Need an honest Vesterbro Cultural Tour with Beer Tasting Copenhagen review?
You are in the right place.
I have recently returned from Copenhagen and like any trip, I did a lot of tours. However, this one shines above the rest and I would fully recommend booking it (even if you don’t love beer)!
This notorious area that was once the red-light district has transformed into a hub for the city. It also was a pretty significant place during WW2 that I had no idea about.
That’s why this Vesterbro Cultural and Beer tour is so helpful: it shows you parts of the city and places only locals would know about.
To help you decide whether or not to take the Vesterbro Tour with Beer Tasting, I’m giving an honest review of my experience and what to expect.
IS IT WORTH BOOKING THIS VESTERBRO TOUR?
Yup- it was the best thing I did on my trip!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ with over a hundred glowing reviews
✔️ Beers included
✔️ Amazing local guide
Tour Highlights And Overview
A lot of the time it’s hard to see what you’ll do from just a tour description. And I get it, sometimes it’s good to be surprised. But how can you decide if a tour is for you without the finer details?
To help you out, this is what you should expect from going on this Vesterbro experience:
✔️ A Visit to Istedgade, Copenhagen’s former red light district.
✔️ Cultural stops like Vesterbro’s heart, Westend and the meatpacking district.
✔️ A walking tour with about 20-30 minutes in each bar.
✔️ 3 different beer locations where you try 3-4 local beers.
✔️ Beers included are 2 craft ones of your choice and a traditional pils and classic.
✔️ An amazing English-speaking local guide who knows all the hidden gems.
✔️ Recommendations for the rest of your trip (through this tour I found the most incredible tacos!)
My Experience Of This Tour
I hate paying for vague and rushed experiences where you have to pay for more things to enjoy them. Luckily, this is not one of them.
I have spent over 20 years exploring Europe and doing tours and this is up there with one of the best!
To help you decide if this is a Copenhagen tour you want to book, this is an overview of things I liked and didn’t with this walking tour:
Things I LOVED:
✔️ Super friendly native guide who knew so much about this area and its history
✔️ Copenhagen Central Station is easy to find to start your tour
✔️ The variety of beer venues
✔️ I learnt so much in a short amount of time
✔️ You got to pick your craft beers
✔️ Incredible value for money
✔️ That you don’t need to be a beer lover to enjoy this tour
Things I didn’t like:
❌ You walk out the back of the train station to start the tour and it’s not obvious who your guide is
(Having Internet is helpful!)
❌ Tour doesn’t end at the starting point
❌ Only can do the tour at 3 PM
What Do You See On The Vesterbro Tour?
This is such an epic tour because you have so many cultural stops but a chance to experience local bars and pubs at the same time.
My favourite places on this tour were Istedgade and Freddy’s Bar, but I enjoyed them all. These are the top stops that are included in your ticket:
Istedgade including Star Radio
To this day this 1 km long straight road is Notorious throughout Denmark.
Hundreds of years ago, the city used to close at Midnight so any Traders outside used to have to stay in this area until it opened. Locals utilized this and set up hotels restaurants and entertainment. Through this, it became a prominent place for drugs, crime and the sex industry.
This area is now gentrified and it’s an up-and-coming place. But even to this day, Danish people perceive it still not a very safe place.
However, it played a vital role during WW2.
It took five hours when the Germans invaded for the government to surrender to save lives. But this street barricaded itself inside from one end of the street to the other and wrote a sign to other Germans stating “We will never surrender”.
On this street, you will also find The Star Radio Shop where the Danish resistance was based.
Freddy’s Bar (Traditional Danish Dive Bar)
So this was the first bar on the tour and I think it’s the most memorable because it’s not like the other hip bars in the area.
It is also the only place where you will try a Traditional Danish beer on the tour. Freedy’s is a traditional Danish Bodega and there are not many left in Denmark so these places are very close to locals’ hearts.
I’m from Wales so know about locally influenced pubs but this was a different experience.
When you go in with your guide they will go up to the bar and grab two beers that are locally brewed. These are a pils and a classic. They are very similar but the difference is the classic sweeter and the reason behind this is it was made to encourage women to drink beer.
During your visit, If you look at the tables you will see gold plaques with regular customers’ names. My guide said if one of them came down and saw you sat in their seat, you would have to move for them
📍 Insider Tip: This Bar is classed as a Danish Bodega so people will be smoking inside.
Meatpacking District
You only really walk around the area and get an insight from your guide but it’s an awesome place.
I highly recommend going back here after the tour. This is what I did after my guide gave me recommendations and I think it’s the best meal I’ve had in Copenhagen.
This is historically where the meats would be packed and distributed. Instead of tearing the factories down, the municipality kept the structural integrity and turned it into a place with loads of different cuisines, eateries and nightlife.
The top places to visit here are:
🍔 WarPigs: For canteen-style BBQ food and good beer(you see this place on social media a lot!)
