CPHLIVING Floating Hotel

Travelers of a certain ilk are drawn to this property, and tend to have two essential qualities: they aren't claustrophobic, and they don't get seasick. The atmosphere is laid-back but brutally intimate, so expect an experience that includes sharing close quarters with fellow guests. Common spaces are a tight squeeze, with the exception of the expansive upper deck, which is everyone's favorite spot but never feels crowded. There are sleek loungers, clusters of tables and chairs, and a hammock, and scattered planters filled with flowers and low shrubs. Panoramic views up here are for the taking -- even in the rain, as there's a glass-enclosed cabin perched on one end.  

This boatel is permanently moored in the shadow of the Langebro Bridge in Christianshavn, on a busy canal near the Port of Copenhagen. There are a few restaurants within a five-minute walk, and the city center is about a 15-minute walk away to reach sights including Tivoli Gardens. 

Taking public transportation, it's roughly 11 minutes to the National Museum of Denmark, 12 minutes to Nyhavn, 14 minutes to Christiansborg Palace, 15 minutes to Strøget, 16 minutes to Rosenborg Castle, and 30 minutes to The Little Mermaid. 

It’s a seven-minute walk to Christianshavn railway station for trains to Copenhagen Airport, which takes about 13 minutes. Copenhagen Central Station, for train service throughout Denmark and into Sweden, is a 12-minute ride via public transit. 

Guest rooms are attractive and more spacious than you might expect for quarters on a converted barge. They're also bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide amazing views of the bustling city across the water. Full black-out blinds over the glass walls provide privacy, which is needed at times, as passing boaters can easily see into the rooms, especially those on the first floor. But during the day spaces can get hot, as there's no AC, although some windows open and fans are provided. All guest rooms have streamlined Scandinavian decor, with striking hardwood floors and matching window trim, and solid black bedspreads accented with navy throw pillows. There are desks with chairs, long benches, large armoires that contain flat-screen TVs, and Wi-Fi is free. Bathrooms have heated floors and roomy walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads. But the setup might not suit all guests, as windows facing sleeping quarters only have an opaque panel at the bottom, and separate toilets with tinted glass doors offer no privacy. 

There aren't a ton of amenities here, but the boatel does offer a few nice features and freebies. A free continental breakfast is served in a galley space that has a few bar stools pulled up to a narrow counter, and there are vending machines with coffee and snacks. The upper deck has loungers and chairs clustered around low tables, and panoramic water views. If it's raining, guests can take a seat in the glass-enclosed cabin. 

Free coffee and tea are available all day, and there's a communal fridge that guests are welcome to use. Wi-Fi is also free and there's no charge to use the public laptop and printer, but there's a fee for on-site parking. Travelers with limited mobility should note that accessing second-floor rooms and the upper deck require a climb up a narrow spiral staircase.