Copenhagen's Best Swimming Spots This Summer— And Where to Book a Sauna

Copenhagen is one of the few capital cities in Europe where you can swim in clean, open harbour water — right in the middle of the city. The locals do it daily from June to August, and a handful of spots have added saunas and hot tubs that turn a quick dip into something genuinely memorable.

Here are our four favourite spots this summer — from the iconic to the hidden.

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1. Islands Brygge Harbour Bath — The Classic

Address: Islands Brygge

This is where Copenhagen's harbour swimming culture was born. Five pools, a 75-metre lap lane, diving platforms at 1, 3 and 5 metres, and a grassy lawn that fills up with locals the moment the sun appears. On a warm July afternoon, there is nowhere in Copenhagen with more pure, uncomplicated joy.

Free entry, open all year. Lifeguards on duty June 1–August 31.

Insider tip: Go early on a weekday morning — the water is freshest and the crowds haven't arrived yet.

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2. La Banchina — Sauna, Natural Wine & a Harbour Swim

Address: Refshalevej 141, Refshaleøen

🧖 Sauna bookable online at labanchina.dk

A tiny wooden café and wine bar on the former industrial island of Refshaleøen, with a dock leading straight into the harbour. In summer, regulars spend entire afternoons here — a bottle of natural wine, a swim, back to the pier, repeat. In winter, the wood-fired sauna takes over and guests jump straight into the cold harbour afterwards.

The sauna is private for your group (up to 8 people), sessions run 1 hour 45 minutes, and slots fill up fast.

Practical info: Mon–Thu 800 kr / Fri–Sun 950 kr. Book up to 8 weeks ahead.

Insider tip: In winter, the Sunday Soup & Sauna Club runs walk-in only — show up, pay for an hour, add a warming soup. One of the most local experiences in the city.

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3. CopenHot — Private Hot Tubs on the Harbour

Address: Nordhavn, Copenhagen

🛁 Book online at copenhot.dk

Private hot tubs perched directly above the harbour water in the up-and-coming Nordhavn neighbourhood. Each tub holds up to 8 people. Add something cold to drink, a harbour view, and an hour with nowhere to be — and you have one of the most effortlessly relaxed group experiences Copenhagen has to offer.

Insider tip: Perfect for smaller incentive groups or an informal team evening. The sauna-to-hot-tub-to-harbour combination is hard to beat anywhere in Europe.

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4. Kastrup Sea Bath — The Snail

Address: Amager Strandvej, Kastrup — Metro: Femøren

Twenty minutes from the city centre by metro, and worth every minute. Kastrup Sea Bath — nicknamed The Snail by locals for its curling wooden form — stretches 100 metres into the Øresund and curves into a wind-sheltered circular platform with a 5-metre diving board. On a clear day you can see Sweden across the water. At sunset, integrated spotlights light the whole structure beautifully.

Free entry, open all year.

Insider tip: Come at golden hour — the light on the Øresund with the Swedish coast in the background is one of Copenhagen's most beautiful views.

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Swimming in the harbour, following a sauna and a glass of natural wine — this is Copenhagen at its best. We build experiences like this into our incentive programmes because they do something a dinner or a guided tour simply can't: they make your guests feel like locals.

Get in touch: getintouch@beyondrelations.eu