In Copenhagen, you can feel comfortable walking hand in hand with your partner regardless of their gender. You can sit down at all the delicious gastronomic hubs, check in to any hotel and let loose at any night club. Copenhagen is yours to explore.
With that being said, this guide is for you who wishes to dig into all of the playfulness that the lively LGBTI+ environment in Copenhagen has to offer.
Copenhageners are mostly relaxed and tolerant people, and the general attitude towards LGBTI+ people is liberal and open-minded. The capital city of Denmark has long been a playground for both locals and tourists in the LGBTI+ community. Here you can be free, open and most of all yourself.
Theater, concerts, talks and drag shows. Sounds like fun? These places will keep you entertained all days of the week.
Today, many Western countries are tolerant toward LGBTI+ people, but Denmark has always been in the lead when it comes to tolerance and passing laws to secure equality.
It wasn’t until 1989 that Denmark started recognizing registered partnerships for same-sex couples, and though it was late, Denmark was the first country to allow this. After being engaged for 40 years, it was Eigil and Axel Axgil who were the first couple ever to become a registered same-sex partnership. In 2009 it became possible for registered LGBTI+ couples to adopt children, and in 2012 it was finally legal to be married in church and at City Hall.
If you want to learn more about LGBTI+ history in Denmark, visit this article by the Danish LGBT rights organization, which was founded all the way back in 1948.
Denmark is a first-mover country when it comes to LGBTI+ rights, and though we have come a long way, there’s still more work to do.
Copenhagen Pride is the not to be missed LGBTI+ event of the year. Back in 2021 Copenhagen upped itself and also hosted the combined World Pride and EuroGames. If you're into films, you should also know that Copenhagen is home to one of the world’s oldest LGBTI+ film festivals. Check it out below.
Copenhagen is home to one of Europe’s oldest gay bars, Centralhjørnet from 1917, which openly became a gay bar in the 1950s. That bar was only the beginning, and today Copenhagen has many LGBTI+ establishments. Whether you're heading out for a single beer, some live jazz music or a leather themed party that goes on beyond the sunrise, Copenhagen has a place for you. Most places you will find in the Latin Quarter and just off Rådhuspladsen in the city centre.
Listen to an LGBTI+ Copenhagen podcast or to take a tour of Copenhagen with LGBTI+ glasses on. Read along to find out where to get insider knowledge. You can also check out other guided tours in Copenhagen here.
