How to Get From Copenhagen Airport to City Center: Best Way

Picture this: You step off the plane at Copenhagen Airport, the excitement of exploring Copenhagen pulsing through your veins. But as you gather your luggage and exit baggage claim, you realize you’ve got to figure out how to get from the Copenhagen airport to the city center, and fast.

As a seasoned traveler, that moment of uncertainty, standing in the bustling airport terminal, wondering which mode of transportation is best to take to your destination, is all too familiar. But fear not, my friend, as I can ensure your transition from Copenhagen airport to city is as smooth as Danish butter.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about getting from Copenhagen Airport to city. From taxis to metros, I’ll walk you through each option, providing insider tips and practical advice to make your journey smooth. So sit back, relax, and start this journey together – because your Copenhagen experience starts the moment you touch down.

Copenhagen Airport Information

Copenhagen Airport (CPH) is on the island of Amager just eight kilometers south of the city center. It’s an international airport and is the largest airport in Scandinavia, servicing 60,000 passengers daily.

Terminals: There are 3 terminals, with Terminal 3 being the international terminal and it is also the only arrival hall in the airport. Terminal 1 and 2 deal mostly with domestic and European flights. One arrival hall makes CPH extremely convenient to navigate—everything is in one place!

As you exit customs and make your way through the terminal, keep an eye out for signs directing you to the metro and train platforms. Both the metro and train stations are conveniently located within the airport, making public transportation easily accessible.

Metro platform: The metro station is at the southern end of Terminal 3, offering frequent services to the city center.

Train platform: Meanwhile, the train station is beneath Terminal 3, accessible via escalators or elevators from the arrivals hall. From here, you can catch regional and national trains to various destinations across Denmark and beyond, including the Copenhagen Central Train Station.

How Do You Get from Copenhagen Airport to City Centre?

There are multiple ways you can from Copenhagen Airport to city center:

• Metro
• Train
• Bus
• Taxi
• Driving

Each of them have their pros and cons, and some are better than others. Let’s see which is the best way to get to and from Copenhagen airport!

Metro (The Best Way)

The metro is by far the best way to get to and from CPH. It’s fast, frequent, reliable, and easy to get to from all parts of Copenhagen. The Copenhagen public transport system is among some of the nicest in the world, and can get you to and from popular areas of the city. It’s also easy to use—read my blog here for more information on how to take Copenhagen public transport!

How to Take the Metro:

From the airport, follow the signs for the metro and walk to the Southern end of Terminal 3. You’ll see red ticket machines for the train and metro.

Buy a ticket on the machine, which takes cash, card, and Apple Pay. The price will change based on your destination, but to Kongens Nytorv (city center), a metro ticket from CPH will cost 30 DKK, or around $4 USD.

Once you get your ticket, make your way to the metro platforms up the escalator. No need to validate—just hop onto any metro car. The airport is the last stop for the metro line so either platform side car will take you towards the city center.

A metro car leaves every 2-3 minutes so you won’t wait very long! The journey to city center takes about 13 minutes and travels on the yellow M2 line.

If you are going to Kongens Nytorv, Nørreport or Frederiksberg, the metro is the best option from CPH.

Train

The train is the second best option for getting to and from CPH airport. While it’s not as frequent as the metro, it connects to wider Copenhagen. They’re also fast and clean, leaving every 10-20 minutes. However, sometimes the train has delays which may make it inconvenient if you are in a rush. This is best for those living near the central station, traveling beyond Copenhagen city center, or to Sweden.

How to Take the Train:

From the arrival hall, follow the signs for the train and walk to the Southern end of Terminal 3. Again, you’ll see red ticket machines for the train and metro.

Buy a ticket on the machine, which takes cash, card, and Apple Pay. The price will change based on your destination, but to Copenhagen Central Station, a train ticket from CPH will cost 30 DKK or around $4 USD. The journey is around 15 minutes.

Once you get your ticket, follow the signs for the trains and take the escalator or elevator down. Go to platform 2 and hop on the next train from Copenhagen airport to city center.

Important: Unless you are heading to Sweden, do not go to platform 1. Otherwise, you’ll end up in a different country! Most trains go to Copenhagen Central Station, but recently, some lines do not. Check before you get on which trains to take.

