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Cykelslangen (The Bicycle Snake)

A bright orange bicycle bridge curling above Copenhagen’s harbor, Cykelslangen turns an everyday commute into a graceful urban ride with striking water views.

4.5

Cykelslangen, the bright orange "Bicycle Snake" in Copenhagen’s Vesterbro district, is an elevated cycle bridge that elegantly curves above the harbor between Fisketorvet mall and the waterfront. Opened in 2014 and designed by Dissing+Weitling, this sleek, bike-priority structure separates cyclists from pedestrians, easing daily commutes while serving up striking views of water, glass façades, and the city skyline. It is both vital infrastructure and a contemporary urban landmark that showcases Copenhagen’s cycling culture.

A brief summary to Cykelslangen

  • Cykelslangen, Vesterbro/Kongens Enghave, Vesterbro/Kongens Enghave, 1560, DK
  • Duration: 0.5 to 1.5 hours
  • Free
  • Environment icon Outdoor
  • Mobile reception: 5 out of 5

Local tips

  • Bring or rent a bicycle to truly experience the flowing design; riding the gentle curves feels very different from viewing the bridge only from the quay.
  • Visit outside the sharp rush hours on weekdays if you want time to pause, take photos and enjoy the harbor views without interrupting commuter traffic.
  • Use the lower quayside paths and nearby benches as a spot to sit and watch the continuous stream of cyclists crossing the bridge above.
  • In wet or icy weather, be cautious on the sloped deck; the surface is designed for grip but speeds can be high during busy commuting periods.
  • Combine your stop here with a harborfront walk towards Islands Brygge to see how Cykelslangen links into Copenhagen’s wider network of pedestrian and cycle bridges.
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Getting There

  • S-train and short walk

    From Copenhagen Central Station, take an S-train one stop to Dybbølsbro Station, a ride of about 3–5 minutes. Trains run frequently throughout the day and are covered by standard city tickets and passes, with a single zone fare in the range of 20–30 DKK. From Dybbølsbro it is an easy 10–15 minute walk on mostly flat, paved surfaces through the Vesterbro harbor area to reach Cykelslangen. This option is suitable for most visitors, though those with limited mobility should allow extra time for the walk.

  • City bus to Fisketorvet area

    Several local bus routes serve the Fisketorvet shopping centre area near Cykelslangen, with typical travel times of 10–25 minutes from central Copenhagen depending on traffic and starting point. A single bus ticket within the inner zones usually costs around 24–30 DKK and can be bought via ticket machines or travel apps. Buses generally operate at intervals of 5–15 minutes during the day and less frequently late at night. From the bus stops at Fisketorvet, expect a 5–10 minute walk on level pavements to reach the bridge.

  • Cycling via Copenhagen’s bike network

    Cykelslangen is integrated into Copenhagen’s dense network of marked cycle tracks, making it easy to reach by bike from districts such as Vesterbro, the inner city and Islands Brygge within about 10–20 minutes of relaxed riding. You can use a rented city bike or a standard rental from shops around the centre; expect daily rental prices typically from 100–150 DKK depending on bike type and duration. Cycle routes to the bridge are mostly segregated from car traffic and relatively flat, but they can be very busy in weekday rush hours, so riders should be comfortable cycling among locals who commute at a brisk pace.

  • Harborfront walk from central Copenhagen

    For those already near the inner harbor, Cykelslangen can be reached on foot by following continuous waterfront promenades from the city centre, with walking times generally between 25–40 minutes depending on your starting point. The route is almost entirely flat and paved, suitable for most fitness levels, though it can feel exposed in strong wind or heavy rain. There is no extra cost for this option, and it offers a relaxed way to see how the harbor has been transformed by new pedestrian and bicycle bridges.

