Radisson Blu Royal

The original design hotel

Word to the wise: Room 606 is kitted out in Arne Jacobsen's original 1960s designs. Ask to have a look round - or splash out and stay there.
Noteworthy for: Design aside, the hotel has another claim to fame: it was the first skyscraper in Denmark and for decades the country's tallest building.

We like to steer away from those generic corporate hotels - especially when they're outside the city centre - but the Radisson Blu Royal is something special. Conceived and built in the late 50s by Denmark's most famous architect and designer, Arne Jacobsen, it has a legitimate claim to be the world's first design hotel.
Jacobsen decided on every element of the building, from the 20-storey facade to the cutlery used in the restaurant. Although most of the original furnishings have now been replaced, his spirit and designs live on, notably in the top floor restaurant Alberto K, which also has stunning views over the city.