Copenhagen Lodgings

Come closer. Come closer in a city where closeness and human touch is the standard by which everything is measured. It starts in the morning while you are having brunch at a charming café as you and the city are waking up, and it continues with shopping in cutting edge designer shops and little esoteric second hand boutiques. Museums boasting world-class collections compete for your attention with the many city parks – but weather permitting you might prefer a swim in the clear cool water of Havnebadet – a harbour pool just 2 minutes away from the city centre. Everything is conveniently within reach.

At Night
But you might say that Copenhagen does not really shine until nightfall. Bars, clubs, concert venues and discos make the narrow alleys come alive and give you the opportunity to get really close to the Copenhageners and their way of life. The party continues well into the morning with temptations of every kind!

Anytime
Copenhagen has something to offer all senses and tastes all the year round. July and August are the warmest months, but any time of year the gay community will be happy to welcome you to their big city renowned for its easy-going and laidback life style.

Bikes
Copenhagen - and most of Denmark - is a great place to bike it! For a deposit of a DKK 20 coin you can even borrow a Copenhagen City Bike.

Busses
In Copenhagen there are buses everywhere - even on the water you will find cute little harbour bus boats! Timetables are available at large stations and in the buses.
www.movia.dk

Cars & car rental
All the major car rental companies have offices in Copenhagen and at the airport, but we ought to let you know that parking in Copenhagen and Frederiksberg is extremely expensive!

CphCard
You might want to invest in a Copenhagen Card. The card can be purchased at large stations, the tourist information and at the airport and gives you the right to travel free of charge in the entire Copenhagen area. On top, you get free admission into 60 museums and sights.
www.cphcard.dk

The Metro
Copenhagen’s tube. Copenhagen’s driverless Metro system was praised for its smooth design and architectdesigned Metro stations from the very outset. More importantly, however, the two-minute departure intervals allow it to quickly and efficiently take you round Copenhagen and most of its suburbs.
www.m.dk

Taxi
Danish taxis are authorised by the state and prices are fixed. If you are paying by credit card, please inform the driver as you get in the car. Tips are included in the fare.

Train service
The S-trains run from early morning till late night. They take you round the city and – as a matter of fact – most of Zealand. If need be, regional trains will take you even farther. They stop at Copenhagen Airport, a.k.a. Kastrup, and in all the major cities of Denmark. After the construction of the Øresund Bridge, the Øresund train has become a popular and fast way to visit Copenhagen’s Swedish neighbouring city Malmö.
www.dsb.dk

Beaches
The Copenhageners are lucky enough to be surrounded by clean water very suitable for bathing and kilometres of beach sand. There is ample opportunity to go to the beach, but if you are gay you might prefer: Bellevue Strand, Tisvildeleje Strand in North Zealand or the new and very designer hip Amager Strandpark. If time is running short you may actually go for a swim in the middle of Copenhagen - either at Islands Brygge or by the shopping centre Fisketorvet.

Cruising
Like in most countries sex in public places is not legal but the police tend to turn a blind eye as long as you are discreet. Gay bashing is sometimes a problem. If you see potential gay bashers or have been gay bashed do not hesitate to contact the police. Generally Copenhagen police officers are very tolerant towards gays and lesbians.

Copenhagen is not a huge sprawling metropolis, which makes finding your way around simple and convenient. Everything is pretty much within walking distance. And this is particularly true of Copenhagen’s gay scene. Centred in the ‘Soho’ like area of the old town, the city’s gay scene seems almost geografically designed to provide virtually the entire evening’s spectrum of entertainment and fun within one square kilometre.

Denmark’s capital has long had a tolerant and relaxed attitude towards both gay Danes and tourists. The first gay bar, Centralhjørnet, opned over 80 year ago, and is still going strong - along with a number of newer cafés & bars. It even boasts its own radio station, Radio Rosa.

The National Association for Gays and Lesbians (LBL) was founded in 1948 as the first of its kind, and in 1989 Denmark was the first country in the world to recognise marriage between two persons of the same sex. In 1999, it became possible for married gays to adopt the infants of their partners - a major step towards the acceptance of gay parents.

The National Association for Gays and Lesbians (LBL) was founded in 1948 as its first of its kind and in 1989, Denmark was the first country in the world to recognise marriage between two persons of the same sex. In 1999, it became possible for married gays to adopt the children of their partners - a major step towards the recognition of a broader definition of the family.

Copenhagen has long been a tolerant and relaxed capital for both gay Danes and tourists. The first gay bar, Centralhjørnet, opened over 80 years ago, and is still going strong - along with a wealth of other newer cafés & bars. It even boasts its own gay radio station, Radio Rosa.

For a visitor to Copenhagen, the year offers a varied selection of gay events:

25 July to 2 August 2009 Copenhagen will host the second World Outgames, the largest sports and cultural event Denmark will have ever hosted, with a greater number of participants than the Olympics. The event is comparable to the Olympics, but for gays and lesbians. The World Outgames has 35 different sports and cultural activities and in the run up to the event Copenhagen will also host a large human rights conference. Furthermore the city will host an Out Cities Project, where 10 major cities around the world have been invited by the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen to participate in an exhibition promoting urban diversity and tolerance during the World Outgames. The cities are among others Tokyo in the east to New York in the west. At the same time there will be a Human Rights Conference with international participation.

On the last Sunday in May, the annual torch-light procession in memory of those who have died of AIDS makes its way through the city; June sees the St. Hans Midsummer Bonfire and beach party on the island of Amager, organized by LBL, The National Gay and Lesbian Organisation.

In July 2006, the Queer Festival was introduced for the first time. Internationally known performers, musicians, djs, activists, drag kings- and queens and in betweens challenged the traditional lines between the sexes. Dunst, the group that is usually known for crossing the borderlines of heterosexual norms is organizer and behind the festival.

Then there’s the Annual Gay Pride Parade, in 2008 16 August, known in Copenhagen as ‘Copenhagen Pride’, where thousands of spectators line the parade route, as around a thousand gays and lesbians strut their stuff through the capital, jamming the traffic with floats, rainbow flags “dykes on bikes, screaming queens and leather guys”.

Across the Øresund bridge in Malmö, Sweden, the Rainbow Festival takes place every year in October.

As the evenings draw in, October every year brings the Copenhagen Gay and Lesbian film festival - nine days of contemporary gay and lesbian films from all over the world. It is in actual fact one of the oldest gay film festivals in the world. In 2008 it will be held for the 23rd time.

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