Copenhagen Island

Designed by the son of the architect who built the Sydney Opera House, the Copenhagen Island Hotel, opened in 2006, resembles a modern ship from the outside, with its steel-beam-framed front door, walls of steel and glass, and suspension ramp to the lobby. The lobby is a similarly modern creation, a high-ceilinged affair with royal-blue glass squares on one wall mirroring the large windows on the others, a metal staircase, and glass elevators. There are several seating areas with modern, black leather chairs. The large hotel restaurant is split into several areas, with huge windows over two floors, and a bustling atmosphere with views over the harbor. Even the fitness center has floor-to-ceiling windows, with views of the water and the other side of Copenhagen. With its myriad business-friendly offerings, the hotel predominantly attracts business travelers, who spend lots of time in the business center and socialize in the restaurant and bar.

The Copenhagen Island Hotel’s harborside location is within quick access to the main business area of Copenhagen and about 15-or 20-minutes’ walk from the central train station, about 30 to the city center and its attractions. There's a metro stop a few minutes away, the central station is just one stop from there. It’s also possible to go across the river by ferry, which leaves near the hotel every 30 minutes. The hotel is easy to reach by car along the busy ring road. Next door is a large cinema complex and a shopping mall with several restaurants a couple of minutes’ walk down the road. The airport is about 35 minutes away by train.

The ship motif reappears in the Copenhagen Island Hotel’s 326 bright rooms, all of which have triangular, sail-like headboards and steel pipe posts adorned with reading lights on either side of the beds. A light color palette prevails, but the layout is rather compact, and Standard rooms are notably on the smaller side. Some rooms have a small balcony with a chair and views of the river and harbor. Suites have a small lounge area and extra set of wall-sized windows. Bathrooms are small but modern, with white tiling, glass vanities, and combination shower-tubs. All rooms have a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, tea- and coffee-making facilities, minibar, and slippers; many rooms lack safes. Note that rooms facing the street have disappointing views when compared with the harbor views.

In addition to its many well-equipped conference and meeting rooms, the Copenhagen Island Hotel has a large fitness center overlooking the harbor, with top-of-the-line Technogym equipment and a sauna. The breakfast buffet (not included in all rates) offers a substantial spread of local fruit and cheese, plus a number of hot dishes, and the scenic Harbour restaurant and bar serves a variety of modern Danish dishes for lunch and dinner. There's free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel (although service can be spotty at times), a surprisingly large business center, bike and car rentals, paid on-site parking, 24-hour reception, smoking rooms, and laundry/dry cleaning services.