Best of Northern Zealand
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Bike Denmark's northern coastline from Copenhagen
This tour is easy with short stages, relaxed and safe biking and a lot to see – very suitable for families.
Start and finish in Copenhagen, the Bike Capital of the World. Experiencing Copenhagen on your bike is something you will never forget. See the Royal Palace housing the Danish Queen, the Little Mermaid, the amusement park Tivoli and “Strøget,” one of the longest pedestrian streets in the world.
North of Copenhagen you will find castles, picturesque nature and one of the most exclusive residential areas in Denmark. You will bike along wonderful coastlines with sandy beaches, and charming marinas. A short roundtrip in Sweden is possible.
You will have time to visit some of the most important museums in Denmark: Museum of Modern Art - Louisiana, The Karen Blixen Museum and The Danish Maritime museum.
Note: If you have minimum 8 people in your party, you may request a start-day other than Sundays. If your overnight in Copenhagen is on a weekday, the tour price will be higher. If you book extra nights in Copenhagen on a weekday, the price will also be higher. Please contact us for prices.
Highlights
- Wonderful Copenhagen, capital and the best bike city in the world
- Museum of modern Art Louisiana
- Rungstedlund - the house/museum of the famous Danish author Karen Blixen
- Helsingør and Kronborg (the castle from Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”)
- Danish Maritime Museum, Helsingør
- Visit to Sweden
- Hillerød with Frederiksborg Castle
- Fredensborg Castle, the Queen ́s summer residence
- Esrum Abbey
Learn More
Learn more about self-guided tours.
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Daily program
Day 1: Copenhagen
Arrive at your hotel in Copenhagen and use the free time to explore The Bike Capital of the World with Nyhavn, the Royal Castle, Christiania, and Tivoli.
Overnight in CopenhagenDay 2: Copenhagen – Hørsholm (23 miles/36 km)
Riding through Copenhagen on your bike is a fantastic start to your tour. You pass some of the famous sights such as the Little Mermaid and the famous beach “Bellevue.”In Dyrehaven, the Royal hunting grounds, you will be riding on peaceful lanes surrounded by century old trees and curious deer. Located here is also “Bakken,” one of the oldest amusement parks, where is it possible to stop for a refreshment.
From here you follow Strandvejen along the coastline, before reaching Hørsholm on the coast of Øresund.
Overnight in HørsholmDay 3: Hørsholm – Helsingor (12 miles/20 km)
Today you will be cycling along the coastline all day passing two of the finest museums in Denmark. In Rungsted you can visit Rungstedlund, the home of the Danish author Karen Blixen (world famous for “Out of Africa”), and in Humlebæk you can visit the Museum of Modern Art “Louisiana,” famous not only for its exhibitions but also for its beautiful architecture and location.You will end up in Helsingør, and after an easy day on the bike you might wish to spend the afternoon visiting the old borough with the impressive Kronborg Castle (the castle from Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”).
Overnight in Helsingør areaDay 4: Round trip to Sweden and Helsingør (25 miles/40 km)
Today you have the chance to visit some of the incredible attractions of Helsingør and the beautiful nature of Sweden. Cycle to Helsingør Harbour and take the ferry to Helsingborg (not included). From here you can take a round trip of approx. 35 km along the coast to beaches and small fishing villages and back through the Swedish forests and fields. If you have more time go visit the royal chambers and massive walls of the 16th-century castle, Kronborg, if you missed it yesterday. You can also go see the Danish Maritime Museum which exibitions cover Danish trade and shipping from the 15th century to the present day. The museum is listed among the “52 places to go in 2014” by New York Times.
Overnight near HelsingørDay 5: Helsingør – Hillerod (34 miles/54 km)
Today you can visit two of the most beautiful Danish castles. You start along the coast to Hornbæk, a small fishing village with tempting places for "time outs" and a swim. Afterward, you'll bike along one of the deepest lakes in Denmark towards Hillerød. If you want to visit The Queen’s summer residence, Fredensborg Castle, you can extend the tour with a ride of about 6 miles (10 km). Take a walk in the park, if the Queen is not there. It is a beautiful “fairy tale palace” from the 18th century with a unique interior. On your arrival at Hillerød, you go along the lake to Frederiksborg Castle with its perfect location at the lakeside.
