The best hotels in Copenhagen for family-friendly city breaks

From babies to big kids, Copenhagen’s minimalist and smartly designed hotel rooms are a great fit for every member of the family. Renowned for being a family-friendly place to live and a delightful city to bring up kids, Copenhagen is a good bet for a family holiday, too. The country that brought us Lego has a quieter pace of life than many other countries, and has a playful personality, whether that’s in its safe cycle lanes, kerbside mini trampolines or via trail of giant wooden trolls – really.

Family-friendly hotels are relatively easy to find in the city, but bear in mind that smaller historic hotels don’t traditionally have the largest rooms – depending on your family set up, you might be better off booking an apartment or two connecting rooms – and bathrooms typically only feature showers. There’s plenty of choice for those with babies and young children and you’ll be welcome everywhere. There’s not really a bad location in the city if you’re visiting with kids; bear in mind that when bike rental is mentioned, it usually only means adult bikes. If you want to rent kids bikes or a cargo bike, which is a very fun way to get around, ask if it can be arranged.

Here are the best places to stay in Copenhagen for families. This iconic five-star hotel opens on to Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen’s historic theme park, where peacocks strut about like they own the place. Staying here will make you feel like you do, too. Nimb guests can ride roller coasters without having to queue before and after hours, in just one of the many VIP perks available. Its exquisite 38 rooms and suites are the height of luxury, decorated with antiques and sumptuous fabrics, Danish design lighting and four poster beds, and its service level is exceptional throughout. If money is no object, look no further.

The pampering experience for parents is superb – a rooftop pool plus a divine subterranean spa and the best concierge team in town on hand for your every whim. It’s pretty special for kids, too: there’s a child-ready mini bar, a gift for kids on arrival, kid-friendly body care products and even bedtime stories on demand. Book babysitting so you can enjoy a night out without the kids, or arrange a personal shopping trip around the city for your teens. The attention to detail is extraordinary and you won’t want to leave.

Address: Bernstorffsgade 5, Copenhagen. Read more: I took a family of four on a Copenhagen city break for under £1,000 – here’s how we managed it. High energy is the vibe at 25Hours Hotel Indre By, which has bags of colour and character and isn’t your typical family hotel. It’s designed for hip, attitude-rich visitors who want to stay somewhere with personality – and it’s got that in spades: if you happen to have kids with you, well, why not just come along for the ride? In a 19th century building steps from the Round Tower in the heart of old Copenhagen, it’s especially good for those with teens, with shopping right outside and a vinyl room they can listen to music in. The hotel has multiple restaurants and offers bike rental. Book a single room for your teen and a double for yourselves, and give them space. For those with babies or toddlers, the hotel’s large, extra large and gigantic rooms have space for a cot and myriad design tchotchkes, colour and patterns to keep them stimulated. Toddlers can wear themselves up running up the Round Tower’s wide and flat paved path.

Address: Pilestræde 65, Indre By. Read more: How to spend a day in Carlsberg City District, the industrial-chic area of Copenhagen with a brewing past. For stylish families who want to feel like a local during their stay, Kanalhuset fits the bill. It’s fine for those with babies (though it may be loud at night, given its bar and communal dining room), and best for those with older kids or teens as there’s not a lot of room for noisy toddlers to run around. A historic house dating to 1754 in glorious Christianshavn overlooking a canal, it has 12 boutique bedrooms in the well-lit basement, some sleeping up to five, and 14 larger apartments on the upper floors with a kitchenette, living room and dining area. Decor throughout has a boutique, reclaimed-retro vibe: pieces come from flea markets, private collections and auctions and include graphic print wall hangings and velvet-upholstered sofas. After a day out, relax in the lounge and drink hot chocolate. It’s decidedly low-tech, with no lift and few mod cons.

Address: Overgaden Oven Vandet 62a, Christianshavn. Read more: The ultimate foodie guide to Copenhagen. A rule of thumb for Scandinavia: if you’re looking for a budget stay, think Scandic. The same goes if you’re looking for a good-value family stay. The hotel chain is all over the region – there are 13 Scandics in Copenhagen itself – and offers reliable hotels that welcome families. While its Kødbyen branch is styled for nightlife lovers and situated next to the Meatpacking District, a hub of bars and restaurants, it’s pretty good for families as well, a stroll from the excellent Skydebanehaven playground, John’s Hot Dog Deli, and DGI swimming pool and sports centre. The stylish master suites sleep up to four with a loft bedroom for kids; those age 12 and under stay for free (as with all Scandic hotels), and there’s a discount if you book a separate room next door for your teen. Best for the kids, breakfast always includes pancakes.