in soft rugs, colourful artwork and mid-century modern furnishings will greet guests at this large flat just 15 minutes from the city centre. Relax on the balcony and sip an espresso before venturing out for the day, hitting up the neighbourhood's font of local coffeeshops and great, indie clothing shops.
Sleeps up to 6 guests, from £354 per night.
11/15Candy Shop, Indre By
In a townhouse dating back to 1735, this flat is brimming with history. With a pastel colour palette based on the traditional Danish candy, bolsjer, it is safe to say that a stay here will be rather sweet. Perfect for families, the flat comes with many amenities and enough space for children to play and adults to relax. Within walking distance from Strøget, Copenhagen's high street, Kongens Have and Rosenborg Castle, the flat is ideal for those seeking to stay in the centre of the action.
Sleeps up to 5 guests, from £556 per night.
12/15Modern Art, Frederiskberg
If given only three words to describe this flat, they'd be: quirky, chic and, of course, hygge. Home to a painter, the flat packs quite an artistic punch, from the owner's vibrant paintings to the Eames-adjacent dining chairs and extensive fashion and art book collection. Contrasting with the flat's free spirited interiors is its neighbourhood, Frederiksberg; one of Copenhagen's fanciest, a stay here is guaranteed to be the perfect mix between the boho and the chic.
Sleeps up to 2 guests, from £213 per night.
13/15The Gantzel Studio, Amager Vest
A stay at this studio (really a penthouse) is sure to be an unforgettable one. Full of natural materials, sculptural lighting and elegant, modern furnishings, the interior embodies Scandi chic. Floor-to-ceiling windows that circle the entire flat boast expansive views overlooking the city's twinkling waterways and Nyhavn harbour. Enjoy dinner on the extraordinary rooftop terrace – at the height of summer, the sun doesn't set until 10pm, allowing you to keep the party going well into the night. The flat's owner, too, is a consummate host, available to arrange everything from private chef to bike hire. Whilst the apartment is not especially centrally located, the city centre is only a half hour by bus or ten minutes by bicycle.
Sleeps up to 6 guests, from £645 per night, with a 10% weekly discount.
14/15Central Villa, Frederiksberg
This ground-floor flat in a sprawling Danish villa is a very elegant spot to call home during your Copenhagen holiday. With high-end furnishings and a sublime kitchen, design aficionados especially will be delighted to wake in such a place. Just a few minutes' walk from Frederiksberg Allé, Garden and Zoo, visitors will never too far from nature; for those seeking out more of a concrete jungle, the flat is ideally located, close to main metro stops as well as an abundance of fabulous restaurants, shops and bars.
Sleeps up to 4 guests, from £141 per night.
15/15Magical Realism, Indre By
Seconds away from Nyhavn and Kongens Nytorv, ‘Magical Realism’ could not be any better located for those seeking to holiday in the centre of the action. Close to Strøget, Copenhagen's high street, the flat is ideal for fashionistas seeking window shop the Scandi fashion brands. With beautiful mid-century furnishings and pops of bubblegum pink and sapphire blue (I mean, look at that Smeg!) the flat is a perfect showcase of old-school Scandinavian design mixed with a more playful, modern sensibility.
Sleeps up to 4 guests, from £258 per night.
Where to stay: Copenhagen's neighbourhoods at-a-glance
Best for those whose holiday to Copenhagen is short or who wish to be in the centre of the Danish hubbub
‘Indre By’, the direct Danish term for ‘inner city’, is truly the heart of Copenhagen. However, despite its proximity to the beating heart of the city, the neighbourhood nevertheless maintains a picturesque, island-like quality, its winding streets and charming shops illuminated by the shimmering waters of Nyhavn that surround it. As most city centres are wont to be, Indre By is quite lively – so perhaps best for city mice or those always keen to be on the go.
Best for those seeking to eat well (very, very well) and hit up the best of Copenhagen's nightlife.
Once Copenhagen's red-light and meatpacking district, Vesterbro is now a hipster haven. Whilst certain areas are a bit gritty, the neighbourhood certainly packs an authentic, cool punch. Visitors will delight in the font of wonderful restaurants (Kødbyens Fiskebar is a personal favourite), down-to-earth bars and hip design shops and labels. Great vintage and second-hand shopping is to be had in Vesterbro, too. Just a five minute cycle from the city centre, one can easily explore the rest of the city with ease, making Vesterbro an ideal home base for holidaying hipsters.
Best for culture vultures keen to be in the middle of Copenhagen's art scene (and not too far from the Scandi-cool bars and shops of Vesterbro).
Comprised of a small area within the larger Vesterbro neighbourhood, this part of the city was once the sprawling headquarters of the Carlsberg brewery until its closure in 2008. Many a cultural institution can be found here, from dance theatres to concert halls to art galleries of different specialties. Romantic gardens snake through the neighbourhood; by day, they are perfect for a leisurely stroll and by night, they open themselves to many cultural events, especially in summer.
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Best for those who enjoy the finer things in life, from food to art to design.
Sidewalk cafés and chic wine bars flank tree-lined streets in the chic Frederiksberg. Whilst technically its own municipality within Copenhagen, the area is the coveted residence for the ‘who’s who' of Denmark: artists, designers, it-girls like model and stylist Pernille Teisbæk (and now you). Foodies will especially love staying in Frederiksberg, thanks to its high concentration of the city's finest restaurants (many of which are Michelin approved), as well as culture vultures keen on taking in the splendour of royal Copenhagen.
Best for those travelling with family in need of a peaceful, friendly respite between touristing.
In Østerbro, days can begin with a cycle to one of the neighbourhood's many high-end cafés, followed by a long walk in the verdant Fælledparken, where you and your family can picnic and mingle with locals on the playgrounds or at the skate park; then, a quick peek into a mid-century modern design store is a necessary late afternoon treat ahead of a dinner at one of Østerbro's many jewel box bistros – or at the three Michelin-starred Geranium, whatever fits best. Indeed, a day spent in the family-friendly Østerbro is one guaranteed to bring you as close to living like a local as possible without applying for a right-to-work visa.
Best for those who enjoy a more active holiday, as well as those who enjoy exploring a city's more avant-garde and up-and-coming neighbourhoods.
Like a quasi-Danish Atlantis, Amager is the area in which the sea meets the city. Like Frederiksberg, Amager itself is an entire district; however, the area is comprised of a few neighbourhoods, including East Amager, Islands Brygge and Ørestad. Enjoy bracing swims at the Copenhagen Harbour Baths, cosy dining spots, incredible modern architecture and… downhill skiing at Copenhill, the city's destination for winter sport enthusiasts.
Best for those seeking to discover and explore an alternative, edgier part of Danish society, as well as those interested in urban and democratic history.
Whilst its's unlikely you'll stay in Christiania, knowing about the neighbourhood is still worthwhile. The former military base became the site of a squat in 1971, and has remained an integral part of Copenhagen's urban history and culture since then, surviving as a commune and micronation. Sprawled across the island of Amager, many of Christiania's houses and shops are both eclectic and idiosyncratic – an architectural manifestation of the democratic community and its residents. A visit to Christiania is not for the faint of heart, nor is it necessarily family-friendly: though largely safe now, it has been scene to gang violence, mostly to do with the area's open trade of cannabis.
