Stromma Canal Tours Copenhagen

Stromma runs the classic canal tours of Copenhagen, the boat trips that most visitors take at least once. The company, Stromma Denmark, is part of the Stromma Group and is based in Toldbodgade, and its boats leave from two central departure points: Nyhavn 3, at the head of the famous canal, and Ved Stranden 26 in the city centre, close to Christiansborg Palace. Seeing the city from the water is one of the best ways to understand how Copenhagen grew up around its harbour and canals.

The core product is the Classic Canal Tour, which lasts about an hour and passes many of the main sights, including the Little Mermaid, Amalienborg Palace, the Opera House and Christiansborg. A longer version, the Classic Canal Tour and the Harbour, takes about one hour and 45 minutes and continues out to Nordhavn, where you can see the sculpture known as The Genetically Modified Mermaid. Commentary is given on board, and from 1 October to early January the departures from Nyhavn are live-guided only.

Tours run year-round with several departures a day. From late May to late September the first boat leaves at 9:30 and the last departures run into the evening, while for the rest of the year the first boat leaves at 10:00 and the last departure is in the late afternoon or early evening, depending on the departure point. In late spring and summer the boats are open, with free ponchos if it rains, and in the colder months they are covered and heated.

The tours suit first-time visitors, families and anyone who wants a relaxed overview of the city. A few practical points are worth knowing. The boats cannot take non-foldable wheelchairs, although guests with foldable wheelchairs, walkers or other mobility aids can join if they can board and sit in a regular seat, at the captain's discretion. Prams and buggies cannot be taken on board and must be left at the departure point at your own risk. There are no toilets on the boats, but public toilets are near the ticket houses.

Follow the crew's instructions about staying seated as you pass under the bridges. If you plan to visit Nyhavn anyway, start your tour there; if you are coming from Christiansborg or Strøget, Ved Stranden is closer. Customer service can be reached by phone for group bookings and questions.