Copenhagen neighborhoods
You know what you want to pay for accomodations in the Little Mermaid's hometown, but where should you overnight? Our Copenhagen guide will help you sort it all out.
Frederiksberg
Frederiksberg is a lovely neighborhood situated west of the Central Station (and Tivoli) area. Legally a town in its own right, Frederiksberg has a governor, a population of 91,000, and tree-lined residential streets. The neighborhood is most famous for Frederiksberg Have, a spacious, serene park filled with trees and canals. This park is home to the Royal Danish Horticultural Garden, the national zoo, and Frederiksberg Slot, an Italian-inspired royal summer palace dating to the 1700s. The neighborhood also boasts a number of visit-worthy sites, including the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory, the Carlsberg Museum, and the Carlsberg Visitors Center.Frederiksstaden
After Christianshaven, Frederiksstaden is probably the prettiest and most peaceful neighborhood in the city. On the northern end, you'll find Den Lille Havfrue, aka The Little Mermaid statue, as well as the collection of palatial buildings that form Amelienborg Slot, the royal family's home since the late 18th century. The wide, quiet streets in this mostly residential area are lined with elegant architecture. What we love most about Frederiksstaden is the waterfront promenade, which is set against the prim greenery of Amaliehaven Park.Near Central Station & Tivoli
The Central Station area is the first place most folks—business visitors and tourists alike—go to find a hotel. Trains to and from the airport can be caught at the Central Station, or Hovedbanegården. Additionally, the area is home to many of Copenhagen's big draws. Famed Tivoli, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek museum, Rådhusplasden (aka Town Hall Square), and the Strøget shopping streets are all clustered near the station. Though the Central Station area is quite safe, it can seem dodgy at night, when it morphs into Copenhagen's Red Light District. This neighborhood is also the best place to purchase over-priced, taste-deficient meals. These caveats aside, we have to say that convenience outweighs the somewhat small annoyances here, particularly if you are only staying in Copenhagen for a few days.Near Nyhavn
Picturesque Nyhavn Canal, with its Easter egg-colored houses and tall ships, arm-wrestles with The Little Mermaid statue for Copenhagen’s most photographed tourist site status. The good news is that, despite the legions of canal-tour boats pouring in and out this narrow strip of water, Nyhavn and its numerous outdoor cafes are still a lovely (though somewhat pricey), place to soak in old-school Copenhagen ambience while feasting on smørrebrød, an open-faced sandwich. The canal sits just off of Kongrens Nytorv, an enormous square that anchors the end of the Strøget shopping area.Old Town
Old Town is the geographic center of Copenhagen. Its primary claim to fame? Strøget, Europe's longest pedestrian shopping street. (Don't look for it on a map—it's made up of five different streets, and none share its name.) Anchored on the west by Råadhuspadsen with a host of souvenir shops, Strøget slopes east to Kongens Nytorv, the shops increasing in style (and price) along the way. For non-shoppers it offers an array of fountains, cafés, and people-watching.In addition to a smorgasbord of shopping, Old Town is also home to a student friendly and plaza packed Latin Quarter and to the historical and political center of the city, Slotsholmen. Oh, and to hotels. This being the fashionable district and the city's center (and expensive Copehagen), most hotels of Old Town are not what we'd call cheap, but for those who insist on being in the center of things, there are deals to be had.