Check into Copenhagen's quirky 'single-suite' hotels
Ever dreamed of a hotel without the other guests? In the Danish capital, a bevy of quirky single-residency boutiques cater to this pandemic-friendly whim.
In Copenhagen, you can now check into the engine room of an industrial crane.
Suddenly, it pays to be the only guest checking in. Copenhagen’s recent uptick in single-suite hotels over the past decade has never seemed more prescient than it does now, and in line with the country’s reputation for envelope-pushing design, a string of stylish, intimate pads now offer a truly unique stay in the city. Take The Darling, which opened its doors in October in the city’s historical centre and serves up a sophisticated townhouse experience, with luxe Nordic furniture and art throughout the apartment — plus, a pre-arrival concierge service to minimise human interaction. From €950 (£832) a night.
Other properties have capitalised on the city’s waterfront location. Afloat in a quiet nook of the Christianshavn district is Kaj Hotel, a hut-cum-houseboat made from upcycled materials with a wood-panelled aesthetic that epitomises the concept of hygge (the Danes’ obsession with all things cosy). From 2,500 DKK (£295) a night.
Det Flydende Shelter (Danish for The Floating Shelter) also offers the serenity of the harbour, this time as part of an on-water camping experience on a rustic, roofed pontoon accessed only by kayak. It’s a taste of the wild in the heart of the metropolis: pack your camping stove and sleeping bag and even enjoy a sunrise dip as the city wakes up around you. From 495 DKK (£58) a night.
Then there’s the perfect idiosyncratic hotel to complement a truly unusual time — why not check into the engine room of an industrial crane? With its gorgeous views, twin sun terraces and post-industrial luxury design, The Krane is one of the standouts in the Danish capital’s one-room hotel scene. And, best of all, there’s not another guest in sight. From 6,000 DKK (£707) a night.
The world's smallest hotel
The Central Hotel & Café lays claim to this unusual boast with its chocolate-box attic room for two in the trendy Vesterbro neighbourhood. From 2,500 DKK (£294).
Copenhagen is set to introduce three public floating islands, which you can sail out to by ferry or kayak.
Don't miss
In a revolutionary step for urban planning, Copenhagen will introduce three public floating islands to its waterways this summer. Sail out to these buoyant specks of greenery by ferry or kayak. The Copenhagen Islands project aims for the ‘parkipelago’ to host stargazing, swimming and exhibitions as an antidote to cosmopolitan life.
Published in the April 2021 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK)
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