The Strandvejen district is where Copenhagen begins to weave into the rest of Sjælland and where you’ll find the city’s most exclusive neighborhoods. This corner of the city is the wealthiest in Denmark, and you’ll feel it as soon as you first enter the area.
The district is distinctly less “Copenhagen” than most of Copenhagen’s other districts. Here, you’ll find huge houses at a premium price — and having a car is sometimes more helpful than in most other parts of the city.
Regardless of whether you’re visiting or moving to the Danish capital, Strandvejen’s neighborhoods have a lot to offer. So, without further ado, let’s jump in and find out what you can do here.
Where is the Strandvejen district in Copenhagen?
Strandvejen stretches all the way up to Helsingør near the top of Sjælland. But in a Copenhagen context, we’ll refer primarily to Hellerup, Charlottenlund, and Klampenborg — all of which are part of the Gentofte Municipality.
Hellerup, which is where the Danish beer brand Tuborg originates from, is located just north of Østerbro. If you keep driving or cycling north, you’ll end up in Charlottenlund; after that, you’ll reach Klampenborg.
To help you get a better understanding of where these neighborhoods are, we’ve included a map of Strandvejen below.
Things to do in Strandvejen
Strandvejen is primarily residential, and its easy access to nature makes it a great place to live. If you enjoy being outdoors, you’ll almost certainly find something interesting to do in this part of Copenhagen.
To make researching more straightforward for you, we’ve narrowed down the top things to do in Strandvejen below.
Getting close to “wild” deer
Strandvejen is where Denmark begins to get wild, and it’s easy to forget that you’re within touching distance from a capital city. The top attraction by far is Dyrehaven, a significant deer park that is frequented by Copenhageners on the weekend.
Inside, you’ll find thousands of deer — all of which are accustomed to humans being around them.
If you visit Dyrehaven in the late autumn, you might catch the annual Hubertus Hunt. This horse racing event has taken place for over 100 years and is used to signal the end of the hunting season until next April. It’s a great day out, and you’ll also get a close glimpse of the Danish royal family.
Inside the park, both walking and cycling are permitted.
Beaches
Strandvejen translates in English to “The Beach Road”, and as you might expect, it’s home to several beaches. One of the most popular is Bellevue Strand, which isn’t far from Dyrehaven. At the beach, you’ll find one of the lifeguard towers designed by Danish design icon Arne Jacobsen — more about him later!
A little closer to downtown Copenhagen is Hellerup Strand, which is a little rockier than Bellevue. Since the bathing areas in Nordhavn and at Svanemøllen are packed during the summer, this is a better place to go for a swim if you can’t grab a spot at one of the other two.
Much of the beach is close to high-rise apartment buildings, though, so you might find the shade annoying if you’re trying to get a tan.
During the summer, both beaches are packed. If you want to grab a spot, you’ll need to come here earlier on the weekend. They’re busy during weekdays, too, so try coming here while everyone else is at work.
Cycling
Sjælland is a cyclist’s paradise, and Strandvejen is perfect for biking on a summer’s day. The entire coastline has well-maintained bike paths, and the terrain is mainly flat.
You can cycle all the way from Central Copenhagen here without issues, and it’s also possible to go all the way up to Helsingør via Route 9.
Aside from being suitable for all difficulty levels, Strandvejen is one of Denmark’s most scenic bike rides. On a clear day, you can see over the Øresund to Sweden. In some spots, you can see the island of Hven; on a good day, you can also see the Turning Torso in Malmö.
Places to visit in Strandvejen
Even if you choose not to live here, Strandvejen offers several exciting day trips from Copenhagen’s inner city. The area has several museums, in addition to iconic architecture and theme parks — plus more.
To help you plan your trip better, we’ve broken down the best places to visit in Strandvejen into subsections below.
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is in Humlebæk and one of Denmark’s most famous museums. Featuring modern art exhibitions, you’ll also find a sculpture park here. The museum first opened in 1958 and is a favorite with locals and tourists alike.
Inside Louisiana, you’ll find more than 4,000 works of art from artists around the world. It’s also an excellent place to visit with children; your kids can participate in workshops while hosting birthday parties here is also possible.
You can get to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art directly from Central Copenhagen; the train to Helsingør stops at Humlebæk.
Charlottenlund Palace
You’ll quickly notice that as soon as you leave downtown Copenhagen, Sjælland is abundant in lavish palaces. Charlottenlund Palace is one of the closest to the city center and used to be a place for the royal family to spend time during the summer.
You can’t enter the palace, but the gardens are open all year. Charlottenlund Palace is just under 10 minutes by foot from the neighborhood’s main train station.
Bakken
Tivoli steals all of Copenhagen’s amusement park headlines, and deservedly so — it’s arguably Denmark’s best tourist attraction. But Strandvejen has Denmark’s—and the world’s—oldest functioning theme park.
Bakken is free to enter and has over 30 rides for you to hop on, though you’ll need to pay for access to these. Inside, you’ll find various food and drink opportunities — in addition to Christmas markets if you visit toward the end of the year.
It’s easy to find Bakken; the amusement park is right next to Dyrehaven.
Ordrupgaard
A little less known than Louisiana, Ordrupgaard is close to Dyrehaven and has a diverse range of art on show. You’ll find several open-air exhibitions to marvel at outside, and you can also check out several collections indoors. Whereas Louisiana focuses on contemporary art, Ordrupgaard has a mixture of modern and older works on show.
Ordrupgaard is close to Bakken, so it’s a good idea to combine the theme park and Dyrehaven into a trip if possible.
