In Denmark, Harbor Bathing Is a Year-Round Activity—Here’s Why and Where to Try It

On a cloudy Saturday morning, the Islands Brygge Harbor Bath is brisk with swimmers peeling off layers of clothing, before soaring off a wooden pier and landing with a splash into the icy river. It’s January in Denmark, and temperatures are hovering around the mid-30s. The water isn’t much warmer, but no one is batting a (semi-frozen) eyelash—it’s all part of the fun. 

“Winter swimming or winter dipping in Denmark goes back hundreds of years,” says Dr. Susanna Soeberg, author of Winter Swimming: The Nordic Way Toward a Healthier and Happier Life, and an expert on the health benefits of cold and heat therapy, which includes winter harbor bathing. 

The practice—a quick dip in frosty water before warming in a steamy sauna—has long been embraced throughout Scandinavian countries as a way to invigorate the senses and generally improve physical and mental well-being. “This Nordic way of getting back to nature is today backed by science,” says Soeberg. “The breath and the cold are complementary ways of increasing our mood and health.”

Those looking to dip a toe in the water can find havnebade, or harbor baths, all throughout the country, whether on the coast or among its lakes, rivers, and fjords. And while Danes flock to these venues in the summer months, most harbor baths are open year-round, drawing more daring swimmers. They’re designed to make it effortless for bathers to jump right in, rather than having to slowly wade in from the shore. (It’s much easier, after all, to talk yourself out of a cold swim when you’re submerging inch by inch.)

And while all-season harbor bathing has been around for ages, according to Soeberg, it’s undergone a significant boost since the pandemic, with people looking for new ways to reduce stress and spend more time outdoors. In February, the tiny island of Langeland in southern Denmark is hosting its first-ever winter swimming festival, while in southern Denmark, the town of Sønderborg is slated to unveil a multi-million dollar harbor bath with two pools and a sunbathing deck. All around Copenhagen, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to try the trend, from innovative mobile dipping zones scattered throughout the harbor to casual spots like La Bachina wine bar (a few minutes walk from Noma) where you can jump into the harbor before warming up in the sauna while drinking rosé.

Ready to take the plunge? Read on for seven places to seek out for a bracing taste of Danish harbor bathing.