Side Trips

Beaches

Locals and visitors are flocking to a newly created beach, Amager Beach Park, which opened in 2006, lying only a 15-minute drive from the center of Copenhagen, a distance of 5km (3 miles). The beach lies on the Øresund coastline with a view of Sweden and the Øresund Bridge that now links Denmark with Sweden. You can swim, sunbathe, scuba dive, race boats, or just admire the ships on the Øresund Sound while having a cup of coffee. Off the existing Amager Beach, a completely new island was created with wide, sandy beaches and bathing jetties. Tons of sand were brought in to create the island beach, which is about 2km (1 1/4 mile) long and 50m (164 ft.) wide. In a newly dug lagoon are paddling beaches for children. By the time you read this, three Metro stations should be open right by the beach, which will make it easy to zip over here from Copenhagen if the sun's out. For more information, visit www.amager-strand.dk.

The beach closest to Copenhagen is Bellevue (S-tog: Klampenborg), but the water is not recommended for swimming. (Klampenborg, the community that's adjacent to Bellevue Beach, can provide distractions in addition to a beach: It's the site of the "White City" or "White Town," a residential community designed in the 1930s by modernist master Arne Jacobsen, and revered by Danes as a prime example of the workability of Danish architecture and design.

If you don't mind traveling farther afield, take a trip (by train or car) to the beaches of North Zealand -- Gilleleje, Hornbæk, Liseleje, and Tisvildeleje. Although these are family beaches, minimal bathing attire is worn.

To reach any of these beaches, take the train to Helsingør and then continue by bus. Or you can make connections by train to Hillerød and switch to a local train; check at the railroad station for details. If you drive, you may want to stay for the evening dance clubs at the little beach resort towns dotting the north coast of Zealand.