VisitNyhavn
EN
The short version
- Nearest: the Havnegade bathing zone, 150 metres from Nyhavn. Free and open 06:00–22:00 all year, but no sauna.
- New this winter: KAI on Paper Island (Papirøen) opens Saturday 5 December 2026 with a Finnish sauna, a steam room and hot stones. Free entry on opening day, 12:00–18:00.
- A sauna by the water right now: Refshaleøen (La Banchina, CopenHot) or the floating sauna at Kalvebod Bølge, 80 DKK an hour.
- Only swim in the official bathing zones. Swimming elsewhere in the harbour is prohibited.
The places, nearest first
| Place | What | Price (2026) | Walk from Nyhavn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Havnegade bathing zone | Bathing zone with a solid bottom, about 1 m deep. No sauna | Free | 2 min (150 m) |
| KAI, Papirøen 47 | The city's new swimming and bathing house with a Finnish sauna, a steam room and hot stones. Opens 5 December 2026 | Not yet announced. Same level as the city's other public pools | 10 min (700 m) |
| Sofiebadet, Sofiegade 15B | Historic bathhouse in Christianshavn: sauna, steam room, cold tub. Not on the water | 300–450 DKK for two hours | 19 min (1.4 km) |
| Vinterbad Bryggen, Islands Brygge | Winter swimming club. Free guest days for anyone aged 18 or over on the first Sunday of November, December, February, March and April, 13:00–16:00 | Free on guest days | 25 min (1.9 km) |
| Floating sauna at Kalvebod Bølge | Club-run sauna on the water with a bathing zone. Public access Wednesdays and weekends | 80 DKK per hour | about 28 min (about 2 km) |
| La Banchina, Refshalevej 141 | Small dry sauna on the quay, an official bathing zone. Private hire or Sunday "Soup & Sauna" | Private 800–950 DKK (up to 8 people) · Sunday 120 DKK for an hour in the shared sauna | Over 2 km. Refshaleøen is across the harbour |
| CopenHot, Refshalevej 195 | Wood-fired saunas and hot tubs. Cold tubs, but no harbour jumps | Shared sessions 195–350 DKK per person | Further out than La Banchina |
The nearest two, in more detail
Havnegade is the one you can do on a lunch break: a bathing zone with a solid bottom and steps into the water, open 06:00–22:00 all year. There's no sauna, so bring a robe. From early 2027 the sauna club Glaecier is opening on Havnegade. The date and prices for non-members haven't been announced.
KAI is the city's new swimming and bathing house on Paper Island, just across Inderhavnsbroen and to the left. It opens on Saturday 5 December 2026, 12:00–18:00, with free entry, and from 6 December it's open every day 06:00–21:00. There's a Finnish sauna, a steam room and hot stones, but children under 15 can't use the wellness area. The bathing zones out in the harbour aren't finished and are expected to open in early 2027. On opening day there's no booking, so it's first come, first served. The ticket price hasn't been announced, but the city says it will be at the same level as its other public pools.
A sauna by the water today
- Kalvebod Bølge is the cheapest: 80 DKK for an hour in the floating sauna, Wednesdays 09:00–11:00 and 15:00–21:00 and Saturday–Sunday 11:00–15:00. On Wednesdays 20:00–21:00 there's a sauna gus (aufguss) session for 120 DKK. Tickets are sold online and can't be changed.
- La Banchina on Refshaleøen is a small dry sauna for up to eight. It's hired privately for 1 hour 45 minutes at 800 DKK (Monday–Thursday) or 950 DKK (Friday–Sunday) and can be booked four weeks ahead. Every Sunday until the end of March there's "Soup & Sauna": an hour in the shared sauna for 120 DKK, and afterwards you can buy a bowl of hot soup at a special price. Swimwear optional.
- CopenHot has wood-fired saunas and hot tubs, open Wednesday to Sunday. A one-hour sauna gus session costs 195 DKK per person, and HotDays with sauna and hot tub for an hour and a half costs 350 DKK. Swimwear is required, and jumping into the harbour isn't allowed. Use the cold tubs.
- Sofiebadet in Christianshavn isn't on the water, but it's the nearest proper bathhouse today: two hours from 300 DKK. Swimwear is required, and Thursdays 16:00–20:00 are women only. Book well ahead.
The rules for winter swimming in the harbour
- Only swim in the official bathing zones. Ten of the city's bathing zones are open all year, including Havnegade, Kalvebod Bølge, La Banchina and Søndre Refshalebassin.
- Check today's bathing water notice and the three-day forecast on kk.dk before you dip. After very heavy rain, sewage overflow can happen, in winter too.
- The city's advice for winter swimmers: check conditions and rescue equipment, watch for ice on the steps, never swim alone, breathe calmly, keep an eye on each other, stay close to the ladder, and never swim under ice. Lower yourself into the water slowly. Never dive in head first, and never go straight from the sauna into ice-cold water.
Make an afternoon of it
A dip at Havnegade and a hot chocolate afterwards can easily turn into an afternoon at Broens Ice Rink across the bridge. There are more ideas for the dark months in Nyhavn in winter, and for a wet day in Nyhavn in the rain. In summer it all moves to harbour swimming near Nyhavn.
How we checked
We include saunas and bathing zones anyone can use without a membership, within about half an hour's walk of Nyhavn, plus the two best-known places on Refshaleøen. Members-only places (such as Copenwater's saunas) are left out. Prices and hours come from each place's own website and from the City of Copenhagen (kk.dk, kai.kk.dk and svoemkbh.kk.dk), last checked 7 November 2026. Walking times are our own measurements of the walking route from the nearest point on the Nyhavn quay. None of the places pays to be listed.
Where's the nearest place to winter swim from Nyhavn?
The Havnegade bathing zone, about 150 metres from Nyhavn. It's free and open 06:00–22:00 all year. There's no sauna, so bring a robe.
When does KAI on Paper Island open?
Saturday 5 December 2026, 12:00–18:00, with free entry. After that it's open every day 06:00–21:00. The bathing zones out in the harbour are expected to open in early 2027.
Can children use the sauna at KAI?
No. Children under 15 can't use the wellness area, where the sauna and steam room are.
How much is a sauna in Copenhagen?
From 80 DKK an hour in the floating sauna at Kalvebod Bølge and 120 DKK for an hour in the shared sauna on Sundays at La Banchina, to 195–350 DKK per person at CopenHot.
Can I jump into the harbour from the sauna?
Only in official bathing zones. At CopenHot it's not allowed, while La Banchina and Kalvebod Bølge are bathing zones. The city advises never going straight from the sauna into ice-cold water and never diving in head first.
Do I need swimwear in the sauna?
It depends on the place. Swimwear is required at CopenHot and Sofiebadet. At La Banchina it's optional.
Can tourists visit a winter swimming club?
Yes, if you're 18 or over. Vinterbad Bryggen has free guest days, no sign-up needed, on the first Sunday of November, December, February, March and April, 13:00–16:00. The next one is Sunday 6 December 2026.