Accomodations in Denmark

There are many types of accomodations in Denmark - from the very basic to ultra-high class. You can choose from traditional hotels, Danish hostels or even a personal Home Stay. Where you want to stay and how much you want to spend will determine what type of accomodation you need to seek. Let's start from the bottom and move up.

Home stays: Many Danes rent out extra rooms to visitors through the Tourist Board. Just go to the tourist information office in Copenhagen across from Tivoli and SAS Hotel. Ask at the counter about renting a room.

The rates will vary and you will have to pay a booking fee to the tourist information office. Each home will be different, so you may wish to try a couple of them. Some will provide breakfast and some provide dinner, too. I have stayed in several and only one was unsatisfactory. The others were great.

The people are very friendly, but they will leave you alone if you wish. At one home, I was invited to dinner the first night and spent the evening talking with the children and their parents. They treated me like part of the family, the room was furnished nicely and I had access to everything in their home - kitchen, living area, and even their computer. This may not always be the case, but I have found that if you are friendly and a bit out-going, you will be welcome during your stay.

You'll have your own key, so you can go and come as you please. Remember, though, if you're staying in someone's home, treat it and the family with a great deal of respect. If you are out late partying, you don't want to disturb anyone by coming in at 4am in the morning. It is different from staying in a hotel, but it's a superb way of meeting Danes and seeing how they live.

Hostels: There are 96 hostels throughout Denmark called DanHostel or Vandrerhjem. There are 4 in the Copenhagen area, one centrally located near the main train station, Tivoli and the Stroget (walking street). The other 3 are only a short distance from the center of town and easily accessible by bus. The cost of your stay will depend on the time of year, type of room, number in your party, whether it's a private room or dorm, etc. You will need a hostel card, which you can buy when you arrive, or you can pay an additional charge per night if you decide not to get a card. The card presently costs 160 Dkr for a year, or you can pay an additional 35 Dkr per night if you do not have a card. If you're spending 5 nights in a hostel, it's better to get the card. You will also be charged extra for linens unless you have your own, and you will need to clean the room before departing. For more info on hosteling, check out

Dan Hostel

Budget Hotels: There are many budget hotels and they are usually quite comfortable and clean. Along Istegade in Copenhagen, near the train stations, there are several budget-type hotels where you get a clean, basic room. There may not be a bathroom in the room, so you will have to go down the hall to a communal area. This is usually a private room, however, where you can lock the door and do your business in private. You are not showering with 20 other people! The only problem is that there may be only 2 or 3 of these areas per floor, so you could be waiting during peak times.

First-class hotels:, Denmark has some very nice top-notch hotels. Unfortunately, I have not stayed in any, since their prices are close to my monthly mortgage! If you like to be pampered and in the center of everything, check out some of the exclusive hotels. The Hotel D'Angleterre next to Nyhavn is considered Denmark's top hotel and has a great location. If you can afford it, you will be very happy there.

Some other options: There are, of course, hotels in between the budget and first-class hotels. A little searching will give you many to choose from if mid-range hotels are what you are seeking. I do not want to duplicate information that is already readily available from other sources.

If you plan on a longer stay, there are self-catering hotels, where you are given a 1-2 room accomodation complete with a kitchen. These are usually rented by the week or month.

Holiday Homes / Summer Houses: During the summer months, you may wish to look into renting a summer home. Many Danes have summer homes, which are cottages outside the cities in small communities. They can be anything from a single room to a multiple-room house. Summer houses are not designed to be lived in year round, so the Danes flock to them during the summer months, leaving their regular homes empty. This leaves two possibilities:

If they are not using their summer homes, they may put them up for rent. If they are leaving their apartments or houses empty for several weeks or months, they may rent them out. These types of rentals are usually found in the local papers. Your best bet is to find a Danish friend who can help you locate one of these rentals, since they often have to be rented months in advance. You will also be required to put down deposits, which are refunded if the place is returned in good condition.

Other Options