Copenhagen has an extensive public transportation system which is safe, cheap and makes getting around the city easy.
Getting from the Airport to City Centre
Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup (København Lufthavn, Kastrup), located south of the city, is the main international airport serving Copenhagen and the airport that you’ll arrive into when visiting.
If you're wondering how to get from Copenhagen Airport to the city centre then there are a few options and the journey is fairly straightforward. Most of the locals speak English but, before departing, you might like to scan over some useful Danish words and phases to make getting around easier.
The quickest and easiest way is to take the train or metro which depart from terminal 3 of the airport. You can buy a single 3 zone ticket for 38kr (£4.36). The journey takes around 15 minutes.
You can also take a bus - hop on the 5A towards Huusm Torv. It departs outside the main entrance of the airport and goes to Nørreport Station and Copenhagen Central Station. Buses are very regular, leaving every 10-20 minutes, 24 hours a day. The journey takes around 45 minutes depending on traffic.
If you have a slightly larger budget, you could book a private taxi. These can be pre-booked or ordered on arrival. Typically, they cost around 200-350kr (£22.98-£40.22). Please note it isn't possible to use Uber or Lyft in Denmark.
Best Ways to Navigate Copenhagen City Centre
Check out this guide to navigating Copenhagen as a tourist which includes tips for the best modes of transport – from walking, to cycling, taking the metro, jumping on a bus tour, or hopping on a canal tour.
1. Walking
Aimlessly wandering around Copenhagen has so many perks. Here’s are just a handful of them:
- It's free.
- It’s a pretty compact city so you’re able to get from A to B pretty quickly.
- You can explore everything that the city has to offer at your own pace.
- You’re able to view all of the city’s landmarks up close.
- You can engage with the locals.
- It’s safe during the daytime as well as the evening.
If aimlessly wandering isn’t really your thing, yet you want to see the city’s famous landmarks whilst learning about its rich history, sign up for a free guided Copenhagen walking tour instead – make sure to book in advance though, as they fill up really fast!
2. Cycling
If walking becomes a bit of a hard slog, cycle around the city instead – you’ll notice it’s the locals’ favourite way to get around, whatever season. If it’s a fleeting visit, you’re probably not going to have your own bike out there but there are plenty of bike rental shops dotted around. Typically, you can find day rentals for as little as 75kr (£8.74) and week rentals for 350kr (£40.77).
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, or you only want to cycle around the city for a couple of hours, borrow a city bike for only 25kr (£2.91) per hour instead – all you need is a Bycyklen account, which you can easily set up on the bikes’ tablet, on the Bycyklen app, or online, to get going.
3. The Metro
The Metro is another option. You’ll definitely want to use it to travel from the airport to wherever you’re staying in Copenhagen. As for getting around the city, you can hop on it whenever as it runs 24/7. You can purchase single tickets, the Copenhagen Card, or City Passes – the City Pass Small or the City Pass Large – from the Metro ticket machines at the station and airport, or online, for pretty reasonable ticket prices.
4. Sightseeing Bus Tours
Bus tours are another of the city’s great modes of transport. The hop-on-hop-off City Sightseeing bus tour is a favourite, allowing you to see Copenhagen’s landmarks at your own pace (as your ticket is valid for 72 hours) and learn about the city’s history through the audio guide that’s available in 11 different languages. Prices vary from 195kr (£22.72)-230kr (£26.79), depending on which route you fancy. Bookings can either be made online or from the bus driver.
5. Canal Tours
You’re probably thinking Copenhagen’s canal tours cost an arm and a leg in comparison to the other modes of transport on offer, but you can actually book an hour-long tour on the pretty waterway for as little as just over 85kr (£9.90) online.
If you’re looking to escape the crowds and relax, whilst seeing the city’s landmarks and hearing about its’ history, it’s a must. Make sure to book your slot in advance though, as they fill up even quicker than the walking tours!
Copenhagen is one of the most special destinations in Denmark, and there are so many things to do here. Now, go, enjoy the city for yourself!
