Sweden and Denmark by bike and boat from Copenhagen
During this magnificent "Bike & Sail" journey aboard the grand tall ship Atlantis, you will discover beautiful cities, small villages, and islands around and within the Øresund, the strait between Denmark and Sweden.
The narrow Øresund is an ancient trade route, similar to the Strait of Gibraltar and the Bosphorus, a passage of great strategic and economic importance for centuries. Charming old ports and fortified towns line its shores.
The journey begins in Copenhagen and ends in Malmö, two of the most bike-friendly cities in Europe. You will first sail to Helsingør (Elsinore) and cycle along the coast of the "Danish Riviera" with its long sandy beaches, then through the gently rolling landscape of North Zealand. Helsingør, located at the narrowest part of the Øresund, was founded as early as 1420, and the town is dominated by Kronborg Castle, the setting for Shakespeare's Hamlet.
On the Swedish side of the strait, Helsingborg is a coastal gem. From there, a bike ride along the coast of Skåne County leads to the fortified town of Landskrona. The ship will then take you to the picturesque island of Ven, which rises above the sea. It is only 7.5 km² and has fewer than 400 inhabitants. The steep limestone cliffs, beautiful farms, and the 17th-century astronomer Tycho Brahe's observatory are fascinating. Today, many artists and artisans live and work on Ven. From Ven, you will sail to Malmö, Sweden's third-largest city. Enjoy the unique combination of modern architecture and old town, including Malmöhus Castle and the 14th-century St. Peter's Church.
This is followed by a long sail to the Danish island of Møn, the southernmost point of the journey, which, like Dover and the German island of Rügen, is known for its high white limestone cliffs, rich in fossils. Møn is located in a sparsely populated area, which means that on clear nights, the starry sky can sometimes shine particularly intensely. The bike ride on Møn begins with a long climb along the limestone cliffs and through the inland. The next morning, you will sail from Møn to Rødvig. This is where the last coastal bike stage begins: following quiet country roads and bike paths, you will reach the medieval town of Køge, where the ship will be waiting for you at the port. In the afternoon, you will sail to Malmö, where the ship will dock again in the historic city center.
About this Bike & Sail package:
Sleep and have breakfast on board. Each day, you will receive a packed lunch, and you will have the option to follow a pre-established cycling route. If you wish, you can take a day off and sail aboard the ship. Touring bikes and electric bikes are available for rent on board.
If you wish, you can also participate in the sailing and hoisting of the sails—with instructions from the experienced crew, of course: no sailing experience is necessary. Or you can simply relax and enjoy the sailing while admiring the view from the ship.
Guided bike tour:
Accompanied by two experienced guides, you and the group will visit interesting places and sites during the daily cycling excursions. During briefings and along the way, you will receive all the information about the route and sites. You can also choose to do the cycling excursions independently and at your own pace using the free Ride with GPS navigation app and our map (available on board upon request). The bike rides on this trip are not very long in themselves, but they do include some elevation: certain short sections can be challenging. This is why we have rated this trip at difficulty level 3.
Day 1: Copenhagen, embarkation and check-in
From 5:30 PM, the crew welcomes you aboard the ship. It is moored near the city center, Kastellet, and the Little Mermaid. After storing your luggage in your cabin, the skipper, crew, and tour guide will invite you to a welcome drink, followed by dinner on board. During the first briefing, after dinner, you will receive information about what to expect during the trip, as well as details about the ship and safety measures on board. The bikes will be distributed in the evening or the next morning.
Day 2: Sailing Copenhagen – Helsingør | Helsingør–Hornbaek–Esrum–Helsingør (45 km / 28 mi)
The ship leaves Copenhagen early. During breakfast, you will sail north to Helsingør, where the ship will arrive around 11:00 AM. You will start by cycling along the coast of the "Danish Riviera," with its vast sandy beaches, to the port of Hornbaek. Then, you will head inland through a slightly hilly landscape to Esrum for a break at the medieval monastery on Lake Esrum.
Next, you will cycle through the bucolic countryside, passing some beautiful castles and country houses on your way to Helsingør. You will reach the historic center after a long descent. The port is dominated by the imposing Kronborg Castle, the place Shakespeare had in mind when he wrote Hamlet. Nearby, the old port buildings have been beautifully restored and now house, among other things, a street food market.
