Frozen lakes in Copenhagen have opened for public access after the ice reached an official safety threshold, Copenhagen Municipality said on Wednesday. The permission applies to Brønshøj Gadekær, Brønshøj Kirkemose and Peblinge Sø, after municipal measurements found the ice had reached 18 centimetres in thickness.
Which frozen lakes are open in Copenhagen
The three locations cover both a small northern neighbourhood pond system and one of the city’s best-known central lakes.
Brønshøj Gadekær and Brønshøj Kirkemose are located in the Brønshøj area, while Peblinge Sø is part of Copenhagen’s “Lakes” (Søerne) near the city centre. Municipal authorities said the lakes are open because the ice is now thick enough to allow walking.
Why Copenhagen uses an 18-centimetre threshold
Copenhagen Municipality’s Climate, Environment and Technical Administration (Klima-, Miljø- og Teknikforvaltningen) applies a rule of 16–18 centimetres of measured ice thickness before it can declare walking on the ice permitted.
The threshold is intended to reduce risk, but it does not remove it. Ice can vary across the same body of water, and sudden weather changes can weaken it even when a lake was judged safe earlier.
What the municipality says to look for before stepping onto the ice
The municipality asks residents and visitors to follow local signage rather than relying on personal judgement alone. In Copenhagen, walking on ice is legal only when the blue sign “Færdsel på isen er tilladt” (“Traffic on the ice is permitted”) has been placed at the relevant lake.
On Peblinge Sø, visitors are expected to stay within the marked areas and avoid spots that can be weaker, such as near inflows, bridges, and edges where the ice can be thinner.
A popular winter moment, but one that can change fast
Freezing periods that allow walking on Copenhagen’s lakes are relatively rare and often short-lived. When they happen, they quickly draw crowds—especially in central areas like Peblinge Sø.
Authorities, however, repeatedly stress that “permitted” does not mean “risk-free”: large groups, running, jumping, or gathering in one area can increase stress on the ice, while temperatures can change conditions within hours.
What to expect next
Whether the lakes remain open will depend on the weather and on continued measurements by the municipality. If conditions deteriorate, the permission can be withdrawn quickly.
For Copenhagen, the episode is also a reminder of how winter extremes can still shape daily life in Nordic capitals—while remaining increasingly unpredictable across Northern Europe.
