The Danish capital tops many global health lists for its cycling culture and big drop in CO2 emissions over the last decade. Greenhouse gas emissions are down 20% since 2005, part of the government’s plan for the city to be the first carbon-neutral capital in the world by 2025. Every day 50% of Copenhageners commute to work or school by bike, and there are nearly 400km of bike lanes across the city. The lane that crosses the Dronning Louises Bridge, connecting the lively Nørrebro neighbourhood to the city centre, is the busiest bike lane in the world, with 36,000 cyclists using it daily. Also heavily used is the Lange Bridge across the Inner Harbour. “It is crowded with bicycles, as is the bridge that connects the island of Amager to the centre,” said Torben Andersen, CEO of RobinHus estate agents. In the Islands Brygge area of Amager along the harbour front, the curving Gemini Residence is a former silo converted into apartment buildings. A bicycle and pedestrian bridge has also been built across the harbour, connecting the area with the residential district of Fisketorvet.
Located just north and south respectively of Copenhagen’s centre, the Nørrebro and Amagerbro neighbourhoods are popular for their vibrant streets and multicultural scene. Prices have risen steadily since 2009, and the average cost of a two-bed property in these areas is around 1.3 million Danish krone. “Rent regulations differ between newly constructed or refurbished buildings and older buildings,” Andersen said. The yearly rent for an apartment in an older building averages 60,000 DKK, while one in a renovated building will set you back around 100,000 DKK a year.