Copenhageners teach tourists to cycle like locals

Copenhagen is known as one of the best bike cities in the world, so what better way to explore Copenhagen than on two wheels? 

However, for tourists, taking those first pedal strokes in one of the city’s many bike lanes can be daunting. Copenhageners ride fast, hurrying to and from work, while tourists pedal more leisurely, taking in the scenery. A mix of modes and a recipe for frustration.

In an effort to create a better experience for everyone, Copenhagen’s official tourism board, Wonderful Copenhagen, will host an event on 13 June in connection with the UCI World Tour race, Copenhagen Sprint.

Here, up to 50 tourists are invited to refresh their cycling skills and learn how to ride safely before hitting Copenhagen’s bike lanes. Their teachers will be locals and a team of professional instructors. 

“For many visitors, riding a bike alongside locals is a must-do in Copenhagen. It’s a great way to get around and discover a more authentic side of the city. However, if you’re not used to cycling or familiar with the rules we follow here, it can quickly become a frustrating experience for everyone. With this event, we aim to help tourists get off to the best possible start,” says Rikke Holm Petersen, Director of Marketing, Communication and Behaviour.

The event will be hands-on and theoretical, including learning to adjust the bicycle's saddle height, the hand signals used in Copenhagen, where to stay in the lanes, and when and where lanes are particularly busy with locals commuting to and from work.

Afterward, participants will test their newly acquired skills at the ‘Folkecykelløb’, a free public 10km bike social ride on closed roads around Copenhagen. This will be the same route that the professional cyclists will compete on during Copenhagen Sprint.

The 50 event participants will finish their bicycle journey in local fashion by sharing a communal dinner together with Copenhageners in the district of Nørrebro.

More training events for tourists scheduled

Copenhagen has more bicycles than residents and nearly 400 km of dedicated cycle paths. Around 46 % of all trips to work or education are made by bicycle.

Against this backdrop, the event will mark the first in a series of sessions and initiatives to introduce tourists to the Copenhagen way of cycling. There will be a full summer programme of daily bike workshops, offered by local partners as part of CopenPay, introducing guidance on how to navigate the city safely, confidently, and like a true Copenhagener.

CopenPay is a nudging scheme that rewards tourists for good deeds. The purpose is to raise awareness about the choices you make when travelling. It was first launched in summer 2024 as a pilot program, and since its launch 30,000+ people have participated. In December 2025, DestinationPay was launched offering a scalable model for destinations worldwide to create more meaningful tourism.

The ‘Folkecykelløb’ is a unique chance for locals and visitors who bring their own bikes to ride the same route as the professional cyclists in Copenhagen Sprint. From 1-3pm on 13 June, a free event hosted by the Municipality of Copenhagen will offer the unique bicycle experience on the closed-off roads around the city. The 10km route will start and finish from Sølvgade by the National Gallery of Denmark, but you can also choose between eight different start and finish points.

Copenhagen Sprint is a World Tour cycling race that consists of two professional races: an elite cycling race for women’s and men’s riders. In 2026, the women’s race will be held on Saturday 13 June and the men’s race on Sunday 14 June. The race starts in Roskilde, moves through scenic North Zealand and ends with a 10 km circuit in the streets of Copenhagen with a final stretch in front of the National Gallery of Denmark.