Sail to Copenhagen onboard a tall ship

A Tall Ship Passage Across the Baltic to Copenhagen

Rostock → German Coast → Southern Danish Islands → Copenhagen

This voyage to sail to Copenhagen begins in Rostock, a Baltic port city with a long seafaring history. From here, tall ship Iris, sets sail into the Western Baltic. Low swell, moderate winds, and sheltered coastlines make this a comfortable passage and the exact itinerary will shift with the wind and weather.

The German coast offers the first stretch of sailing, before Iris crosses into Danish waters and the landscape opens up into something quite different. Denmark is home to more than 444 islands, with 368 of them uninhabited. Even on land, you’re never more than 32 miles from the coast, which goes some way to explaining why the sea runs so deeply through Danish culture, and why so many of its best places are only reachable by boat.

Get to grips with life on board as you help set the sails, take the helm, and learn some basic rope-work under the guidance of Jans and Liv, Iris’s owners and skippers. There is something for everyone on board, whatever your experience level.

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The Southern Danish Islands — Skerries, Harbours and Fairytale Coastlines

The Southern Danish Sea is one of the Baltic’s finest sailing grounds. Quaint Scandinavian harbour villages line the waterfronts, castle ruins appear above treelines, and the quieter islands offer the kind of unhurried pace that’s increasingly hard to find.

The wind always has the final say on exactly where Iris drops anchor, and that flexibility is part of what makes a passage like this so memorable. Below is a sense of what this coastline has to offer:

• Sheltered anchorages – quiet bays and inlets along the Danish island coast, ideal for swimming and going ashore
• Harbour villages – small communities with strong maritime traditions and a warm welcome for those arriving by sail
• Castle ruins – medieval fortifications appearing unexpectedly above the treeline along the Danish coast
• Island skerries – bare rock outcrops where seabirds nest and grey seals bask in the summer sun
• South Funen Archipelago – some of the finest island sailing in Denmark, with Marstal and Ærø among the possible stops

Arriving in Copenhagen by Sail

The voyage ends in Copenhagen – one of Europe’s most celebrated capitals. Its harbourfront has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, and the city rewards time spent exploring – whether that’s an afternoon in Nyhavn, a cycle through the old town, or simply a long meal somewhere before heading home.

Aboard Tall Ship Iris – A Traditional Ketch

Iris is a traditional ketch with a sturdy steel hull, making her an authentic tall ship to learn on, and her layout below decks has been thoughtfully adapted for guest comfort. 12 guests sleep in 6 private twin cabins, with generous communal spaces to gather in at the end of each day’s sailing.

• Sleeping: 6 private twin cabins, sleeping up to 12 guests
• Saloon: Large shared saloon with a dining area, separate sofa area, and a small onboard library
• Food: Full board throughout, everyone working together to prepare meals on board
• Experience: Hands-on sailing – guests are encouraged to take an active role
• Crew: Skippered by owners Jans and Liv, with years of traditional tall ship experience

Read more about what it’s like to sail the in the Baltic Sea here.

Things to note

Sailing vs Shoretime

Night-watches?

Travel insurance notes

As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.

Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.

This voyage will be not more than 12 miles offshore.