Find a bed for the night at the right price
Copenhagen can be quite expensive. And that includes accommodation too. However, it is possible to find some great places, centrally located, that offer you a top stay for quite small money. In fact, I’ve tried them all (except CPH Down Town) and these are my top picks among hostels.
Are you traveling on a nonexistent budget? Then there are in fact free alternatives.
(The photo with the intensively red hotel sign was taken over at Ibsen’s hotel on Vendersgade.)
Next House
A very modern hostel with a nice rooftop kitchen and bar. Really, the best value for your money is a bed in a dorm. So what else does Next House offer? well, Two bars and a restaurant, a gym, shared kitchen, a cinema and a complete football arena. And the location is great too. Wellknown places like Hovedbangården, Glyptoteket and Tivoli is just a few minutes walk away.
Here, however, you have to be prepared for really small rooms and the toilet and shower available will easily be a noisy experience for everyone.
Fun fact: During the work on the building it was called the brass house. This because of the brass-clad facade.
Bernstorffsgade 27
Steel House
Same concept as Next House. But It is located on Vesterbro which is the hot area in copenhagen right now. So to stay in a dorm will be the cheapest way to get a bed. In fact, Steel House is a very modern hostel and hotel. Here you also find a shared kitchen, gym and pool. Moreover, a few times a week you can even enjoy live music. Prices from 145 Dkk for a really good bed. Usually more expensive on weekends.
But don’t expect large areas here. And especially in the shared rooms, it easily gets really crowded.
With that said. some people in the staff do not show any major social competence. And actually you get the feeling that this could have been handled better yourself…
This used to be a popular place for those who needed a place to stay longer. Yes, some people lived here for years. But now this is over and you can only stay for a week.
Herholdtsgade 6
Danhostel Copenhagen City
This is the former Hotel Europa built back in 1955. It was once called Denmark’s first skyscraper, and built with the help of money from the Marshall Aid.
Undoubtedly, the location along HC Andersens boulevard is superb and just close to the beautiful canal, and Tivoli is only a few minutes walk away. Indeed try to get a room higher up in the building, you will be greeted by a fantastic view of Copenhagen. Furthermore you can always get a bed in a simple dorm for a good price.
This was once a favorite hostel but now I prefer other places to stay. Some of the people who manage the reception do not immediately impress…
H. C. Andersens Blvd. 50
A&O Hostels Sydhavn
South of Copenhagen city you will find this larger hostel. Especially Its location quite near Bella Center makes it a great place to stay if you are going to visit any fair. Unfortunately it’s not that close to the city center so bus or local train is what applies if you don’t like to walk for about 45 minutes.
More info about Sydhavn here.
Sydhavns Plads 4
Nyhavn 63 (Formerly Bedwood)
Just close to the canal in Nyhavn you find this picturesque place. So for sure this has to be the absolute best location in all of copenhagen, no competition. Having said that I did not really appreciate my stay here last time. Then the place was called Bedwood, but things change and now it looks like they offer a more attractive stay.
Nyhavn 63
Copenhagen Down Town Hostel
I’ve never stayed here myself but friends who have say the bar area takes up most of the space. So if you work a lot with our laptop another place might be a better deal.
I will of course stay here some night in the near future and leave my personal experience of the place.
Vandkunsten 5
Meininger Urban House
With a central location just behind the main train station, this is a convenient option. This hostel is located in the former red light district, which is now a hip area and the popular meat packing district is only a few minutes’ walk away.
Here at urban house, it is a simpler style and not as polished and modern as, for example, Steel House in Vesterbro. The price picture is usually slightly higher here, so compare carefully online.
Colbjørnsensgade 5-11
Bellahøj Camping
So if you’re traveling on a really tight budget and still want an OK place to rest? Then camping is a sensible option. At Bellahøj Camping you get a night for under DKK 90 if you bring your own tent. And for being Copenhagen, it can’t be cheaper. The location is good and there are constant buses to the center. Hot showers and a simple kitchen make life quite comfortable. But quite honestly, this is not a place to stay too long.
The campsite is open from the end of May to the end of August.
Hvidkildevej 66
Charlottenlund Fort Camping
Charlottenlund Fort Camping is another campsite with a central location and right next to the sea. It is located in an old fortress and you literally live among the cannons! However, it costs more to stay here. And remember to book in advance because this campsite is very popular.
Strandvejen 144
Copenhagen Camping, Dragør
Just south of Copenhagen Airport you will find the very picturesque village of Dragør. There is also a quite huge campsite here that offers comfortable accommodation. If you have a bicycle, you can quite easy reach Copenhagen city by, among other things, cycling under the airport! Bus (just outside the campsite) is also an option to get into the town. Website.
Camp for free in Copenhagen
So what if your budget doesn’t allow you to spend any money at all on accommodation? Yes, there are solutions to that too. Because in Copenhagen there are a few places where you can actually camp for free. And often there is a fireplace and water available.
And the rules are simple. You can stay a maximum of one night in the same place, the tent must not be bigger than for three people and at most two tents can be next to each other on the same campsite.
Here is the link to the webpage with the map of campsites. Its all in Danish but just scroll down to the map and locate Copenhagen.
Other free possibilities
Websites such as couchers.org and couchsurfing.com are based on users offering their own homes as overnight accommodation. But usually it’s also about socializing, so most people who offer overnight accommodation expect you to share experiences, stories from life, etc. These services also have different ways to verify users and to have been a user for a while and built up a good reputation facilitates opportunities.
