Best Day Hike close to Copenhagen - Pinseskoven and Kongelunden Forest in Amager Nature Park

PJ
Jul 28, 2020
2 min read

Updated: Oct 10, 2020

If you are looking for a nice day hike in Copenhagen with varied nature such as dense forest, lakes, canals, and beach meadows then you should visit Amager Nature Park. The park is around 3000 ha and has a 25 km coastline, which means you have lots of routes to choose from and have many possibilities to see animals like horses, cows, sheep, and also large flocks of deer. This place is for everyone who is interested to take a stroll in peace, an exercise in nature, or camp close to the beach.

Beautiful grassland between Pinseskoven and Kongelunden forest

Day hike close to Copenhagen in Pinseskoven forest

You can experience two very different types of forests. Pinseskoven is a natural forest with birch trees and its formation is due to the seeds blown over from Sweden. That’s what I’ve been told. The forest is not dense and looks young due to the thinness of the tree barks. You’ll feel like you are walking in a little fairytale when you see the vegetation of Pinseskoven - the thin white birch trees, the butterflies, and the chirping of the birds. We felt like we had the Pinseskoven forest for ourselves as we did not see any people until we walked out of the forest closer to the coastline. We have been quiet while walking toward the end of the forest when suddenly a flock of deer ran away. It was a majestic yet tense moment. Imagine the reaction of 4-5 surprised bucks (male deers) within 50 m range! It was quite loud when you hear them run away. How unfortunate that we weren’t filming during this moment.

Day hike close to Copenhagen in Kongelunden forest

In contrast, the forest Kongelunden has been artificially made to prevent a firewood shortage. The forest is denser and looks older due to some big 150-year-old oak trees surrounding the area. It has several free campsites with benches and tables, as well as fireplaces. Due to its close proximity to the airport, you won't be able to avoid hearing the planes.

Check out the images below. Denmark is not blessed with mountainous trails but has a lot of forests and coastal trails to offer, which is very suitable for old and young.

When to hike: All year round

Duration / Length: approx. 3 hrs / 10 km

How to get there: Type in Lille Kongelunden (address: Kongelundsvej 535, 2791 Dragør) in Google maps. This restaurant is close to the trailhead and beside a bus hub. You can either take the bus or cycle until here. At the bus station is a parking area for bikes. From there it is a 10 min walk (800 m) to the nature park entrance.

Activities: Hiking, running, cycling, horse riding, camping, food over bonfires, picnics, bathing, kayaking, windsurfing, flying kites, bird watching, and fishing.