SWIM THE HARBOUR
Copenhagen harbour swimming
Every spot, ranked by locals
Copenhagen's biggest flex is a harbour so clean you can swim in it — downtown. From May to September the whole city heads to the water. Here's every official bath, plus the practical bits nobody tells you.
The main baths
Start here — the three biggest, best-equipped and most central harbour baths.
ISLANDS BRYGGE · THE ORIGINAL
Islands Brygge Havnebad
Islands Brygge 7
The one that started it all: five pools including a children's and a diving pool, big lawns for sunbathing and a front-row view of the harbour traffic. Packed on any warm day — come before noon for a spot on the grass.
The Islands Brygge guideKALVEBOD BRYGGE · DIVING BASIN
Fisketorvet Havnebadet
Kalvebod Brygge 55
The bath by the Fisketorvet shopping centre — three basins with a proper deep diving pool. More open and breezy than Islands Brygge, and usually a little less crowded. One basin stays shallow and roped-off, so it works for kids too.
The Vesterbro guideNORDHAVN · THE NEW QUAY
Sandkaj
Sandkaj 30
Nordhavn's sleek bathing zone — a big sun deck and steps straight into deep, clear water. Fewer frills than Islands Brygge, more of a dive-off-the-quay local scene for confident swimmers.
The Nordhavn guideMore places to swim
KALVEBOD BRYGGE · THE WAVY DECK
Kalvebod Bølge — The Wave
Kalvebod Brygge 59
The rolling wooden promenade just across from the Fisketorvet bath. Kayak polo and sunbathing on the curves — swimming happens at the bath next door, but the deck is the nicest hangout of the two.
The Vesterbro guideISLANDS BRYGGE · LOCAL QUAY STEPS
Halfdansgade
Halfdansgade 1
A low-key set of harbour steps further down the Islands Brygge waterfront, past the main bath — quieter, with the same clean water and a neighbourhood crowd.
The Islands Brygge guideINDRE BY · INNER-HARBOUR DECK
Havnegade
Havnegade 45
The wooden harbour-front deck on the city-centre side near Nyhavn — sun loungers, ladders into the inner harbour and a front-row view of the boats. Central and buzzy on a warm day.
The Indre By guideNORDHAVN · CALM & SHALLOW
Stubkaj
Stubkaj 1
Just along the Nordhavn waterfront from Sandkaj — a smaller, calmer bathing spot with shallower water and an easy edge. The gentlest Nordhavn pick for small swimmers.
The Nordhavn guideREFSHALEØEN · WILD BASIN
Søndre Refshalebassin
Refshalevej 145A
A wilder swim in the old shipyard basin on Refshaleøen, out by Reffen and La Banchina — rough-and-ready and industrial, with none of the downtown polish.
The Refshaleøen guideREFSHALEØEN · WINE & A SWIM LADDER
La Banchina
Refshalevej 141A
A tiny wine-and-coffee shack on the Refshaleøen quay with a swim ladder straight into the harbour and a wood-fired sauna — the cult local spot for a dip and a glass, summer or winter.
The Refshaleøen guideTEGLHOLMEN · QUIET QUAY
Badezone Teglholm Brygge
Teglholmsgade 10E
A quiet neighbourhood bath on Teglholmen in Sydhavn — a sun deck and ladders into calm basin water, well away from the summer crowds.
All neighbourhoodsTEGLHOLMEN · WATER STAIRCASE
Vandtrappen
Richard Boones Vej
The 'water staircase' on Teglholmen — broad wooden steps running straight down into the harbour for a gentle, gradual wade-in. A laid-back local Sydhavn spot.
All neighbourhoodsEvery spot on the map
Tap a pin for the address, a link to Maps and the neighbourhood guide.
Floating saunas
Member-run floating saunas sit right by several of the baths — warm up, then plunge straight into the harbour.
- Sauna ved Fisketorvet
- Sauna ved Kalvebod Bølge
- Sauna ved Søndre Refshalebassin
- Sauna ved Teglholm Brygge
The floating saunas are run by associations (foreninger). On selected days there's public access for a fee.
MAKE A DAY OF IT
Build the swim into your day
The harbour baths are in the planner too — add one to your itinerary and it slots in with the rest of your day.
Open the plannerBefore you dive in
Season & lifeguards
The baths are open May to September, free, with lifeguards at the main pools in high summer. Outside the flagged zones you're on your own.
The water
Clean enough to earn the Blue Flag most years — the city posts daily water-quality flags at each bath. Cold until June; locals call 16°C 'fine'.
Facilities
Basic: open-air showers and portable toilets at the big baths, minimal elsewhere. Bring your own towel and a dry bag for your phone.
Kids
Islands Brygge and Fisketorvet have shallow, roped-off children's pools — the safest picks for small swimmers.
Winter dipping
The hardcore keep swimming all year. If you want the Danish cold-plunge ritual with a sauna after, book La Banchina on Refshaleøen or CopenHot's harbour saunas.
The Refshaleøen guideLocal etiquette: keep the lawns tidy, don't bomb the kids' pool, and yes — the naked morning dippers at the far end are a Copenhagen tradition, not an emergency.
SEE THE HARBOUR FROM A BOAT
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Quick answers
Is the harbour really clean enough to swim in?+
Yes — Copenhagen's harbour has been officially swimmable for over 20 years and most baths carry Blue Flag water quality. After very heavy rain the city advises waiting a day; water quality is flagged at each bath.
Do the harbour baths cost anything?+
No — all the official harbour baths are free and open to everyone, May to September.
Which harbour bath is best for kids?+
Islands Brygge has a shallow, lifeguarded children's pool and big lawns. In Nordhavn, Stubkaj and Sandkaj have calm, shallow corners that suit small swimmers. The Teglholmen and Refshaleøen basins are deeper and suit confident swimmers.
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