Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Copenhagen

Before you go

What happens when you get there

Getting around

Dogs travel on the Metro, S-tog, regional trains and the harbour buses. A dog in a carrier no bigger than 100 by 60 by 30 cm rides free. A dog on a lead needs a child ticket, stays on the floor, and it's one large dog per passenger. On the Metro keep out of the six front and rear seats reserved for allergy sufferers. On Movia buses larger dogs are barred at weekday peaks, 7 to 9 in the morning and 3.30 to 5.30 in the afternoon, and the front half of the bus is pet-free. Guide dogs travel free everywhere.

Parks and the dog beach

Copenhagen's parks are lead-only, including Kongens Have, Frederiksberg Have, Kastellet and Ørstedsparken, and the Botanical Garden bans dogs altogether. Off-lead running is in the fenced hundeskove: Fælledparken near Trianglen, Amager Fælled by the Bella Center, Utterslev Mose to the north and Søndermarken behind Frederiksberg. Amager Strandpark has a dog beach at its northern end, reached on the Metro to Femøren or Amager Strand.

Breakfast and bars

71 Nyhavn serves breakfast with the dog in the bar area, and Phoenix seats dog guests at a designated breakfast table. Axel and Babette Guldsmeden welcome dogs in a staff-guided corner of the restaurant. The Square, Imperial, Phoenix, Hotel Mayfair and 25hours take dogs in the bar and lounge but not the restaurant. AC Bella Sky keeps them out of the restaurant. The Marriott, NH Collection, Skt. Annæ, the Huxley and the Radisson Collection Royal don't publish dining access, so ask.

Leaving the dog

None of the fourteen allows a dog alone in the room as standard. 71 Nyhavn allows it in a closed crate or travel bag if the dog doesn't bark, and guests report the Huxley does the same. The Square, Phoenix and the Guldsmedens say no. 71 Nyhavn arranges dog-sitting by email and the Square books a walker at check-in.

Weight limits and fees

NH Collection takes two dogs to 25 kg, 71 Nyhavn one to 20 kg, Skt. Annæ one to 8 kg, the Huxley small dogs only. Everywhere else publishes no limit. The Marriott charges DKK 100 a night plus DKK 200 a stay, NH Collection DKK 265 a night, Imperial, AC Bella Sky and Hotel Mayfair DKK 200 a night, 71 Nyhavn DKK 200 a stay, Skt. Annæ, the Huxley and both Guldsmedens DKK 250 a stay, 25hours DKK 300, and Phoenix a refundable DKK 200 deposit. The Square and the Radisson Collection Royal charge a fee they don't publish. Deposits: DKK 500 at the Guldsmedens, DKK 1,000 at Hotel Mayfair.

Banned breeds

Denmark bans thirteen breeds and their crosses from entering the country: Pit Bull Terrier, Tosa Inu, American Staffordshire Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, American Bulldog, Boerboel, Kangal, Central Asian, Caucasian and South Russian Ovcharka, Tornjak and Šarplaninac. No hotel on this list adds a breed rule of its own.

Best walks

Nyhavn to Kastellet and along Langelinie to the Little Mermaid, the Christianshavn ramparts and canals, the Lakes loop from Vesterbro to Østerbro, the harbour promenade from Kalvebod Brygge to Islands Brygge, Frederiksberg Have on the lead and Søndermarken's hundeskov off it, and the Metro out to Amager Strandpark for the only sand your dog is allowed on.

When to go

May to September for the harbour and the beach, when the city lives outdoors and every café has a terrace. Winter is dark and wet but the hotels are cheaper and the Metro keeps the walks short.