Copenhagen/Vesterbro

By train

Copenhagen Central Station and Vesterport stations are both located at the eastern edge of the district. Copenhagen Central station, as the name would imply, is a major stop for almost every train line on the island, Vesterport is served by the S-train network. S-train Lines B and H continues along the southern edge of the district with stops at Dybbølsbro, Carlsberg and Valby stations. Carlsberg Station opened in July 2016, located right next to (and replacing) the now former Enghave Station.

By bus

The backbone of bus transport in central Copenhagen are the A buses operated by Movia, which run every few minutes throughout the day.

• 1A Starts at Avedøre station in the western Copenhagen, and runs through the suburbs before entering Vesterbro at Valby station. From here it runs along the S-train tracks to the central station before it continues though downtown and Østerbro to terminate in at Hellerup station.
• 3A This line does a half loop around downtown. Starting on Nordhavn station on Østerbro, passing through Nørrebro and enters Vesterbro across the major street Gammel Kongevej. It stops at the middle part of Vesterbrogade, Enghave Plads on the northern end of Istedgade near the Vega nightclub, runs along the eastern side of the Carlsberg complex, before it ends at the Valby Park.
• 6A Starts in the suburb of Rødøvre west of Copenhagen, and enter Vesterbro just after the Copenhagen Zoo, it runs along the districts major artery Vesterbrogade all the way to the central station, where it enters downtown to end in the North-West district.

Saying Vesterbro is teeming with attractions would be pushing it by a
wide margin, and indeed the districts most famous attraction is possibly
the sorry remains of the once numerous porn shops, dating back from the
hey-days of Danish liberalism, when the country was the first in the
world to formally legalize pornography in 1967, and Istedgade was the
centre of the madness. These days it is probably not so interesting unless you have special interest in the subject, and visitors should turn their attention to the districts shopping and night-life instead, which is the real attraction here, and may however, appropriately be kicked off with a visit to the only star attraction on offer, the famous Carlsberg brewery.

• Carlsberg Visitors Centre

  phone: +45 33 27 12 82
  address: Gamle Carlsberg Vej 11
  While Denmark's largest and most famous beer producer has moved production from this historic location, to a modern facility in the provinces, it is still possible to visit the old brewery, and small scale production of speciality beers still takes place here. Many of the buildings are quite striking, the stables for the famous horse drawn Carlsberg carriages are still open and functioning, and last but not least it is home to the worlds largest collection of beers (bottled).

• Museum of Copenhagen

  phone: +45 33 21 07 72
  address: Vesterbrogade 59
  Covers Copenhagen history, past and present. There are four permanent collections covering different periods of the city's history, as well as special exhibitions relating to the subject. There is a model of mediaeval Copenhagen outside, which is free to see.

• Øksnehallen

  phone: +45 33 86 04 00
  address: Halmtorvet 11
  Old cattle market turned exhibition hall, in the up and coming Kødbyen sub district (see section below). Various changing exhibitions. The website schedule is unfortunately in Danish only.

• Olga's Lyst

  phone: +45 33 23 85 58
  address: Sommerstedgade 11
  Small museum of toys and dolls, dating all the way back to 1840 and up to 1930s.

• Diesel House

  phone: +45 32 54 02 27
  address: Elværksvej 50, DK-2450 Copenhagen SV
  This museum, run by B&W, houses what was the largest diesel engine in the world for around 30 years. Nowadays it has a lot of diesel related exhibits spread over three floors, especially to do with ships - all very well presented. The volunteers are retired B&W employees and are very friendly - this traveler arrived 30 minutes before closing time and got a personal guided tour! They run the main engine every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month, plus on some other occasions as advertised on their website. There's a small gift shop where you can buy t-shirts, notebooks etc. They ask that you email ahead if you want a guided tour.

• Copencabana

  phone: +45 23 71 01 85
  address: Havneholmen
  Jump in the harbor for a swim at Copencabana harbor swimming bath. There is a jumping tower for fun, and a large pool, with sea water from the harbor. Not as popular as the larger harbor swimming bath at Islands Brygge, Copencabana is less overrun and better suited for more serious swimming.

• Det Ny Teater

  phone: +45 33 25 50 75
  address: Gammel Kongevej 29
  One of Denmark's top stages, usually lays stage to famous musicals or plays like Chicago, Phantom of the Opera etc, but the performance may in Danish so check ahead. The striking building is one of the most beautiful theatres in Northern Europe following a grand renovation in the 1990s, and received the prestigious 'Europa Nostra' award for the efforts.

