Airbnb in Copenhagen

Cool Copenhagen is one of northern Europe’s most enticing capitals. The birthplace of New Nordic cooking and a hub for Scandinavian fashion design and furniture craft, it’s a dream-come-true for creatives. Meanwhile, the legacy of Hans Christian Andersen – Denmark’s own – oozes from the charming old town area, where the cobbled lanes and crooked cottages could just as well be plucked from a fairy tale. Throw in hip microbreweries and single-origin coffee roasts, multicultural cuisine from Arabia and the Levant, grand opera houses, windblown urban beaches, wild swimming spots in the harbour, and the tastiest pastries this side of Paris, and it’s easy to see why it’s such a chart topper.

There are hundreds of amazing Airbnb rental options in Copenhagen. If you’re keen to score somewhere with extra space and a bit more privacy than a classic hotel, not to mention lower nightly rates, it’s a doozy of a place to look. This guide runs through the top neighbourhoods and districts, and even gives a few hot tips on the best Airbnbs across the Danish capital. Let’s get started…

In this Airbnb guide to Copenhagen:

• Is Airbnb legal in Copenhagen?
• Where should I stay in Copenhagen Airbnb?
• Indre By
• Vesterbro
• Nørrebro
• Østerbro
• Christianshavn
• Frederiksberg
• Best Airbnbs in Copenhagen
• Best Airbnb apartment in Copenhagen
• Best Airbnb house in Copenhagen
• Best Airbnb for families in Copenhagen
• Best Airbnb for large groups in Copenhagen
• Best Airbnb for budget stays in Copenhagen
• Is Airbnb cheaper than hotels in Copenhagen?

Is Airbnb legal in Copenhagen?

Go right ahead and book that minimalist pad in Nørrebro or that quaint cottage on the corner of the CPH old town – Airbnb is 100% legal and a-okay in this Scandinavian capital. It doesn’t come without regulations, though. The government limits the amount of days certain properties can be rented each year, and asks for special registrations to be made. However, all those requirements fall at the foot of the host, not the traveler. That means you can relax, browse, and bag your pad in the home of the Danish pastry without a single worry on your mind.

Where should I stay in Copenhagen Airbnb?

Most travelers eager to see the medieval heart and major history sights of Copenhagen will head for the Indre By (1). That’s the old town, around which you get the trio of so-called bros: Vesterbro (2) (for hip coffee joints and boutique shopping), Nørrebro (3) (CPH’s multicultural haven) and Østerbro (4) (a green and relaxed residential neighbourhood). Beyond those, it’s also possible to delve into the mix of curious bohemian bars and flea markets down in Christianshavn (5), or venture out to Frederiksberg (6), which is actually a city of its own but comes with some fantastic family attractions.

Indre By

The Indre By is the old town-heart of Copenhagen. This is where the first-time tourists go to click their cameras at ivy-strewn medieval buildings and royal palaces. But it’s more than just a museum piece. You can find rollicking pubs and inviting coffeeshops in the midst of the Indre By, along with the multicoloured façades of Nyhavn harbor, where jazz joints mingle with summertime beer terraces. For shopping, look for a pad near the high-street boutiques of Strøget. If you’re visiting as a family, consider being close to the fairground rides and slides of the famous Tivoli Gardens.

Vesterbro

Vesterbro extends westwards from the Indre By through blocks that once had a down-and-out reputation as a red-light district. That era has long since retreated. These days, the area is a happening hubbub of vintage clothes outlets, weekend flea markets, street-food courts and student-filled bars. Craft beer leads the way in iconic venues like Mikkeller. There are New Nordic seafood bistros on the quaysides. You’ll find street art and flowering parks galore. It’s just an all-round nice spot to base yourself.

Nørrebro

Once a blue-collar dormitory for CPH’s industrial workforce, Nørrebro is now the capital’s most multicultural district. You’ll smell sizzling falafel and cumin-packed hummus, along with spicy tagines and Indian curries, all alongside single-origin coffee and Nordic dumplings. There are some exciting little pockets within Nørrebro to have on the radar, like the independent shopping mecca of Elmegade and the gastronomic melting pot of Blågårdsgade. In the summer, stroll down to Queen Louise Bridge to share a beer with the locals as the white nights roll on.

Østerbro

Østerbro is fantastic for getting away from the guidebook-touting crowds of the old centre and the other hip neighbourhoods. It’s the least developed and least known of the major trio of districts that hugs the heart of the capital. Generally speaking, it’s a well-to-do residential area. It offers peace and quiet amid big tenement blocks of regal flats and penthouses. There are some pockets of life, like the buzzy boulevard of Østerbrogade – pizza take outs and artisan bakeries mix there. During the summer, you can enjoy oodles of parkland here to boot, along with a fantastic urban beach at Svanemølle.