Cykelslangen location weather suitability

  • Weather icon Any Weather
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Discover more about Cykelslangen

A flowing orange ribbon above the harbor

Cykelslangen, literally “The Bicycle Snake,” is one of Copenhagen’s most distinctive pieces of urban infrastructure: a slender, bright orange cycle bridge that winds between buildings and over the water at Havneholmen. Conceived from the start as a bike-focused route, it rises several metres above the quay, allowing cyclists to glide past the bulky Fisketorvet shopping centre while the city’s harbor basin spreads out below. From a distance the bridge reads as a clean, modern line of steel and orange surfacing, but up close its subtle curves and slim white columns give it an almost weightless feel. It threads through a tight urban corridor of glass offices, hotels and highways, softening otherwise hard edges with a playful, serpentine gesture that instantly draws the eye.

Designing Copenhagen’s first bike-only bridge

The city commissioned Cykelslangen in the 2000s as part of a broader push to improve everyday cycling routes and reduce conflicts between bikes, cars and pedestrians. The winning design from Dissing+Weitling transformed a simple ramp idea into a fully elevated sky bridge. Instead of cutting straight across, the structure meanders, lengthening the route just enough to ease the gradient so riders barely feel the climb or descent. Built in steel and supported on slim, regularly spaced columns, the bridge is roughly 220 metres long and around 4.5 metres wide, with sufficient clearance for small craft to pass below. Its orange deck and railings stand in deliberate contrast to the greys and blues of surrounding buildings, ensuring that this utilitarian piece of infrastructure doubles as a bold graphic stroke in the cityscape.

From awkward stairs to effortless gliding

Before Cykelslangen opened, cyclists heading between Bryggebroen and Kalvebod Brygge faced an uninviting choice: dismount and lug bikes up and down long staircases or weave slowly through congested pedestrian space at the water’s edge. The new bridge lifted that entire movement into the air, turning a daily annoyance into a smooth, continuous ride between the harborfront and the main road network. The separation of modes is central to its success. Cyclists follow their own high-level path, while walkers stay at quayside level, reducing near-misses and bottlenecks. At peak hours a steady stream of bikes flows in both directions, yet the gentle bend and uniform width keep movements legible and calm, even when thousands of riders cross in a single day.

Views, vantage points and urban theater

For visitors, the great pleasure of Cykelslangen lies in seeing Copenhagen from a cyclist’s perspective, even if you arrive on foot. Looking east you catch glimpses towards Bryggebroen and the wider harbor, while to the west the city’s mixed skyline of towers, trains and highways forms an ever-shifting backdrop. Below, kayakers, harbor swimmers and moored boats animate the water. Equally striking is the choreography of movement all around you. From the deck you can watch pedestrians, joggers and families spread out along the waterfront squares, while above and beside you a river of orange-framed cyclists sweeps past. The bridge has effectively turned a once-forgotten service edge of the harbor into a stage where everyday mobility becomes part of the city’s visual life.

A symbol of a cycling-first city

Cykelslangen is often cited as a physical expression of Copenhagen’s ambition to be a world-leading cycling city. By investing heavily in an elegant, bike-only bridge in a prime waterfront location, the municipality signalled that two-wheeled travel is not an afterthought but a central design principle. It connects directly into longer "super cycle" routes that link inner neighborhoods with outlying districts, shortening travel times enough to tempt commuters out of cars. The bridge’s success has helped inspire further pedestrian and bicycle crossings along the harbor, stitching together formerly disconnected areas into a coherent waterside network. For travelers, standing on Cykelslangen offers more than a good view: it is a concise lesson in contemporary Scandinavian urbanism, where infrastructure, sustainability and everyday delight are folded into a single, gracefully curving line of orange steel.

Experiencing the Bicycle Snake up close

Spending time here is as much about atmosphere as about checking off a sight. Early mornings bring a cool light over the water and the focused hum of commuters; mid-afternoon reveals the bridge as a sunny balcony above the harbor; evenings see reflections deepening on the water while lights from offices and apartments flicker on. Even a rainy day has its charm as wheels hiss across the wet surface and the orange deck glows softly against grey skies. Whether you choose to ride across or simply lean against the rail and watch the ceaseless flow of bicycles, Cykelslangen offers an unusually intimate window into how Copenhagen moves. It is infrastructure you can feel under your feet and in your lungs, and a reminder that a simple idea—a better way to get from A to B—can reshape both a neighborhood and a city’s identity.

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