Couple cycling near Nysted on Lolland

Denmark’s seven greatest cycling routes

Photo: Robin Skjoldborg

With around 12,000km of national, regional and local cycle routes in Denmark, how do you know where to start? We’ve got you. Here are Denmark’s seven beloved national long-distance routes, all of which make for a great self-guided cycling tour of Denmark.

From cycling up to the furthest reaches of the country at Skagen all along the backbone of Jutland, to crossing the border in a city-to-city route from Berlin to Copenhagen, and gentle island-hopping tours exploring Fyn, there are plenty of bike routes to choose from. Cycling around, across and in Denmark is a pastime enjoyed by many Danes, and now you can join their ranks too!

List

Map

The Baltic Sea Cycle Route (820 km)

This cycle route in the shape of a figure eight runs through some of the most beautiful areas of coastal Denmark, including the fjords west of the Small Belt bridge, the archipelago around South Fyn and the cliffs on the island of Møn. Island-hopping is the aim of the game in the southern section, where you will cycle over bridges or take your bike on cycle-friendly ferries to explore quiet islands and peaceful beaches, and continue the loop round to the south of Jutland.

Grenen

The North Sea Cycle Route (560 km)

From the German border in the south to the northern tip of Skagen, this route takes you on Denmark’s Route 1 through some of its best countryside and past beautiful fishing villages and unique natural areas. Along the route, you’ll cycle by the Wadden Sea, a special natural environment home to seals and some of the country’s best oysters, plus the Tipperne bird sanctuary and plenty of towering sand dunes. At the top you’ll reach Grenen, Jutland’s most northerly point, where the Skagerrak and Kattegat seas come together.

The Limfjord Route (600 km)

Limfjord is Denmark’s largest fjord area, some 180 km of islands, bays and narrow ports where small ferries and multiple bridges connect the land. The area was used by the Vikings over a thousand years ago, and this route takes you around the fjord on flat stretches and wooded ridges, with gentle landscapes on the east coast through to rougher seas on the North Sea coast.

Christianshavn

The Berlin-Copenhagen Route (630 km)

This international bike path connects these two energetic cities with plenty of unspoilt nature, swimming opportunities and more in-between. Part of the Eurovelo 7 cycle route, it is split into three stages and typically takes at least 12 days to complete, including a ferry ride between Rostock and Gedser.

The Ancient Road (450 km)

This historic hiking and cycling route leads from Padborg in South Jutland over moraine hills to Frederikshavn in the north of Jutland, with everything including cultural monuments, historical sights and amusement parks in-between. Once a route for pilgrims, drovers, merchants and craftsmen, today it gives you an opportunity to travel the backbone of Jutland from north to south and enjoy its varied nature and landscape.

The Fjord Path (275 km)

Starting in Roskilde, some 40km from Copenhagen (and an easy-ish ride from there), this route takes you around Roskilde Fjord and Isefjord in the north and west parts of Zealand. Mainly without slopes, it clings to the fjord coastline with sea views and car-free roads most of the way.

The Border Route (130 km)

This route traces the area where Northern Germany and Southern Jutland join (an area that celebrates a historic reunification in 2020). It runs from the North Sea to the Baltic Sea and takes a zigzag route across the border from Vidå lock near Højer to the top of the port of Flensburg.