Christianshavn

Christianshavn is a district of two very contrasting halves. On the one hand, you have the grand quaysides and canals, lined with the city’s prestigious opera house, the academy of fine arts, and the film institute. On the other hand, you find Freetown Christiania, a bohemian enclave of artist squats and ramshackle markets where bazaars and hippy bars collide between strange graffiti murals. The result is somewhere that will enthrall both culture lovers and curious travelers, although there aren’t too many Airbnbs up for grabs in this corner of the capital.

Frederiksberg

Officially a city unto its own, Frederiksberg is wedged into north-western Copenhagen, ranging all the way from Vesterbro to the outer limits. Green, affluent and uber-chilled, it’s probably one of the best areas to go if you’re traveling with kids in tow. That’s not just because the atmosphere is more relaxed and the streets are quieter, but also because you get the draws of Frederiksberg Have. They include acclaimed Copenhagen Zoo (get ready to encounter elephants and giant pandas!) and grand 18^th-century Frederiksberg Palace.

Best Airbnbs in Copenhagen

Best Airbnb apartment in Copenhagen

110-square Metre Extravagant Luxury Apartment

The name gives a good intro to this high-class apartment in the Indre By district. Whitewashed walls add a designer feel to the place, while exposed beams (probably dating back centuries) bring the authentic charm. You’ll also enjoy a minimalist kitchen with an island, a dining area with vintage seating, and bedrooms with uber-comfy double-mattress beds. Location wise, the pad is right by Strøget – the city’s main high-street shopping drag.

Best Airbnb house in Copenhagen

Soak in the Sleek

Talk about Scandi cool – this house between leafy Østerbro and multicultural Nørrebro has it oozing from every brick and stylish furniture piece. In fact, the property was even featured in a 2019 edition of Residence Magazine for its chic interiors. They’re all understated elegance, with dashes of Bauhaus, big pot plants and modern art on the walls. A highlight has to be the kitchen-diner, with its sleek pine table and coffeeshop-style counters.

Best Airbnb for families in Copenhagen

Top-floor apartment with private balcony

This penthouse pad will whisk you right into the heart of Copenhagen. It’s perfect for families because the fun rides and fairy-tale draws of the Tivoli Gardens are only a stone’s throw away, but so are the marina swimming spots and the old town’s shopping. When you return from all that, you’ll have a bright and airy apartment to yourself, complete with three bedrooms (some loaded with bunkbeds for the little ones) and a skylit kitchen-dining area with enough space for the whole crew.

Best Airbnb for large groups in Copenhagen

Dinesen Collection Louis Vuitton Penthouse

Give your whole travel group a taste of what interior design means in Scandinavia by picking this sleek apartment. It rolls through stunning and opulent rooms, where L-shaped sofas mingle with flat-screen TVs and curated kitchen installations, all the way to a sprawling, 93-square-metre rooftop terrace that offers sweeping views over the city. It’s got space for up to 16 guests in total.

Best Airbnb for budget stays in Copenhagen

Deluxe Double Bed in Woodah Boutique Hostel

It’s no secret that Copenhagen is on the more expensive end of the spectrum when it comes to city breaks in Europe. But you could try to save a few kroner on the accommodation front by picking this boutique hostel over a conventional Airbnb. You’ll get a private room with a comfy double, along with access to the quirky backpacker bar and lounge. It’s great for value, and for meeting other travelers.

Is Airbnb cheaper than hotels in Copenhagen?

Airbnb is always worth checking out if you’re keen to save as much as you can on that Copenhagen city break. Properties booked via the sharing service can often have nightly rates that are considerably less than a traditional hotel stay. And that’s not it. You can also cut costs by sharing multi-room pads with your travel buddies, or by looking for the generous weekly or monthly discounts that are common on Airbnb (they can sometimes be as much as 50%!).

It’s worth noting that you won’t get the same sort of hands-on service that a hotel offers if you do go for an Airbnb in Copenhagen. If you’re after luxury and pampering from the moment you check in, it might be better to consider somewhere like the Charlottehaven hotel. It’s a four-star establishment in quiet Østerbro, boasting its own spa facility and sleek rooms with bathtubs and balconies.

Get lost in the fairy-tale city that is Copenhagen by booking a fantastic Airbnb today. They can take you to the weathered cobbled lanes of the old city or to the happening brew bars and flea bazaars of the capital’s outer districts. What’s more, they often come with enticing nightly rates to boot! Leaving Copenhagen? Check out our guides: Copenhagen to Amsterdam and Copenhagen to Stockholm.