Copenhagen Airport Hotel Review: Scandic CPH Strandpark
Continuing with the series on airport hotels which have caught our attention, whether for good or for bad, it’s the turn to review my experience of Scandic CPH Strandpark, which is located in Kastrup, within walking distance of Copenhagen airport (CPH).
As you can see in the map, this hotel, which belongs to the Scandinavian chain Scandic, is not adjacent to the terminal, so, getting there on foot may be a challenge if you are carrying heavy bags.
However, it is close enough to it to be considered an airport hotel. In fact, on the two different occasions I have stayed there, I have reached it on foot carrying my hand luggage with me.
If you are traveling light and walking outdoors is not a problem, though, it is a pretty straighforward walk from the international arrivals terminal, past the airport’s car park and through a perfectly demarcated pedestrian lane (Note: my visits were all in summer in fair weather, perhaps is not as pleasant in the middle of the Danish winter!).
One thing I particularly like of this hotel and, in my opinion, more than compensates the short walk to get there, is the fact that it is right on the seaside.
This means not only that some rooms get great views of the Oresund straits, which separate Denmark from Sweden, but also that the hotel is also right next to some of Copenhagen’s best beaches (yes, beach-going is a thing in Denmark, as I will show further down this post!).
Delivering Danish hygge next to Copenhagen airport
So, now that we have seen how close the hotel is to Kastrup airport, it is time to see what is there inside. As you can see in the pictures below, the style of the rooms is modern and rather minimalist, with a touch of Scandi cozyness.
Let’s have a look at several of the elements:
Spacious room ✔
Spacious bathroom and shower ✔ but no individual toiletries X
Nice working desk ✔ with accessible electric plugs ✔
The different light buttons explained ✔✔
A balcony with views to the Oresund straits ✔✔✔
Like an increasing number of hotels, there is a dedicated digital interface you can access via tablet and no phone. I found this latter detail interesting, because, tbh, I hadn’t been using phones in hotels for quite a while.
If visiting in early summer, you may get woken up by the early morning light, but the views are well worth it!
By the way, if the room (on the 11th floor) had views of the Oresund, from the end of the corridor you can get a glimpse of downtown Copenhagen in the distance.
Common areas and facilities at Scandic CPH Strandpark
The hotel has quite a few common areas worth mentioning:
There are several meetings rooms and the hotel seems to be a regular venue for all sorts of corporate and even Royal gatherings (on my first visit I nearly stumbled upon the Danish and Swedish royal families, as they came to the hotel to mark the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Oresund bridge, linking Denmark and Sweden!)
The hotel has a rather stylish bar and a fitness area on the ground floor and a panoramic terrace (from where it is possible to see the sea as well as as the aircraft traffic coming in and out of Kastrup airport.
A great Scandi-continental breakfast
Breakfast was one of the things I enjoyed the most at Scandic CPH Strandpark. Breakfast is served on the first floor, which is a large, airy room with plenty of natural light and views of the adjacent marina and the sea.
The choices were many, with a mix of Scandi choices and a prevalence of healthy options, plenty of fruit and other wholesome and natural foods, but without forgetting all the classics of the Continental breakfast.
The bread selection was particularly good and I can still remember perfectly well some of the seed breads available there!
Where to go for a swim in Copenhagen: Kastrup Søbad
One of the pluses of staying at the Scandic CPH Strandpark is the possibility of walking along Kastrup’s seaside promenade, which not only has some of the best views of the international Oresund bridge but boasts also some prime bathing spots. This part of Copenhagen is particularly nice during the summer time.
I had been told that Kastrup Søbad was one of the best spots to go sea bathing in Copenhagen (a city, which, like its Swedish counterpart across the straits, Malmo, has a strong culture of year-round seabathing). And the truth is that it didn’t disappoint!
Kastrup Søbad consists of a rather modern-looking wooden structure inside the sea, linked to the shore by a pedestrian pier. This structure serves as a platform for bathing and contains some services, such as showers and changing rooms. Even if there are just regular beaches next to it, Kastrup Søbad offers a bit of a secluded space (there were some nude bathers) and also a spot from where to jump into the water.
Kastrup Søbad is less than 10 minutes walk from Scandic CPH Strandpark and, if the weather permits, I would definitely include it into the experience.
Our take:
Scandic CPH Strandpark is a great option to stay near Copenhagen airport, particularly if you travel light, since then you an even walk to it.
Without being overtly luxurious, this hotel makes a good job of delivering the basics of the Scandinavian experience: no-nonsense comfort and cozyness, nice service, healthy natural food and, as a bonus, close contact with nature, even within the context of an urban area and in the proximity of a major international airport!
By the way, if traveling to Copenhagen, you may want to check also our SAS A320 flight review and our story about what to do and what to see in Malmö, Sweden, just across the bridge from Scandic CPH Strandpark.
