If you’re experiencing Copenhagen during summer, you might feel a need to cool down towards the end of the day, as do many of the locals. Luckily, a lot of spots for diving have been established at the harbor in the past few years. Diving into the harbor, you say? Yes, swimming in the Copenhagen harbor is totally fine, the water is remarkably fresh and clean. Actually, Copenhagen was named world’s best city for swimming by CNN in 2018.

I recommend going to Nordhavn (North harbor) as it’s one of the newer spots; that doesn’t mean that less people go there, but I do find there’s plenty of space on the terraces for sunbathing and relaxing. Another important point, for me at least, is that there is less boat traffic in this basin than in the more popular swimming areas around the inner harbor – of course there’s always a possibility that some jerk on a motor boat will show off to nobody’s benefit.

You can access the water from both sides of the basin, but I always head for the southern side, as I have the idea that most people see the opposite side first when coming from the station and then naturally go there.

It’s easy to go to Nordhavn with the S-train, and as I’ve mentioned in my article about the design show room Paustian, this is really an exciting new city district. Private residences are, however, close by this spot, so do be considerate when hanging out here.