Islands Brygge Harbour Bath (Havnebadet)

Islands Brygge Harbour Bath, called Havnebadet in Danish, is a public harbour swimming complex at Islands Brygge 14, 2300 København S, on the Islands Brygge waterfront in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was among the first facilities to demonstrate that the inner harbour had become clean enough for swimming, and it remains a symbol of the city's transformation of its industrial waterfront into a place for recreation. The atmosphere is lively and urban, often described as an urban beach, with locals and visitors swimming, sunbathing and picnicking on the adjacent lawn.

The complex consists of pools set into the harbour, diving boards and a grassy area for relaxing. It is not a spa and offers no treatments, massages or therapists; the experience is swimming in the harbour water, diving from the boards and spending a summer afternoon beside the water. The signature feature is harbour swimming with lifeguards, which gives the bath a safety framework that informal harbour swimming elsewhere lacks. Entry is free, and the facility is open for the summer season only, usually June to August, with lifeguarded daytime hours that should be confirmed on the city's website, kk.dk, before a visit.

Visitors typically spend one to three hours, though on a warm day many stay longer. Because the bath is free and popular, it can become crowded on hot summer weekends, and arriving earlier in the day improves the chance of finding space on the lawn and a quieter time in the water. There is no booking system, so access is first come, first served. Swimmers should follow lifeguard instructions and any posted water-quality notices, as conditions can change after heavy rain. Families with children should supervise them closely, particularly around the diving boards.

Islands Brygge is a few minutes by metro or bicycle from the city centre, and the surrounding waterfront has cafes, a cycling route and a long promenade. Visitors should bring a towel, swimwear and sun protection, and may want a picnic to enjoy on the lawn. Outside the lifeguarded summer season the facility is not an official swimming venue, so visitors travelling in other months should consider the indoor saunas of Nordhavn or the Carlsberg district instead.