8-Day Denmark Trails & Castles Historic Bike Tour

Please meet at Hotel 66 Guldsmeden at 3pm. Copenhagen has a rich history as a major city on the edge of the Baltic. It grew from a little fishing town to the capital of Denmark, and survived fire, plague, invasion, and just about everything in between. Today, Copenhagen is known as a culture capital, a hub of design and experimentation, a place for foodies and a land of fairy tales. The Danes are called the happiest people in the world, and you’ll quickly see why.

We give your tour a great start with a professionally guided walking tour of the old city where we can immerse ourselves in the old-world atmosphere while passing important sites along the way. Breathe in the salty air, and enjoy the charms of some of Hans Christian Andersen’s favorite places as we explore the delights of one of the best-preserved cities and harbors in Europe.
Accommodation: The 66 Guldsmeden (Carlton) Hotel
Meals: Dinner

Today you experience Copenhagen the same way the locals do … by bike. But despite the city’s growing size and popularity, you quickly appreciate why it is considered the most bike-able city in the world as you easily wend your way around the outskirts of town and visit such iconic places as Christiansborg Palace, Nyhavn Harbour, the Little Mermaid, the Royal Palace of Amalienborg, statue of Hans Christian Andersen, Rosenborg Castle and much more. Included is a beer tasting at a local brewery.
Accommodation: The 66 Guldsmeden (Carlton) Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Biking: 12 miles (19 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier 

Leaving Copenhagen ride mostly on bike paths through the Danish countryside. Arrive in Dyrehaven, once the private hunting preserve of Danish royalty. This beautiful park is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site set aside for the public to enjoy its lush forests, small pristine lakes, beautiful landscape and the herd of over 2,000 deer that freely roam throughout the park. From Dyrehaven, ride to Rungstedlund, the estate where Karen Blixen was born — and where she returned to write her classic Out of Africa. This 40-acre estate is situated on the beautiful Øresund Strait and includes an interesting museum that chronicles Karen Blixen’s life, especially while in Kenya. Before the day ends, you have the option of exploring the nearby Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk. This is the most visited art museum in Denmark, and it features an extensive collection of modern and contemporary art housed in a museum building that has been heralded as a major milestone in modern Danish architecture.

Your day ends near Helsingor at the Hotel Comwell Borupgaard. This area is known as Denmark’s “Riviera,” with its golden beaches and handsome northern forests, and you can easily explore Helsingor on bicycle and enjoy its charming half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets and grand estates. While in Helsingor, don’t miss a visit to the Kronberg Castle. Located on a strategically important site commanding the narrow stretch of water between Denmark and Sweden, this UNESCO designated Dutch Renaissance-style castle boasts the impressive claim of being the setting for Hamlet. Located just outside of Helsingor (or, as Shakespeare would have it, “Elsinore”) this spectacular castle has immense symbolic value to the Danish people and played a key role in the history of northern Europe in the 16th-18th centuries.
Accommodation: Beach Hotel Marienlyst
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Biking: 33 miles (53 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier 

Today you ride through Helsingor and then take the 20-minute ferry to Helsingborg, Sweden. The morning ride takes you us along the coast and through the beautiful Swedish countryside to your lunch spot at Wallåkra Stenkärlsfabrik, a ceramic factory established in 1864. Here, the clay is taken directly from the garden. Turning is done by hand, and the clay is then fired and salt-glazed in the coal-fired circular kiln. The factory has become an active cultural center and includes a restaurant in a warehouse with a babbling brook underneath.

After lunch, you can visit some local Swedish castles and explore the handsome historical center. Helsingborg is a lovely coastal city, and you enjoy cycling along Kullagatan — its traffic-free main trading street — and a visit to Kärnan, a 600-year-old medieval fortress that harkens back to when the Danes and Swedes were at war. Or, as an alternative for the day, stay close to the hotel and make this a relaxing break from cycling with a peaceful seaside promenade, or even take a swim in the Øresund Sound.
Accommodation: Beach Hotel Marienlyst
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Biking: 36 miles (58 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier 

Today’s long option begins on easier terrain and switches to an intermediate-level ride on a path, which is mostly compacted earth or gravel, from Kronberg Castle along the coast to Gilleleje, a town that has preserved many of the idyllic cozy streets and thatched houses. Originally built as a remote fishing village, now it is a lively tourist, commercial and fishing destination. Continue on a beautiful ride through Kongernes Nordsjaelland National Park before ending your day in Hillerod.

Whichever option you choose, you can visit Frederiksborg Castle, a palatial complex built as a royal residence for King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway in the early 17th century. This is your quintessential castle. Often referred to as the “Danish Versailles” this massive fortress with copper turrets is situated on an island in a lovely lake and is surrounded by beautiful baroque gardens. The short option is to take a paved road to the Frederiksborg Castle, the royal family’s summer residence — and to tour it if you like. Then ride on to Hillerod.
Accommodation: Hotel Hillerød
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Biking: 38 or 49 miles (61 or 79 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier to Intermediate

Today, take a scenic ride to the market town of Frederickssund and then follow along the shores of Roskilde Fjord to the historic former Viking stronghold of Roskilde. Here you find a fascinating museum where you can watch island craftspeople using Viking-era techniques to build replica Viking ships and houses while demonstrating these fascinating ancient crafts.

Another highlight is our visit to Roskilde Cathedral. Located on the highest ground in town, this imposing twin-spired cathedral is also the royal mausoleum containing the ornate crypts of every (39) Danish king and queen since 1500. Designated a UNESCO World heritage site, this massive church is a superb showcase of eight centuries of Danish architecture and contains some of Denmark’s finest frescoes and statuary.
Accommodation: Scandic Roskilde Park
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Biking: 33 or 38 miles (53 or 63 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier 

Today you have another chance to visit the Roskilde Cathedral or the famous Viking Ship Museum, where you can see the recently excavated remains of five original 11th-century Viking vessels that were scuttled intentionally in the Roskilde Harbor to block access to the town. Or you can follow your tour guide and cycle on a bike loop on the Roskilde Fjord. Then weave your way along bike paths and quiet lanes to the beaches along the Baltic Sea. Finally, you arrive in Copenhagen, where you have some time to explore before enjoying a wonderful gala farewell dinner.
Accommodation: The 66 Guldsmeden (Carlton) Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Biking: 40 miles (64 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier 

Have a final delicious breakfast together with the group, and then our guides help you make arrangements for departure. Trains can take you to a huge number of destinations throughout northern Europe, and the Copenhagen International Airport is easily accessible and just a short commuter train ride or taxi ride away.
Accommodation: The 66 Guldsmeden (Carlton) Hotel
Meals: Breakfast