Cycling the Baltic Sea Cycle Route: 820km of hygge on two wheels
This isn't your average cycle path. The Baltic Sea Cycle Route runs through some of Denmark's most enchanting countryside, along country lanes, beside sandy beaches and across peaceful islands. Discover Denmark from the seat of a bike as you navigate our inspiring landscape.
When was the last time you saw a pod of dolphins from the seat of your bike? Spent an afternoon in a medieval castle? Or tasted delicious cheese fresh from the seller as you walked around a weekly market?
The 14-stage journey of the Baltic Sea Cycle Route is uplifting and full of memory-making potential. It's both the perfect way to switch off from everyday life and a unique way to enjoy all of Denmark. Experience nature, lifestyle, history and culture, with a route that winds around historic manors and medieval castles, pretty market towns and unparalleled wildlife experiences.
Follow us on a route through the very best of Denmark.
Highlights of the Baltic Sea Cycle Route
Whichever stage you tackle, you'll find castles and manors, natural wonders and unique small towns that will enchant and inspire you.
Where to start
The route is broken down into 14 stages and is laid out in a figure of eight shape, allowing you to choose either an eastern or a western loop. Both routes are highly accessible. If you are driving from Germany, you will reach the Western Loop first. If you fly into Copenhagen, the Eastern Loop is the closest. The downloadable guide below takes you through the route stage by stage.
Information and route planning
Practical information about the N8
Where can you hire a bike in Denmark? Can you take a bike on a train? The answers to these questions and more are all below.
Frequently-asked questions
Cycling
It couldn’t be easier to cycle in Denmark and cycling holidays are extremely popular. For full details on bike rental in Denmark, inspiration for cycling holidays and much more, read our Cycling in Denmark page.
Cycling rules
Here are a few rules of the road for cyclists that will help you enjoy a relaxing break on two wheels.
Essential bike equipment
Your bike must have a bell, a white reflector visible from the front, yellow reflectors on the pedals and wheels and a red reflector at the back. Bikes come with these things as standard in Denmark but if you’re bringing a bike with you from abroad, you’ll need to make sure yours is fitted with these.
When cycling in the dark, you must have a working white light at the front and a red at the back. You can pick these up from convenience stores and bike shops in Denmark.
Bike trailers must have two white reflectors on the front and two red on the back, with two yellow reflectors on each side. After dark, you must make sure your trailer has a red light either fitted at the back or the left-hand side.
Taking children on your bike
If you are over 15 years of age, you can transport two children under eight years old on your bike, providing you have the necessary cycle seats. If you have a bike trailer, you can take two children of any age. Children on bike seats and in trailers must always be fastened in.
Helmets
You are not legally required to wear a helmet. But it is a great idea to use one anyway!
Danish traffic regulations
You must always cycle on the right-hand side of the road and if there’s a bike path, you should use this. If you are turning left, cross over the road you will join, so that you are waiting with the traffic on the right-hand side. Then go with the traffic when the light is green. Cyclists must use their arms to signal that they are slowing down, turning or stopping. Read more about cycling laws and rules in Denmark.
Fietsroutes
Denemarken biedt meer dan 12.000 km bewegwijzerde fietsroutes voor een fantastische fietstocht. Bekijk voordat je je fietsvakantie start welke routenaam, -nummer of -logo je graag zou fietsen. Hierna hoef je alleen nog maar de bordjes onderweg te volgen. Je kunt er natuurlijk ook voor kiezen om meerdere fietsroutes te combineren en zo een nog groter stuk van Denemarken fietsend te ontdekken.
11 Nationale fietsroutes in Denemarken
Naast vele fietsroutes door heel Denemarken, variërend van tochten door de natuur en idyllische stadjes tot mooie fietsroutes langs de kust, zijn er 11 nationale fietsroutes. De wegwijzer bordjes langs ieder traject maken het gemakkelijk om de routes goed te volgen. De nationale fietsroutes zijn aangeduid met rood-witte nummers van 1 tot 11 op een blauwe achtergrond. (Let op: Route 10 op Bornholm heeft een groene in plaats van blauwe achtergrond). De noord-zuid routes hebben een oneven nummer, de oost-west routes een even nummer. Er zijn daarnaast twee circulaire routes, Bornholm (Route 10) en de Limfjord Route (Route 12).
Lees meer over de 11 Nationale fietsroutes.
Regionale en lokale fietsroutes in Denemarken
De regionale en lokale fietsroutes in Denemarken hebben allen een eigen bewegwijzering. De regionale routeborden volgen hetzelfde patroon als de nationale; witte routenummers van 16 tot 99 op een blauwe achtergrond. Het lokale routenetwerk gebruikt dit systeem ook, maar dan met nummers van 100 tot 999.
Meer informatie over fietsen en fietsvakanties in Denemarken
Zodra je op onze bestemmingen overzicht je favoriete bestemming(en) in Denemarken hebt gevonden, kun je per bestemming verder lezen over activiteiten zoals fietsen. Tip: ook als er geen 'fietsen' onderwerp op de bestemmingen pagina staat, kun je klikken op een willekeurig onderwerp dat je doorleidt naar de regionale partner website. In het zoekvenster daar kun je vervolgens met de zoekwoorden 'bike', 'biking' of 'cycling' alle gerelateerde onderwerpen vinden over fietsen in die regio. Heel handig om bijvoorbeeld ook lokale fietsapps, routes en andere handige fietsinformatie te vinden!
Countryside byelaws
Everyone can go where they like in the Danish countryside as long as they are considerate of animals, plants and other people. It is your responsibility to be safe.
Here are some of the most important rules:
- You are allowed in public woods and forests 24 hours a day, all year round.
- You are only allowed in private woods and forests from 6 am until sunset, and only on roads and paths.
- All cycling is to be carried out on roads and trails, regardless of public or private land.
- Foraging for private use is allowed.
- It can be difficult to see if a wood or forest is publically or privately owned. Look for signs and follow the rule of thumb that red posts are used in public forests, and green ones are used on private land.
- Entry to a forest can sometimes be limited during the hunting season.
- You are allowed on uncultivated land (meadows, cliffs, coasts and beaches etc) on foot while pushing your bike.
- If you want to stay in a public forest /uncultivated land, you have to be at least 50 meters from the nearest building. If you want to stay on private ground, you have to be at least 150 meters from the nearest building.
- You can check further rules on: The Danish Nature Agency