• Vandkulturhuset

  phone: +45 33 29 80 80
  address: Tietgensgade 65
  If you are installed at a cheap hotel without private baths or want some inside activities on a cold or wet day, the swim centre, or DGI-byen as it is known to all locals, is a good option - No time-limits, super-ellipse shaped pool, climbing and diving pool, warm spa pool, and other water activities.

• Cycle or walk over the CykelslangenThis bridge is often shown in publications to display the merits of Copenhagen as a bicycle city.

If you like to breeze through small shops, that you don't see on every corner at high streets across the western world, Vesterbro is an excellent place to go shopping, there is a wide range independent fashion and design stores offering local brands, from the traditional Danish design industry, and the up-and-coming Danish fashion industry.
A good shopping tour of the district (3000 meters) starts at Vesterport station, turn west along Gammel Kongevej until you reach Tullinsgade which is the 8th street on your left. Turn down Tullinsgade until it reaches Værnedamsvej - tour both streets as they are full of interesting stores, at the southern end of Værnedamsvej turn right (to the left side of the Europæiske building) along Vesterbrogade and follow it for some 180 meters, until you reach Tove's Galleri an indoor shopping arcade with a big red gate out in front, head all the way through the arcade until you reach the other side at Mattheusgade, make a right, and turn left at the end of the street along Enghavevej. When you reach the square, turn down Istedgade and follow it until it ends at the Central station. Keep your eyes open, some of the best stores are easy to miss.

• Fisketorvet

  phone: +45 33 36 64 00
  address: Kalvebod Brygge 59
  A large shopping center and cinema complex overlooking the harbour just behind Dybbølsbro Station. 120 stores, 55.000 m². The artificial Copencabana beach is just behind the center.

• Art Rebels

  phone: +45 26 22 33 73
  address: Flæsketorvet 17
  Is the flagship store of the on-line art collective bearing the same name, it is located in the meatpacking district. Fashion, Gallery and likely some music for sale, and also a café.

• Bolia

  phone: +45 88 88 74 60
  address: Vesterbrogade 67
  Quite affordable Danish furniture and industrial design, quite big for an inner city store, and pleasurable lounge music on the speakers.

• Designer Zoo

  phone: +45 33 24 94 93
  address: Vesterbrogade 137
  DZOO is a working design store, based on a community of eight designers, which also sell designs made by a row of other Danish handcraft designers.

• Fashion Village

  phone: +45 33 25 25 05
  address: Vesterbrogade 91
  Trendy fashion store selling unique Pakistani designer clothes for women, with a modern twist, imported directly from London.

Istedgade

Used to be the red light district, and while it still has more than its fair share of sorry souls, it has blossomed up during the last 10 years. At the end of the street nearest to central station, there is still the last sorry remains of the once so famous sex stores, not really that exciting, but they are fairly well stocked if you want to spice up your sex life, and there are two stores especially catering to gays, if you are from a less tolerant society, where these don't hang on trees. The real attraction these days though, are the numerous small fashion stores dotted along the length of street.

• Asfalt

  phone: +45 33 22 51 74
  address: Istedgade 83
  The store of Danish fashion designer Hanne Zachariassen, she makes her own youthful and colourful designs from recycled materials, for both women and men.

• Din

  phone: +45 33 11 91 01
  address: Istedgade 101
  Store of a young couple, where the man of the house makes recycle jewellery and other items from trash, which ends up looking a lot better than it sounds, while his girlfriend - a fashion designer, takes care of women's fashion part of the store.

• Don Ya Doll

  phone: +45 33 22 66 35
  address: Istedgade 55
  Owners Anne & Tine has put up a store that's hard to put in a box, part youthful fashion store, a mind blowing collection of accessories, you definitely don't see every day, and gadgets the two owners have picked up from all over the place.

• Girlie Hurly

  phone: +45 33 24 22 41
  address: Istedgade 99
  As the name would suggest, we are here dealing with a really girlie store with various cute items, plastic fantastic 50s nostalgia inspired items no less.

• Kyoto

  phone: +45 33 31 66 36
  address: Istedgade 95
  200m2 fashion store for both sexes, with both good Scandinavian brands and 2nd hand clothing.

Vesterbro is where most Copenhageners come to eat a piece of the world. There are an incredible amount of restaurants within a very compact area, offering food from every corner of the planet, mostly at very affordable prices by local standards. With more than 250 restaurants and take away joints to choose from, it would be pointless to list them all here, So we have tried hard to select the best of each of the kitchens available here, listed in Italics behind the restaurant name.

• WestmarketFood market with more than 30 small cafe, bars, and street food places.

