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The airport is 20 minutes from city center. Public transit runs 24/7. And it is probably the most bike-friendly city in the world. Few cities are easier than Copenhagen to get around not only in the city but to the surrounding area. But it can still be confusing. Let us help breakdown the options, rules, and recommendations to easily experience everything Copenhagen!
Public Transit
Copenhagen public transit is modern, reliable, clean, safe and omnipresent. Inside the city you are rarely more than a 5 minute walk from a bus stop or metro/train station, and most lines run 24/7.
Copenhagen has a commitment to being a carbon-neutral city by 2025, and to meet this goal the city is investing heavily in public transit – a third Metro line opened in 2019 and a fourth is under construction.
The Metro and buses serve as the core of transit within the city. But you can also take the ferry along the harbor and use the regional rail lines to get both across town and out to suburban attractions. And Copenhagen has a unified ticketing system, so you can switch between lines or modes of transit without transfer fees.
Copenhagen Metro
Surprising for such a large city, Copenhagen’s Metro only opened in 2002. The Metro was originally constructed to improve cross-city transport and connect parts of the city that were not served by the existing regional rail network. The Metro has been expanding ever since, and today has four lines in total.
The trains themselves are memorable as they are driverless. This can be especially fun with kids as they can sit in the front or back pretend they are driving the train. Metro stations are easily identified by their distinctive “M” logo. Most stations essentially look the same, using modern Nordic minimalism to make underground spaces seem light and open.
Like all other modes of public transit, the Metro uses a zone system for tickets. For example, a trip from the Airport to city center is three zones. Each station has ticket machines where you can purchase single-use tickets or day passes. You can also download the DOT app to purchase tickets and passes on your phone. Be sure to activate your tickets, passes or Copenhagen Card before getting on the Metro, as they are frequently monitored by ticket collectors (especially to/from the airport).
M1 runs through the city center from Vanløse in the western inner suburbs to Vestamager in southern Amager. This line runs through key urban centers like Frederiksberg, Nørreport, Kongens Nytorv and Christianshavn. Between the city center and Vestamager, this line will take you to Islands Brygge (harbor baths), DR Byen (concert hall), Bella Center (hotels and conference halls), and Ørestad (Fields mall and Royal Arena).
Note that the M1 and M2 lines run on the same track through the city center, from Vanløse to Christianshavn. If you are traveling to points after the split beyond Christianshavn, be sure to follow the electronic boards in the station as the trains have no obvious distinction.
M2 runs through the city center to Copenhagen Airport. If you are staying in the city center, this will likely be how you get from the airport to your hotel or Airbnb. The line also goes to Amagerbro neighborhood, Amager Strand beach, and Kastrup (Den Blå Planet aquarium). You can also connect to the M3 line at Kongens Nytorv and Frederiksberg, and to regional trains at Nørreport.
M3 runs in a circle through the city center and surrounding neighborhoods, and is also known as the Cityring. The M3 connects with M1/M2 in Frederiksberg and Kongens Nytorv and the regional trains at Central Station and Østerport. The line primarily connects the city center with the Østerbro, Nørrebro and Vesterbro neighborhoods. For tourists, this makes for a convenient way to either stay in these neighborhoods, or visit some awesome bars and restaurants outside the city center.
M4 is still under construction, but today connects to the Nordhavn neighborhood. It is unlikely tourists will take this line unless staying in Nordhavn, but be aware when taking the M3 that the line splits after Østerport.
Regional Trains
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Buses
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