Planning a long weekend in Copenhagen meant working through a fair few of the boutique hotels in Copenhagen on offer, and Bryggen Guldsmeden kept coming up again and again for one thing in particular – a heated outdoor pool that's usable all year round. For a city break in Scandinavia, that felt like a genuine novelty.
We ended up booking a stay here to see whether the hotel lived up to the appeal. From our balcony room and the courtyard pool to the sauna, breakfast and location, here's my honest experience of Bryggen Guldsmeden and whether I'd recommend it if you're deciding where to stay in Copenhagen.
In This Guide:
➜ Bryggen Guldsmeden at a Glance ➜ Location: Getting Around Copenhagen ➜ The Rooms ➜ Pool, Spa and Wellness Facilities ➜ Breakfast & Food ➜ Sustainability ➜ What it Cost and Was it Worth it? ➜ Pros and Cons ➜ FAQ
⭐️ Star Rating: 4 Superior
Location: Getting Around Copenhagen
Bryggen Guldsmeden sits in Islands Brygge, a genuinely lovely part of Copenhagen that doesn't always make it onto a first-time visitor's radar. It's a short walk from the Islands Brygge waterfront, where locals swim, sunbathe and cycle past throughout the warmer months, giving the area a relaxed, residential feel rather than a typical tourist strip.
- The Islands Brygge Metro station is just a few minutes' walk from the hotel, putting the city centre within easy reach
- Tivoli Gardens and the historic centre are around a 20-minute walk, or a very short metro ride
- The hotel rents out bikes, which is honestly one of the best ways to get around Copenhagen given how flat and cycle-friendly the city is
If you're after a hotel in Islands Brygge Copenhagen that still puts you close to the main sights, this location strikes a good balance between a quieter neighbourhood feel and easy access into the centre.
The Rooms at Bryggen Guldsmeden
The stay was in a Double Room with Balcony, which overlooks the hotel's courtyard, and it set the tone for the whole visit. The room followed the hotel's signature style throughout - a blend of New Nordic design with Balinese touches, dark wood furniture, warm lighting and a slightly bohemian, romantic feel that's a world away from a typical corporate hotel room.
- Rooms are on the smaller side, which is why we opted for the Balcony Room with the big double doors to let some extra light in, making the room feel more spacious.
- The balcony was a lovely extra touch, a quiet spot to sit with a coffee before heading out for the day
- The bathroom included one of the hotel's water-saving Orbital showers, which recycle and filter water after a short warm-up - a genuinely interesting piece of sustainable hotel technology that we hadn't come across before.
- Rooms are scented on arrival, which sounds small but noticeably added to the atmosphere
👉 Good to know: rooms vary in size and layout throughout the hotel, so if a balcony matters to you, it's worth confirming this specifically when booking.
Wellness Facilities at Bryggen Guldsmeden
The Heated Outdoor Pool
This was the main reason for booking, and it didn't disappoint. Tucked into the hotel's courtyard, the heated outdoor pool is usable all year round - a rare find for a Copenhagen hotel with outdoor pool facilities, particularly somewhere that also feels this design-led.
- The pool area has a distinct Bali-inspired feel, with lush greenery, an outdoor fireplace and a proper sense of escape from the city outside
- Worth knowing: the hotel reserves the pool for adults only (15+) during the early morning and evening, with children able to use it between 9am and 6pm under adult supervision - a nice touch for anyone after a quieter dip either side of the day
- Pool temperature does dip slightly in the colder months, we visited in March and did find the pool to be a little colder than we'd have liked.
For anyone specifically searching for a Copenhagen hotel with heated pool facilities, this is genuinely one of the better options found while researching this trip.
The Sauna, Steam Room and Spa
Alongside the pool, the courtyard spa area includes a sauna and steam room, both included as part of a stay rather than an extra cost.
- The sauna and steam room sit right next to the pool, making it easy to move between the two
- The whole spa area felt like a proper wellness retreat rather than an afterthought bolted onto a courtyard
If you're specifically searching for a Copenhagen spa hotel or a Copenhagen hotel with sauna, this ticks both boxes without needing to book anything extra.
