Quick Navigation

Nestled deep within the heart of Central Copenhagen, you’ll find the Copenhagen Downtown Hostel (CDH). Located at Vandkunsten 5, 1467 Copenhagen, it is one of Europe’s coolest, most retro, most vibrant, most popular hostels, wonderfully located in Copenhagen’s historic Old Town.

Ranked by Hostel World as the ‘Most Popular Hostel in Copenhagen for several years (2012, 2014 – 2017), this hostel has earned a famous reputation throughout Europe thanks to the booming ratings and reviews given by its satisfied guests.

Usually the home of backpackers from around the world, you can also find students, budget travellers, and even business people mixed in. This is the kind of place where anyone can fit in babe.

So, on June 8th 2019, my sister and I were two of those budget travellers with small suitcases, mixed in with backpackers from all over the world! We were two girls from Trinidad & Tobago (approx. 4995 air miles away) who entered its doors for 5 days, pinching ourselves and wondering in amazement “how the hell did we get here?!”.

We had never travelled like this ever before in our lives – just jetting off to a foreign city where we knew no one but each other. We were one of the first in our family to take such a HUGE risk – but take it we did! No turning back. We just couldn’t believe that we had done it!

We knew full well our budgets weren’t expanding for a hotel stay or renting out an Airbnb because accommodation in Copenhagen is famously known for its cost. So we were buzzing with excitement that we were getting to live in Copenhagen for 5 days, for a fraction of the cost of a regular hotel room.

But really, how the hell did we end up there?! Why Copenhagen of all places?

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive a small amount of compensation for my book addiction, at no cost to you. I only write about what I am passionate about and have personally used or experienced in my own life so that I can add maximum value to yours!

Well my dear friend, not only were we already in Europe (thank God for family who live in London), but my sister met some Danes at University who got her curious about paying Scandinavia a visit; plus I am also a HUGE travel junkie, constantly high off of wanderlust, who always wants to experiment with the lifestyle of a traveller. In addition to that I had read the book, “The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well” by Meik Wiking (Book Review coming soon) and was curious to see with my own two eyes, and experience the Danish way of life.

Now I can say for a fact, Copenhagen is one of the coolest, hippest, trendiest, most retro, most hygge, most expensive cities in all of Europe (when you get there you’ll see what I mean). I have zero regrets about going or about staying at the Copenhagen Downtown Hostel.

But there are accommodation cons as well, especially for the ladies. I read many blog reviews on CDH before going, but never saw any that highlighted the things to look out for. So here I am dishing out the real deals you may or may not encounter…but we did.

BTW, before we dive in, don’t forget to grab your FREE “Globetrotter Girlie” Travel-Packing Checklist – a handy dandy tool to get you perfectly prepped for your next adventure!

Hope you enjoy this account of my experiences in beautiful Copenhagen, and that it inspires you to visit on your travels! Sending you much love💖

First, here are the awesome things about CDH that made it the perfect location for us female budget travellers in Copenhagen…

The Pros

1. Perfect Location: Walking distance to Every Highlight Attraction in Central Copenhagen

As complete newbies in Scandinavia without a clue of what to expect, one of our first, and most wonderful discoveries was that CDH is located in the heart of the inner city, nestled between Christiansborg Palace and the Strøget.

So what did that mean for us?

Let’s just say, I left with VERY toned legs!

For the 5 days that my sister and I were there, we literally walked EVERYWHERE! We chose not to rent any bikes, mainly because we were very apprehensive about navigating through the streets of Copenhagen on two wheels. But we also knew that the best way to consume Copenhagen was to take the most pictures and soak up the sights on foot.

We never even took a cab or public transport to get to anywhere although the nearest metro was literally a few minutes away. For us, the best way to get around was to just burn as many calories as possible on foot before we sat down to take in all the fabulous Danish food Copenhagen had to offer. Win-win! We might as well right?!

To give you some “on foot” perspective, from CDH you’re….

1 min from Magstraede (one of the oldest, most picturesque streets in the Old Town of Copenhagen)

5 mins from the Strøget (the longest pedestrianized shopping street in the world)

5 mins from the National Museum of Denmark

10 mins from Copenhagen Central Station

8-10 mins from Tivoli Gardens (Copenhagen’s most popular amusement park – home to rides, games, musicals and major concerts)

20-30 mins from Church of Our Saviour (One of Denmark’s most famous churches with a 400 step serpentine spire)

20-30 mins from Nyhavn (Copenhagen’s most famous 17th century waterfront, canal and entertainment district, lined with townhouses, bars, cafes and restaurants)

You can also find a host of AMAZING bars, cafes and restaurants situated a mere 5 minutes walk from CDH, down the many alleyways of its beautiful cobbled streets.

Clearly CDH is within a comfortable walking distance to ALL major attractions in Central Copenhagen.

The main sights are right on your doorstep!

TIP: My GPS app of choice for getting around Copenhagen was Citymapper. It immediately set us on the fastest route to everywhere we wanted to go. I absolutely love this app. For over 5 years it has been taking me wherever I wanted to go.

