Indre By, Copenhagen: A Local’s Neighborhood Guide

If you’re visiting Copenhagen for the first time, you’ll probably spend a good chunk of your trip in Indre By. This is the district with most of the city’s main attractions and where many of the Copenhagen photos you’ve seen on Instagram were taken. While it definitely is the most touristy part of town, the inner city does have its charm beyond the souvenir shops and tour buses. 

During my 4+ years of living in Copenhagen, I have spent much of that time actually living in Indre By. So, in addition to being a local in the Copenhagen sense, I have first-hand insights and experiences that many who live here still don’t. Indre By can sometimes feel like a bombardment of tourists, which drives many locals away—but I think it’s well worth spending a good chunk of time here. Plus, you can easily escape the crowds by planning a bit more effectively. 

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll give you all the information you need to explore Copenhagen’s most central district in significant detail. We’ll cover the top sights, my favorite museums, where I recommend eating, and more. 

What Area of Copenhagen Is Indre By?

Indre By is where you’ll find many of the best things to do in Copenhagen. Translating to “inner city” in English, the neighborhood is—as the name suggests—the innermost part of the Danish capital. The district straddles The Lakes on one side and is split from other parts of Copenhagen by the inner harbor, along with Copenhagen Central Station (which separates it from Vesterbro).

I’ve included a map below to help you get your bearings.  

What Kind of Neighborhood Is Indre By?

Before I moved to Indre By, I didn’t actually think anyone lived there. Instead, I assumed it was shops, offices, and tourist attractions. However, I could not have been more wrong—and I’m glad that my initial impressions were dumbfounded. 

Indre By is actually quite laid-back when you dig beneath the surface, even if it feels chaotic at times. It’s definitely not as chilled as Vesterbro, but there is room to breathe if you’re willing to. A mixture of people live here, many of whom have bought apartments a while back. Finding an apartment here can be quite difficult as basically everyone wants to be in the center 😅. 

Most of Indre By features old-style Copenhagen architecture, making the neighborhood even more charming. It doesn’t feel as residential as other districts, such as Østerbro and Sydhavn—but there’s definitely still some life. 

What to Do in indre By: My Top Recommendations

Whether you’re spending 3 days in Copenhagen or longer (like 4 days), Indre By is where you should spend at least one of your days. To help you enjoy the best possible experience, I’ve compiled a list of the best sights and experiences for this part of the city. You’ll also discover some of the district’s best museums. 

Top Sights 

1. Nyhavn

Nyhavn is *the* postcard spot in Copenhagen. This scenic canal is famous for its colorful houses and was one of the first places I visited upon my first trip to the city in 2016. Even now, I regularly come here for photography; I have taken well over 4,000 photos of Nyhavn. 

I don’t recommend eating here as many of the restaurants are pretty overpriced, while also being tourist traps, in my opinion. Nonetheless, the canal is lovely for a wander—especially early in the morning if you visit Copenhagen in the summer. 

Regardless of when you’re in Copenhagen, I recommend coming to Nyhavn early in the day. It gets very crowded on weekends in particular and can feel overwhelming. Evenings are also nice to visit if you can stand the number of people here, especially if you like street photography. 

2. Nyboder

The yellow houses at Nyboder are some of my favorite places for Copenhagen architectural photography, and they’re well worth a walk around. These houses are some of the iconic examples of row houses in the Danish capital, and if you’re here on a Sunday, you can visit the one at Sankt Pauls Gade 24 for just 20 DKK. 

The houses at Nyboder are within walking distance from both Østerport (train and Metro) and Marmorkirken (Metro). This area is generally quite peaceful, so it doesn’t matter too much which time of day you visit. Remember to be respectful, though, as people still live here.

3. Slotsholmen

Slotsholmen is the island where you’ll find Christiansborg Palace, which is the home of the Danish government. Though it’s possible to visit the palace’s interior, a trip here is worthwhile even if you don’t. The grounds outside are accessible for free, and you’ll also find a nice hidden garden. 

From the top of Christiansborg Palace, you can get an excellent view of Copenhagen. Access to the tower is free. 

On Slotsholmen, you’ll find some great views of Gammel Strand, which is one of my favorite photo spots in Copenhagen. Moreover, you should allocate some time to checking out the Black Diamond’s interior; this library has a really cool modern design. 

4. Magstræde

Magstræde is one of the cutest streets in Copenhagen. While many people view it from the side closest to Knabrostræde, I think it looks even more interesting down the other end. Allocate some time to wander from top to bottom; there’s also an Emmerys bakery nearby, which is quite nice. 

Like Nyhavn, I suggest going to Magstræde early in the morning. It can sometimes get crowded here, especially when walking tours go past. Take the Metro to Gammel Strand and then walk to Magstræde from there. 

