Copenhagen Nightlife
Copenhagen may be small, but don't write its nightlife off as provincial. Hard-working throughout the week, Copenhageners take playtime just as seriously, and every Friday and Saturday night, the center is buzzing until the early hours, with the serious partying not usually kicking off until around 11pm. Be warned, though: Sunday to Tuesday shows a very different city, with little going on after dark at all.
For those who like high culture, the multi-million kroner venues of the Royal Danish Opera and national broadcaster Danmarks Radio, Operaen and Koncerthuset respectively, have a gentle rivalry going on. Known for their flamboyant facades and costly design, both hope to woo international-level stars of the classical world to Copenhagen with state-of-the-art stages, lighting and acoustics. Go see for yourself whether it was worth all the money: Tickets are not as expensive as you might think.
The dress code is most decidedly informal at the city's best nightclubs. Vesterbro's Vega rapidly gained a reputation as the best place in town both for live concerts and parties when it opened in 1996, and though the gleam is not quite so bright now, it still holds the crown. For those who prefer more underground names, Christiania venue Loppen is the place.
For many, Copenhagen will always be associated with jazz, and three of the city's jazz venues have made it onto our list: Copenhagen Jazzhouse is a must for jazz fans, with regular concerts in everything from swing to improv, while the reopening of the legendary Jazzhouse Montmartre in 2010 offers a showier alternative that has yet to prove itself. There's live jazz at the timeless Palæ Bar just off Kongens Nytorv some Sundays, although the place is just as welcoming for a Saturday pit stop.
Palæ Bar is just one of Copenhagen's many old bars: Hviids Vinstue on Kongens Nytorv may be the city's oldest, but we prefer quirky Bo-Bi-Bar, tucked away on a nearby side street, for delving into Copenhagen's drinking history.
For those who like high culture, the multi-million kroner venues of the Royal Danish Opera and national broadcaster Danmarks Radio, Operaen and Koncerthuset respectively, have a gentle rivalry going on. Known for their flamboyant facades and costly design, both hope to woo international-level stars of the classical world to Copenhagen with state-of-the-art stages, lighting and acoustics. Go see for yourself whether it was worth all the money: Tickets are not as expensive as you might think.
The dress code is most decidedly informal at the city's best nightclubs. Vesterbro's Vega rapidly gained a reputation as the best place in town both for live concerts and parties when it opened in 1996, and though the gleam is not quite so bright now, it still holds the crown. For those who prefer more underground names, Christiania venue Loppen is the place.
For many, Copenhagen will always be associated with jazz, and three of the city's jazz venues have made it onto our list: Copenhagen Jazzhouse is a must for jazz fans, with regular concerts in everything from swing to improv, while the reopening of the legendary Jazzhouse Montmartre in 2010 offers a showier alternative that has yet to prove itself. There's live jazz at the timeless Palæ Bar just off Kongens Nytorv some Sundays, although the place is just as welcoming for a Saturday pit stop.
Palæ Bar is just one of Copenhagen's many old bars: Hviids Vinstue on Kongens Nytorv may be the city's oldest, but we prefer quirky Bo-Bi-Bar, tucked away on a nearby side street, for delving into Copenhagen's drinking history.
Vega
Enghavevej 40
In Vesterbrø, behind the railway station
Popular music venue, club and late-night bar...
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