Website cookies We believe in doing right by our customers. Like most websites, ours uses cookies, but rest assured that we don’t set more than we need to and we never gather information that directly identifies you. By accepting all cookies, you’ll benefit from extra functionality such as saving a wishlist, and you’ll help us to improve the site and our advertising. If you would still prefer us to set only essential cookies, you can. You can change your preference at any time by clicking on the ‘cookies’ link at the foot of the page. Learn more

0     
+44 (0)1653 617001
back
back
back
back
back
back
Be Different
Our latest magazine
  • a different side to popular destinations
  • the Portuguese Camino
  • off-the-radar regions
  • get a different perspective on Italy
Download magazine
back
back
back
 

Copenhagen & the Danish Riviera

Captivating coastline & castles of North Zealand
 
By day, cycle self-guided via thatched villages, white-sand beaches and grand castles, enjoying the extremely cycle-friendly culture and having your luggage transported, and in the evenings stay in seaside hotels and savour delicious fish and seafood.
Copenhagen & the Danish Riviera. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Copenhagen & the Danish Riviera. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A cycling holiday on the Danish Riviera

If, as many people believe, Denmark is the world’s best country for bikes, then the enticing north-east corner of Zealand, the country’s largest island, is paradise on earth for a holiday on two wheels. It is but a short train journey from Copenhagen, where your holiday begins, but feels like another world entirely. Expect to find gorgeous villages of thatched-roof cottages, castles of fairy-tale wonder, and expanses of white sand backed by dunes dotted with brightly coloured beach huts, all under huge, wide-open skies.
If all this weren’t enough, you stay in cosy, hospitable accommodation located on, or very near the coast, and can sample excellent regional cuisine featuring, as you would expect, the freshest of fish and seafood.

The well-signed routes are largely on the flat, and not overly long, so take your time – call in at artisan producers of chocolate and schnapps, linger over a picnic of open crab sandwiches in the manicured grounds of one of the royal castles, enjoy a dip in the sea, and drink in the sweeping views along the coast and out across the waves.
 

Book with confidence

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
Our flexible booking policies >
Check the destination entry requirements >
 
Gallery
 

2022

We have improved the itinerary, so please bear in mind that the reviews from before 2022 refer to a slightly different route.
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.

Pay locally for all visits and train journeys (other than the journey from Copenhagen to Snekkersten on Day 1) mentioned in the itinerary.

We have not provided elevation profiles for any of the routes on this holiday because it is largely on the flat.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 2 3 5 10 16 20 21 21 17 13 8 4
    mm 51 31 41 41 43 54 70 62 62 57 63 59
  • Arrival in Copenhagen
    Night 1: at Hotel Strand (where you spend one night).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of exploration.
  • Explore Copenhagen then travel to Snekkersten
    Copenhagen is very easy to explore on foot, so we don’t include bike hire for your first day and instead provide notes for a self-guided walking tour which takes you to key sights such as the Kastellet (a superbly preserved star fortress), Amalienborg (the Danish royal family’s main residence), Rosenborg Castle (where the Danish crown jewels are housed), the National Museum and the Round Tower.
     
    When you are ready to leave the city (there is no particular rush to do so – you may even decide to have an early dinner in Copenhagen beforehand), collect your luggage from Hotel Strand and make your way to the station for the 40-minute train ride to Snekkersten, where you spend three nights at Villa Brinkly.
    The bustling Nyhavn district
    Thinking Man statue on the waterfront
  • Circular route from Snekkersten: 42km
    This introductory cycle ride winds through forest and villages of thatched cottages to picturesque Gurre and its ruined castle. Here, it is well worth a short detour to the home and small factory of passionate chocolatier Peter Beier, before continuing past a lake to the magnificent Royal Palace of Fredensborg on the edge of the Royal North Sealand National Park. Known as the ‘Danish Versailles’, it still serves as the royal summer residence. The palace is only open in July, though you can still admire its elaborate façade as you stroll through the grounds at other times. From here, you return through woodland and along largely traffic-free farmland tracks to the coast at Niva, before passing impressive villas and small villages on your way back to sea-facing Snekkersten.
    Fredensborg Palace
  • Linear route from Snekkersten: 20km
    Today we suggest that you take the train southwards along the coast (on the same railway by which you travelled northwards from Copenhagen on Day 1) and alight at Vedbæk for a linear cycle ride back to Snekkersten. You cycle through Rungsted – home to a museum devoted to Karen Blixen, author of Out of Africa – and then head up the coast, perhaps stopping at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art to break your journey.
  • Snekkersten to Gilleleje: 32km
    Pedal north to the walled coastal town of Helsingør, where imposing Kronborg Castle was the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet (performances of the play are held here during a three-week festival every August). You then continue parallel to the north coast, often close to the dunes, to Hornbæk, which boasts the finest of many white-sand beaches in the area and is ideal for a swim on a hot day. Whitewashed cottages with thatched roofs and colourful rose beds make for an attractive approach to your destination, the Gilleleje Badehotel in Gilleleje, a traditional fishing village where you can witness the day’s catch being landed on the harbour or watch the world go by from the pretty green.
    Helsingør, on the route between Snekkersten and Gilleleje
  • Choice of routes from Gilleleje: both 30km

    Linear route from Gilleleje: 30km
    Our recommended route follows a woodland cycle path through the Royal North Sealand National Park to reach Frederiksborg Castle and its impressive grounds. The largest Renaissance castle in Scandinavia is located in the pretty town of Hillerød, which has a good selection of shops and cafés to explore before you return to Gilleleje by train.

