How to Pick a Hostel in Copenhagen

View from the Copenhagen City Hostel

Copenhagen is a popular destination for tourists. Finding a bed in the city is not very difficult, but if you are traveling on a budget and looking for a bed in a hostel, here is a quick rundown of where to look and what to expect.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Passport

1. Try one of the two new downtown hostel offerings provided by Hostelling International. Basically, they are a world-wide hostel organization that has a good reputation for running clean and safe hostels that are open to travelers of all ages. In Copenhagen, they operate two hostels that are conveniently located downtown. There is the Danhostel Copenhagen Downtown, which is a new 16-story high rise affair, and the Danhostel Copenhagen City, which just opened this summer and has a restaurant and bar on the premises. These two hostels are a bit on the pricey side with a bed in a dorm room running at just over $40 (see Resources below).

2. Visit the other two hostels run by the same organization. They are located away from the center of the city, so they are less expensive, but you will have to use the public transportation system to get back and forth. The Danhostel Copenhagen Bellahoj is located west of the city center near a very nice city park and the Danhostel Amager is located across the harbor in the opposite direction (see Resources below).

3. Stay at a sleep-in. There are two sleep-ins here in Copenhagen. A sleep-in is a lively, easy-going version of a hostel that attracts a young crowd that likes to have a good time. In this city there are two sleep-ins, the Sleep-in Green (www.sleep-in-green.dk/) and the Sleep-in Heaven (www.sleepinheaven.com). The Sleep-in Green is a small place, located in the Norrebro section of Copenhagen. It has no age restrictions. The Sleep-in Heaven sells food, beer, has an age limit (18 to 35) and a very large gymnasium-style dorm room that is open in the summer to accommodate the overflow crowds. Check online for prices.

4. Head out of town to find a place to stay. Copenhagen has a very large metro system, so you could visit one of the outlying towns such as Lyngby, Roskilde or Helsingor, where there is a Danhostel, and ride the train into the city for your sightseeing.

5. Go sleep at the VIP Backpackkers Hostel. It is called the Hostel Belaegningen (www.vipbackpackers.com/hostels/149/Denmark_Copenhagen_Hostel_Belaegningen.aspx - 49k) and is located about 10 km from the city center. The VIP backpackers is yet another organization that runs hostels in Europe. This hostel is located near the town of Lyngby.

Tips & Warnings

• Reserving a hostel bed (even one in a dorm room) is a good idea during the warmer months of the year.

• Some hostels have membership plans, which allow for a discounted price at their hostel system.

• Bring your own combination lock. Most hostels provide lockers, but no locks.

• Some hostels can fill up during the popular travel months.

Resources

• Hostelling International
• The Danhostel Copenhagen Downtown hostel
• The Danhostel Copenhagen City hostel
• The Danhostel Copenhagen Bellahoj hostel
• The Danhostel Amager hostel