How to Bike, Paddle, and Swim Your Way Around CopenhagenSee Copenhagen the way locals do, by bike and on the water. Ride the Bicycle Snake, paddle a free kayak in exchange for picking up trash, swim in a harbor bath, and warm up in a waterside sauna. Refuel with pastries and street food, then hike an urban ski slope for an incredible view of the city!AuthorsSteller
DestinationsCopenhagenItinerary

Where to Stay

Copenhagen Island
Copenhagen Island sits on its own artificial island in the harbor, giving you immediate access to the city's waterfront. Inside, the light and airy interior features nautical-themed rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows taking full advantage of the surrounding waters. This hotel makes a great home base for the trip, with the Bicycle Snake bridge landing right on the hotel’s island, and the Kalvebod Bølge boardwalk is next door.
See More
Book

Explore by Bike

Cykelslangen
This bright, curving bike bridge called the Bicycle Snake is nearly 750 feet long and winds above Copenhagen's harbor from Kalvebod Brygge to Havneholmen. The serpentine-shaped bridge opened in 2014 and was built just for bikes, so it’s a fun ride even if you’re not going anywhere else!
See More
Dronning Louises Bro
Explore Copenhagen like a local and head off over this bridge on two wheels with the other nearly 40,000 cyclists who cross it daily. Dronning Louises Bro (Queen Louis's Bridge) is unsurprisingly one of the busiest stretches for bike traffic, connecting the city center with the Nørrebro district.
See More
CopenHill
CopenHill is a clean waste-to-energy power plant that turns the city’s trash into electricity and heat. But it also has a ski slope and a tree-lined hiking and running trail on its roof! Hike up for the view, and if you’re a certified climber, try the world’s highest climbing wall. It's over 278 feet, making it equivalent to a 26-story building!
See More

Explore On the Water

Kayak Republic
Head to this waterfront hub if you want to paddle the canals on your own schedule. Join in the eco-friendly initiatives to earn free rentals or enjoy a drink at a waterside bar. Tip: Learn more about the GreenKayak initiative below.
See More
GreenKayak
This is the best deal in town at Kayak Republic: borrow a kayak for free, and in exchange you pick up trash from the harbor in the bucket on board. When you’re done, you weigh what you collected and post a photo. There are only one or two kayaks at each spot, so book ahead.
See More
GoBoat Boat Rental - Islands Brygge
Captain your own silent, solar-powered boat that seats up to eight people around a built-in picnic table in the middle. You don’t need any boating experience to drive one! Pack snacks from Reffen or a local bakery and make an afternoon of it.
See More

Explore In the Water

Havnebadet Islands Brygge
This became Copenhagen’s first harbor bath when it opened in 2002, and swimming here in the middle of the city is something you won’t forget. Havnebadet Islands Brygge has five pools, including one for lap swimming, a shallow kids' pool, one for paddling, and even a dedicated diving pool. You can go for a dip here year-round, even in winter! Brave ice swimming and then warm up in the nearby saunas.
See More
Kalvebod Bølge
These wooden boardwalks rise and dip over the water like waves, and they’re right next to Copenhagen Island. There are decks for sunbathing and even a diving platform, so it’s an easy stop for a swim or a break on your way out for the day.
See More
Amager Beachpark
Amager Beachpark is Copenhagen's largest seaside park, with about 2.8 miles of sandy beaches, including a 1.24-mile-long artificial island, offering calm waters with toddler pools on one side and a rowing and swimming lane on the other. It's also next to the historic bathhouse Kastrup Søbad (Kastrup Sea Bath). Three metro stations serve the beach, so it’s easy to get here by bike or train.
See More
Kastrup Søbad (Kastrup Sea Bath)
Locals call this round wooden sea bath “The Snail,” since the pier curls from the shore into a circle. It’s free, open any time, and right next to Copenhagen's largest beach, Amager Beachpark. Kastrup Sea Bath includes diving platforms, has a wind shelter for breezy days, and is illuminated at night. It's also a great place for stunning panoramic views of Saltholm Island and Øresund Bridge.
See More

Where to Refuel

La Banchina
La Banchina in Refshaleøen is a tiny waterfront café with just 16 seats, complete with a wine bar and an on-site sauna! You can swim off the dock, warm up in the sauna, and then enjoy natural wines and seasonal seafood or vegetable dishes. It’s walk-in only, so go early. Open year-round!
See More
Lille Bakery
Lille Bakery is located in an airy, industrial-chic space in Refshaleøen. The artisanal bakery uses grains from local mills and is known for its sourdough breads and blomster buns (blomster means "flower" in Danish).
See More
Reffen - Copenhagen Street Food
Welcome to the largest waterfront street food market in Northern Europe! Built from more than 75 upcycled shipping containers on the site of a former shipyard in Refshaleøen, you can try food from all over the world here, as well as craft beers from spots like Mikkeller Baghaven. Bonus: Harbor views are part of your meal!
See More
Copenhagen Contemporary
As long as you're in Refshleøen, stop in at Copenhagen Contemporary, a huge contemporary art center in the old shipyard welding halls, with about 75,300 square feet of space. Much of the art is installation work you can walk straight into, including James Turrell’s "Aftershock," a mind-bending light and perception installation.
See More
Øens Have
Also in Refshaleøen, Øens Have is Northern Europe’s largest urban farm. Eat in one of the two yurts in the middle of the green space. This is true farm-to-table dining, with the vegetables and herbs coming from just a few feet away, paired with sustainable fish, humanely raised meats, and natural wines.
See More
Juno the bakery
Juno the Bakery was founded by former pastry chef Emil Glaser from the renowned restaurant Noma; this celebrated bakery lives up to its reputation. Try the Cardamom Bun, considered one of the best in the world. Tip: There’s almost always a line, but it's worth waiting for, so get there early and come hungry!
See More