Day Out in Denmark on Two Wheels

Explore Copenhagen’s lesser-known neighborhoods south of the city

One of the things we love about living in Copenhagen is access to the clean, clear harbor. The Harbor Ring, or Havneringen in Danish, is a 13-kilometer bicycling route that takes you around the city’s spectacular waterfront. And while you could do the whole loop in a day, I recommend breaking up the ring into smaller sections to savor some of what makes the Danish capital special. Today, I want to take you from the Cykelslangen to Sluseholmen, south of the old city. So jump on your bike and let’s ride.

You can start your tour at whichever point suits you, but we began from the Dybbølsbro train station and made our way towards Fisketorvet Shopping Center. Behind the mall you will find one of Copenhagen’s coolest bicycle paths, called the Cykelslangen. The bicycle snake. An elevated bridge that gently undulates back and forth before rolling over the Bryggebroen, a pedestrian and bike bridge bringing commuters and visitors across the Copenhagen canal since 2006.

GET A TASTE OF WHERE WE’RE GOING

Islands Brygge to Havnevigen

Once over the harbor bridge, take the route to the right through Islands Brygge neighborhood. Soon you will come to a newer development with modern towers and a harbor cove for swimming and sunning in warmer months. Certified eco-labeled housing and modern amenities make Havnevigen a sustainable addition to the city’s new neighborhoods. I’ll definitely be back in warmer weather to check out the sandy beach and swimming cove.

NOKKEN TO AMAGER FÆLLED

Nestled next to modern Havnevigen is the quirky and colorful collection of fishing huts and houses known as Nokken. Built in the 1930s out of necessity during a housing crisis, the area now offers a unique garden charm, so different from the surrounding city. Roll through Nokken and follow the gravel path that borders Amager Fælled, one of Copenhagen’s wild natural spaces. Views of the canal to your right, and so much green space to your left. Breathe. In. Out. Pedal. Repeat.

PIT STOP AT CAFE SLUSEN

Now comes the best part on this section of the Harbor Ring. At this end of the route, you’ll come to the little bridge that takes you across to Sluseholmen. Here the Copenhagen harbor is closed to through boat traffic and the water entry controlled. Before you cross over and check what the fisherman are catching, pause for a few and soak up the view. Adorable little Cafe Slusen with the blue and white awnings is a perfect place to plunk for a bit. Coffee, tea, kombucha or wine and beer on offer here. Breakfast served at tiny counters inside or at little tables out when the weather is worthy.

Cafe Slusen
Ved Slusen 34, 2300 København
Opening hours
Tue – Sun | 10.00 – 22.00

SLUSEHOLMEN TO H.C. ØRSTEDS DIESEL HOUSE

When you’re done, rested and refreshed, it’s time to return to the Harbor Ring route. Carefully walk your bicycle onto the bridge and cross over to Sluseholmen. Take the waterfront to the right and enjoy the cute red huts on the harbor. At the end of this, you’ll run into the Sluseholmen harbor baths – a lifeguarded place to swim come summer. The unique Art Deco building at the end of this pier is Metropolis, luxury apartments right on the Copenhagen canal.

Havnebadet Sluseholmen
Ben Websters Vej 69, 2450 København SV
Opening hours
May 15 – Sep 15 (open 24/7) 
Lifeguard staffing | 10.00 – 18.00

FROM SLUSEHOLMEN TO H.C. ØRSTED’S HEADQUARTERS

The Harbor Ring gets a little convoluted at once you pass Sluseholmen with so much construction of new housing here. Follow the signs and you’ll wind through the Ørsted’s power station, a large red structure opened in 1920. Now on the Danish Heritage List, it was named after Danish discover of electromagnetism – H.C. Ørsted. If you’re interested in the development and history of diesel engines, stop by the Dieselhouse museum, home to one of the largest diesel engines in the world for a while.

Dieselhouse
Energiporten 8, 2450 København
Opening hours
Tue-Fri | 10.00 – 16.00

BACK TO THE CYKELSLANGEN

We ended our tour with a return up the cycle snake back to the Dybbølsbro S-tog station. You can continue on along the waterfront and do more of the thirteen kilometer Harbor Ring by skipping the snake and staying along the water.

We definitely weren’t racing and enjoy a leisurely ride along the route. With a stop at Café Slusen and time to snap pics along the way, we probably spent about three hours on this section. See exactly where we cycled on the map below. Take it to go!

Know someone who might like to take a ride around the southern side of Copenhagen? Feel free to share. Or pin it for later. Come to Copenhagen, she said. Cheers from here.