Day 3: Sailing Helsingør – Helsingborg | Helsingborg – Landskrona (28 km / 17 mi)
Today, you will sail again during breakfast. After about an hour, the port of Helsingborg welcomes you on the Swedish side of the Øresund. In the morning, you can visit the beautiful city, considered one of the most innovative places in Europe. Then, you will cycle along the coast of Skåne County to the fortified town of Landskrona. Along the way, you will pass some beaches and the old fishing village of Borstahusen with its charming fisherman's cottages. Landskrona's 16th-century citadel—with its double moat—is still almost intact. Enjoy the view of the island of Ven, located a few kilometers offshore, before tomorrow's visit.
Day 4: Sailing Landskrona – Ven | Tour of the island of Ven (15 km / 9 mi) | Sailing Ven – Malmö
This morning, the ship will take you to the small island of Ven, located on a sandstone plateau off Landskrona. You will be disembarked (with your bikes) using a dinghy. This small island (only 7.5 km²) with fewer than 400 inhabitants is a little gem in the Øresund. You can bike around the island and visit artists' houses, silversmiths, cafés, the whiskey distillery, or the 16th-century observatory of astronomer Tycho Brahe. Once back on board thanks to the dinghy, Atlantis will sail south to Malmö, where you will spend the evening and night.
Day 5: Bike tour through Malmö (20 km / 12 mi) | Sailing Malmö – Møn
After breakfast, you will take a bike tour through Malmö, one of the most bike-friendly cities in Europe. Founded around 1200 and located opposite Copenhagen on the Øresund, Malmö offers a perfect blend of old charm and ultra-modern cosmopolitan vibes. The "Turning Torso," a spiral tower, is a fine example of this combination.
Today, the ship will take you to the Danish island of Møn, the southernmost destination of your journey, where the ship will anchor for the night. Møn is located in a sparsely populated area and is an "International Dark Sky Community": on clear nights, you can admire the starry sky like nowhere else.
Day 6: Bike ride on Møn (30 km / 19 mi) | Afternoon sailing to Rødvig
Today again, the dinghy will take you ashore with your bike. From Klintholm Havn, you will gradually climb, but without difficulty, to the top of the 130-meter-high white chalk cliffs of Møns Klint. They rise steeply from the sea and are comparable to those of Dover and Rügen. The GeoCenter at the top traces the 70-million-year-old history of the cliffs, known for the many fossils that can be found there. Then, via the charming 18th-century Liselund Castle with its English landscape park, you will cycle through woods and rolling landscapes to the pretty little village of Borre before returning to the port of Klintholm. In the afternoon, Atlantis will sail to Rødvig to anchor for the night.
Day 7: Rødvig Havn – Køge (37 km / 22 mi) | Afternoon sailing to Malmö
The last cycling route of the trip follows the coast from Rødvig. On secondary roads and bike paths, you will take the EuroVelo 10. The route crosses rolling countryside, passing Denmark's oldest medieval castle, Gjorslev, and the 16th-century Renaissance and Baroque castle of Vallø. Your route ends in the medieval town of Køge, where the ship will be waiting for you at the port. Visit the picturesque old town before boarding again. In the afternoon, you will sail for the last journey of the week to Malmö, where the ship will dock again in the city center.
Day 8: Malmö
This is the end of your journey, but we won’t let you leave on an empty stomach. Before disembarkation at 9:30 AM, enjoy a delicious breakfast and say your farewells.
Important notes for the Sail & Bike program:
A bit of adventure is part of every Sail & Bike tour: the departure and arrival day and location are 100% certain. For the rest, the planned daily sailing routes depend in part on the strength and direction of the winds. The skipper decides the best route to follow each day and discusses the options with the crew. However, it is possible that departure times, time spent on the water, and even the order of the program itself may
be adjusted. Enjoy the journey and let yourself be guided by the elements! Whenever possible, various crossings will be made entirely under sail, and anyone wishing to help the crew sail and steer the ship is welcome to do so. Of course, this remains entirely optional, and no sailing experience is necessary.
