Things to do in Denmark

Copenhagen was named Green European Capital in 2014 and has pledged its commitment to becoming the world’s first carbon-neutral capital by 2025. The way things are going, it may well get there sooner. Part of the plan is to make it even easier for everyone to get around by bike – Copenhagen is already one of the world’s most cycle-friendly cities – and for every resident to be able to walk to a beach or a park within 15 minutes.

Green Energy Tours will show you around by bike or on foot, focussing on eco-initiatives such as sustainable architecture, renewable energy, upcycling and green roofs. Other green activities to enjoy in the city include pottering around the harbour in a GoBoat, a silent, solar-powered, non-polluting pleasure boat that anyone can rent from Islands Brygge (Iceland Quay) and tracking down Copenhagen’s organic restaurants – of which there are plenty.

It’s well known that Denmark is one of the happiest nations on earth – and it’s our hunch that, for many locals, a daily dose of healthy exercise has a lot to do with it. In Danish cities, towns and rural areas, cyclists aren’t a defensive minority – they’re everywhere, thanks to far-sighted investment in infrastructure including groundbreaking Cycle Super Highways and Copenhagen’s stunning new Cykelslangen cycling bridge. It helps, of course, that Denmark’s landscapes are so flat.

A cycling vacation will make you even happier – your bike is booked, your route mapped and your luggage transferred from place to place. You’ll take in city sights, coastal scenery and historical attractions, all at your own pace. There are over 12,000km of designated cycle tracks to explore, including 11 National Cycle Routes, many of which are safely separated from roads and may take you through gorgeous forests, farmland or coastal scenery – or even a loop through Sweden.

For the day-trippers, Copenhagen has a new pay-as-you-go hire system offering electric smartbikes with built-in GPS and puncture-proof tyres. Other Danish cities have free public bike hire systems as well as hire shops.

Before you hit the streets, a word of mild caution – make sure you mug up on local cycling etiquette. VisitDenmark also has plenty of helpful cycling tips.

Jutland’s west coast is breezy enough to count among Europe’s best surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing destinations – hotspots include Klitmøller and Thy National Park. South Funen and Sealand are great for sailing – you can even take to the water in a replica Viking ship at the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde. South Funen also has a new scuba site, created by scuttling the iconic M/F Ærøsund, Denmark’s last train ferry, near Ballen.

Sun-dappled lanes and meadows dotted with wildflowers lend a charmingly old-fashioned atmosphere to rural Denmark, where 1,000 or so wild campsites offer total immersion. Wadden Sea National Park is one of the best places for birdwatching, with millions of migratory wading birds congregating to feed in spring and autumn. You may also witness the Black Sun, a seasonal murmuration of tens of thousands of starlings.