5 Awesome Jogging Routes in Copenhagen (and 25 Songs for Your Running Playlist)

September 9, 2013  //  By: Philip Pfeiffer  //  Featured, GUIDE  //  2 Comments

Some people run to get in shape. Others, to look good naked. Some people run for that unbeatable feeling of elation known as “Runner’s High.” Whatever the case may be, running is a great activity, and Copenhagen offers a superb environment in which to do it. What follows is 5 suggested routes that can be taken by anyone from Usain Bolt to Queen Margrethe; their difficulty totally depends on how fast you want to take it, and how many breaks you’re willing to allow yourself. Have fun!

Note: the images of the routes are placed ABOVE the description, and the actual route is drawn in orange, except for the Midnight run where the route is drawn in yellow. Hint – zoom in on the routes to see them more clearly!

Urban Lake Run

No list of running routes in Copenhagen would be complete without Søerne. Wedged in between Indre By and the three Bridge Districts (Vesterbro, Nørrebro, and Østerbro), the Lakes traverse the periphery of central Copenhagen. As such, they are ideal for those who enjoy running next to bodies of water whilst surrounded by the glorious cacophony of the concrete jungle (also: those who like running in straight lines a lot).

The difficulty of this route can of course be tempered. For the ambitious runners out there, the Lakes can be circuited and/or zig-zagged through. For the beginners/lazy/hungover/pirates with wooden peg-legs, it is possible to lap around just the one Lake (the choice is yours), taking breaks on the benches you pass along. Just remember to keep your mouth closed at night, or you’ll probably swallow more than a few of the local insects.

Songs for the Playlist:

• Outkast – Shutterbugg
• Big Boi – B.O.B.
• Kanye West – Black Skinhead
• Dillon Francis – I.D.G.A.F.O.S. 2.0
• Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers

Home Star Runner

Built in 1662, Kastellet is one of the best-preserved military fortresses in the world. It served as the defensive bastion of Copenhagen’s military, holding guard over the nearby Amalienborg castle with all the might and vigilance of King Christian IV’s army. These days, though, it’s a really neat place to run.

Kastellet’s star-shape and high vantage point makes this a great route, as it offers superb views of Øresund, the park, and inner city Copenhagen – all in one short run. Even better, its circuit-like nature allows for multiple trips around the track. And for those runners with recovering smoker’s lungs, there are a myriad of benches situated around Kastellet, leaving plenty of room for dry-heaving breaks. All in all, an excellent route.

Songs for the Playlist:

• Reptar – Stuck In My Id
• Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up
• Klaxons – Golden Skans
• Biz Markie – Just a Friend
• Phantogram – Don’t Move

Midnight Run

This route is best suited for those Thursday nights before early Friday mornings; the nights where the threat of a hangover at work weighs heavier than the allure of a few (or a lot) of rounds at Nexus. Start at Nørreport and heads towards Kongens Nytorv, weaving in and out of crowds of drunken Copenhageners out on the pull. Indulge in a smug sense of superiority as you jog past the outdoor smoking cabins of the various nightclubs and bars. Contemplate briefly the inherent  emptiness of a modern urban existence, until the onset of runner’s high, at which point the cocktail of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine will quell any sense of existential angst. Feel great about your run as your return to Nørreport, and remind yourself to read that book about Taoism that your hippie friend from RUC recommended to you. Call your hungover friends in the morning and laugh at them on your way to your morning lecture at Solbjerg Plads.

Songs for the Playlist:

• M83 – Midnight City (or alternatively the White Panda mash-up featuring Kanye)
• LCD Soundsystem – Someone Great
• A Tribe Called Quest – Electric Relaxation
• Klangkarussell – Sonnentanz
• Kanye West – Flashing Lights

The Station Trifecta

This route will take you through the heart of Copenhagen to the outskirts of Indre By and back again. The idea is to run to the three main S-train stations in Copenhagen – Nørreport, Østerport, and Vesterport (and if you’re up for it, you can stop by Hovedbanegården as well). It’s a great way to connect with Copenhagen, and for those who have just moved here, it provides a great opportunity to explore the city on foot. Think of it as a chance to become a modern, Denmark-based Lewis and Clark (or Sacagawea, if that’s your thing).

The strength of this route lies in its flexibility. You can, as has been suggested in this instance, start at Kgs. Nytorv and run to Nørreport, then head  to Østerport before crossing back through Kgs. Nytorv and ending up at Vesterport. A more straightforward route would be to start at Vesterport, head to Nørreport, and then finish at Østerport. Whatever the case may be, this route is a fun “challenge” for those days where you feel like running but don’t know where to.

Songs for the Playlist:

• C2C – Down the Road
• Chase and Status – Blind Faith
• Bill Conti – Gonna Fly Now
• The Chemical Brothers – Block Rockin’ Beats
• Goldfish – Hold Tight

Run: Forest Run (aka The Frodo)

Escape the drudgery of a lecture at Porcelænshaven, and enter the wondrous Frederiksberg Gardens, and just, like, reconnect with nature, man, y’know?  Bonus points awarded here for bare-foot running – or even better, running in those weird foot-shoe things. You know the ones.

There are many ways to enjoy forest running. If you have an obnoxious love of puns, put on Frank Ocean’s “Forrest Gump” and listen to it on repeat for an hour (or, alternatively, the Official Forrest Gump Movie Soundtrack). If you’re an ardent Lord of the Rings fan, put on the official soundtrack and run around pretending to be Frodo running towards Mordor. Or perhaps Aragorn running to save Merry and Pippin from the Orcs. Or even Gandalf evading the gargantuan Balrog of Khazad Dûm. I’ve probably watched those movies a few too many times. Embrace the hippie side of yourself and put on some Joan Baez or Simon and Garfunkel while you run. Whatever the case may be, enjoy yourself and the surroundings, soak in the lush verdancy of Frederiksberg Have, and perhaps treat yourself with a beer at the Carlsberg brewery when you finish your run.

Songs for the Playlist:

• Led Zeppelin – Ramble On
• Howard Shore – Concerning Hobbits
• Howard Shore – The Bridge of Khazad Dûm
• Frank Ocean – Forrest Gump
• Simon and Garfunkel – Leaves That Are Green

 Enjoy your running adventure!

About the Author : Philip Pfeiffer

Philip is a third-year BSc International Business student at Copenhagen Business School, and in his spare time reads books by Hunter S Thompson, Dan Turéll, and Bob Dylan (separately, not co-authored).