5. Rosenborg Castle and Kongens Have

Rosenborg Castle is right in the city center and one of Copenhagen’s best examples of Dutch Renaissance architecture. You’ll find another example of this at Frederiksborg Slot in Hillerød, which is a fantastic day trip from Copenhagen.

You’ll find Rosenborg Castle in Kongens Have, which is one of the city’s nicest parks. It’s a very popular hangout spot for locals, especially during the summer months. So, if you’re lucky, you might even see some nice golden retrievers on their morning walk 🙂.

The castle and park are very close to Nørreport and also within walking distance of Nyhavn. 

6. Marmorkirken and Amalienborg Palace

Marmorkirken feels like it belongs in Italy more than Denmark, and it’s one of the city’s most beautiful churches. You can visit the tower on Sundays, but even without going to the top, the surrounding areas are lovely. 

The church is right next to Amalienborg Palace, which is home to the Royal Family. You don’t need to spend too much time in this part of Indre By, but it’s still worth checking out on your first trip. 

The Best Experiences in Indre by

In addition to the many sights you’ll find in Indre By, I’ve added some of my recommended experiences in the city’s main district. 

1. Visit the Round Tower

The Round Tower offers a great view of Copenhagen and is less of a strenuous climb than the Church of Our Savior. I’ve been here multiple times both as a tourist and since moving to Copenhagen; it still offers one of my favorite views over the city. 

You can buy admission to the Round Tower at the ticket office. You may need to wait in a queue at peak times, so I recommend coming here in the off-season if possible. If not, the wait is well worth it. 

Address: Købmagergade 52A, 1150 København K

2. Take a Canal Tour From Nyhavn or Gammel Strand

Besides visiting Nyhavn in and of itself, I recommend taking a canal tour to see the rest of the city. It’s a great option if you want to get your bearings, and equally as worthwhile for getting a unique view of Copenhagen. 

Stromma and Nettobådene both operate tours in Copenhagen. Both have ticket booths at Nyhavn, while Stromma also has tours that depart from Gammel Strand.

While I personally prefer Stromma’s boat tours, either/or is fine; there isn’t a *huge* difference between them. Even if it’s raining in Copenhagen when you visit, I still suggest taking a boat tour (in fact, I’d argue that’s the best time to do so). 

The tour below departs from Gammel Strand.

3. Watch the Changing of the Guard at Amalienborg Palace

The Changing of the Guard is totally free to watch and takes place daily at Amalienborg Palace. It usually happens around 12:00, and there’s always a crowd to see the event. It’s a cool extra thing to do if you find yourself in this part of Copenhagen at that time. 

The march starts from Rosenborg Castle at 11:30 before ending up at Amalienborg Slotsplads roughly 30 minutes later. 

Museums in Indre By

Indre By is home to many of Copenhagen’s best museums, and visiting these is great when the weather doesn’t play fair outside. If you visit the Danish capital in the autumn or winter, that will probably happen. 

Below, I’ve listed some of my favorite museums in Indre By. 

1. Designmuseum Danmark

I first visited the Design Museum in October 2022 after it was renovated and really enjoyed it. This is a fantastic place to learn about Denmark’s rich design history, with a number of interactive exhibitions. 

The permanent Danish Modern exhibition is popular in particular, while there are a number of other temporary ones. Besides the museum itself, you’ll find a nice café here. Take the Metro to Marmorkirken and walk from there. 

Address: Bredgade 68, 1260 København K

Website: https://designmuseum.dk/en/ 

2. The National Museum of Denmark

The National Museum of Denmark was another place I visited on my first trip to Copenhagen, and it was a great introduction to the country. Here, you’ll learn about various periods in Danish history—with a number of exhibitions on show. The museum is right next to Slotsholmen, making it the perfect place to stop once you’ve explored the island. 

At the museum, you will also find a nice restaurant and café. You can buy your tickets in advance. 

Address: Ny Vestergade 10, 1471 København K

Website: https://en.natmus.dk/ 

3. Statens Museum for Kunst

Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK) is close to Rosenborg Castle and Kongens Have, and it’s Denmark’s biggest art museum. You can see artworks from across the globe here, and the building’s interior is also worth checking out. 

In addition to the art installations, you’ll find a popular café. You can buy tickets to the museum here.

Address: Sølvgade 48-50, 1307 København K

Website: https://www.smk.dk/en/

Note: 

If you plan to visit multiple museums and attractions in Copenhagen, you may want to buy the Copenhagen Card. You can use it to enter the Design Museum, SMK, the National Museum, Christiansborg Palace, and many other attractions in and around Copenhagen. Moreover, you can enjoy unlimited public transport rides. 

