Vesterbro, Copenhagen Beer Tour

From Scandal to Suds: Discovering Vesterbro Over a Beer (or Three)

I’ll be honest — when I signed up for a beer tour through what used to be Copenhagen’s red-light district, I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting myself into. What I found instead was one of the most surprising, personal, and refreshingly honest experiences of my whole trip.

Our guide greeted us at the main train station, and within five minutes I was hooked — not just on the stories, but on the street energy. Vesterbro doesn’t try to impress you. It doesn’t need to. It’s raw around the edges, with history tucked into every alleyway and pub door, and somehow, that makes the beer taste even better.

We started in a traditional bodega, one of the few left untouched by the city’s gentrification wave. It smelled like wood and old beer in the best possible way. The regulars didn’t blink as we slid into a booth — this was their place, and we were the guests. Our guide told us about Vesterbro’s past: the drugs, the sex trade, the rough corners that earned it a reputation. But there was no moralizing, just a clear-eyed story of how this neighborhood came to be, and why it still matters to so many locals.

With beer in hand, the conversations in our group opened up. There’s something about sitting down together with a cold one that cuts through formality fast. Suddenly we were comparing beer preferences, swapping travel stories, and laughing like old friends.

As we strolled through the neighborhood, we saw the contrast unfold in real time — old signs faded into graffiti, tattoo shops next to natural wine bars, kids playing in newly planted parks that were once, as our guide put it, “not ideal hangout spots.” At one point we stopped near a quiet corner where she told us the story of two siblings who turned their shared love of beer into one of Denmark’s most iconic brands. Somehow, it felt deeply Vesterbro — messy, bold, and full of soul.

One of my favorite moments came as we paused in the greenery of a small local park. Not somewhere you’d expect in the middle of what was once the city’s wildest neighborhood. Our guide pointed out a bakery nearby and swore it makes the best morning buns in Copenhagen. I made a mental note to be back the next day.

The tour ended in a spot that felt like the future of Vesterbro — craft beer on tap, mismatched furniture, locals filtering in after work. You could still sense the old neighborhood spirit underneath the polished taps and Nordic lighting. I rolled the dice (literally — it’s a thing they do with beer choices), got something hoppy and a little weird, and loved it.

As the group lingered after the official “end,” it was clear no one was ready to leave. We had stepped into a place that didn’t just serve beer — it served stories, layers, and local life on its own terms.

This wasn’t just a pub crawl. It was a real look at a neighborhood that’s changed a lot, but hasn’t lost its grit. And yes — beer really does make Vesterbro better.

Please wear suitable footwear for walking, and bring an umbrella or rain jacket in case of rain.

For your tour, you will be in a small group of a maximum of 10 people.

If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We’ll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.

Passengers under 18 are not permitted on this Copenhagen tour.