Background

Inderhavnsbroen (Inner Harbour Bridge)

Sleek, car-free and nicknamed the “Kissing Bridge”, Inderhavnsbroen links Nyhavn and Christianshavn with sweeping harbor views and a front-row feel for Copenhagen’s waterfront.

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Inderhavnsbroen, Copenhagen’s sleek Inner Harbour Bridge, links colorful Nyhavn with Christianshavn and Holmen in one graceful sweep over the water. Opened in 2016 as a car-free crossing for pedestrians and cyclists, this 180m “Kissing Bridge” offers some of the city’s best harbor views, with dedicated viewing bays to pause, watch canal traffic slip below, and frame classic shots of the historic waterfront in every direction.

A brief summary to Inderhavnsbroen

  • Inderhavnsbroen, Copenhagen, Indre By, 1401, DK
  • Duration: 0.5 to 1.5 hours
  • Free
  • Environment icon Outdoor
  • Mobile reception: 5 out of 5
  • Monday 2 pm-9 am
  • Tuesday 2 pm-9 am
  • Wednesday 2 pm-9 am
  • Thursday 2 pm-9 am
  • Friday 2 pm-9 am
  • Saturday 2 pm-9 am
  • Sunday 2 pm-9 am

Local tips

  • Aim for early morning or late evening for softer light, fewer commuters, and beautiful reflections along Nyhavn and the harbor.
  • Use the small viewing bays to stop for photos; avoid blocking the main cycle lanes, which stay busy throughout the day.
  • On brisk or windy days bring an extra layer; the exposed span can feel cooler than nearby streets even in summer.
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Getting There

  • Metro

    From central Copenhagen, take the M1 or M2 metro line to Kongens Nytorv; trains run every few minutes and the ride from Nørreport is about 2–4 minutes. A single metro ticket within the city center typically costs around 20–30 DKK. From Kongens Nytorv, expect an easy 5–10 minute urban walk along Nyhavn’s canal to reach the bridge, fully paved and suitable for strollers and wheelchairs.

  • City bus

    Several city bus routes stop near Nyhavn and along the Inner Harbour; journeys from the main station area usually take 10–20 minutes depending on traffic. Standard bus tickets within the central zones are around 20–30 DKK and can be used interchangeably with metro services. Most buses have low-floor access, making this a practical option if you prefer minimal walking after you get off.

  • Bicycle

    Copenhagen’s extensive cycle lanes make reaching Inderhavnsbroen by bike straightforward from most central districts in 10–20 minutes. You can rent a city bike or from private bike shops, with typical daily rates starting around 100–150 DKK. Keep to marked cycle lanes on the bridge itself, be mindful of sharp turns and crossing pedestrians, and note that it can feel windy on the exposed span.

  • Harbor ferry

    The yellow harbor buses connect several piers along the inner harbor, including stops close to Nyhavn and Christianshavn, with sailing times of roughly 10–25 minutes depending on your starting point. Tickets are usually the same price as a standard city ticket, around 20–30 DKK, and can be used across buses, metro and harbor ferries. Services are weather dependent but generally frequent during the day, offering a scenic approach directly on the water.

Inderhavnsbroen location weather suitability

  • Weather icon Clear Skies
  • Weather icon Windy Conditions
  • Weather icon Mild Temperatures
  • Weather icon Hot Weather
  • Weather icon Cold Weather
  • Weather icon Any Weather

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Discover more about Inderhavnsbroen

A modern link in Copenhagen’s historic harbor

Inderhavnsbroen is a striking pedestrian and cycle bridge spanning the Inner Harbour, stitching together the postcard charm of Nyhavn with the canals and quays of Christianshavn and Holmen. Completed in 2016, it forms a vital missing link in the Harbour Circle, a continuous waterside route that lets you loop the city’s central waterfront on foot or by bike. Car-free by design, it embodies Copenhagen’s commitment to human-scale urban life, where cyclists and walkers rule the front row along the water. From the deck, you sense how the bridge sits at the very heart of the city: turn one way for the gabled facades of Nyhavn and the distant domes and spires of the old town; turn the other for converted warehouses, the opera house area, and the more experimental edge of Christianshavn.

The story behind the “Kissing Bridge” nickname

Locals know Inderhavnsbroen as the “Kissing Bridge”, a name inspired by its unusual opening mechanism. Instead of tilting or lifting, the two halves of the bridge slide back horizontally to let tall vessels pass, then glide together again until they meet with a slow, almost theatrical touch. The motion is reminiscent of two lips closing for a kiss, a playful detail in what might otherwise be a purely functional structure. If you happen to be here when warning sounds ring out and the barriers descend, it is worth staying put. Watching the deck pull apart, the harbor widen beneath your feet, and then slowly close again gives a glimpse of the choreography required to keep a busy working harbor and an active public space in harmony.

Architecture, design and clever viewpoints

The bridge stretches roughly 180 meters with a slightly angled course across the water, its pale surfaces and simple railings keeping the focus on the surroundings. The deck is divided into wide cycle lanes and generous pedestrian space, so you feel the stream of bikes sliding past while walkers drift toward the railings to look out over the harbor. Small stepped bays and platforms invite you to pull aside, lean on the edge, and let the cityscape unfold. From these vantage points you can pick out the masts of historic wooden ships in Nyhavn, the crisp geometry of the opera house across the water, and the layered rooflines that trace Copenhagen’s evolution from mercantile port to modern capital. At sunrise and sunset, the reflections of brick, copper, and glass in the water turn the span into an open-air viewing balcony.

Experiencing the bridge on foot or by bicycle

Crossing Inderhavnsbroen is less about getting somewhere fast and more about savoring the space between two very different neighborhoods. On foot, you can wander at an unhurried pace, stopping midway to watch harbor buses, kayaks, and canal tour boats threading between the piers. The bridge surface is smooth and level, accessible to wheelchairs, strollers, and mobility aids, making it an easy way for many travelers to enjoy wide-open water views without leaving the city center. Cycling over it plugs you straight into Copenhagen’s famed bike culture. Commuters, families with cargo bikes, and casual riders all share the route, so it is worth keeping to the marked lanes and pausing only in the designated bays if you want photos. Even a brief crossing delivers a sense of how closely everyday life here is intertwined with the harbor.

A perfect pause between Nyhavn and Christianshavn

What makes Inderhavnsbroen special is not just the structure itself but what it connects. On one side lies Nyhavn with its 17th-century canal, colorful townhouses and busy quayside; on the other, the quieter canals and cobbled streets of Christianshavn and the cultural cluster around Holmen. The bridge becomes a natural pause between the two moods – a spot to reset, orient yourself, and let the sea breeze replace the buzz of cafes or the intimacy of narrow streets. Whether you linger for a handful of photos or sit for a while watching the play of light on the water, the bridge offers a compact yet rich slice of contemporary Copenhagen: design-conscious, harbor-focused, and deeply walkable.

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