Denmark has an impressive history in many kinds of sports and has won many international prizes and medals over the years. Football and handball are the favourite team sports. FC København (tel: 3543 3131; website: www.fck.dk) is the local football team, playing at the national stadium, Parken, Øster Allé 50 (tel: 3543 3131; website: www.parken.dk). However, Brøndby IF, from the residential suburb Brøndby in the western part of greater Copenhagen, has been more successful internationally. They are both among the country's foremost clubs, and the local derby matches between them draw big crowds. Brøndby plays at Brøndby Stadion (tel: 4363 0810).

Tickets for sporting events are advertised in the Copenhagen papers. They can be bought direct from the venues or from BilletNet (tel: 7015 6565; website: www.billetnet.dk).

Badminton: Courts are available for hire at Dkk55 per hour (rackets an extra Dkk25), at Grøndal Centret, Hyidkildevej 64 (tel: 3834 1109).

Fitness Centres: S.A.T.S. Parken, Øster Allé 42 (tel: 3555 0078; website: www.sats.com), charge Dkk150 for one training session, as do the other S.A.T.S. outlets: Scala, Vesterbrogade 2E (tel: 3332 1002), Falconer Hotel, Falkoner Allé 9 (tel: 3810 9070), Amager, Englandsvej 28-30 (tel: 3259 1310) and Nørrebro, Bragesgade 8 (tel: 3581 2781).

Golf: The Copenhagen region is a paradise for golfers, with 86 golf courses. The greater Copenhagen area alone has 35 courses, ranging from 9 holes over 18 holes to 27 holes. Enthusiasts can practise their swings for Dkk120 per hour at the pay-and-play Copenhagen Indoor Golf Centre, Refshalevej 177B, Store Stålhal (tel: 3266 1100; e-mail: info@cigc.dk; website: www.cigc.dk). Facilities include an 800m (2,624ft) put-and-chip course, 60 driving ranges, a shop and a café. Pay and play at around Dkk150-200 is also available at a number of centres including Nivå Golf Pay and Play, Løvbjerggardsvej 1, Kokkedal (tel: 4914 8888; website: www.nivaa-golfklub.dk), Smørum Golfcenter, Skebjergvej (tel: 4497 0111; website: www.smorumgolfcenter.dk) and Havreholm Slot, Klosterrisvej 4 (tel: 4975 8600; website: www.havreholm.dk).

Sailing: It is possible to hire boats from the Danish Boating Industry Association (tel: 7022 8150; fax: 7022 8155; e-mail: info@danboat.com; website: www.danboat.com).

Squash: Nørrebrohallen, Bragesgade 5 (tel: 3583 1001; website: www.noerrebrohallen.dk) provides squash courts for Dkk80 per hour. It is also possible to book squash courts at Svanemøllehallen, Østerbrogade 240 (tel: 3920 7701), but they must be booked one week in advance, and the price is Dkk70 per hour.

Swimming: Public pools include Frederiksberg Swimming Baths, Helgesvej 29 (tel: 3814 0404), Vesterbro Swimming Baths, Angelgade 4 (tel: 3122 0500) and Øbro-Hallen, Gunnar Nu Hansens Plads 3 (tel: 3525 7060). Good beaches near the city include Bellevue and Charlottenlund to the north and Amager Beach and the Beach Park to the south. There is an open-air pool in Fælledparken, Borgmester Jensens Allé 50 (tel: 3539 0804).

Tennis: Booking in advance is necessary at all venues. Indoor and outdoor courts are available for hire for at Dkk130-150 per hour at B93, Svanemølleanlægget, Ved Sporsløjfen 10 (tel: 39 27 18 90). Hotel Mercur, Vester Farimagsgade 17 (tel: 3312 5711), allows non-residents to use its outdoor courts for Dkk130 per hour. Københavns Boldklub, at Pile Allé 14 (tel: 3630 2300) and Peter Bangsvej 147 (tel: 3871 4150), charges Dkk120-175 per hour, with an additional Dkk100 per person fee for non-members.

Windsurfing: Nautic Surf and Ski, Amager beach (tel: 3284 8300), is open all year round.