    Circular route from Gilleleje: 30km
    Alternatively, head south via the idyllic village of Esbønderup, to the 10th-century abbey of Esrum. Here, you can visit the cloister and sample some of the abbey’s produce – the monks not only brew beer, but also produce schnapps, honey, salami and mustard, among other things. You return across farmland, with the option of detouring via the Tegners sculpture park, where the wild heathland of Rusland serves as an impressive backdrop for a collection of intriguing works of art.
    Frederiksborg Castle
 

Accommodation

Your city hotel is well situated by the harbour, while your intimate, beautifully decorated seaside accommodation is conveniently located right by the cycle trail.

Occasionally, due to availability, we may offer an alternative hotel, as shown below. You will be informed of any change to the usual hotel (along with any price implication) prior to us confirming your holiday to you.

Whichever hotel you stay at in Copenhagen, we recommend an extra night, as there is much to see and do in the capital.
 

Options to shorten your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
Currency converter
We can only accept payment in GBP, but you can use this converter to find out how much the holiday equates to in your own currency.
Please enter an amount Please enter a valid amount British Pound Sterling (GBP)
Currency is required
NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.

  • 6 nights: 14 May 2022 - 30 September 2022

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    14 - 28 May 2022 £1195 £545
    29 May - 31 Aug 2022 £1260 £585
    1 - 24 Sep 2022 £1195 £545
    3rd & 4th person discount -£105
    Single traveller supplement £105

    Includes accommodation, meals, bike hire, luggage transfers and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus cycling notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Electric bikes available: add £220 per person

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Copenhagen Strand, Copenhagen
    Superior: 14 May - 30 Sep 2022 £15
    Villa Brinkly, Snekkersten
    Sea view: 14 May - 31 May 2022 £35
    Sea view: 01 Jun - 31 Aug 2022 £25
    Sea view: 01 Sep - 30 Sep 2022 £35
    Sea view & balcony: 14 May - 31 May 2022 £40
    Sea view & balcony: 01 Jun - 31 Aug 2022 £35
    Sea view & balcony: 01 Sep - 30 Sep 2022 £40
    Gilleleje Badehotel, Gilleleje
    Sea view & balcony: 14 May - 30 Sep 2022 £12

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Copenhagen Strand, Copenhagen (B&B) Double room Single room
    14 May - 23 Jun 2022 £115 £210
    24 Jun - 07 Aug 2022 £105 £165
    08 Aug - 30 Sep 2022 £115 £210
    Bike hire is not included in Copenhagen
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Copenhagen
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Copenhagen. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Copenhagen SAS 
    Aberdeen - Copenhagen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Copenhagen SAS 
    Birmingham - Copenhagen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Copenhagen easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Copenhagen easyJet,  Norwegian,  Ryanair,  SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Copenhagen SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Copenhagen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Copenhagen easyJet,  Norwegian 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Copenhagen British Airways,  SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Copenhagen Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Copenhagen Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Copenhagen easyJet,  SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Copenhagen SAS 
    Outward route Airline
    Norwich - Copenhagen (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Copenhagen. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above except those operated by Ryanair. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Copenhagen airport

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    own travel arrangements from airport to hotel pay locally flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    transfer hotel to Gilleleje (0h05), rail Gilleleje to Copenhagen airport (1h55) £20 1200
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 2 dinners
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • high-quality bicycle
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • notes for a self-guided city walking tour
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • If your holiday plans go awry because of Coronavirus, rest assured that we’ll do right by you. Since the start of the pandemic, our flexible booking policy and prompt issuing of refunds to customers who prefer not to defer their holiday have earned us high praise in the national press.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – cycling holidays are ideal in these times of social distancing, and we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety, not least proving your vaccination status or taking a test in order to travel.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
    Entry requirements for non-UK destinations & for re-entering the UK >
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. On mornings when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation so that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.
  • Our chosen bike rental shop will provide you with a hybrid bike with 24 gears; a waterproof map case on the handlebars; panniers/saddlebags; pump; puncture repair kit; and a lock.
  • While we would always recommend that you take your own well-fitting helmet, they can be provided free of charge by the supplier. Please let us know at the time of booking if you would like to hire a helmet.
  • Yes, we will provide GPX tracks for this holiday prior to departure so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. (We also provide maps and our tried-and-tested route notes, which remain the principal means of navigation).
  • You are responsible for damage to or loss of the rental bike while it is hired to you. Always be careful to lock it up, ideally to an immovable object, and remove all easy-to-steal accessories whenever you leave it unattended.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines (but not, currently, with Ryanair). As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact Abi and Lizzie to discuss your plans.
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out a policy with our recommended provider (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Denmark, but not a visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The official language is Danish. The currency is the Danish Kroner. Danish time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.

    At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 7/2/2022 7:03:20 AM