The Gym
The fitness area is split across two separate rooms and is larger than expected for a boutique hotel, with a decent range of cardio and weight equipment. Worth noting: it's only accessible to guests aged 16 and over.
Other Facilities & Things to Know:
Beyond the pool and spa, a few other things stood out:
- Bike rental is available directly from the hotel, subject to availability
- The hotel is genuinely family friendly, and service animals are welcome — it's worth contacting the hotel directly to confirm its current general pet policy if travelling with a dog
- Public areas, including the lobby and courtyard, have a cosy, considered feel rather than the more clinical look of many larger hotels
Eating at Bryggen Guldsmeden
Breakfast here leans heavily into the hotel's organic approach, with a buffet spread that includes vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options alongside the usual pastries, breads and hot dishes. It's worth knowing that breakfast isn't automatically included with every rate — it's currently listed at 245 DKK per adult, so it's worth checking whether it's bundled into the room rate or needs adding separately when booking.
- The organic, sustainably sourced ingredients were a nice touch and genuinely came through in the quality
- There's an on-site restaurant serving European cuisine for dinner too, with a relaxed, romantic atmosphere in the evening
- For a longer stay, it's worth mixing breakfast at the hotel with a morning at one of the nearby cafés along Islands Brygge for variety
Sustainability at Bryggen Guldsmeden
Rather than just calling itself an eco-friendly hotel in Copenhagen, Bryggen Guldsmeden holds both Green Key and Green Globe certification — two recognised sustainability standards that cover things like energy and water use, waste management and sourcing. That certification is reflected in small details throughout the stay, from the water-saving Orbital showers in every room to the organic ingredients used at breakfast and in the restaurant.
Is Bryggen Guldsmeden Worth the Price?
We paid £720 for 5 nights for two people in a Double Room with Balcony. Breakfast was not included, and the price covered access to all wellness faciltiies. Prices at Bryggen Guldsmeden sit in the mid-to-upper range for a boutique hotel in Copenhagen, reflecting its 4-star superior rating and the inclusion of the spa facilities at no extra cost. Compared with some of the larger international hotel chains in the city centre, it felt like fair value given what's included - particularly the pool, sauna and steam room, which would typically come as a paid add-on elsewhere.
For anyone considering a luxury hotel in Copenhagen that doesn't feel like every other international chain, the price reflects the design, the wellness facilities and the overall experience rather than just a bed for the night.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Heated outdoor pool usable all year round, included in the stay
- Sauna and steam room included at no extra cost
- Distinctive, design-led room with genuine character
- Quiet, residential Islands Brygge location with easy metro access
- Green Key and Green Globe certified, with sustainability built into small details throughout
Cons:
- Some bathroom fixtures and lighting felt slightly dated
- Slightly further from the main tourist sights than a city-centre hotel
- Breakfast, while good, can feel repetitive over a longer stay
Would I Stay Again?
Yes, without hesitation. Out of the boutique hotels in Copenhagen considered for this trip, Bryggen Guldsmeden offered something genuinely different - a proper wellness element built into a design-led stay, rather than a standard city hotel with a small gym tacked on. If a Copenhagen hotel with heated pool and a bit of character sounds appealing, this is well worth adding to a shortlist.
FAQ: Bryggen Guldsmeden Copenhagen
Is there parking at Bryggen Guldsmeden? No, the hotel doesn't have on-site parking, so it's worth checking nearby public car parks if arriving by car.
Is there a minimum check-in age? Yes, the minimum check-in age is 18.
Is the pool open in winter? Yes, the heated outdoor pool stays open year-round, though the temperature drops slightly to around 22°C during the colder months.
Is Bryggen Guldsmeden good value for a short city break? For a 4-star superior hotel with a genuine spa area included at no extra cost, it compares well against similarly priced city-centre hotels that don't offer the same wellness facilities.