🌮 Hija de Sanchez Kødbyen: I had the best tacos here!
🍦 Ismageriet: This Icecream place is super popular and my guide mentioned it a lot
🍷 Lundgren V.I.P: Amazing Tapas and relaxing atmosphere
Viktoriagade (Vesterbro’s Heart)
You will only spend 5 minutes at this stop but it’s worth it.
This giant heart just popped up one day in the middle of Vesterbro and no one knows why. As no one has taken responsibility for it, it is painted by locals around once a month and is like a piece of living art.
Mikkeller Bar
This is a stunning cellar bar and was the first-ever Mikkeller Bar!
I cannot do a Vesterbro Cultural Tour with Beer Tasting review without mentioning what a gem this place is.
I love this bar because it has a chilled-out atmosphere there are little candles on the table so feels proper Hygge.
When you go in you get to pick your craft beer. There’s a wall of options and loads of others too but they change all the time.
I didn’t know what beer I wanted so the guy behind the bar gave me a few tasters and helped me decide because I clearly couldn’t make a choice that day 🤦♀️.
They also do nice crisps behind the bar -okay they’re not typically Danish but my guide did say that they find crisps from Ireland and the UK so much better.
Westend And Copenhagen’s Smallest Gallery
Westend was a really interesting part of the tour and an insight into the area and the history as a whole.
This street was created to control working ladies back in the day.
The idea behind it according to locals is that the women would stand on these very high balconies so that passes by couldn’t = see what they looked like until it was too late.
And just before you enter this street you’ll also see Copenhagen’s smallest classified art gallery. It consists of two large walls which are painted by local artists every few months.
Fermentoren Beer Bar
My guide said this is her favourite bar because it’s a combination of the first two you visit on the tour.
I agree and loved it but the one thing is it is really hard to find a seat there and you might end up outside. Which is lovely in the summer, but I visited in February so it was still quite cold.
This is the end point of the tour so the key time to ask any questions as your guide will leave you here.
It is right by the Meatpacking District so I recommend walking here after the tour for more drinks and something to eat.
📍 Insider Tip: Try the Cherry Sour Here, it is amazing!
Other spots you will walk by and explore on this tour include Det Ny Teater, Central Hotel & Café, Skydebanehaven and Sønder Boulevard.
Tips Before Going On The Vesterbro Beer Tasting Tour
These are some helpful tips that will make your tour and general Copenhagen experience better:
- For a less crowded experience, book during the week or before the summer months
- Make sure you have your QR code screenshot on your phone
- Like most walking tours, wear suitable shoes- especially in the winter
- Bring water with you
- Ask your guide questions and for recommendations for places to eat and things to do during your trip
- Don’t forget a good camera
- Plan to have food straight after (I was pretty hungry after)
Other Tours I Recommend In Copenhagen
This is hands down my favourite tour I did during my trip to Copenhagen. However, these are some other ones that are worth considering booking too:
Copenhagen Sightseeing Classic Canal Tour With Live Guide
Copenhagen Food & Drink Private Tour: Scandinavian Delights Tasting
Hamlet And Sweden Tour from Copenhagen
👆 All of these tours have a buy now and pay later feature which I always take full advantage of!
Vesterbro Cultural Tour with Beer Tasting Review: FAQs
Absolutely! Vesterbro in Copenhagen is a vibrant district, offering a unique blend of cultural richness and diverse culinary experiences. Known for its lively atmosphere, historic charm, and artistic flair, Vesterbro is a must-visit for those seeking an authentic experience.
Copenhagen is renowned for its craft beer scene, and notable breweries include Mikkeller. Carlsberg and Tuborg are other Danish beers that you can sample here.
Unfortunately, transport is not provided for this walking tour. The meeting point is Reventlowsgade, 1620 København V, Denmark at the back of the train station so it is easy to reach.
Of course, just let your guide know and they will provide you with alternatives. The beer is good on this tour but it is worth going just for the local sites you see.
Vesterbro Cultural Tour with Beer Tasting Review: Final Thoughts
Copenhagen has some epic day trips to keep you busy throughout your getaway.
But if you only have a few hours to spare and want to see the city with a local, this Vesterbro Cultural Tour ticks all the boxes!
I have done hundreds of tours throughout Europe over the years and this one is a top contender.
It is great value for money, doesn’t take up a whole day and gives you a taste of the real Denmark.
I recommend booking your tour in advance as my guide told me the tours fill up fast, especially during the summer.
🍻 CHECK PRICES & AVAILABILITY FOR THE VESTERBRO TOUR HERE! ⏎
I hope you found this guide useful! To plan the rest of your trip, take a look at some of these articles:
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Lowri Thomas is the founder of Many Other Roads. She lives and travels in Europe and has explored more than 40 countries. She is joined on her travels with her dog Scout and they explore Europe mostly by road. Born in Wales, she also shares the best things to do in Wales, UK and beyond. She helps over 50,000 people per month plan epic Europe adventures and road trips.
