A Fitness Lover's Guide to Copenhagen

Exercise plays a big part in Danes’ daily life. They run around the city’s lakes, take out their yoga mats for some outdoor exercises in the blossomed parks, and of course bike. Follow their example without needing more than some running shoes and comfy trousers.

One of the easiest and funniest ways to keep in shape while visiting Copenhagen is to rent a bike to both explore the city and strengthen glutes and leg muscles at the same time. For the most parts, Denmark is flat, so biking around is quite easy and fun unless it’s windy. In that case, it’s quite useful to already have strong leg muscles, a good bike, and a lot of patience.

Another outdoor exercise that is quite popular in Copenhagen is jogging. Even though weather conditions in Denmark are unpredictable most of the year—with lots of rain and temperatures below zero degrees—Copenhageners always enjoy putting on their headphones and hitting the city’s parks for some jogging laps.

Copenhagen’s lakes, Frederiksberg Garden, Amager Beach, the area around the Little Mermaid, and Kastellet are some of the locals’ top outdoor choices for their favorite exercise.

Water-sports enthusiasts can rent a kayak and navigate Copenhagen’s canals. Kayak Republic offers ‘single sit’, ‘double sit’, and tours with a guide or an instructor.

Frederiksberg Garden, Frederiksberg, Denmark

Amager Strandpark, Amager Strand Promenaden, Copenhagen, Denmark

The Little Mermaid, Langelinie, Copenhagen, Denmark

Kastellet, Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen brims with yoga studios. Luckily, all of them offer drop-in classes with some of them being held in English. Prices for a drop in class start at 120DKK (€16.14) ($19), but there are special offers for three or more classes. If that sounds a bit expensive, check out Folkets Hus (People’s House) in Nørrebro. The communal house has a sports room where yoga, Tai-Chi, African dance, and other classes take place. Attendees only have to pay approximately 40DKK ($5.38) ($6).

Another place that fitness enthusiasts will love is Nørrebrohallen, a sports center in the heart of Nørrebro where various activities take place. Most locals primarily go for its high indoor-climbing wall. However, other activities such as football, handball, basketball, ping-pong, capoeira, and boxing also take place.

Those who have brought their bathing suits along should certainly check out the city’s swimming pools. There is one in almost every neighborhood and each one of them is of different size, shape, and type.

Folkets Hus, Stengade 50, Copenhagen, Denmark, +45 23 26 27 91

Nørrebrohallen, Nørrebrogade 208, Copenhagen, Denmark, +45 35 31 05 50

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