Just across the lakes from Copenhagen’s touristy Indre By (Inner City), Nørrebro is a hip neighbourhood with a fun, multicultural atmosphere and an independent vibe.
Just off the main tourist track, this vibrant district has plenty to see and do that’s beyond the standard visitor fare. Here are 13 fun things to do when you arrive in lively Nørrebro!
Wander along trendy Jægersborggade
Once notoriously seedy, Jægersborggade has undergone an impressive transformation and is now one of Copenhagen’s most interesting and diverse streets.
It’s packed with independent shops and quirky cafés and restaurants, from the original porridge cafe Grød to the Tú a Tú pre-loved vintage shop.
Browse the artisan workshops and vintage clothing shops, then pop into Istid for a nitrogen-frozen ice cream made to order in ever-changing flavours – caramelized banana chocolate chip is a favourite.
Drink some amazing craft beer
The craft beer scene has exploded in Copenhagen, and Nørrebro is a great place to sample some local brews.
Denmark’s best-known independent brewer, Mikkeller was founded by a maths teacher who brewed beer on the side and now has a small empire of bars, restaurants and bottle shops.
Nørrebro was home to the brewery’s flagship bar and bottle shop, which now houses Mikkeller’s Koelschip, dedicated to beers brewed in the Belgian style, known as lambic.
It serves the biggest selection of lambic beers outside Belgium, as well as draft beers brewed in the lambic style.
And if that’s not enough, Nørrebro is also home to Mikkeller’s original Ramen to Biiru ramen and beer house, and La Neta, which serves up the trademark beer alongside Mexican food.
Chill out in a unique park
A half-mile-long urban park, Superkilen is a good illustration of Nørrebro’s ethnic diversity and cultural background. This multi-coloured public space is divided into red, black and green areas.
The red section represents urban life, with cafés, music and neon signs from Russia and China; the black area is a classic square with a fountain and benches, but in a very modern Danish-design style; while the green space is parkland for sports, chilling and dog-walking.
Superkilen is also decorated with objects from around 50 countries, reflecting the nationalities of local residents.
Look out for a Moroccan tiled fountain, a Japanese octopus slide, a Spanish bull and a Thai boxing ring – even the benches, rubbish bins and manhole covers throughout the park reflect the origins of the locals.
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Tuck into brunch at Wulff & Konstali
Copenhagen is a city with a soft spot for brunch, and Nørrebro is a great place to head for your mid-morning fix.
Wulff & Konstali, in Nørrebro’s Sankt Hans Torv, serves perhaps the best brunch in the city, with diners assembling their own spread by choosing five or seven items from an extensive selection.
The menu is seasonal and changes regularly, but you can expect such tasty treats as local organic cheeses, broccoli salad with sunflower seeds, lentils, raisins and pea cream, a variety of eggs and, of course, something for your sweet tooth – we love the poppy seed waffles with lemon cream and caramel swirls.
Relax at the lakes
Separating Nørrebro from the inner city, Copenhagen’s series of rectangular man-made lakes are perfect for strolling, jogging or just enjoying the view from a bench.
The lakes are especially lively in summer when the days are long and the sunsets glorious. Enjoy a view of the water while you eat on Kaffesalonen’s floating deck, or rent a swan pedal boat and float your way across the lake.
Go vintage shopping in Ravnsborggade
Ravnsborggade is a charming street once known exclusively for its antique shops. Today it’s lined with independent designer shops, cafés and number of antique and vintage shops selling trinkets, curios and fashion.
Search for treasure among the antique items at Veirhanen, which has a large collection of furniture, ceramics and glassware.
Or, just round the corner on Nørrebrogade, you can browse through the fabulous array of vintage, retro and pre-loved clothes at Cru$h Vintage.
Visit the graves of the Danish greats
Assistens Cemetery is the final resting place of many of Denmark’s luminaries, including artists, scientists and musicians.
And while visiting a graveyard might not exactly scream ‘fun’, it’s also a beautiful green space, perfect for escaping the bustle of the city.
Nobel Prize-winning physicist Niels Bohr is buried here, as is existential philosopher Søren Kirkegaard.
The most-visited grave, however, is that of Hans Christian Andersen, beloved around the world for his classic fairy tales such as The Little Mermaid and The Emperor’s New Clothes.
Try Copenhagen’s best pizza – with a Danish twist
Nørrebro’s Restaurant Bæst serves up incredible pizzas made from ingredients that are as fresh and local as you can get, then cooked at 500ºC in a wood-fired oven.
The vegetables and milk come daily from the restaurant’s farm, the salami is home-cured and the mozzarella is stretched by hand to create authentic delicious dishes.
All this attention to detail is unsurprising, since the restaurant is run by Italian-born, Danish-raised chef Christian Puglisi, a former sous chef at Copenhagen’s famed restaurant Noma.
