3 Best Sights in Vesterbro, Copenhagen

Copenhagen’s former meatpacking district has transformed into a hipster neighborhood with galleries, coworking spaces, fashion boutiques, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and nightclubs. The area is small and easy to explore on foot. Galleri Bo Bjerggaard, V1 Gallery, and Fotografisk Center are some of the best galleries, and the pizzeria Mother, the gourmet restaurant Gorilla, the brewpub Warpigs, and the bustling, bistro-like wine bar Paté Paté are some of the best places to eat. After dark, Mesteren & Lærlingen draws a casual crowd with its strong drinks and happy DJs.

A large, ornate chimney makes this mid-19th-century brewery visible from a distance. J. C. Jacobsen, one of Denmark's most important historical figures, named the brewery after his son Carl; berg, or mountain, signifies the brewery's location on Valby Hill. The four giant granite elephants that guard the main entrance were inspired by Bernini's famous obelisk in Rome. In the visitor center, interactive displays, also in English, take you step by step through the brewing process. At the end of your visit, you can sample some of the company's beers for an additional fee. The Carlsberg Museum, also on the grounds, tells the story of the Jacobsen family, their beer empire, and Carlsberg's extensive philanthropy, which still greatly benefits Danish culture. Large-scale beer production has now moved outside of the city, and the old brewery complex is being developed for residential and cultural use. The visitor center has been closed for years due to major renovation work, but it reopened in 2023, and daily tours and beer tastings are once again offered in the afternoon.

Situated at the western end of the lakes that divide Copenhagen, this modern, cylindrical planetarium appears to be sliced at an angle. It's Denmark's most advanced center for popularizing astronomy and space research and promoting knowledge of natural science. The on-site IMAX theater is devoted to visual odysseys of the natural environment—below the sea, through the jungle, or into outer space. These films aren't recommended for children under age seven. Admission includes access to an IMAX movie and a 3-D movie.