The people of Copenhagen love their bicycles which is apparent from the moment you step foot in the city. No matter where you are and what time of the year you visit, cyclists almost certainly form part of the streetscape. Eight out of ten people in Copenhagen cycle regularly and 37% of those who work or study in Copenhagen use the bicycle daily as their chosen means of transport. All in all the people of Copenhagen cover 1.2 kilometres by bike on the streets and straits of the city every day. Most, namely 56%, cycle because it is easy or convenient, while 21% cycle to keep in shape and 12% because it is a cheap form of transportation. The primary reason for leaving the bike at home is rain, but the probability of people travelling to work in the rain is actually quite low at 1.5 times a month.


Copenhagen is a quite safe city to travel by bike due to its many cycle paths, cycle lanes and dedicated cycling routes. The biggest threat is posed by congested cycle lanes which at times seem to be in a state of anarchy. The Danish Cyclists Federation has devised ten good pieces of advice for urban cycling, and they are:

1) Take it easy.
2) Check behind you before you overtake other cyclists.
3) Stay to the inside of the cycle path, so others can overtake.
4) Please be aware in traffic. Leave e.g. your mobile in your pocket.
5) Show your intentions in traffic. Signal before turning or stopping.
6) Do not jump the queue of fellow cyclists that have stopped for red light.
7) Do not insist on sticking to your right without checking those you share the road with follow the same rules. It may be fatal.
8) Walk the bicycle through the zebra crossing.
9) Avoid cycling with a hood or very loud music in your ear phones.
10) Adapt your speed to the traffic conditions.


NB! Although not required by law in Denmark, it is recommended to wear a cycle helmet. When accidents happen, it is often the head that takes the brunt of the fall, and if you were planning on an exciting city trip, it is unfortunate if it ends with a concussion in a hotel bed behind closed curtains.

Copenhagen has twice been awarded the title as the world’s best city for cyclists by the American sustainability website Treehugger which among other things emphasized the city’s many wide and well-used cycle lanes.

Furthermore, in 2007, Copenhagen was awarded the International Cycling Union’s “UCI Bike City” label as the first city in the world. This is recognition of the efforts the city has made to support and develop cycling both on a competitive level but also as a leisure sport. The title, which is held for three years, from 2008-2011, means that during that period of time the city of Copenhagen and the Greater Copenhagen area will be host to a number of events for elite as well as leisure cyclists – e.g. the UCI Road World Championships towards the end of September 2011.

If you left your own bicycle at home, there is plenty of opportunity to rent one in and around Copenhagen. Prices start around DKK 75 a day – cheaper for weekly rentals.

Bicycle rentals in and around Copenhagen

You can also get around by borrowing one of Copenhagen’s so-called ”City bikes”. The principle is that you select a free city bike in one of the dedicated city bike-racks, unlock the bike by depositing a DKK 20 coin in the locker and ride off. When you return the bicycle to any city bike rack, you get your DKK 20 coin back. The free city bikes may only be used in central Copenhagen which is just the same they are not particularly well-suited for longer distances.

Read more about the city bike

Mountain bikes are not suitable for urban use, but in Hareskoven forest, just 17 km northwest of Copenhagen, there is ample opportunity to get a MTB adrenaline kick if that’s what takes your fancy. There is a 29 km long hilly MTB route in this beautiful nature spot. Take the S-train to Hareskov Station and rent a mountain bike from e.g. MTB Tours which is situated close to the station.

It is free to bring the bicycle on the S-trains serving Greater Copenhagen at all times, however, note that you are not allowed to alight and board the train on Nørreport train station on weekdays during rush hour. You can also take the bicycle on the regional trains and the different local train lines on Northern Zealand, but it requires the purchase of a special bicycle ticket. The same applies if you want to bring the bicycle on the Copenhagen Metro, furthermore, please be aware that you cannot bring the bicycle on the Metro during rush hour from 1 September till 31 May.

Read more about taking the bicycle on the train

Read more about taking the bicycle on the Copenhagen Metro

Jægersborg Dyrehave (or just Dyrehaven which literally means the Deer Park) - 13 km north of Copenhagen
1,100 hectares of forest park with a population of approx. 2,000 deer.
Public transport: S-train to Klampenborg

Bakken, Klampenborg - 13 km north of Copenhagen
The world’s oldest amusement park (open from the end of March till the end of August).
Public transport: S-train to Klampenborg

Bellevue Beach, Klampenborg – 13 km north of Copenhagen
Popular beach which attracts lots of people from Copenhagen on nice sunny summer days.
Public transport: S-train to Klampenborg

Rungstedlund, Rungsted - 28 km north of Copenhagen
The last home of the world famous Danish Author Karen Blixen and she is also buried in the park.
Public transport: Regional train to Rungsted

Louisiana, Humlebæk – 39 km north of Copenhagen
Museum of modern art.
Public transport: Regional train to Humlebæk

Kronborg Castle, Helsingør – 47 km north of Copenhagen
Hamlet’s famous castle.
Public transport: Regional train to Helsingør

Frederiksborg Castle, Hillerød – 38 km northwest of Copenhagen
Renaissance castle from the early 16th century.
Public transport: S-train to Hillerød

The Viking Ship Museum, Roskilde – 36 km west of Copenhagen
See the remains of five original Viking ships excavated from Roskilde Fjord.
Public transport: Regional and Intercity trains to Roskilde

Arken, Ishøj – 19 km south of Copenhagen
Museum of modern art.
Public transport: S-train to Ishøj

Dragør – 13 km southeast of Copenhagen on the island of Amager
Cosy little town with idyllic cobbled streets and many small well-preserved houses dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
Public transport: Not possible to bring the bicycle!

Amager Beach Park – 6 km southeast of Copenhagen
4.6 km beach area with artificial island, lagoon and sand dunes.
Public transport: Metro to Amager Strand

If you want to know more about the cycle culture in Copenhagen, it is worth paying a visit to the blog copenhagencyclechic.com, which is published by the Danish-American Mikael Colville-Andersen. The site features pictures of smart girls and boys on bicycles, discussion boards and information about cycling in the Danish capital. The blog has been named one of the best 100 blogs in the world by the British newspaper The Times.