Overnight near HillerødDay 6: Hillerød – Copenhagen (24 miles/38 km)
Heading south towards Copenhagen you pass idyllic sceneries, lovely forests and wetlands with a rich birdlife. You will be impressed by the rich nature in a densely populated area close to the capital. You will be amazed how easy it is by bike to cycle from green northern Zealand to the capital of Denmark.While the first 18 kilometers towards Farum are on winding paths and 3 smaller roads, the last 20 kilometers are along the new "supercykelsti" (super cycle path), that brings all the commuting cyclists to Copenhagen. When you come to Nørrebro, which is one of the most colorful neighborhoods in Copenhagen, you have to slow down and be aware of all the different cyclists heading towards the city center.
Overnight in CopenhagenDay 7: Departure
Individual departure or the possibility to extend your stay with additional days in Copenhagen.Surface and terrain
The terrain is mostly flat with occasional small hills. Ths tour is leisurely and suited for families. You ride along paved and unpaved bike paths and mostly minor roads. Of course there is traffic in Copenhagen, but there are plenty of bike lanes and the drivers are used to paying a lot of attention to bikers.
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.
Standard rooms: Good and comfortable rooms
Superior rooms: Upgraded rooms, often with balcony or sea views
Scandic Hotel, Copenhagen
www.scandichotels.comKokkedal Slot, Vedbaek
www.kokkedalslotcopenhagen.dkStrand & Badehotel Marienlyst, Helsingør
www.marienlyst.dkHotel Hillerod, Hillerod
www.hotelhillerod.dkInterested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.
How to get there
Tour start and end
Nearest airport: Copenhagen (CPH) airport
Nearest train station: Copenhagen Central StationTips on getting to and from your tour
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Dates
Sundays: May 21-Sep 10, 2023 (additional dates upon request for parties of 8 or more-pricing may vary)
Prices
Tour package
Standard Superior Per person, double occupancy €952 €1064 Single use room (1 person/1 room) €1386 €1610 Bike Rentals
Touring hybrid bicycle, 27-speed €100 Electrical bike €300 Children's bike €80 Children's bike seat €40 Children's bike trailer/tagalong €80 Helmet €10 Extra Nights, Copenhagen
Standard Superior Per person, double occupancy €153 €217 Single use room (1 person/1 room) €225 €265 Discounts
1 child up to and including 11 years in a 3-bed room 50% Children up to and including 11 years in a family room 50% Included services
- 6 nights accommodation in the selected category
- Daily breakfast buffet
- Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
- GPS and roadbook with day description; information about highlights and sightseeing along the route
- Service hotline service in case of problems or questions
Bike rentals
The bikes available for this tour are:
- Touring hybrid bicycle, 27-speed
- Electrically-assisted bikes*
- Children's bicycle
- Children's trailer, seat, or tagalong
*More about electrically-assisted bikes >
Equipment provided for the bikes includes:
- Lock
- Waterproof rear saddle bag
- Spare tubes, repair kit, pump
- GPS unit (one per room)
Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.Helmets:
Helmets are available to rent for €10. For safety and hygiene purposes we recommend you bring your own helmet or plan to purchase one upon arrival.
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Route Map
Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.
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Reviews
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★★★★★ Bryan Whited 10 months ago
Beautiful scenery along popular tourist areas (except the last day)
This tour was a lot of fun and we got to see a lot of interesting places. The hotels were amazing and you get to stay in some very interesting towns/cities. The scenery along the trail was nice, although for many portions the view was blocked by either privacy walls or thick foliage on one or both sides of the trail. Most of the areas are popular with tourists, so don't expect to see many "hidden" gems or explore backwater areas off the beaten path.
I highly recommend the tour, but there were a few things that could be better.
First off, the GPS worked 90% of the time with the remaining 10% very wrong (with directions to go round in circles, pull into random driveways or repeatedly make u-turns). Unfortunately the 10% where it was wrong was often in the areas where you needed it the most (like dodging traffic in the industrial part of Copenhagen or where the trails were confusing)
Second, the last day just wasn't much fun at all. It was one of the longest days, the scenery wasn't all that great and and much of the trail was along highways and roads with heavy traffic. The paths were still nice and safe but the constant noise and exhaust got old and I got frustrated with how confused the GPS was. (Also the weather was bad that day and the path was covered in slugs and snails.)- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- This is our fourth unguided bike tour
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Joey73 June 15, 2019
Surprising trip
Denmark is an absolutely bike friendly country.
I would call it a paradise for bikers.
To commute, everyone seems to ride a bike over short and long distances.
There were little cars and motorbikes on the course.
Nicely arranged, marked and paved bike pathways on our course (~80 %). The rest were unsealed
farm and forest roads.
