Sport and fitness

In recent years, kayakers have increasingly taken to the vast expanse of waterways in the centre of Copenhagen. Offering a unique perspective on the city’s best-loved sights, kayak tours typically last two hours and are usually conducted at a relaxed pace. There are a few operators to choose from but Kayak Republic is well established and offers short courses as well as guided tours. Its two-hour private tour, which drifts around the national bank, opera and a number of historic bridges, is an excellent way to start exploring the city. 

At Amager, just 5km from the city centre, you can kayak, play beach volleyball, shoot hoops, swim, snorkel and sunbathe. You can also windsurf and kite-surf for much of the year, though in summer the patrolled beaches are off limits to these activities. The Helgoland sea baths, which were rebuilt in 2008, are good for a peaceful swim.

Copenhagen has been working to reduce the amount of car traffic on its streets for years. The Danish government has invested considerable funding nationwide into radical pro-cycling initiatives, including the long-distance cykelsuperstier networks that connect out-of-town commuters to the capital. Visitors are also well catered for thanks to the Bycyklen hire scheme. Although its implementation wasn’t without hiccups (read high price tags, delayed delivery and waning demand), the electric bikes fitted with GPS-enabled tablets are easy to hire and can be found at numerous stations citywide.