If you’re looking to go to Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen City Hall, Glyptotek, Strøget, etc., the train is the best option from CPH.

Bus

The next way to get to and from CPH airport is by bus. Both public and private buses go to the airport. However, this is the slowest public transportation option. The bus ride from city center to the airport can take 35-45 minutes, and it costs the same as the metro or train.

However, this is a good option for those who are staying in areas not readily accessible by metro or train. The bus 5C goes to and from CPH airport and Copenhagen, but it’s one of the most popular bus routes and can get really crowded.

How to Take the Bus:

Once you enter the arrivals hall, follow signs for the bus stop just outside of Terminal 3.

You can buy bus tickets on the DOT ticket app, which is the official ticket app for Copenhagen public transportation. Read this guide here for how to purchase tickets on the DOT app.

Some bus companies drive routes from the CPH airport to other parts of Denmark and also Sweden, including FlixBus and Gråhundbus. The bus companies will stop at the bus stop at Terminal 3, so you can get from CPH to Jutland, Malmo, and beyond. Buy tickets for the bus companies ahead of time on their respective websites.

If you need to get to another terminal, car rentals, or airport parking lots, there is a free bus shuttle just outside of Terminal 3 you can take. It comes every 10 minutes during peak hours and every 20 minutes from midnight to 4 AM.

Taxi

If you have tons of luggage and don’t want to deal with it on public transport, then take the taxi to and from the airport. Or, if you simply want the ease and convenience of door-to-door transfers. However, taxis are expensive in Denmark, ranging from 350-500 DKK ($50-70 USD) for a single taxi ride!

Additionally, it takes about 25-35 minutes depending on traffic, which is almost double the time it takes on the metro or train. I don’t recommend taking a taxi unless you absolutely have to, as there are much better and faster ways to get from Copenhagen airport to city center.

How to Take a Taxi from CPH:

But if you do need a taxi, follow the signs to the taxi area of Terminal 3 and queue to get into a taxi.

In Copenhagen, you’ll find multiple taxi companies including Taxi Danmark (grey cab with green stripe), Taxa 4×35 (black cab), and 4×27 (yellow cab). All taxis in Copenhagen are metered and heavily regulated, meaning you won’t get scammed. You can pay using cash, card, and Apple Pay. Tips are included in the fare and there are no surcharges to go to the airport (so if someone tells you there are, get out of the taxi).

Are there Ubers in Copenhagen?

Uber is not available in Denmark due to national taxi laws that require mandatory fare meters and seat occupancy detectors in taxis. Lyft is not available in Denmark, either. But to be honest, ride-sharing is not really necessary in Copenhagen because of the amazing public transportation and biking experience. But if you do find yourself needing to call a car, Denmark ride-sharing alternatives include GoMore, Bolt, Viggo, and Talixo.

Ride-hailing may be slightly cheaper than taxis, but I’m not too sure how much of a fare difference there is between the apps.

4×27 and Taxa 4×35 also has an app you can call taxis with, but it is not a ride-sharing service.

Driving

Last, but not least, you can drive yourself to the airport. Copenhagen airport has a paid parking lot you can park in from 395 DKK per week. The price depends on parking spot location and type, where the further you are from the terminal, the cheaper the price. After parking, you can take a free transfer bus to the airport terminals.

This provides good short and long term options at the airport if you’re looking for convenience and don’t want to deal with public transportation. Just be sure to familiarize yourself with local traffic regulations and parking restrictions before hitting the road! But like I mentioned earlier, you really do not need a car to get around Copenhagen.

How to Rent a Car in Copenhagen:

There are several car companies that do car rentals in Copenhagen, including Hertz, Enterprise, and Europcar, which you can find at the CPH airport. You can rent a car at a car rental kiosk or online beforehand.

However, Denmark law says you must be at least 21 years old to rent a car. You will need a driver’s license that has been held for at least one year, a credit card in your name, and a valid passport (if you are a tourist). There is also a young driver surcharge if you are under age 25.

How to Drive in Copenhagen:

First, you do not need an international license to drive in Copenhagen, a foreign driving license works. People drive on the right side in Copenhagen (just like in the U.S.) so if you are from a right-hand driving country, driving is pretty much the same: drive on the right, overtake on the left. However, there are some key laws to note:

• Turn lights on during the day and night.
• Never turn right on red.
• Car horns are only used in emergencies.

