7 of the Best Copenhagen Hikes That You’ll Need To Try Out 

Copenhagen offers an unusually varied mix of easy hiking and long-distance walking for such a flat capital, with coastal paths, wetlands, historic parkland and forest trails all within reach of the city.

These seven hikes in and around Copenhagen range from short urban climbs and nature loops to full-day walks and a longer trip to the dramatic cliffs of Møns Klint.

Why Hike in Copenhagen

Copenhagen may not have mountains, but it nonetheless knows how to make walking feel like an adventure. 

This is a capital where the coastlines stretch for miles, where the forests sit just beyond the city line, and where the rooftop trails wind over power plants

Regardless of whether you’re visiting for a weekend or if you’re gonna be staying longer, there are plenty of places to lace up and get moving.

For those of you who enjoy the slower side of travel (or those of you who just want to swap the cobblestones for a quiet trail) these hikes offer a range of experiences. 

For more info on what to expect from Copenhagen, be sure to check out our city guide!

For more practical information on transport, neighbourhoods, sightseeing and using the capital as a walking base, continue to our Copenhagen for Hikers: A City Guide.

1. Best Coastal Walk in Copenhagen: Amager Strandpark Loop

If you enjoy the smell of salt air and the sound of waves while walking, this coastal route hits all the right notes.

Amager Strandpark is a long and breezy stretch of artificial beaches with dune paths and shoreline trails located just a short metro ride from the city center. 

This hike is great for sunrise jogs, sunset strolls, or for full loops that hug the water the entire way.

Amager Strandpark Loop Details

• Difficulty: Easy
• Average time: Approx. 2–2.5 hours
• Distance: Approx. 7–8 km / 4.3–5 miles depending on route
• Elevation gain: Minimal
• Route type: Loop
• Start/end: Amager Strandpark
• Best for: Coastal walking without leaving Copenhagen
• Highlights: Sandy beaches, dunes, lagoon, Øresund views and the Copenhagen coastline
• Trail highlight: The eastern side of the park opens directly onto Øresund, with clear views towards the bridge linking Denmark and Sweden.

2. Best Family Nature Walk Near Copenhagen: Dyrehaven and the Hermitage

Just north of the city lies Dyrehaven, also known as The Deer Park. This place is a massive (and historic) hunting ground that’s been turned into a public park.

The trails here are wide and flat and stroller-friendly, which makes it an easy pick for families or beginner walkers.

You’ll pass through dense forest and open meadows, and you’ll also likely spot herds of deer along the way.

Dyrehaven and the Hermitage Details

• Difficulty: Easy
• Average time: Approx. 2.5–3 hours
• Distance: Approx. 9–10 km / 5.6–6.2 miles
• Elevation gain: Approx. 80–100 m / 262–328 ft
• Route type: Loop
• Start/end: Klampenborg Station
• Best for: Families, wildlife and easy woodland walking
• Highlights: Free-ranging deer, woodland, open grassland and the Hermitage hunting lodge
• Trail highlight: Walking through the open landscape around the Hermitage gives you one of the best chances to see Dyrehaven’s large deer herds.

“Every hiker starts somewhere — grab your free Hiking for Beginners guide.”

3. Best Beginner Nature Hike Near Copenhagen: Kalvebod Fælled

If you like big skies and flat terrain with lots of open space, Kalvebod Fælled is for you.

Located in western Amager, this preserved natural area is filled u[p with grassy plains and birdlife and well-marked walking paths. 

It’s ideal for a peaceful and meditative walk where your mind can wander as far as your feet.

Kalvebod Fælled Details

• Difficulty: Easy
• Average time: Approx. 2–2.5 hours
• Distance: 8.8 km / 5.5 miles
• Elevation gain: Minimal
• Route type: Loop
• Start/end: Vestamager
• Best for: Beginners, wildlife and quiet open landscapes
• Highlights: Wetlands, grasslands, birdlife and wide open views
• Trail highlight: The bird hides around the protected wetlands make this one of Copenhagen’s strongest walks for wildlife watching.

4. Best Urban Hike in Copenhagen: CopenHill

Only in Copenhagen could you hike up a power plant and have it be one of the best views in town!

CopenHill offers a steep and zigzagging path up its artificial slope, and it comes complete with synthetic greenery and the occasional skier zooming down beside you. It’s short and weird, but it’s also absolutely worth it.

CopenHill Details

• Difficulty: Easy
• Average time: Approx. 30–60 minutes
• Distance: Approx. 1 km / 0.6 miles return
• Elevation gain: Approx. 85 m / 279 ft
• Route type: Out-and-back
• Start/end: CopenHill entrance
• Highest point: CopenHill summit, 85 m / 279 ft
• Best for: A quirky urban walk and Copenhagen skyline views
• Highlights: Rooftop hiking, artificial ski slope, city views and unusual architecture
• Trail highlight: Few cities let you gain 85 metres of elevation by walking to the roof of a functioning energy facility.

5. Best Quick Nature Walk in Copenhagen: Utterslev Mose Loop

Utterslev Mose is a quiet and flat nature reserve in the northwestern part of the city that wraps around a series of peaceful lakes and wetlands. 

This one’s perfect if you’ve only got a couple of hours but if you still want to feel immersed in nature.

The circular trail is easygoing, with wide gravel paths and plenty of benches.

Utterslev Mose Loop Details

• Difficulty: Easy
• Average time: Approx. 1.5 hours
• Distance: 5.5 km / 3.4 miles
• Elevation gain: Minimal
• Route type: Loop
• Start/end: Utterslev Mose
• Best for: A short nature escape inside Copenhagen
• Highlights: Lakes, wetlands, birdlife and waterside paths
• Trail highlight: The combination of reed beds, open water and abundant birdlife makes the area feel surprisingly removed from the surrounding city.