Budget

• Cafe Høeg's

  phone: +45 33 31 34 89
  address: Enghavevej 20
  Has a large selection of domestic and imported beer, and a menu with pasta, sandwiches and burgers. Outdoor seating on a small square for good weather, and friendly staff.

• Cafe Dyrehaven

  phone: +45 33 21 60 24
  address: Sønder Boulevard 72
  This café has gotten some rave reviews, after converting a very traditional working class watering hole into a café. But respectful yet thorough renovation, has ensured this place has a rather unique atmosphere. Food is excellent, but the coffee and tea servings are not as good.

• Obelix

  phone: +45 33 31 34 14
  address: Vesterbrogade 53
  Themed after Asterix' fat friend, this place has good beer and sandwiches, otherwise the menu is so-so, the real attraction is outside seating on Vesterbro Square.

• Central Station

  phone: +45 33 73 16 43
  address: Bernstoffsgade 16-20
  Bakery in the main station.

Mid-range

• Al-diwan

  phone: +45 33 23 10 45
  address: Vesterbrogade 94
  One of the best of many Indian/Pakistani options in the district run by 4 brothers from Karachi, and one of the very few places where the courses have not been spiced down to fit the bland taste of the Danes.

• Ban Gaw

  phone: +45 33228438
  address: Halmtorvet 44
  To many locals, the best Thai place in the district, good food, descent interiors - complete with a large picture of the King and Queen.

• Bento

  phone: +45 88 71 46 46
  address: Helgolandsgade 16
  Good Japanese place, staffed with natives. Many locals will tell you they have the best sushi in town, but they also have Teriyaki, Gyoza and Tonkatsu handy if you are not into seafood. Also doubles as Japanese cocktail bar

• Bonjour Vietnam

  phone: +45 53 53 67 97
  address: Vesterbrogade 44
  Romantic, with French and Italian decoration. Price is about 65 kr for a starter and 85 kr for a main dish.

• Cyprus

  phone: +45 33 13 46 61
  address: Kalvebod Brygge 59
  This cafe is located in the Fisketorvet shopping centre, with all the impersonal quirks that entails, but the cheap buffet is good if you get a Mediterranean crave from the Copencabana beach located just in front of the shopping center.

• FAMO

  phone: +45 33 23 22 50
  address: Saxogade 3
  Started by chef from one of Copenhagen's fanciest restaurants, this place goes in the opposite direction and offers an informal, cheaper and more laid back alternative, without sacrificing much in the terms of quality. Only offers one set menu every day, which in catholic tradition on Fridays consists of seafood.

• Lê Lê nhà hàng

  phone: +45 33 22 71 35
  address: Vesterbrogade 40
  A very nice Vietnamese restaurant, trying to recreate the country's street kitchen, albeit in much more stylish surroundings. Good and authentic food, the best is to order a selection of small dishes, but also a few main courses on the menu, and descent drinks.

• Les trois cochons

  phone: +45 33317055
  address: Værnedamsvej 10
  Cosy, smoke-free place that serves most food in pots, pans, and jars. At least two persons must share the main course, everyone at the table get the same starters and desserts.

• Mesón España

  phone: +45 33 31 19 09
  address: Viktoriagade 10
  Cosy little Spanish tapas bar in a basement, with authentic Spanish tapas, good wines and interesting interiors.

• Napa California Dining & Drinking

  phone: +45 33 75 71 14
  address: Vester Søgade 6
  Is one of the few American eateries you can find in the city, without crowns or golden arches out in the front. Funky surroundings, fireplace, Steaks and Burgers on the menu, and of course good wines from the Napa valley.

• Restaurant Klubben

  phone: +45 33 31 40 15
  address: Enghavevej 4
  Cosy traditional Danish place, where people from all walks of life come and enjoy the relatively cheap food, with all the Danish classics on menu, in either the indoor restaurant, or in the place real attraction, the very attractive garden seating.

• Señorita

  address: Istedgade 49

• Tea

  phone: +45 33 24 58 58
  address: Helgolandsgade 2
  Don't be fooled by the exterior, the inside is unusually stylish, compared to the usual standard in the city. Good quality for the price and an authentic menu, with loads of different tea's as the name would indicate.

• Politigarden

  phone: +45 33 11 86 08
  address: Rysensteensgade 16
  Cosy little diner, with favorite police foods because of nearby police station. Safest place to have breakfast in Copenhagen!