People were very friendly and helpful guiding us on
the bike course. Besides Danish the people speak
fluent English (compulsory subject at school).- What was the date of your tour?
- May 25 - June 02, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- One
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Kseed July 1, 2018
Fun, but flawed
We did the ‘Best of Northern Zealand’ trip. The locations were fun, and the the hotels decent enough. The bikes need to be upgraded. The most difficult part of the trip was the navigation. The GPS files don't have enough way points, so it rarely told us on what road we should be, instead pointing us across fields in a general direction. We wound up using Google Maps, which served us way better, but used a lot of battery on the phone. So make sure you have a smart phone and a good sized external battery for navigation. We did enjoy the trip quite a lot, but in general, with the exception of moving luggage around, we could have done just as well or better on our own.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 16th
- How many tours have you completed?
- Several
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- No
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★★★★★ Vegacat September 24, 2017
Enjoyable tour but poor organisation
Although we booked this tour through biketours.com the tour is actually operated by Bike Denmark. Things got off to a bad start when we arrived at the first hotel (the Scandic in Copenhagen) to find the hotel had no record of a reservation in our name. Fortunately, the hotel did have a free room and after several phone calls to Bike Denmark the situation was sorted out. Our bikes were to be obtained the next morning from Bike Denmark at the rear of the hotel. What we found was a fairly chaotic situation with one Bike Denmark representative trying to set up bikes for twenty or so cyclists. Whilst the bikes were reasonable touring bikes, they had not been cleaned and were very dirty. There was a shortage of bike locks so we only got one between two. The helmets were old and in poor condition. Similarly, the bike map holders were torn and certainly not waterproof. Altogether it was a poor start to the tour. Bike Denmark could have done a much better job by ensuring that all bikes were set up and fully equipped prior to the 9.00am pick up time.
We were provided with two route books, one with maps one with turning instructions. Both were printed only on one side of the page so it would have been much better if they had been combined so as you could see the map and instructions side by side. The instructions were not always clear leading to a couple of wrong turns and the need to resort to Google maps. (We found that others on the route made similar errors). It would be better if the route book provided more detail of what you are passing between turning points as a cross check that you are on the right route. Also detail could be provided of dining options in overnight towns.
The bike tour itself was most enjoyable. Very pleasant and safe cycling along the coast to Helsingor (a highlight in itself) and then back by an inland route with some undulations. The hotel in Helsingor was very good (right on the beach) whilst the other hotels were adequate. However the hotel in Hillerod was unfortunately some way out of town so we didn't get to enjoy much of this interesting looking town itself.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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BikeTours.com staff reply from Brittany Williamson September 25, 2017
Thank you very much for your feedback. We're delighted to hear you had a great time overall, but we're very sorry to hear of the lack of organization from the local tour operator upon your arrival. We will follow up with our Danish partners to discuss this situation along with better-translated maps for future clients.
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★★★★★ Xavi July 18, 2017
We had a really nice northern zealand tour
The landscape was beautiful, and the route quite easy to find, though sometimes the indications weren't that clear,besides that, very comfortable hotels,and a real pleasure cycling across awsome forests and paths.The assistant contact there was quite efficient, You shold replace the electric bikes with modern models
- What was the date of your tour?
- 24/6/2017 29/6/2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4/5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ three bees July 14, 2017
great variety of scenery
Lots to see whilst cycling - forests, seaside, lakes, country farmland, small towns etc. The organisation was somewhat disappointing e.g., miscommunications in regard to where our bikes should be delivered, wrong maps provided, battery charger not working (and some reluctance by the bike operator to replace it!) but overall the bikes were in good working condition, the maps were easy to follow, and accommodation was great.
As for the scenery - once you got out of Copenhagen, it was brilliant.- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- Four
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson July 15, 2017
Thank you so much for your feedback. We're very concerned with your comments about the local tour operator's disappointing organization, and we are pursuing those issues with them. We have a very low threshold for poor service, and we want to make sure this doesn't happen to future clients.
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★★★★★ EDWH August 26, 2016
Denmark Sights
Pretty good tour with lots to see along the way. Best bike paths in all of Scandinavia. Bikes in good condition, except for my computer which never worked, but could have used more detail or up to date information on guide sheets. Fairly flat with lots of pretty seaside scenery.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 12
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Morrisfam July 8, 2016
Amazing tour, family friendly, so much to see!!
Wonderful scenery, museums, castles and countryside to see. Recommend downloading google maps to use while touring with the guide.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 3-9
- How many tours have you completed?
- First one
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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