My tips for how to find some adventure when travelling to the Danish capital
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Whether you work a nine to five or if you’re balancing a manic social life with university studies, daily commitments can get in the way of your wanderlust. Plans for fishing weekends in Norway, hiking holidays to Iceland, and climbing trips to the Dolomites can seep into the background. I’m here to offer some suggestions on how you can fit some more adventure into your life without dropping out of your job or failing your degree. Without further ado, my Copenhagen travel guide:
Blocks & Walls – Rock Climbing Gym
SUMMARY: nestled inside an enormous warehouse on the edge of Copenhagen’s harbour is the largest indoor climbing centre in Scandinavia. If you’re looking to get your inner-city adventure kicks, this is it. Blocks & Walls flexes a huge selection of facilities including multiple high-wall climbing routes, a bouldering section, a gym, changing rooms, and a cosy café. There’s a wide selection of courses and classes on offer to improve your climbing abilities. Alternatively, take an introductory lesson with an instructor to learn the ropes – so to speak – or, if you already know what you’re doing then you can use the facilities independently (proof of certificates required).
WHEN TO VISIT: opening hours are as follows: Monday-Friday: 10:00-23:00; Saturday & Holy Days: 10:00-20:00; Sunday: 10:00-22:00. It gets very busy after work on weekdays (18:00-20:00) and weekends, so aim for off-peak times if your schedule allows it.
DON’T MISS: the other selection of actives nearby in Refshaleøen. Only a few minutes walk is a paintball centre, high-ropes course, skatepark, and bungee jump. If you’re hungry, the brilliant street food-market Reffen is also a stones throw away with an amazing selection of food and bars from around the world along with the famous Danish craft brewery Mikkeller.
HOW TO GET THERE: it’s a little out the way with no metro station nearby so I recommended you take a bus. First, get the M1/M2 line to Christianshavn St. (Metro), then change to bus 2A. The bus stop Christianshavn St. (Torvegade) is right by the station and easy to find. The bus ride will take around ten minutes, get off at Refshaleøen (Refshalevej) which is the final stop. It’s a short walk to Blocks & Walls from there.
NOTE: climbing shoes are required for all facilities, you can bring your own or hire a pair for 40dkk. For the high walls, an equipment set can be hired for 90dkk. Equipment requirement varies across courses and activities with different prices for members – more details on their website.
Amager Bakke (CopenHill) – Ski Slope
SUMMARY: in a bid to become the first carbon-neutral capital city by 2025, Copenhagen has come up with some fantastically innovative ideas for how to reach this goal. By expanding their extraordinary network of bike lanes, delivering recycling initiatives that actually work, and ensuring that a great deal of their food produce is fresh/organic/vegan means they are well on their way to achieving green living. Now comes their ingenious waste management system that designers and engineers have managed to double up as a recreational centre. The Amager Ressource Center (known as ARC) turns waste into electrical energy lighting buildings and heating homes. It’s also known as CopenHill, which boasts a dry ski slope, hiking route, and a massive 85m climbing wall. Check out Red Bull athlete Jesper Tjäder going for a test run here.
WHEN TO VISIT: opening hours are 12:00-20:00 Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri; Wednesdays 12:00-22:00; Saturdays 10:00-20:00; Sundays 10:00-18:00.
DON’T MISS: the café/bar at the bottom of the slope which serves up a selection of hot snacks and chilled drinks. Thursday and Saturday are the designated party evenings so aim for then if you want to sample the after-ski! It would hardly be a ski trip without an après bar, would it? However, taper you exceptions a tad; the Danes put on a much more sophisticated après than the sordid affairs at La Folie Douche.
HOW TO GET THERE: follow the same instructions as above for getting to Blocks and Walls. Except this time when you’re on the 2A bus, get off at Lynetten (Refshalevej) which is the stop before Refshaleøen. It’s then a ten-minute walk from Lynetten bus stop. If you’re staying near Vesterport or in Frederiksberg you can take the bus line 37. Get off at Amagerværket which is the final stop.
NOTE: To go on the climbing wall you must be certified. For the ski slope, you can rent equipment or bring your own; lessons are also on offer. Check out their website here for more details.
Havnebadet Islands Brygge – Harbour Swim
SUMMARY: just south of central Copenhagen is a small subsection of the harbour that harbours a secret (pardon the pun). During winter there may be a few people walking dogs in the park or running along the waterfront but little activity otherwise. Then, summer rolls around… and out come the locals. Splashing into the “baths” (don’t be fooled by this term, the water is freezing) with surprising zeal. Everyone eager to shake off their cabin fever after a long and bitter Nordic winter. And what better way to freshen up than with a bracing swim in the harbour!
WHEN TO VISIT: on a warm day it’s especially beautiful with the sparkling water and blue skies. In the late spring and throughout summer the area gets very busy, particularly on weekends and public holidays. Open 15th of May to 15th September.
DON”T MISS: the high-board jump. If you’re looking for your bit of adventure this is it. The top board is five meters high, with two smaller boards at three and one meters high. Climb the slippery staircase – past the smirking teenagers goading each other to jump – and get a great view from the top before plunging into the water below.
HOW TO GET THERE: there are multiple ways to find Islands Brygge. A popular route is to walk from the city centre along the waterfront and across the Lille Langebro bride, which takes 20-25 minutes depending on where you’re coming from. Or you can get the M1 subway line and get off at the Islands Brygge stop. You can also catch the 5C bus (get off at Klaksvigsgade (Amager Boulevard)) or the 68 bus line (get off at Weidekampsgade (Klaksvigsgade)). I recommend walking to take in the harbour views.
NOTE: You must stay inside the designated bathing zone. No point straying out into the harbour and risking getting run over by a boat in the active waterway!
Lastly
Excerpts of this blog are from articles I originally wrote for the Copenhagen travel company MapADay. Be sure to check out their website for more in-depth Copenhagen travel tips and itineraries.
If you enjoyed this post head over to my blog page for some more tips and advice on adventure travel!