Important Tip: If there is one habit to nail down when driving, it’s to look for bikers in your blind spots. There are hundreds of people biking in the city and they share the road with cars (albeit in their own lane). But this is especially true when turning because bikers will be in your blind spots and can get there fast so be careful!

The speed limits vary depending on where you are, but generally:

• in the city: 40 kph (24 mph)
• outside the city: 50 kph (30 mph)
• open roads: 80 kph (49 mph)
• highways: 110 kph (68 mph)
• sometimes you’ll see 130 kph (80 mph)

Notes: Roads in the city are narrow and some have tight turns or corners. Highways are toll-free nationwide. You can take car ferries to neighboring islands in Denmark. If you want to go to Sweden, there is a 360 DKK fee for crossing the Øresund bridge to Malmo one way.

Parking: Copenhagen has four different parking zones, but the rule of thumb is the more central you are, the more expensive it is. The red zone is the most expensive, followed by green, blue, then yellow.

However, parking is free on Sundays from Saturday at 5 PM until Monday at 8 AM, and on holidays. You can pay with card at the pay stations or download a parking app like easypark or parkman.

But like any major city, parking is expensive and hard to find.

Airport Transportation Comparison Table

Here’s a comparison table comparing the key aspects of the five transportation methods from Copenhagen Airport to the city center:

Method	Approximate Cost	Travel Time	Convenience	Availability	Pros	Cons
Train	30 DKK (single fare)	15 minutes	High	Every 10-20 minutes	Fast, affordable, comfortable	Limited luggage space during peak hours, frequent delays
Metro	30 DKK (single fare)	13 minutes	High	Every 2-3 minutes	Fast, affordable, modern, frequent service	Can be crowded during rush hours
Bus	30 DKK (single fare)	35-45 minutes	Moderate	Every 20 minutes	Scenic routes, connects across Copenhagen and beyond, affordable	Longer travel time, may be affected by traffic, can be crowded during rush hours, stops often
Taxi	350-500 DKK	25-35 minutes	Very High	Readily available	Convenient, door-to-door service	Expensive compared to public transport
Driving	Varies (rental + fuel)	25-35 minutes	High	Car rentals available or own car	Flexibility, good for multiple destinations	Traffic and parking challenges in the city

The metro and train are by far the most affordable, fast, and convenient ways to get to the city center. My choice is the metro because you can get from CPH to Kongens Nytorv in literally 15 minutes—that’s amazing! If only you could get from the airport that fast in every city, haha.

Is Copenhagen a Walkable City?

Absolutely, Copenhagen is an incredibly walkable city. Copenhagen’s city center is relatively small and densely packed with attractions, shops, and restaurants. Most of the key sights like Nyhavn, Tivoli Gardens, and the Little Mermaid statue, are within walking distance of each other.

Tip: Here are some free things to do in Copenhagen if you’re looking to save some money or are on a budget.

The urban planning prioritizes pedestrians and bikers, with many streets and areas made as car-free zones. So, as a result of Copenhagen’s compact layout, well-maintained, clean pedestrian pathways and scenic beauty, it’s an ideal place for exploring on foot.

Biking in Copenhagen

However, the best way to explore Copenhagen is definitely by bike. There are more bikes than cars in Copenhagen, with dedicated bike lanes, bike stopping lights, plentiful bike racks, and bike friendly areas that makes biking safe and fun.

A majority of Danes bike to get around, and it’s even faster than taking the bus or metro. Plus, it’s extra convenient to get to and from parts of the city. If you want to bike in the city, read this blog on how to rent a bike in Copenhagen and this blog for Copenhagen biking rules and tips.

Go From the Copenhagen Airport to City Center and Beyond

Once you get to the airport, you have plenty of options to choose from to get to the Copenhagen city center. Most people take the metro or train from CPH, but depending on your needs and destination, you may need a different method. Luckily, the airport is quite close to the city and any method you choose will get you from point a to b. Once you’re in Copenhagen, you’ll see how easy it is to get around by foot, bike, or public transport. Just make sure not to miss your flight! Happy travels!