• Buy the Copenhagen Card

Places to Eat in Indre By

While I think that other parts of Copenhagen share most of the city’s great restaurants and cafés, Indre By has a number of nice places to eat. Below are my top recommendations, based on personal experience. 

As a side note: If you’re looking for nice bars, Nørrebro and Vesterbro are better options than Indre By, for the most part. 

1. Gasoline Grill

In my opinion, Gasoline Grill makes the best burgers in Copenhagen. You will find a handful of establishments throughout the city, including one on Borgergade. Burgers are made with organic beef, and veggie burgers are also available.

Be prepared to stand in a queue, but the burgers are worth it. Plus, the burger spot on Borgergade is in a repurposed gas station. If you want less of a queue, I’ve had better luck at Broens (which is technically Christianshavn but right across the bridge from Nyhavn.

Address (Borgergade): Landgreven 10, 1301 København K

Website: https://www.gasolinegrill.com/

2. Apotek 57

Apotek 57 is one of my favorite places to go for brunch in Copenhagen. While there isn’t much seating inside, the food is worth waiting for (there’s often a queue outside). The focaccia bread here is particularly good, but you also shouldn’t miss out on the pastries. 

You’ll find a nice design store attached; it’s the quintessential “artisan Copenhagen” experience. Apotek 57 is on Fredericiagade. 

Address: Fredericiagade 57, 1310 København K

3. Another Pizza

Another Pizza is a great option if you’re looking for pizza in Indre By. This spot doesn’t have much seating, but I think it’s better to order your food as takeaway and find a nice place to eat it instead. Kongens Have, for example, is the perfect place for a picnic on a warm day. 

The menu features just four pizzas, but all are good. The pizza with chorizo and hot honey is particularly worth trying. 

Address: Borgergade 134, 1300 København K

Website: https://another.pizza/

4. Llama

Llama is a nice restaurant if you’re looking for something a bit fancier. This Latin American-themed restaurant is close to Kongens Nytorv and has a strong range of dishes, each of which is made for sharing.

When I visited in 2024, I picked four and felt like that was a good amount. However, many people will probably be fine with three as well. An extensive vegetarian menu is also available. 

Llama is quite popular, and I therefore recommend booking in advance.

Address: Lille Kongensgade 14, 1074 København K

Website: https://cofoco.dk/en/llama/

5. The Union Kitchen

The Union Kitchen has a handful of restaurants throughout Copenhagen, including one on Store Sandstræde. This is a fantastic place for dinner on your first night; the chicken balls are well worth trying, in particular. 

In addition to dinner, you can come to The Union Kitchen for brunch. You can try various drinks here, too. I recommend booking a table in advance as it can get crowded; you can do so on the website. 

Address: Store Strandstræde 21, 1255 København K

Website: https://theunionkitchen.dk/

Hostels and Hotels in Indre By

Indre By is an ideal place to base yourself for your Copenhagen adventure, with a number of budget and higher-end hotels and hostels available. Below are two of your best options.  

Copenhagen Downtown Hostel

Before moving to Copenhagen, I stayed at the Copenhagen Downtown Hostel four times. If you’re a solo traveler and looking to meet other people (and don’t mind staying in a hostel dorm), I think this is the best place to stay in the city. 

The beds at this hostel are comfortable, and you’ll find a bar downstairs, too. Moreover, there’s ample space for your luggage—unlike many hostels I’ve been to in the past. It’s a fantastic place to base yourself when visiting Copenhagen on a budget.

In addition to shared rooms, you’ll find single rooms with a shared bathroom (plus others with en-suite). My only complaint about this place would be that the bathrooms are generally quite small, but other than that, I have really enjoyed each time I’ve stayed here. 

Copenhagen Admiral Hotel

Copenhagen Admiral Hotel is one of the city’s most upscale hotels. It’s close to Ofelia Plads and near Nyhavn, but despite being centrally located, the area is relatively quiet. A number of rooms are available, in addition to lofts, if you really want to splash out. 

While staying here, you can book sightseeing cruises and more. 

If you want to browse your options, you can check out the map below. 

Your Comprehensive Guide to Copenhagen’s Most Central Neighborhood

Indre By is where most of Copenhagen’s main tourist attractions are, and while it feels like a tourist and business center, this neighborhood is charming if you look beyond the touristy veneer. Charming side streets, great restaurants, and fun museums are all within one easily walkable district. 

Staying in Indre By is also the perfect base for your Copenhagen adventures, with plenty of hotels and hostels. It’s worth allocating at least a day to exploring this part of the city before continuing on to Copenhagen’s other neighborhoods. Now that you’ve read this guide, you should have all the information you need for a memorable trip.

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