Although you can see central Copenhagen if you look across the Stadsgraven canal, Islands Brygge's lifestyle is very different. Here you will find a chilled atmosphere, where recent redevelopment has resulted in a lovely neighbourhood with a unique character.
The Islands Brygge area was established through a series of land reclamations in the shallow beach area between Amager and Zealand at the end of the 1800s. The neighbourhood was especially used by the military, as they needed more space and new facilities. After the war, several large businesses moved to the area.
Go for a walk in Havneparken (Harbour Park), located between Islands Brygge Street and the harbour front, and take a dip in the Havnebadet (Harbour Bath) just south of the Langebro Bridge. Make sure to visit the Kulturhuset Islands Brygge (Islands Brygge Cultural Centre) to experience everything from music, theatre and dance to flea markets and circus shows. Islands Brygge borders Amager Fælled, a large green protected area, where you can run, walk, go bird-watching or just relax. Why not go and see a show at Teater Play, where plays, comedy shows and concerts are frequently organised.
In recent years, this neighbourhood has undergone extensive redevelopment, meaning that many of the old industrial areas and buildings have been turned into modern residential complexes, the most famous being Gemini Residence. In other places, the redevelopment has taken care to preserve traces of the past, such as Havneparken, where parts of the old railway and crane tracks have been preserved.
During a holiday in Islands Brygge, you can travel on foot, by bus or by using the underground. From Islands Brygge, you can also take the various harbour and water buses, which will take you across the water to other parts of Copenhagen across the water.
A city break to Islands Brygge means a few days in a more relaxed part of Copenhagen, where culture and city life mix perfectly with nature and freedom.