6. Best Long-Distance Walk in Copenhagen: Vestvolden

If you really want to rack up the miles, you should head west to Vestvolden.

This historic military embankment stretches for miles and it has been repurposed into a greenbelt filled with bike and walking paths. 

It’s flat but long, and it’s also ideal for those of you who enjoy steady distance rather than steep elevation.

Vestvolden Details

• Difficulty: Easy
• Average time: Approx. 3.5–4 hours
• Distance: 14.2 km / 8.8 miles
• Elevation gain: Minimal
• Route type: Point-to-point
• Start point: Utterslev Mose
• End point: Avedøre
• Best for: Longer-distance walking, history and easy mileage
• Highlights: Historic fortifications, green corridors, bunkers and woodland
• Trail highlight: Following the former defensive line gives you more than 14 kilometres of almost continuous green space through the western side of Copenhagen.

If you’re trying to work out how long a route like this might take, knowing your average hiking speed can make planning much easier.

7. Best Dramatic Day Hike from Copenhagen: Møns Klint – Klintekongens Rige

It’s a bit of a journey to get here (about two hours by train and bus in total), but Møns Klint is truly in a league of its own.

You’ll find towering white chalk cliffs that rise above the Baltic Sea, and the trails run both along the top and down to the beach below via steep wooden stairs.

 It’s the most dramatic landscape near Copenhagen and it’s also totally worth the travel time (if you’ve got a day to spare that is).

Møns Klint – Klintekongens Rige Details

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Average time: Approx. 6 hours
• Distance: 14.5 km / 9 miles
• Route type: Loop
• Start/end: Møns Klint / Høje Møn
• Best for: A substantial day hike and Denmark’s most dramatic coastal scenery
• Highlights: Chalk cliffs, Klinteskoven forest, cliff-top viewpoints, beach sections and Liselund
• Trail highlight: The route lets you experience the white cliffs both from above and from the shoreline while crossing some of Denmark’s hillier terrain.

If you’re planning to turn your hiking trip into a longer walking holiday in Denmark, it’s the kind of route worth adding to your itinerary.

When Is the Best Time to Hike Around Copenhagen?

Late spring through early autumn generally offers the best conditions for hiking around Copenhagen, with long daylight hours, milder temperatures and greener landscapes.

May and June are especially good for Dyrehaven, Kalvebod Fælled and the city’s coastal walks, with fresh greenery, active birdlife and comfortable walking temperatures.

July and August bring the warmest weather and the longest days. Coastal routes such as Amager Strandpark can be particularly enjoyable, although exposed areas may feel windy and busy during good weather.

September and October are excellent for cooler conditions, quieter paths and autumn colour through Dyrehaven and other wooded areas.

Winter is still workable for many Copenhagen routes because the terrain is generally low and accessible, but shorter daylight hours, wind and wet conditions can make exposed coastal and wetland walks feel much colder than the temperature suggests.

Møns Klint is a separate case because it involves steeper terrain, long stair sections and a much longer day out. Check current trail access and weather before travelling there.

For more practical information on transport, neighbourhoods, sightseeing and using the capital as a walking base, continue to our Copenhagen for Hikers: A City Guide.

What to Pack for Hiking Around Copenhagen

Most Copenhagen hikes are low-level and non-technical, so you can keep your kit fairly simple. Wind, rain and exposed coastal sections are usually more important considerations than elevation.

For most walks around Copenhagen, consider packing:

• Comfortable walking shoes or hiking shoes with enough grip for woodland, gravel and potentially muddy paths
• A lightweight waterproof jacket for Denmark’s changeable and often windy weather
• A practical layering system so you can adjust between sheltered woodland and exposed coastal sections
• A 20–30L daypack for water, food and spare clothing
• Sun protection during longer spring and summer walks
• Enough water for the route, particularly for longer days such as Vestvolden or Møns Klint
• Offline maps or GPS navigation if you are linking multiple paths or exploring a larger nature area
• Trekking poles are generally unnecessary around Copenhagen, but can be useful on the steeper stairs and rougher terrain at Møns Klint

🗒️ Free Checklist: “Pack light, pack right — download The Ultimate Hiking Packing List.”

Exploring Copenhagen 

You don’t need elevation to have an unforgettable hiking experience…and Copenhagen effortlessly proves it. 

These seven hikes combine the best of Danish nature, creativity, and calm, and they also offer a variety of trails for every type of walker.

And if Copenhagen has given you a taste for Nordic hiking, there are plenty more hikes across Scandinavia to explore.

Regardless of whether you’re squeezing in a quick morning loop or if you’re gonna be heading out for a full-day adventure, each of these routes will give you a fresh look at the city and its surprisingly wild surroundings.

Where to Next?

Planning more hiking in Denmark and Scandinavia? These guides will help you continue the trip:

• Copenhagen for Hikers: A City Guide — plan transport, seasonal timing and how to use the capital as a base for local walks and day trips.
• Ultimate Guide to Hiking in Denmark — explore Denmark’s main hiking regions, landscapes and practical planning information.
• Best Hikes in Denmark — discover more coastal paths, forests, islands and longer trails around the country.
• Walking Holiday in Denmark — combine Danish cities, countryside and coastal routes into a longer walking-focused trip.
• Best Hikes in Scandinavia — broaden your plans with standout trails across the wider Nordic region.