Splurge

• Alberto K at The Royal

  phone: +45 33426161
  address: Hammerichsgade 1, 20. floor
  Stylish restaurant with a great view that serve modern Danish/Italian food

• Ideal Bar

  phone: +45 33 26 09 51
  address: Enghavevej 40
  Ideal bar is a branch of the Vega nightclub, handing out drinks at street level in the same building, but it is run as a separate outfit, with a bit more appeal to the happening crowd. It is usually too crowded to sit, so only go here early or if you are ready to dance the hours away on the small but usually packed dance floor. Unlike Vega there is no cover charge.

• Kung Fu Izakaya Bar

  phone: +45 33 31 84 09
  address: Sundevedsgade 5
  A descent attempt to create a traditional Japanese Izakaya in Copenhagen, the Japanese version of a pub, where small dishes and snacks are often served together with the beverages. Some really good cocktails on the menu.

• Lolas Café

  phone: +45 33 25 88 15
  address: Sønder Boulevard 30
  Newly opened café/bar on Sønder Boulevard (parallel to Istedgade) serving various coffees, beer and wine. For food you can get a French-style sandwich in a freshly baked baguette. They show international sports events on a large screen and also have a separate smoking room. Free wi-fi and a cozy atmosphere

• Malbeck

  phone: +45 33 31 19 70
  address: Istedgade 61
  Stylish and minimalist wine bar named after the grape popular in Argentinian wine production, where all of the wines are from. For snacks there is a plate functioning much like the Argentinian version of Tapas. Huge variety of Argentinean wines per bottle as well as per glass. The wine bar functions as a wine store as well and sell their imported wines at very reasonable prices to go.

• Vega

  phone: +45 33 25 70 11
  address: Enghavevej 40
  Bar, Concerts, night-club. Located in a 1956 Vilhelm Lauritzen building with dark wooden panelling, mahogany floors, friezes, 50s lamps, etc. the building itself is worth a visit. The largest concert hall, Store Vega has room for 1500 guests, the smaller Lille Vega has room for 500 guests, and the weekend nightclub (Friday & Saturdays) is happening on two different floors with house/electronica and R&B/hip-hop.

• Simpelt-v

  phone: +45 69 69 20 25
  address: Istedgade 96

• VELA

  phone: +45 33 31 34 19
  address: Viktoriagade 2-4
  Copenhagen's only bar and lounge that is targeted at lesbians.

• Jernbanecafeen

  phone: +45 33 21 60 90
  address: Reventlowsgade 16
  Drink the house beer 7 Ekspressen, if you drink 10 you get a bronze medal, drink 17 you get a silver medal, 27 you get a gold medal, a great day of fun.

• Lidkøb

  phone: +45 33112010
  Cocktail bar in beautifully renovated pharmacy lab.

The Meatpacking district

One of the districts, and indeed the whole city's, new hotspots is Kødbyen, which literally translates into the Meat City. Ad agencies, galleries and most importantly bars, have set up side by side with the largest concentration of butcheries on the country. The raw industrial surroundings, as it is the case with so many other places like this, blends quite well with outrageous night-life, and indeed some of Copenhagen's largest and most popular nightclubs have sprung up here.

• Jolene Bar

  address: Flæsketorvet 81
  Set up by two ambitious Icelandic girls, this club was too loud for its old location on Nørrebro, so it moved its noise and nice vibes here, and continue to be hugely popular, and the DJ line up certainly lives up to the two owners ambitiousness

• Karriere Bar

  phone: +45 33 21 55 09
  address: Flæsketorvet 57
  Although this bar can be difficult to find in between the meat shops and shady alleys, it is usually packed with a mix of trendy students and young professionals after midnight. Before that you can have dinner in their restaurant.

• Warehouse 9

  address: Staldgade 23
  Part Party venue, part exhibition space, part queer powerhouse, has a makeshift bar which may or may not be open when you visit, and a website where you can check out the dates for your next outrageous party or concert, or maybe get lucky there is an interesting film screening.

The district is also home to an increasing number of restaurants, from budget to expensive: Quality fish-dishes at Kødbyens Fiskebar, Italian pizzas at Mother, organic food at BioMio and Nose2tail, and down-to-earth French cuisine at the winebar Paté Paté.

Non alcoholic

• Estate Coffee

  phone: +45 38111211
  Gammel Kongevej 1, Partly owned by Claus Meyer of TV fame and Danish importer of Valrhona chocolate Estate Coffee specialise in luxury coffee, gourmet chocolate, and chocolate desserts. Small pot for coffee for 28 Kr.