People-watch on Dronning Louises Bro
The broad bridge that leads to Nørrebro from Copenhagen’s inner city is a natural gathering place for locals and visitors alike. Dronning Louises Bro is a bustling spot, alive with people, cars and bikes.
It’s a popular location for both daily life and special events, such as concerts and the huge New Year’s Eve festivities.
So, settle in on one of the benches and enjoy the view of the lakes and historic buildings, while the many bicycles and passers-by on the busy bridge will give you a good feel for the local life.
Take an interactive walking tour of Nørrebro
Do you love puzzle-solving and game-playing? This interactive discovery game is a great way to get under Nørrebro’s skin and learn all about the neighbourhood.
Filled with fun facts and interesting info, it takes you to the area’s most colourful streets and interesting areas.
Check out sights such as Superkilen Park and the graveyard by solving clues and listening to stories about the district.
You can buy the app here on Get your Guide.
Shop for designer trainers on Esromgade
Trendy trainer brand ARKK embodies local Danish design, combining Scandinavian style with top-quality craftsmanship.
Conceived and developed in Copenhagen by a pair of friends, this hip brand’s first store was in Nørrebro and its distinctive trainers continue to be a hit with stylish Copenhagen residents.
Today, its flagship store has moved but sneaker fans can still get their fix at Unlimited CPH.
With Scandinavian’s largest collection of limited edition designer brands, it’s sneaker heaven for trainer fans.
Splash out on Michelin-star cuisine – with an Asian twist
Copenhagen was at the forefront of the New Nordic cuisine trend (for more on this, see our guide to New Nordic food on a budget), and still punches above its weight in terms of interesting and innovative restaurants.
And the city’s newest Michelin-star restaurant is in an unassuming building on Rantzausgade in Nørrebro.
Run by a former Noma chef, JATAK is known for its New Nordic, Vietnamese and Cantonese fusion dishes.
The ingredients are all seasonal and local, but with an oriental twist – think sweet and sour pork, with sea buckthorn and green asparagus, or local shrimps with crispy pork rinds and kumquat.
For more foodie ideas in Nørrebro, we love this culinary walking tour which takes in the city’s markets, plus beer stops and foodie hangouts in Nørrebro.
You can book a place on Get your Guide.
Get arty and buy some Danish design
Denmark is known for it stylish ceramics and pottery, and ceramicist Inge Vincents’ studio shop on Jægersborggade is the place to pick up some original and unusual Danish works of art.
Inge creates everyday objects out of paper-thin porcelain, and her workshop is the place to visit for unique and innovative pottery.
For fine art and painting, pop into Limited Works on Blågårdsgade. This gallery sells beautiful works of art from new and emerging artists as well as pieces by established painters.
Special places to stay in Nørrebro
Nørrebro is a diverse residential district, and we think staying there makes for more of an authentic Copenhagen experience.
So, whether you want to rent an apartment, stay in a trendy hostel or splash out on a boutique hotel, we’ve picked some of our favourite places to stay in Nørrebro.
Stay in an apartment with lovely lake views
Live like a local in this light and airy apartment with amazing views over the lakes. Close to the metro, it’s clean and comfortable – and there’s even a piano to play.
Go cool camping in the city
The Urban Camper hostel has pitched several tents in a large former office building. Each tent contains bunk-beds or a double bed, lockers and comfortable furnishings – perfect for those on a budget.
Linen, towels and wi-fi are included and there’s a super-friendly bar/communal lounge area, where guests gather to play snooker, shuffle-board, board games, watch live sport or just chat.
It’s in a good location, near the metro and Superkilen Park, and you can rent bikes to explore the rest of the city.
Stay boutique-style in a renovated bank
In a classic 19th-century building that was formerly a bank, Avenue Hotel Copenhagen by Brøchner Hotels is in a great location. Close to the sights of Nørrebro yet within walking distance of the city centre, it has a pretty courtyard terrace where breakfast is served in summer.
The decor is boutique-style and what’s more, you get a free glass of wine on the house between 5–6pm each day!
Sleep in a green eco-oasis the heart of Nørrebro
The Globalhagen Hostel is a non-profit hostel run by volunteers. It’s cheap and cheerful, eco-friendly and the rooms are decorated in the style and colours of some of the countries where refugees in the city come from.
Its green credentials include using recycled materials, energy-saving lights bulbs, and it often hosts concerts and talks by people from all over the world
It’s got a welcoming, inclusive and diverse vibe and the café/bakery downstairs, also run by volunteers, serves up tasty organic goodies.
See also:
Nørrebro: Copenhagen’s coolest neighbourhood
Copenhagen: Where to try New Nordic cuisine in on a budget
Copenhagen’s best houseboats and waterfront hotels
For more by author Caroline Hadamitzky, check out her website http://www.lovelivetravel.co.uk
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