2. Cute, Friendly & Amazing Staff from all over the World

CDH has some of the friendliest (and cutest) staff I have ever met.

Not only were they helpful, and catered to answering your every question at reception, but OMG there was ALWAYS a happy vibe behind the bar.

They are the epitome of “service with a smile”. It helps that they’re multilingual too, catering to the language barriers of their guests.

What’s more is that the staff don’t wear stuffy uniforms like you’d find in major hotels. Thus, they simply blend in. Unless they were behind the counter, you couldn’t tell who was staff and who wasn’t. This added immensely to the chilled, warm, welcoming, friendly vibe of CDH.

What made it even better was their awesome taste in music. For 24 hours a day, quality music seeped through the speakers dotted around the bar / lounge area. They especially played 80s & 90s rock, which I’m an absolute slave for. I used to head downstairs for a drink just so I can listen to 80s music and relax with a good book for as long as possible. Talk about hygge!

Undoubtedly, the bar is CDH’s highlight. It’s what attracts most people to this hostel. This bar is never empty, and its doors are always open. Never have I experienced anything like it. More than just the location, I believe that the bar has made CDH what it is today – one of the best (party) hostels in Europe.

Come experience the relaxed atmosphere, walk on the wooden floors, sit on its woven-striped benches, lounge on its vintage furniture, and take pictures of its colourfully-tiled bar.

3. Making Friends Is So Easy

At CDH, a strong social vibe is evident.

As soon as you enter its doors, you feel like you’ve been immediately transported into another world. There are wooden tables and benches to your left, to your right, and straight ahead…all spilling over with young travellers.

You find travellers studiously typing away at their laptops, some with their noses hidden by a book, deeply engrossed in the words, some just laughing and talking away over some drinks, and even the odd travelling couple tucked away in a nook, cuddling.

Safe to say, there’s more than enough people around for you to introduce yourself to.

The bar floor is always buzzing & crowded with locals and visitors. What I loved most about CDH is that during the summer days its bar actually spills out into the pedestrian sidewalk with sofa beds, benches, and cushions. This layout, with its floor to ceiling bi-fold doors makes you feel like there’s always room for more. It’s inviting.

Late into the nights you can find, and hear the distant voices of people talking and laughing, spilling over into the streets from the bar’s open doors.

It’s perfect for a solo backpacker or budget traveller who’s looking to meet new people.

From Day 1 we started making friends with cool people from all over Europe, and the world. Met lots of Londoners, Scots, Swedes, fellow Danes, and Latin Americans (all who do a variety of different things – law, recruitment, sport, music, culinary arts etc.)

The bar is where we went to just sit and chill since we had a private room but still wanted to make friends. And it wasn’t even that hard because most people came up to us. The bar is literally where you meet everyone!

Plus, let’s not forget Happy Hour from 8-9pm every night There are good offers on all the time, and Friday and Saturday there are always events and parties happening. It’s such a popular space to meet people that even young local Danes actually go there to hang out.

4. Rooms are Clean & Spacious

Whilst there for 5 days, my sister and I were completely comfortable in our rooms.

We had clean carpets, a bed neatly made with clean white sheets, towels for our use, an installed blow-dryer and more than enough floor space for us to get around each other comfortably. We felt very warm and cosy, especially at night when tucked into bed.

There’s even a huge under-bed storage area for your luggage (just don’t forget your padlock).

Apparently these rooms were designed by local artists.

There were also electrical sockets and personal reading lights over the bed and in the vanity area. And we were lucky enough to snag a room with its own en-suite bathroom. That was a MUST HAVE!

TIP: To use the electrical sockets in Europe you must ensure you get adapters for the countries you plan to visit, just in case your country uses different types of sockets.

5. Affordable

Again, I can’t say this enough. CDH is the perfect hostel for a solo backpacker or budget traveller. The benefits are top notch!

Not only do you get FAST, free Wifi; you also get free iPad and laptop rentals, free walking tours – twice a day, every day, free newspapers in the lobby, cheap alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks, budget-friendly food menu, and buffet breakfast for guests (for a small fee).

For the 5 nights my sister and I stayed in our private, en-suite room, it also cost us approximately 500 euros. That’s a steal of a deal my friends! Compare that to 5 nights in a hotel for 2 people! With that price, we knew we could not go wrong.

It’s great value for budget travellers, solo travellers, and backpackers who want to be close to everything without having to spend a fortune.

6. Room Options

So, like I said, my sis & I stayed in a private room with double-decker beds and an en-suite bathroom. That was our preference. We didn’t want to share. We lucked out as well because all private rooms overlook the Vandkunsten square with its 1910 water fountain. According to Hostelworld, it’s an urban gem.

But maybe a private room isn’t what you’re looking for. At CDH the room options are endless, especially for solo and budget travellers.

You can be like myself and opt for a private room with ensuite (2-3 beds)

You can book a private room with shared bathroom (2,4 beds)

You can decide on a mixed dorm with shared bathroom (4,6,8,10 beds)

Or you can go for a female dorm with shared bathroom (4 beds)

Simply put, there’s a room type for everyone.

