Copenhagen public transport: metro, bus and bicycle

Copenhagen is an easy city to get around. However, to explore more remote areas or make the most of your time, the transport network is ideal.

With a modern metro, regular buses, hop-on hop-off tourist buses, electric boats and an exemplary cycling infrastructure, there’s always a convenient way to reach Copenhagen’s main points of interest.

Public transport in Copenhagen

• Copenhagen and its metropolitan area have been divided into zones ranging from 1 to 99.
• The center of Copenhagen is in zones 1 to 2, and theairport is in zone 3.
• Tickets are based on a zone system and valid on all types of metro, train, bus and boat transport.
  
• 🌟 Good deal : Copenhagen’s City Pass or Copenhagen Card allows unlimited travel from zone 1 at 99

Which ticket to choose?

Single ticket

• Download application to plan your itinerary: PublicTransport.dk
• Purchase tickets at train and metro stations or directly on the bus
• Prices for zones 1 to 2: 24 DKK (approx. €4) valid for 75 minutes and 30 DKK for Copenhagen airport (zone 3).
• Children aged 13 to 16 pay half price
• Two children under 12 may travel free of charge with one adult.

City Pass

The different passes offer unlimited travel in increments of 24 to 120 hours, allowing you to choose the package best suited to your needs and the length of your stay.

The City Pass large allows you to go to the outskirts of Copenhagen to explore more remote must-see sites such as Roskilde and Frederikborg castles.

Copenhagen city pass

👉 Good deal : unlimited access to public transport is included in the Copenhagen Card, Copenhagen’s citypass. No need to scan your ticket, just present the QR code on your mobile app when requested by ticket inspectors.

The pass includes :

• Access to over 80 tourist attractions
• Unlimited free public transport: bus, metro and train (a rare access for this type of card)
• Includes: canal cruise

A real time-saver, more information on the Copenhagen city pass here.

Copenhagen Metro

The Copenhagen metro consists of four lines (M1, M2, M3 and M4), all fully automated. The network serves must-see places in Copenhagen, such as Tivoli Gardens, Amalienborg Palace and Christianborg Castle.

The metro runs 24 hours a day, with a high frequency during the day and less frequent at night. Using this means of transport, you can quickly reach more remote areas, such as the airport or the Christiania district.

• Buying tickets from vending machines
• A standard ticket 24 DKK (equivalent to 3.20 euros)
• This ticket allows you to travel for 90 minutes on metros, buses and boats.
• Children under 12 travel free with an adult.

Copenhagen metro map zones 01 to 04

Dot application

Bus in Copenhagen

The extensive bus network serves all parts of Copenhagen. Buses run frequently, providing access to places less served by the metro, such as certain Copenhagen hotels located in more remote areas.

• The metro ticket is valid for all bus journeys.
• One adult ticket 24 DKK (equivalent to 3.20 euros)
• The A-buses run at a higher frequency than the others.
• Google maps is our favourite application for planning our journeys

Hop-on hop-off tourist bus

Hop-on hop-off buses allow you to discover the city’s main attractions by getting on and off at will at various strategic stops, such as the Nyhavn district, the Little Mermaid statue or Christianborg Castle.

You can choose between several types of ticket: 24h or 48h. The latter option is ideal for exploring more remote sites such as Christiania or Tivoli Gardens.

👉More information on hop-on hop-off buses in Copenhagen

The train or S-tog

The S-tog is Copenhagen’s urban rail network, ideal for getting around quickly between the city’s various districts and surrounding areas. With its seven lines (identified by letters from A to F), the S-tog serves more remote areas such as the suburbs, while connecting major sites in the city center.

Trains run regularly throughout the day, and tickets are valid for the metro, buses and ferries.

The tickets and passes used for the metro are also valid on the S-tog, making it much easier to get around the city.

🇸🇪 The Øresund train, linking Copenhagen and Malmö in Sweden, departs from Copenhagen Central Station (price €12, approx. 20-minute journey).

Bike

Bike rental

Copenhagen is often referred to as the “cycling capital of the world”, and with good reason. Cycle paths are everywhere.

Several bike rental options are available in Copenhagen:

• Bike rental in your hotel or accommodation
• Bike rental in a specialist store

👉Find all our tips for cycling in Copenhagen.

Public transport & cycling

• You have to payto transport your bike on the metro and bus. Bicycle tickets cost €1.8. There are dedicated areas for bikes at the front and rear of the trains, making transport easy and fluid, even at rush hour.
  
• Carrying your bike on the train, the S-tog (suburban train network) is free except during rush hour.

Electric water buses

These electric boats, part of the public transport network, enable passengers to travel between different neighborhoods.

A dozen stops are served, including

• Refshaleøen (Reffen Food)
• Nordre Toldbod (the Little Mermaid statue)
• Operaen (near the opera)
• Nyhavn, Knippelsbro (Christianshavn district)
• Det Kongelige Bibliotek (Royal Library and Danish Architecture Center)

Same tickets as for metro and bus.

Transportation from the airport

Copenhagen airport (Kastrup) is easily connected to the city center in 15 minutes by the M2 metro line, and there are many hotels in Copenhagen.

Tip: If you’re arriving late, the metro is still the quickest and most reliable way to reach the city’s central districts.

With its wide range of transport options, Copenhagen is a city where it’s easy to get around without a car. Whether by bike, metro or boat, each means of transport offers a different way to discover this dynamic capital.