Pristine waterways, cultural riches, and a vibrant waterfront make Copenhagen a true Scandi gem. This cool Danish capital boasts of a cornucopia of cultural treasures, lovely neighborhoods, and diverse culinary prowess. Copenhagen also has a longstanding reputation for accepting LGBTQ culture, and rightfully so. It is home to the world’s oldest-existing gay bar, Centralhjørnet. It’s all set to become the first city ever to host both Eurogames and WorldPride. So, it’s also no wonder that there are tons of gay hotels in Copenhagen, right from deluxe accommodation to cutesy backpacker ones.
The city’s queer spirit comes to fore during the fabulous Pride festival. Studiestræde, the gay neighborhood in Copenhagen is wonderfully swathed in the colors of the rainbow. While one might find Copenhagen’s gay scene to be relatively small, the city’s levels of tolerance and integration are great. The city’s gay culture goes beyond the realms of bars and clubs. There are many cultural spaces hosting groundbreaking queer events, including films and burlesque performances. What’s more, there’s even an HIV Danmark-run cafe particularly welcoming HIV-affected people. What’s even better is that the main City Hall Square is now called Rainbow Square.
Its no wonder that progressive Copenhagen has been constantly topping world liveability lists. Choose a wonderful base in this fantastic city by checking out our superb list of the top 11 gay-friendly hotels in Copenhagen.
Urban House Copenhagen by MEININGER
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Beat Copenhagen’s rising hotel prices by staying at the funky, gay-friendly hostel/hotel Urban House. Located right next to Copenhagen Central/Metro Station, Urban House offers great transportation links to the rest of the city. Furthermore, it is a mere minute’s metro ride to Studiestræde a gay neighborhood in Copenhagen.
The trendy Urban House offers laidback but modern dorms and private rooms beautifully accented with contemporary pop and graffiti art. The communal kitchen is great for whipping up quick, cheap meals while engaging in interesting meet-cutes. Gay travelers will love socializing on the colorful leather sofas with graffiti art as the background. The outdoor sun terrace is a heavenly spot for sunbathing and catching up with fellow travelers. What makes Urban House all-the-more gay-friendly is that they usually have a gay anthem playlist playing on a loop during Pride.
What’s more, Urban House builds on Copenhagen’s liveability fame by using plastic-free containers and utensils during breakfast. All in all, Urban House makes for an unforgettable stay.
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Hotel SP34
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The delightfully Danish Hotel SP34 is one of the most wonderful boutique gay hotels in Copenhagen. Known as the Latin Quarter’s finest boutique hotel, Hotel SP34 is actually three townhouses that give off a lively yet Bohemian vibe. It’s entirely another world within, complete with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves chock-full of potted plants, books, and curios. The rooms radiate Nordic charm with snow-white linen, muted-color walls, Instagram-worthy headboards, and Danish furnishings. Moreover, the jewel-like lighting accents radiate even more magic into the room.
Start off the day with a bountiful breakfast buffet, where most of the items are organic, along with bottomless glasses of bubbly. With complimentary croissants and coffee on the offer from morning to evening every day, Hotel SP34’s service is par excellence.
Gays will love Hotel SP34 for its location as well, as it is literally surrounded by Copenhagen’s very best gay bars and clubs. In fact, the legendary Centralhjørnet is just one block down.
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Axel Hotel Guldsmeden
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From the gay-friendly megabrand, Axel, comes the Axel Hotel Guldsmeden, a luxurious yet eco-friendly Copenhagen hotel close to Tivoli Gardens. Axel Guldsmeden is a stone’s throw from Studiestræde, the gay neighborhood in Copenhagen. What’s more, its a short stroll from Warehouse9, which hosts all kinds of queer-related events. Clearly, Axel Guldsmeden makes for a fantastic gay-stay in the city.
Axel’s decor and vibe are more colorful Bali than muted Scandi. The impressive entrance is flanked by eccentric Balinese sculptures. Rooms are similarly done up in the hotel’s signature Boho-chic style, complete with Balinese four-posters, colorful throws, oriental rugs. While many rooms feature small balconies with seating, the penthouses have their own rooftop terraces and hot tubs.
The cozy, candle-lit spa, which also has a sauna and a hot tub, is the ultimate romance and meet-cute hotspot at the Axel Guldsmeden. The courtyard radiates romantic vibes as well, what with its Balinese statues, plants, and lovely seating. Not surprisingly, Axel Guldsmeden is one of the most popular gay hotels in Copenhagen for a romantic sojourn.
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Copenhagen Downtown Hostel
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A stylish, value-for-money gay hostel in Copenhagen’s city center and close to its best attractions is what makes the Copenhagen Downtown Hostel so popular. The city’s best historic attractions including the National and Danish War Museums are just two blocks away. In fact, we’d highly recommend this amazing 3-hour walking tour of Copenhagen which will not only explores its history but also its little-known, hidden gems.
