Ice Rinks in Copenhagen: 8 Places That Will Make You Look Up
Watch your step so you don’t lose your balance on the ice when the surrounding architecture catches your eye. The buildings sparkle in the winter darkness as the ice rinks take over, transforming grey areas into lively spaces filled with light, laughter, and winter joy. Here’s our guide to 8 cool ice skating rinks in Copenhagen.
By Asta Melchior Jelsing
Photo: Hotel d’Angleterre 1. Kongens Nytorv
With the statue of Christian V at the center, you can skate in circles around the so-called “Krinsen” at Kongens Nytorv, just like 16 years ago, while taking in the lavish architecture all around. Through the linden trees, you can catch glimpses of the masts from Nyhavn and admire the winter-adorned buildings: the festively decorated Hotel d’Angleterre, the grand facade of Magasin, and the elegantly illuminated Royal Danish Theatre.
Photo: Broens Skøjtebane 2. Broens Ice Rink
Surrounded by the aroma of food stalls and children enjoying warm æbleskiver (Danish Pancake Puffs) in the cold, you can glide around on the ice at Broens Ice Rink. Every Friday and Saturday, there’s disco on ice with themed music playing until 9 PM. When your disco-skating feet need a break, you can pause and take in the view of the Royal Danish Playhouse across the Inner Harbour Bridge and the warehouse-inspired apartments on Papirøen opposite the rink.
Photo: Kalle Hansen 3. Skøjteøen
During the winter months, the lively summer spot Reffen transforms into the magical skating universe Skøjteøen. Here, you’ll find two ice rinks – one for adults and one for kids, where you can glide along, taking in the delicious aromas from food stalls, surrounded by beautiful light installations and with views over Copenhagen Harbor. Across the harbor, you’ll spot Langelinie and Kastellet, with the Maersk buildings to the south and Tip of Nordø and BIG HQ to the north.
Photo: Victor Hjøllund Larsen 4. Pusher Street on Ice
In April 2024, Pusher Street was dug up, cobblestone by cobblestone. Rising from the ground is now the skating rink Pusher Street on Ice, designed to support the street’s transformation. Here, you can skate around and test your skills on a 120-meter-long “skaterway.” This experience track takes you through Christiania, offering views of landmarks such as Operaen, Woodstock, Grøntsagen, and Nemoland. The rink is decorated with works by graffiti artist Rasmus Balstrøm.
Photo: Christian Mandrup 5. Enghaveparken
The ice rink in Enghaveparken is back, offering winter magic and a temporary café in the frost-covered park. Glide across the ice and enjoy the crisp winter air under the bare trees. Look up, and you’ll see the red apartment blocks, built almost simultaneously with Enghaveparken. Inside the park, you can admire two pavilions and the beautiful music stage designed by Arne Jacobsen. When you’re done skating, head over to Enghave Plads to warm up at one of the many cozy restaurants.
Photo: Michelle Berg 6. Tivoli
Visit Santa’s house, sample treats from the many Christmas stalls, and take a spin around the Christmas tree on the round ice rink. As you practice skating backwards, look up to witness a magical Northern Lights installation, casting a special glow over the evenings at Tivoli’s ice rink in front of the concert hall. From the ice, you can also spot the golden Axel Towers just outside Tivoli.
Photo: Martin Sørensen 7. Frederiksberg Runddel
The ice rink at Frederiksberg Runddel sits at the intersection of Frederiksberg Allé and Frederiksberg Garden, where nature and urban life meet. Surrounded by yellow walls and the buildings Laurierhuset on the left and pendent house on the right, you can skate with a view of the statue of Frederick VI, proudly standing behind the gated entrance. From the ice, see if you can catch a glimpse of Frederiksberg Palace towering over the landscaped garden.
Photo: Brian Kyed - Unsplash 8. The Copenhagen Lakes
If the winter gets cold enough, the lakes might freeze over. If this happens, you can enjoy a skating experience just like in the old days. Peblinge Lake and St. Jørgens Lake usually freeze first, and from one, you can catch sight of buildings like the Planetarium, Codanhus, and the SAS Royal Hotel, while from the other, you can view both the Søpavillion and Dronning Louise’s Bridge from angles you wouldn’t see when cycling by.
Indoor weather?
If the weather is too poor for architectural sightseeing at the outdoor ice rinks, you can always visit an indoor one. Just remember to look up!
You can skate at the City2 shopping center in Taastrup or at the Østerbro, Ørestad, or Kastrup Ice Rink. Also, check out the Frihedens Idrætscenter in Hvidovre, Gentofte Ice Rink, or Gladsaxe Ice Rink.
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