Copenhagen by Bike: A Guide to the European City Where Half the Residents Cycle to Work

In Copenhagen, the bicycle isn't a hobby – it's the way the city moves. Nearly half of all trips to work and education in the Danish capital are made by bike, in rain, wind and winter darkness as well as summer sunshine. Business people in suits, parents with children in cargo bikes and students all share wide, separate cycle lanes that make the city one of the easiest and safest in the world to explore on two wheels.

For visitors, cycling is the best way to see Copenhagen: the city is flat and compact, the main sights are close together, and you'll move at the same pace as the locals. This guide explains how Copenhagen became a cycling city, how to rent a bike, the rules you need to know, the best routes and what to see along the way.

Copenhagen by bike at a glance

Quick facts
Best time to cycle	May–September for long, light evenings; spring and autumn are quieter
Bike hire	Hotels, rental shops and app-based bike-share
Terrain	Flat, with wide, separate cycle lanes
Typical distances	Most sights within 15 minutes' ride of the centre
Best for	City breaks, families, design and food lovers

Why Copenhagen cycles

Copenhagen wasn't always a cycling paradise. Like many cities, it filled up with cars in the 1960s, but fuel crises and public campaigns in the 1970s led the city to invest heavily in cycling. Today it has hundreds of kilometres of dedicated cycle tracks, raised kerbs separating bikes from cars and pedestrians, green-wave traffic lights timed for cyclists, footrests at junctions and bridges built only for bikes and pedestrians.

Cycling is simply the quickest, cheapest and most convenient way to get around – which is why people of every age and background do it. Several "Cycle Superhighways" also link the suburbs with the city centre, allowing commuters to ride long distances with few stops.

How to rent a bike

1. Hotel bikes and rental shops

Many hotels lend or rent bikes to guests, often for a small daily fee. Rental shops across the centre offer city bikes, electric bikes and cargo bikes with a box at the front for children – a very Copenhagen experience. Book ahead in summer.

2. Bike-share apps

App-based bike-share schemes have bikes parked around the city that you can unlock with your phone and pay by the minute or by the day. Check where you're allowed to leave the bike at the end of your ride.

3. Guided bike tours

A guided tour is a great way to start, especially if you're nervous about city cycling. Guides take you along quiet routes, explain the rules and share stories about the city's history, architecture and design.

The rules of the road

4. Keep right and signal

Ride on the right in the cycle lane, and let faster cyclists pass on your left. Raise your right or left hand to signal turns, and raise a hand straight up before you stop – the cyclists behind you expect it.

5. Left turns in two steps

You can't turn left across traffic like a car. Instead, cross the junction to the far side, stop at the corner on the right, turn your bike and wait for the green light to cross again.

6. Lights, alcohol and phones

Lights are required after dark, cycling on pavements is not allowed, and using a phone while cycling is illegal. Cycling under the influence of alcohol is also an offence, and police do issue fines.

The best routes and sights

7. The harbour circuit

The most scenic ride in the city follows the harbour. Cross the curving Inner Harbour Bridge (Inderhavnsbroen) to Nyhavn's colourful houses, then ride along the waterfront past the Opera House and the Royal Library's "Black Diamond". The Bicycle Snake (Cykelslangen), an orange cycle bridge that winds above the water, is a highlight.

8. Royal Copenhagen

Ride past Amalienborg, the royal residence, the Marble Church, the star-shaped Kastellet fortress and on to the Little Mermaid statue. Continue to Rosenborg Castle, home of the crown jewels, and the King's Garden.

9. Christianshavn and Christiania

Cycle along the canals of Christianshavn, with its houseboats and cafés, and climb the spiral staircase of the Church of Our Saviour. Freetown Christiania, an alternative community founded in the 1970s, is next door – walk your bike inside and respect the local rules on photography.

10. Harbour baths and street food

On warm days, locals swim in the clean harbour at open-air harbour baths such as Islands Brygge. Ride to the street-food markets near the water, or to Torvehallerne food market near Nørreport, for lunch.

11. CopenHill and the waterfront north

CopenHill, a waste-to-energy plant with an artificial ski slope, hiking trail and climbing wall on its roof, is a symbol of the city's green ambitions. Ride north along the coast towards Hellerup for beaches and villas.

Beyond Copenhagen

Denmark is one of Europe's great cycling countries, with national cycle routes along coasts and through the countryside. A short train ride brings you to Roskilde, with its Viking Ship Museum, or north along the coast to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Bikes can be taken on many trains for a fee.

Tips for cycling in Copenhagen

• Start on a quiet morning – weekends are calmer than weekday rush hours.
• Plan routes with a map app that shows cycle lanes.
• Lock your bike to a rack every time; bike theft is common.
• Pack a rain jacket – Danes cycle in all weather.
• Mind pedestrians and buses: watch for people stepping off buses into the cycle lane.

For more European city ideas, see our guide to the best European cities for music lovers, which includes Copenhagen's jazz scene.