These pros made CDH the ideal location for us short-stayers. However, woman to woman, there’s a few things I should also make you aware of just in case…

Cons

1. Random Men Looking for a “Good Time” Take Advantage of the Bar’s “Open to the Public” Policy

The worst things my sister and I experienced during our 5 days at the CDH were the number of men approaching us and making advances whilst we were sitting and chatting amongst ourselves at the bar area. Uninvited, they would approach us, with drinks in hand, and ask us if they can join us.

Naïve at first, we’d say ‘yes, sure’! But after a few minutes we would realize that they were interested in having more than an innocent conversation at a hostel bar.

These advances occurred every evening, as we tried to enjoy the bar atmosphere instead of staying couped up in our room.

And one thing each group had in common was the desire to persuade us to drink. For them, there was always room for having “one more”.

Not sure if it’s a European thing but when men try to encourage you to drink, you know they’re trying to wear down your good sense. So just be careful of that at CDH.

Of course, if you’re a lady looking for love or a little lovin’ please overlook this. I ain’t judgin’!

However, if you’re the type who is cautious of men in foreign places, be mindful of the fact that at CDH you can be approached.

Matters not if you’re sitting alone or with a group.

So be prepared with some witty responses for the guys who decide to try their luck and disturb your peace (unless you want your peace disturbed of course) *wink*

2. Potential Harassment

So, CDH is famously known as the party hostel. Every night you’ll find people hanging out at the bar, having shots and drinks. If you’re over the age of 18 and you’re reading this, you know what it’s like when people have had a bit too much to drink.

*Image Courtesy Copenhagen Downtown Hostel*

Whilst there, hanging out at the bar with my sister, we were approached by a group of maybe 4 guys who wanted to sit and talk to some girls. Out of those 4 guys, 2 of them became “touchy-feely” when they started to get comfortable around my sister and I.

One was more subtle with his spontaneous hugs and hand touches, and even tried to steal a kiss. However, the other was more blatant in his advances, trying to steal kisses, hug and never let go, and even tried to prevent my sister and I from heading to bed when we had enough of their foolishness (which took all of 10 minutes).

So annoying!

Of course not saying this will happen to you babe; the moral of these experiences is just that single women are the easiest targets! So please, be mindful of your alcohol intake as you’ll be easy prey for other intoxicated men who may want to win your attention.

3. Anyone can Enter Door into Hostel Stairwell which leads up to Rooms

CDH has digital key cards for secure access into the dorm room area. This is great!

However, as a guest, I realized that the first entry point for swiping the key cards were on the individual room floors, at the doors leading into the dorm rooms. So, if anyone wanted to follow you out of the bar, and up the stairs into the dorm room floors, they can.

That needs to be changed in my opinion. The first entry point access for the digital key cards should be at the door in the bar area leading up the stairs to the room floors.

That way, you can ensure that random strangers won’t be parading along the narrow staircase.

In my humble opinion, only staff, paying guests, and their invited guests should have access to the staircase.

What’s more, instead of having the swipe point at the bar so that only paying guests can enter into the dorm room floors, CDH instead has the swipe point on the opposite side of the door where guests must swipe the key cards in order to exit the stairwell and enter into the bar. To me, that makes no sense. It should be the other way around.

4. Showers Could Be Better

Depending on who you’re staying with, the showers may not always be squeaky clean when you use them. You may find dirt or strands of hair on the floors or clinging onto the wall.

Nothing to be overly concerned about; but if you’re a germophobe, bring along a pair of flip flops to wear whilst you’re in the shower to prevent your feet from having to touch the floor. I do this ALL THE TIME!

Concluding Thoughts…….

I went to Copenhagen and the CDH without a clue of what to expect.

What I discovered is that it is hands-down one of the most lively and sociable hostels in town, and accommodations I have ever been to in general. It is edgy, energetic and affordable.

Filled with great music. Filled with great people. Filled with great vibes.

Despite the cons, I had an unforgettable time there.

But if you ever decide to visit Copenhagen and stay at the CDH, I don’t want any cons for you!

You’re now aware of the good and the bad aspects of the CDH, so that you can easily book an affordable stay there and enjoy all of its pros, whilst dodging its cons so that they don’t affect you.

If this is up your alley, book with them right here.

Surrounding myself with such positive vibes for 5 days, I fully understood how CDH is the beating heart of Central Copenhagen, and why the Danes are ranked as the happiest people in the world.

Staying at the Copenhagen Downtown Hostel was SO worth it!

Over to You

What are your thoughts on hostels? Would you stay in one?

Would you stay at the Copenhagen Downtown Hostel?

Have you stayed at the Copenhagen Downtown Hostel before?

What’s your favourite accommodation preference – hostels, hotels or airbnbs?

Share your thoughts in the comments! I’d love to hear them!

[If you made it to the end of this, YOU ARE AMAZING! I love you and thank you so much for reading!]

LIKED WHAT YOU READ? PIN IT!