Aside from hostels, taking on from other major European cities, the area behind the Central station away from downtown and Tivoli, is where you find the city's cheapest hotel accommodation. It has a reputation for being a bit rough, but in Denmark that isn't saying much, although you may bump into the odd drug addict or desperate hooker at night time. Apart from any psychological discomfort you personally may get from such encounters, it shouldn't cause you any trouble - indeed a number of high quality hotels are located here, which should give you an indication of the severity of the problem. If you want to take extra care avoiding the above personalities, walking to your hotel from Vesterbrogade instead of Istedgade should steer your clear of them altogether.

Budget

• Hotel Andersen

  phone: +45 33 31 46 09
  address: Helgolandsgade 12
  Central and friendly budget hotel, the top-end rooms are upgraded and in very nice condition, the cheapest ones share bathrooms on every floor, but get's the job done if you just need sleep, and you wake up to a really hearty breakfast buffet in the morning. Friendly and personal service.

• Sleep in Fact

  phone: +45 33 79 67 79
  address: Valdemarsgade 14
  Dormitory style hostel in what functions as a public house for the local youth the rest of year, Open June 27 to August 28. But if you are visiting during that time, you will be hard pressed finding anything cheaper (save the YMCA listing below).

• Urban House Copenhagen

  phone: +45 33 23 29 29
  address: Colbjørnsensgade 5-11
  Funky hostel, opened in March 2015. Includes bike rental outlet and tattoo parlour.

• YMCA Interpoint

  phone: +45 33 31 15 74
  address: Valdemarsgade 15
  Open start of July to mid-August, and lends out 36 beds to sleep on, which are usually in high demand, so remember to book ahead. There is curfew between 0.30AM and 7AM, you might want to consider if you plan to part take in the good night-life.

Mid-range

• Hotel Astoria

  phone: +45 33 42 99 00
  address: Banegårdspladsen 4
  Astoria is a design hotel owned by Brøchner Hotels.

• Absalon

  phone: +45 33 24 22 11
  address: Helgolandsgade 15
  Two blocks from the Central Station, communal shower and toilet facilities. Complimentary breakfast, on-site laundry.

• Comfort Hotel Vesterbro

  phone: +45 33788000
  address: Vesterbrogade 23
  Good location, and the lobby area is well designed, but rooms a rather on the small side, and some rooms are reported to begin showing obvious signs of wear and tear, but otherwise clean.

• Zleep Hotel Copenhagen City

  phone: +45 70 23 56 35
  address: Helgolandsgade 14

• Hotel Løven

  phone: +45 33 79 67 20
  address: Vesterbrogade 30
  clean, secure with commune kitchen area. Breakfast not included. Also, you might be disappointed with the suggested breakfast cafe, so you're probably better off going to one of the many buffets around the center.

• Hotel Nebo

  address: Istedgade 6
  A two star hotel run by a Christian charity, offering basic but clean single, double, and family rooms right behind the central station - can sometimes get a bit noisy, but the staff is usually a friendly lot. Free internet, and breakfast included.

• Hotel Ansgar

  phone: +45 33212196
  address: Colbjørnsensgade 29
  Basic hotel in the lower end of the Copenhagen price range, right behind the central station. Small rooms, but you can sometimes get substantial discounts, to make it worthwhile if you just need a bed. Free wireless internet. All rooms are non-smoking.

• Savoy

  phone: +45 33267500
  address: Vesterbrogade 34
  Good value money. Excellent location in a beautiful Art Nouveau building, but don't get too worked up over exteriors as the rooms are very basic, but still clean and totally adequate if you just need a bed, service is reported to be good.

Splurge

• Axel Hotel Guldsmeden

  phone: +45 33 31 32 66
  address: Helgolandsgade 11
  Central hotel in traditional Balinese style with real modern art, teak beds and small balconies, informal and organic approach to doing business. Also has a small cosy courtyard garden and bar and a fantastic Balinese style spa.

• Copenhagen Island

  phone: +45 33 78 80 00
  address: Kalvebod Brygge 53
  Newly build 4 Star hotel located on its own artificial island in the harbour - hence the name - which apart from some exceptions, gives you good views from the room. Stylish interiors and good service. And one of Copenhagen's largest shopping centers right next door.

• Copenhagen Plaza

  phone: +45 33 14 92 62
  address: Bernstorffsgade 4
  4 Star hotel, right at the exit of the central station, with Tivoli across the street. Classical interiors, and a lot of history.

Camping

• City Camp

  phone: +45 21 42 53 84
  address: Tømmergravsgade 2
  This centrally located campground is open May–August (both inclusive), but unfortunately doesn't allow tents - which means campers and caravans only.