Dragør, Copenhagen

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Dragør is situated on the south coast of the island Amager.

A bus from the centre of Copenhagen will get you there in 35 minutes – a slow bicycle ride will take just under an hour.
Dragør was founded in the 1300’s, at first just as a bunch of sheds, occupied only during the herring fishing season in Øresund. But over the years people settled permanently, earning a livelihood mainly from fishing and shipping.

Most of the houses in the old part of town date back to somewhere between the 17th and 19th century – a few are older. New houses have been added, but because of preservation restrictions, they have to stick to the style and architecture of the area.
Take a walk in the cobbled streets, and experience the cosy atmosphere, among all the little, yellow houses.
If you are there in the summer, you will note the tall flowers in front of every house. It’s called Stokrose in Danish (stick-rose), and is actually a type of weed, but in Dragør they have adopted it, as their own.

Sit by the harbour, walk along the marinas or the beach. And if at all possible – if it’s open – get a “Nam Nam” home baked cone with the best ice cream, at the tiny ice cream place, which is just across from the fort, a 5 minute walk from the harbour.
Do not get ice cream anywhere else in the town (worst place is the large, blue tourist trap at the harbour!!) – you’ll regret it!

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Discovering this unique village is a great experience.

If you are in Copenhagen for more than the weekend,
try and take the time to get out here.

It is a but of a bugger to get too
take bus 350S from central station.
It takes more than an hour though so be warned!

I live ín Copenhagen and have been here only 3 times, but I can encourage you to visit.

Dragoer is a lovely old fishing village just south of Kastrup airport, which long had ferry connections with Malmoe in Sweden and a lot of nostalgic Swedes still go there to dine. You should go too, just to stroll around the pedestrian alleys with their cheerful yellow thatched houses. Then have dinner in the harbour and a walk along the sea. :)

While visiting Copenhagen take the time to visit Dragor, the small fishing village ten or fifteen minutes east of Kobenhavn. This village is fairytale charming and rich in Danish history and a day trip here could easily be on your list of things to do.

Near the harbor of Dragor, is a shopping area with walking streets--no cars allowed. Some of the older houses still have thatched roofs which are a real relic of the past. The streets are narrow and the area is full of unique sites. Walk along the docks and watch the fishermen haul in their catch of the day.

Well – start from anywhere in Copenhagen, and make your way to Christiansborg castle. Ride past Børsen (with it’s tower of spiralling dragonstails), and ride across the bridge to Christianshavn. Ride across the square, and the mote.
Then it gets tricky. You will need to make a left before Amagerbrogade, down Vermlandsgade – which is not really easy. Once you’re on that, riding along Uplandsgade and Prags Boulevard to Amager Strandvej, is easy.

Make a right onto Amager Strandvej, and ride along the beach all the way to the airport. Take the underpass near the airport – it’s just before the roundabout, and will take you across the street to the McDonalds, Netto and gasstation. Continue around, and across the road Kystvejen. The bicycle lane on the right hand side of the road is 2-ways so watch out for bikes coming towards you.

Ride along the rather dull industrial road for about 2 miles – you will be able to see some of the water, ships passing, the Øresund bridge, and after a while (on a clear day) the tall Turning Torso building in Malmo.
After the Flightacademy the road narrows, and you have to cross to the left side, to another 2-way lane, which is right along the water – really pleasant! Around the bend, and Dragør will be visible. Note the old pilots tower.
At the end of the bicycle lane is a small passage to Nordre Strandvej. Follow that to just before the first major road and turn left onto Nordre Tangvej. Follow that until you can turn right on Øresunds Allé. This is the most expensive area of Dragør – the houses in the old part of town are more expensive by the square-metre, but the houses on Øresunds Allé are bigger (no restrictions).

That street ends in a narrow, cobbled street. Just go straight ahead on that, till you get to a small square. Turn left on the small cobbled street to the harbour of Dragør.

The trip is about 9 miles long, and at a moderate pace it will take about an hour, plus stops.

For things to do in Dragør – see tip about that.