Arne Jacobsen’s architecture
Besides his lifeguard watchtowers, Jacobsen’s influence on Scandinavia is visible throughout the Strandvejen district in Copenhagen. Arguably the most famous example is the Bella Vista housing estate, which is located on the other side of the road from Bellevue Strand.
The Bella Vista apartments are minimalistic, and their white structures look like something you’d expect to see in Greece or Italy. Living in one of these buildings is a privilege; you get a perfect view of the sea and beach right in front of you.
Another example of Jacobsen’s work in the area is the Skovshoved Petrol Station, which is the star of a thousand Instagram pictures. Since being restored in 2002, the structure has become an ice cream parlor. You can also grab burgers, sandwiches, hot drinks, and more from this establishment.
Helsingør
At the top end of Strandvejen is Helsingør, which is arguably the best day trip from Copenhagen. This cute town is home to Kronborg Slot, which features in Shakespeare’s world-renowned Hamlet play.
Helsingør is about much more than its castle, though. You’ll find traditional Danish architecture, an abundance of cafés, and an excellent view of Sweden (it’s only four kilometers away). If you want to visit two countries in one day, you can get the ferry to Helsingborg on the other side of the sound in around 20 minutes.
Places to stay in Strandvejen
Strandvejen’s neighborhoods have a good selection of accommodation. On Airbnb, you’ll find several apartment and villa listings — most of which are in the mid-to-high price range.
Hotels and camping in Strandvejen
Hotels in Strandvejen are a little tricky to come by, but there are still a couple of choices. Gentofte Hotel is a bit further inland but has reasonable prices for the most part — starting at around the 750 Danish Kroner mark per night.
Gentofte Hotel has a variety of rooms and suites available, and you’ll find something to fit your needs regardless of whether you’re traveling alone or with others. The hotel allows dogs, though you’ll need to pay an additional 100 DKK per day.
Arguably the best hotel in the area is Skovshoved Hotel, which is close to the Hungarian Embassy and Ordrup Station. The hotel is in a cozy old building near the waterfront, with several breakfast options and rooms that are comfortable for working from. You can also customize your stay based on the reason you’re visiting the area.
Hellerup Parkhotel is a handy choice if you want to stay closer to downtown Copenhagen but don’t want to be right in the city center. This four-star hotel has immaculately-designed rooms that manage to combine spacious and cozy. You can enjoy several services, including breakfast in bed, a sun terrace, and more.
Camping is hugely popular in Denmark, and Strandvejen offers places for you to stay on a budget if you’re interested in this. At Charlottenlund Fort Camping, you’ll find a small spot to stick up your tent. You can check in and out on your own; the site has several facilities, including a place to cook and shower rooms.
DCU-Camping Nærum is another excellent camping option, and you can easily access Dyrehaven from the campsite. For a little more comfort, you can hire “glamping” tents, including bedding and more. DCU-Camping Nærum has several facilities, including places to have an outdoor barbecue and washrooms.
Living in Strandvejen
Strandvejen is a hugely desirable place to live, but finding a place to live comes with a hefty price tag. The villas dotted along the waterfront are some of Denmark’s most expensive properties, and even buying an apartment in this part of the city will set you back a considerable amount.
Rental prices are also, for the most part, pricey. If you’re willing to spend the money, Lejebolig and BoligPortal are two places to start looking for leases. Alternatively, try looking at the Lyngby district for more affordable places to live.
Transport in Strandvejen
Hellerup, Klampenborg, and Charlottenlund are all easily reachable from downtown Copenhagen. The S train runs to each of these stations, and you can hop on a train directly to and from Copenhagen Central Station.
The three neighborhoods are also well-connected to the rest of Sjælland by the S train, though the Copenhagen metro doesn’t cover any of these areas.
Besides the train, you can also get around via local bus services. Their availability will vary depending on where you live or are staying, though, so it’s worth planning ahead.
Cars are expensive in Denmark, but having one if you live in this part of Copenhagen will help you get around much easier. Alternatively, you can grab your bike.
Strandvejen is sumptuous, exclusive, and dynamic
Strandvejen is Copenhagen and the rest of Sjælland combined perfectly. The neighborhoods in this part of the city are affluent, and buying a place to live comes with a hefty real estate tag. Having said that, it’s not hard to see why when you look a little closer.
Hellerup, Klampenborg, and Charlottenlund are excellent places to spend some time outdoors—regardless of whether you live in Copenhagen or have time to kill during your visit. You can get closer to wild deer than in most parts of the world, and the district is excellent for casual bike rides.
If you’re more interested in museums, Strandvejen has a strong selection for you to get your cultural fix. And within touching distance, you’ve got excellent access to pleasant towns and exceptional seafood experiences — plus beaches and another country.
Although Strandvejen features some of Denmark’s wealthiest neighborhoods, Jante’s Law is still alive and kicking. People throughout the Nordic region have adopted this social code, and you can’t understand this region without knowing what it is. Fortunately, we’ve written a complete guide; hop on in whenever is convenient for you.
Scandification: Discovering Scandinavia.
Now read these:
—Get to know Copenhagen’s neighborhoods
—Nørrebro, Copenhagen’s intriguing melting pot
—Vesterbro, the hipster district of Copenhagen
—Indre By, Copenhagen’s central district
—Østerbro, the paradise of Copenhagen
—Frederiksberg, Copenhagen’s leafy enclave
—Amager, explore nature in Copenhagen
—Valby, Copenhagen’s lesser-known district
—Unpacking Copenhagen’s meatpacking district
—Exploring the charms of Nyhavn, Copenhagen
—Enjoy the sea and sunshine in Islands Brygge
—Unearthing Copenhagen’s red light district
—Circumnavigating the Lakes of Copenhagen
—What is Denmark famous for?
