Copenhagen Downtown Hostel

It’s almost always social hour at this cheery hostel, where the emphasis on fun and fraternizing is immediately made clear by the fact that the bar precedes the reception desk. The entire first floor is just as much a dining, drinking, and mingling lounge as it is a reception area. Clean lines, succulent plants, and hardwood floors reflect Scandinavian design, but the space is also liberal with color. Hot pink, sea blue, and forest green walls are used throughout the lobby and hallways. Multicolored tile details are used at the bar counter, and mini deer heads and world map prints are eclectic touches. There are no quiet hours or curfews here, so the party-like atmosphere rarely dies down, and the bar area gets noisy with travelers and locals alike enjoying beverages late into the night. The laid-back vibe and hangout-friendly setup suits solo travelers and young groups, but may not be ideal for anyone looking to get a quiet night’s sleep. 

True to its name, the hotel has a fantastic—albeit slightly loud—downtown Copenhagen location. It's surrounded by the cafes of Vandkunsten Square, adjacent to the historic center of Indre By, and is six minutes on foot to Stroget, the city’s largest shopping street. The National Museum is a five-minute walk away, and the Tivoli Gardens in the hipster neighborhood of Vesterbro are 10 minutes away on foot. The Rosenborg Castle can be reached in a 20-minute walk. There’s a bus station three minutes away on foot, and Copenhagen's central train station is an eight-minute walk away. The Little Mermaid statue is 22 minutes away using public transport.  Copenhagen Airport is 25 minutes away via public transport, or under 20 minutes away by car. 

The hostel offers private rooms for up to five guests and shared dorms for four, six, eight, 10, or 12 guests. Female-only dorm rooms are available. Rooms are compact and narrow, but clean, with surprisingly comfortable bunk beds or twin beds. Lovely, modern decor gives them an elevated look and personality comes through in the walls, which are either painted in bold solids or stripes, or feature images of Denmark cityscapes and nature.Dorm room setups and features are consistent regardless of type. However, private rooms vary considerably; only some have their own bathrooms, seating areas, hand basins, or individual bedside power sockets, so it’s useful to confirm preferences in advance. Room amenities are minimal. All lack air-conditioning, TVs, and sufficient storage or hanging space for clothing. Charges apply for in-room Wi-Fi. Individual safes and hairdryers are available to rent for small fees. Bed linens and towels are provided.Shared bathrooms are a slight disappointment, as they’re often crowded, with frequently wet floors and shower curtains that could be cleaner. All bathrooms have walk-in showers with fixed showerheads, and sufficient hot water. Toiletries are not provided.Small windows don’t offer notable views in dorm rooms, but private rooms look out at the fountain on Vandkunsten Square or the architecture of neighboring buildings. 

Features here focus on meeting new people and mingling. In the absence of multiple common areas, the ground floor reception serves multiple functions. In the morning, it’s the breakfast area, where a solid all-you-can-eat buffet is available for purchase. In the evenings, the space serves as a dinner room, where guests can buy their seats in advance for the family-style meal. By night, it's an upbeat bar, which also features live music and fun contests. At other hours, the space is a casual common lounge, where guests relax on the sofas with books, board games (supplied by the hostel), and loaner iPads. The space also includes billiards and foosball tables. Public areas have free Wi-Fi, and there is a free photocopier. Coin-operated laundry machines are available. The hotel also offers packed lunches for groups and provides free walking tours. Bicycles can be rented. There’s no on-site parking, but the hostel sells tickets for nearby public parking.