The retro-chic Scandi hostel features comfy dorms as well as private rooms, both with ensuite bathrooms. Dorms, which resemble a ’70s train car, feature nifty lockers as well as under-bed storage. However, the hostel life is best experienced outside the room, with super-friendly staff and a loaded events calendar with Danish pop nights and Mexican fiestas. Make new friends over foosball or a board game, or rent bikes from the reception and explore the city. A shared kitchen and a live music bar is a great place to chill out with fellow travelers.
Copenhagen Downtown Hostel also happens to be just one block from Rainbow Square, smack dab in the middle of the city’s gay scene. This allows you to easily party until the wee hours in clubs like Never Mind, before walking a short distance for some much-needed sleep.
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Generator Copenhagen
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Save money and yet live stylishly at the gay-friendly Generator Copenhagen. Part of the brand which pioneered the ‘poshtel’ movement, the hostel is easily one of the best gay hostels in Copenhagen.
Dorms and private rooms at Generator are simple, yet modern, with dorm beds featuring lockable under-bed drawers and privacy screens. The hostel makes good on its promise to create a social, buzzing atmosphere with a sprawling communal, loft-style space. Modern furnishings like comfy chairs blend beautifully with retro-recycled decor like tasseled lampshades. There’s no dearth of entertainment at the hostel, which boasts of arcade and board games, pool table, darts board, and even a petanque court. What’s more, it hosts many queer performances like drag bingo on occasion.
Generator Hostel is also a great base for exploring Copenhagen’s best sights and attractions. The King’s Garden, for instance, is right next door, as is the Rosenborg Castle.
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Andersen Boutique Hotel
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The crowd-pleasing Andersen Boutique isn’t exclusively gay but is one of the most popular gay hotels in Copenhagen with LGBTQ travelers. Set right next to Copenhagen Central/Metro Station, the charming boutique hotel is a color lover’s dream come true. Rooms here fit into three different color schemes – Emperor (magenta and blue), Mermaid (lime and turquoise), and Princess (purple and fuchsia). Pale wood and white linen offset the vibrant colors in what are comfy, modern rooms.
What makes this gay-friendly hotel so popular is the host of interesting initiatives for guests staying here. One of them is ‘Concept Green’ which offers little rewards like the on-site bar drink vouchers for each day that one doesn’t call in housekeeping. What’s more, they even offer discounted rates on guided running tours.
Moreover, Andersen Boutique is also well-placed for guests to delve into the gay scene at Studiestræde as well as explore Copenhagen’s historic attractions. If you want to explore the rest of the city, simply head to the metro station next door.
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Steel House Copenhagen
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The gay-friendly Steel House Copenhagen feels like an urban chic industrial space. The trendy hostel is set in a structure formerly belonging to the Danish Union of Metalworkers. The dorms are swanky, and some private rooms even have balconies.
The hostel has a rather excellent bunch of facilities probably never seen before in a hostel. A games room and a communal kitchen are perfect for breaking the ice and for a hostel meet-cute. Fitness freaks don’t have to go looking for a gym, for there’s a small fitness room too. What’s more, there’s even a swimming pool and a basement cinema with daybeds. If that wasn’t enough, the hostel is also known for organizing a bevy of activities for its guests. These include free daily walking tours, a yoga class, and even fun karaoke nights. This essentially means that you never need to leave the hostel until you absolutely have to.
If you do decide to leave the hostel for some exploration, Rainbow Square is just 10 minutes away. Within walking distance from it lie what are amongst Copenhagen’s best attractions. These include the National Museum of Denmark, Museum of Copenhagen, and the Christiansborg Palace, among others. If you’re interested in day trips, Rainbow Square is also the departure point for this amazing 5.5-hour Viking history tour to Roskilde.
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Danhostel Copenhagen City
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The design gay accommodation of Danhostel Copenhagen City is ‘Europe’s largest design hostel.’ Located on the Langebro Bridge, Danhostel is a great base for exploring Copenhagen’s historic center. It’s also perfect for swimming in Copenhagen’s fantastic Harbour Baths at Island Brygge, a 15-minute walk away.
The living style at Danhostel Copenhagen City features dorms, as well as rooms for singles and families. Rooms are vibrant and spacious, with huge windows offering sweeping, stunning views. The hostel also boasts of amenities like a TV room, table tennis and foosball tables, and a shared kitchen. Travelers will love the blue-and-green vibes of the laidback Bar50, which also doubles up as a cutesy breakfast place. If you want to explore the city, sign up for one of their fun-filled, free guided walking tours. Danhostel also offers bike rentals, and what better a way to explore the world’s best bicycle-friendly city?
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Hotel Skt Petri
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Laidback luxury comes to Copenhagen’s Latin Quarter in the form of the all-welcoming Hotel Skt Petri. One of the most well-designed and funkiest gay hotels in the city, the hotel is housed in a Modernist structure considered as Denmark’s first. Gay travelers with discerning taste will love staying at Skt Petri, for sure.
