How do you get to Copenhagen?
Getting There8.9/10Easier to reach than about 90% of cities
- Main airport
- Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: visitcopenhagen.com, copenhageninternationalairport.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Airport is only 8 km away with excellent 15-minute metro/train connection—shortest journey of any Scandinavian capital to its airport
- Buy public transport tickets at red DSB machines or grey Metro machines in Terminal 3; select 'City Centre' or 'København H' for downtown. Consider the Copenhagen Card if planning multiple days of sightseeing.
- Metro runs 24/7, making late-night airport transfers reliable and straightforward
- Malmö, Sweden is just 35 minutes by train across the Øresund Bridge—accessible as day trip or overnight escape within Schengen area
- Train connections to North Zealand (Helsingør, Louisiana Museum) and South Zealand (Roskilde, Møns Klint) are excellent; some more remote sites (Møns Klint) require car rental or guided tours for best access
- Dragør fishing village is bikeable from Copenhagen (45–60 min on paved paths) or 40 min by bus—good for cyclists
- Regional trains depart frequently; security screening is efficient; Schengen flights typically require 1.5 hours pre-departure arrival; non-Schengen flights 2.5 hours
- All taxis are metered; no reservation needed at airport ground level. Metro and trains are cheaper and more reliable during peak hours
Day Trips
Malmö, Sweden
- Transport
- Direct train across Øresund Bridge from Central Station
- Highlights
- Sweden's third-largest city; food, architecture, parks, beaches
- Travel Time
- 35 minutes by direct train
- Distance From Center
- Cross Øresund Bridge, ~35 km
Helsingør (Elsinore)
- Transport
- Kystbanen (Coastal Line) train from Central Station
- Highlights
- Kronborg Castle (UNESCO, Hamlet connection); M/S Maritime Museum; historic town centre
- Travel Time
- 45 minutes by train
- Distance From Center
- ~40 km north
Roskilde
- Transport
- Train from Central Station
- Highlights
- Roskilde Cathedral (UNESCO, resting place of ~40 Danish monarchs); Viking Ship Museum
- Travel Time
- 20 minutes by train
- Distance From Center
- ~20 km west
Frederiksborg Castle
- Transport
- Train to Hillerød; car rental also recommended
- Highlights
- Largest Renaissance castle in Scandinavia; royal history
- Travel Time
- 40 minutes by train
- Distance From Center
- ~30–40 km
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
- Transport
- Train to Humlebæk
- Highlights
- World-class modern art; seaside location; sculpture gardens
- Travel Time
- 35 minutes by train to Humlebæk
- Distance From Center
- North coast, ~35 km
Møns Klint
- Transport
- Train and bus, or car rental (easier); challenging by public transport
- Highlights
- Highest cliffs in Denmark; white chalk formations; GeoCenter museum
- Travel Time
- 1.5–2 hours
- Distance From Center
- South Zealand, ~60–75 km
Kronborg Castle (Helsingør)
- Transport
- Kystbanen from Central Station
- Highlights
- UNESCO World Heritage site; Shakespeare's Hamlet connection; Renaissance fortress
- Travel Time
- 45 minutes by train
- Distance From Center
- ~40 km north
Dragør
- Transport
- Bus 250S from Central Station or bike along paved path
- Highlights
- Charming fishing village; coastal biking route; Øresund Strait views
- Travel Time
- 40–45 minutes by bus (250S) or 45–60 minutes by bike
- Distance From Center
- ~12 km south
Dyrehavsbakken (Bakken)
- Transport
- S-train from Central Station
- Highlights
- World's oldest amusement park; rides, dining, gardens
- Travel Time
- 20–25 minutes by S-train + short walk
- Distance From Center
- ~20 km north
Tivoli Gardens
- Transport
- Within Copenhagen
- Highlights
- Historic amusement park; one of Europe's oldest
- Travel Time
- Accessible on foot
- Distance From Center
- City centre
Lund, Sweden
- Transport
- Train via Malmö across Øresund Bridge
- Highlights
- Historic university city; culture and architecture
- Travel Time
- Approx. 1+ hour total
- Distance From Center
- Via Malmö
Rail Connections
Malmö, Sweden
- How to get there
- Train (Öresundståg, direct across Øresund Bridge)
- Duration Minutes
- 20–25
- Notes
- Direct trains from airport station (København Lufthavn/Kastrup) and Central Station
Stockholm, Sweden
- How to get there
- Train (SJ high-speed trains)
- Notes
- Daily departures from Copenhagen Central Station to Stockholm Central
Gothenburg (Göteborg), Sweden
- How to get there
- Train (SJ)
- Notes
- Daily departures from Copenhagen Central Station
Helsingør (Elsinore)
- How to get there
- Train (DSB Öresundståg, Coastal Line)
- Duration Minutes
- 45
- Notes
- Scenic route along North Zealand coast; UNESCO heritage destination with Kronborg Castle
Roskilde
- How to get there
- Train
- Duration Minutes
- 20
- Notes
- Cathedral city with Viking Ship Museum; UNESCO World Heritage site
Odense
- How to get there
- Train
- Duration Minutes
- 60
- Notes
- Denmark's third-largest city; birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen
Aarhus
- How to get there
- Train
- Duration Minutes
- 240
- Notes
- Denmark's second-largest city; accessible for day trips or overnight stays
Ground Transport Airport To City
Metro (M2 City Circle Line)
- Cost
- DKK 36
- Frequency
- 4–6 minutes during day/evening; 15–20 minutes at night
- Duration Minutes
- 15
- Notes
- Fastest and most frequent option. Operates 24/7. Ticket is a 2-zone ticket valid for metro and train.
Train (DSB to København H)
- Cost
- DKK 36
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes (daytime)
- Duration Minutes
- 13
- Notes
- Direct to Copenhagen Central Station. Same 2-zone ticket as metro. Best for onward train connections.
Taxi
- Cost
- DKK 300
- Duration Minutes
- 20–30
- Notes
- Metered, no reservation required. Typical range 250–350 DKK. Available on ground level outside Terminal 3.
Bus (Greyhound 999)
- Notes
- Malmö–Copenhagen route stopping at Terminal 3 and city centre; uses as alternative to train for some routes
Airport
- Name
- Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
- Location
- 8 km south of city centre, on Amager island
- IATA Code
- CPH
- Icao Code
- EKCH
- Terminals
- 3
- Significance
- Largest and busiest airport in Scandinavia; major international hub
- Terminal Notes
- Terminal 3 handles most international arrivals; Terminal 2 handles some flights; Terminal 1 handles limited national flights
Ferry Connections
- Status
- Limited documented regular service
- Notes
- No major scheduled ferry routes documented for tourist/nomad transport from Copenhagen city centre. Ferries may serve regional/seasonal tourism routes but are not primary transport method to/from Copenhagen.
Connectivity Notes
- Metro Info
- Driverless metro operates 24/7; covers city and connects to airport; accessible and reliable
- Schengen Access
- Øresund Bridge provides seamless road and rail connection to Sweden (Malmö, Lund) within Schengen area
- Public Transport Hub
- Copenhagen Central Station (København H) is the primary hub for all regional and national rail connections, metro, and bus services
- Copenhagen Card Option
- 24–120 hour pass provides unlimited transport across greater Copenhagen region (including airport) and entry to 80+ attractions
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Copenhagen
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.