Copenhagen is a nice and laid-back, open and tolerant city offering a wealth of great experiences day and night. Even though the city is not a world metropolis, you will find heaps of cultural offers, exciting architecture and design, restaurants, bars and a nightlife to suit everybody’s taste – and, of course, excellent shopping.

Copenhagen has a great number of green areas, lakes and canals where you can relax and enjoy life, and a harbour front which has gone through major changes in recent years and continues developing with beautiful new architecture, e.g. the Opera and The Black Diamond – the Royal Library’s innovative and bold extension. Add the Royal palaces: Christiansborg, Rosenborg and Amalienborg – the latter is the residence of Denmark’s popular Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik. They live in the part of the palace called the Manor of Christian IX which is located to the left of the wooden colonnade.

The Inner City – or the Medieval City as it is also known – is perfect for a quiet stroll through the old crooked streets – and fantastic shopping. The many cafes of the city provide a perfect setting for a break where you can sit down and enjoy a refreshment while watching life and people pass by.

A useful tip: The free Gay Map and Guide to Copenhagen provides information about many places of interest to gay people in Copenhagen. You can print the map and guide from Copenhagen Gay Life’s homepage, or you can obtain a copy from Copenhagen’s Tourist office - Copenhagen Right Now situated on Vesterbrogade 4A across the street from the main train station. Moreover, the map and guide are available from many of the city’s bars and cafes.

In Copenhagen, the gay and lesbian evening and night life is centred in the inner city area just to the north and south of the main pedestrian street Strøget. Nightlife starts quite late in Copenhagen, and things do not usually get going until around 11 pm where cafes, bars and nightclubs then make sure to keep the party going throughout the night and often well into the wee hours.

Copenhagen’s first gay bar, Centralhjørnet, opened its doors more than 80 years ago, and it has since been joined by a number of bars and restaurants in the inner city area: e.g. Can Can, Club Pan, Dunkel, Cosy Bar, Masken and Never Mind, and in the area of Frederiksberg, amongst others Amigo Bar and Café Intime. Read more about these and all the other party places on www.gayguide.dk and www.copenhagen-gay-life.dk

Evening and night life in Århus

Århus, Denmark’s second biggest city, is situated in eastern Jutland – and it is, like Copenhagen, nice and informal and the many students put their mark on the city, as well as the evening and night life.

In Århus, there are also several cafes, bars and nightclubs for gays and lesbians e.g. Diskotek Blender, Café Sappho and SLM Aarhus – Mens Club, read about these and other offers on www.gayguide.dk

In Copenhagen, the most popular place for cruising is definitely the park H. C. Ørstedsparken, situated between the streets of Nørre Voldgade and Nørre Farimagsgade. In addition, there are a number of other, smaller places as well as saunas and Blue Movies. Further information on www.gayguide.dk and www.copenhagen-gay-life.dk 

Copenhagen is a paradise for any serious shopper, no matter whether you’re shopping for fashion, design, jewellery, antiquities or works of art. The pedestrian street, Strøget is Copenhagen’s shopping street no 1, but also to the north and south of it, there is an ocean of excellent shops. In the Nørrebro district, you find the newest trends and experimental fashion as well as heaps of antiques dealers and second-hand dealers in the streets around the square Sankt Hans Torv. In the Vesterbro district, it is especially worth taking a look at Istedgade with its SM- and sex shops closest to the main station and the end towards the Enghave Plads square offering more trendy shopping both when it comes to fashion and life style. The Østerbro district has many small, quirky and exciting shops selling almost everything between heaven and earth – particularly along Østerbrogade and the alleyways closer to Trianglen (the Triangle).

Meet Gay Copenhagen offers to arrange cosy dinners with gays or lesbians in their homes. It is an excellent way to meet Danish gays and lesbians and provides a great opportunity to learn more about gay life in Denmark. www.meetgaycopenhagen.dk 

Chose between lavish luxury and simplicity – you will find everything in Copenhagen. And if you prefer to stay in a place dedicated to gay visitors, you can try out.: Copenhagen Rainbow Guesthouse, Windsor Hotel, Carsten’s Guest House and Amagerhus Bed & Breakfast.

During the year, there are several big and reoccurring events for gays and lesbians worth adding to your calendar – see below. These and many other events are also described on www.gayguide.dk and www.copenhagen-gay-life.dk

14 February: Valentines Day is celebrated with special menus, offers and parties at the city’s cafes, bars and restaurants.

Mid June: Mr. Gay is crowned at the nightclub Pan. www.mrgay.dk

23 June: Midsummer Eve party with bonfires and beach party in Amager Beach Park by Helgoland Baths, only minutes away from downtown Copenhagen. The promoter is the National Association for Gays and Lesbians, LBL. www.gayguide.dk

Mid August: Copenhagen Pride is simply the biggest gay event of the year in Copenhagen with arts exhibitions, film presentations, conferences and debates, parties and last, but not least - the big and festive Gay Parade through the city streets finishing at the City Hall Square. www.copenhagenpride.dk

October: Copenhagen Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (CGLFF) takes place in Copenhagen – and despite the name - in Århus, Odense, Aalborg and Malmö/Sweden. The Festival Programme is available on www.cglff.dk.

1 December: World AIDS Day is marked by a number of events around the city. www.aidsfondet.dk

And remember:
1-8 August 2009: World Outgames 2009 – the international culture and sports event for gays and lesbians is hosted by Copenhagen. Read more on www.copenhagen2009.org

The National Association for Gays and Lesbians (LBL) works for the rights of gays, lesbians and bisexuals. The association’s house is the focal point for Copenhagen’s gay community and has its own café and library. It is also home to the monthly magazine “Pan” and “Radio Rosa”. www.lbl.dk

LBL also publishes a web guide to gay life in Denmark, where you can read and see what is on for gays and lesbians all over the country. www.gayguide.dk.

VisitCopenhagen is the official tourist site for Copenhagen and the surrounding area and contains a wealth of useful information – also specific information for gays and lesbians. Here, you can subscribe to “Copenhagen Gay News”, which will keep you updated with what is on. www.visitcopenhagen.com

Copenhagen Gay Life is a homepage dedicated to providing information about Copenhagen’s gay community. www.copenhagen-gay-life.dk