The wow factor begins from the grand main lobby itself with jazzy lighting, glass-cube walls, and all geometric flooring. It beautifully contrasts with the tranquil garden courtyard beyond, with flourishing trees, potted plants, and plenty of seating. Rooms are glamorous and inspire romance, all done up in plush, jeweled golds, greens, and blues shot against the dark wood. Apart from an in-house fitness room, the hotel has several food options. Its breakfast offer is particularly top-notch, making it one of the 11 Best Hotels in Copenhagen.
Skt Petri’s location on a corner of one of the Latin Quarter’s main pedestrianized streets is extremely convenient for exploring Copenhagen’s attractions and sights. What’s more, the metro station nearby provides excellent links to the rest of the city.
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Absalon Hotel
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The award-winning gay-friendly Absalon Hotel lies right in the heart of Copenhagen’s Vesterbro district. The wonderfully central location and reasonable rates make it one of the best-value gay hotels in Copenhagen to stay at.
Housed in two 19th-century buildings, the hotel has a strikingly contemporary interior, complete with gorgeous ceramic tiles and impressive decor oddities. Rooms are classic-contemporary with three color themes giving off major ‘Alice in Wonderland’ vibes. Standard rooms feature ‘Berry’ (pinks and purples), and ‘Ocean’ (silver-grey and blue) colors. The Superior ones, on the other hand, feature ‘Grass’ (black, fuchsia, and emerald) hues, so take your pick.
The buffet breakfast is a hearty affair, cleverly laid out at the ends of the room in two identical spreads for avoiding queues. There’s mini-golf in the courtyard, and the hotel even sells tickets for popular Copenhagen attractions. What’s more, the hotel has board games that you can borrow.
Located right next to Copenhagen Central/Metro Station, the Absalon Hotel enjoys great transport links with the rest of the city. What’s more, the gay scene at Studiestræde, including the likes of the kinky SLM, is not more than 10 minutes away.
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Manon Les Suites Guldsmeden
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The modern, one-of-a-kind Manon Les Suites Guldsmeden has quickly become the ‘it’ spot in town. The gay-friendly hotel has proven to be an instant hit, thanks to the spacious apartment-suites around a central pool and the gorgeous sun-trap roof terrace.
The apartment-rooms are a sprawling, peaceful retreat, complete with Balinese four-poster beds, seating areas, and even kitchenettes. However, it’s the sun-kissed roof terrace where you’ll want to hang out. Lazily recline on the loungers and daybeds while ordering cocktails from the poolside bar. There are even tiered bench seats with vibrant throw cushions perfect for catching up with fellow travelers. Wash off all tiredness in the sauna and steam room, or burn calories gained from eating delicious Scandi food in the basement gym.
If you’ve had your fill of laze and are seeking excitement outside the hotel, the gay scene of Copenhagen, which also includes the fun Jailhouse, is just 10 minutes from here.
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Just So You Know:
- In 1917 the world was vehemently against homosexuality, Copenhagen saw the opening of Europe’s first gay bar, the legendary Centralhjørnet.
- Copenhagen even renamed the main City Hall Square as Rainbow Square for the LGBTQ+ community.
- In 2017, Denmark became the world’s first country to no longer classify being transgender as a ‘mental illness.’
Get Some Culture in Copenhagen:
- Copenhagen Pride: Copenhagen Pride is the city’s biggest festival with an entire week of drag shows, speeches, concerts and, of course, the Pride parade. What’s more, Copenhagen also has Winter Pride, and the city even celebrates a rainbow-colored Christmas.
- Gaily Tour of Copenhagen: Take this extremely interesting tour of the land of fairytales with a friendly gay/lesbian guide. Explore this rich cultural city and hear tales of how a tiny fishing village became the capital of Denmark.
- WAREHOUSE9 – A live performance space showcasing groundbreaking music, dance, burlesque, and films with a strong focus on LGBTQ issues.
Best Gay Bars / Clubs in Copenhagen:
- Jailhouse CPH – The cozy and fun gay spot with fun weekend events bring themes like Bear, Sailor Night, Construction, and Prison Night.
- Centralhjørnet – This is the world’s oldest gay bar that’s still standing. During winter, the stage here features everything from jazz to drag shows.
- Never Mind – This gay club features excellent drinks and cute guys. Parties go on until 6 am if you want in.
- SLM Copenhagen – This is Scandinavia’s largest fetish club and one of the very best in the world. It welcomes gay and bisexual men into denim, army, uniform, rubber, leather, and what-not.
Best Gay Saunas in Copenhagen:
Copenhagen doesn’t have a thriving gay sauna scene – not yet, at least. A better idea would be to book rooms in one of the hotels with saunas so that you can enjoy to the hilt.
