Copenhagen (Denmark): Public transport travel information
- Thor
- 6 days ago
- 8 min read
Copenhagen public transport is for travelers who want fast, predictable trips between neighborhoods, attractions, and the airport without renting a car. Default strategy: use the official ticket app for single trips, and switch to a City Pass if you will ride several times per day. Main pitfall: boarding without the right zones or a valid ticket, because checks are frequent and control fees are high.
Last updated: 2026
Here is the quickest “what should I buy?” snapshot for typical visitor journeys.
Option | Typical adult price | Best for | Watch-outs |
Single ticket (2 zones) | €3.20 | Short hops in the centre | Easy to underbuy zones if you cross a zone boundary |
City Pass Small (24h, zones 1 to 4) | €13.40 | Heavy sightseeing days plus Copenhagen Airport (zone 4) | Must cover your full time window, set a reminder before it expires |
Airport ride (city centre to CPH Airport, 3 zones) | €4.02 | Any airport trip by metro or train | The common mistake is buying a 2-zone ticket out of habit |
Note: Euro prices are approximate conversions from Danish kroner using the ECB euro reference exchange rate for 23 January 2026 (EUR 1 = DKK 7.4686). Tickets and fees are charged in Danish kroner.
Quick overview and key details
Quick overview
Best all-round option: buy tickets in the official Rejsebillet app and let it handle zones.
Most visitors in central Copenhagen use 2-zone tickets for short hops.
Copenhagen Airport is in zone 4, so airport rides need more zones or a City Pass that includes zones 1 to 4.
The metro runs 24/7, so late arrivals are usually simple if your ticket is valid.
Key facts
Integrated system across metro, trains, buses, and harbour buses in Greater Copenhagen.
Fares are zone-based; you must cover every zone you travel through.
Minimum purchase is typically 2 zones.
You can buy tickets in the app, at ticket machines (selected stations and the airport), and with travel cards.
Mobile tickets activate in-app and expire automatically at the end of their validity.
Ticket checks are common; control fees apply if your ticket is missing, wrong, or not valid.
Inspection fee: about €100 on metro and trains, about €134 on buses, if you do not have a valid ticket.
Children under 12 travel free with an adult holding a valid ticket (up to two children per adult).
Bikes are restricted on the metro during weekday rush hours; rules vary by mode.
Accessibility is strong on metro and many stations, but elevator outages and assisted boarding needs can affect plans.
How the system works (modes, zones, validation)
Copenhagen’s network is built around the Copenhagen Metro (M1 to M4), the S-trains and regional trains run by DSB, city buses run by Movia, and harbour buses. Ticketing and zone information for the Copenhagen area is coordinated via DOT (Din Offentlige Transport).
Fares are based on travel zones (not distance). If you buy too few zones, your ticket is not valid even if you only travel one stop into the next zone. The consequence is practical and immediate: inspectors can issue a control fee on the spot.
Validation depends on the ticket type. Tickets in the official app are digital and do not need to be scanned on physical yellow readers. They are valid from the start time shown in the app (typically immediately after purchase or activation), and you simply show the ticket if staff inspect.
Paper tickets and some travel cards follow their own rules. If you want the lowest-risk setup as a visitor, use the official app and buy the ticket before you enter the platform area.
Trade-off: zones keep pricing consistent, but they also punish casual mistakes. If you are tired, jet-lagged, or traveling in a group, app tickets reduce the risk of buying the wrong zones.
Tickets and passes (what to buy for your trip length)
For most visitors, you will choose between single tickets, a City Pass, and a travel card.
Single tickets are best if you will make only a few rides per day, or if you mostly walk in the center. In Copenhagen, common visitor pricing examples are about €3.20 (2 zones), €4.02 (3 zones), and €5.09 (4 zones). The downside is that airport trips and cross-city rides can push you into more zones quickly.
City Pass is designed for visitors who expect many rides per day and want simple “just hop on” coverage. The most common visitor version is City Pass Small, which covers zones 1 to 4 and can include Copenhagen Airport. City Pass Large covers more zones for wider day trips.
Rejsekort is Denmark’s travel card system, where you check in at the start and check out at the end of your trip. It can be efficient for frequent riders, but it adds a behavioral requirement: forgetting to check out can cost money and create hassle.
Who should buy what: if you are in Copenhagen for 1 to 3 days and plan to ride several times daily, City Pass usually reduces stress. If your plan is “walk most of the day and ride twice”, buy single tickets in-app. If you are staying longer and riding daily like a local, Rejsekort can make sense, but only if you are confident you will always check out.
For broader planning context, start with Copenhagen Travel Information and the Denmark travel hub.
Where to buy tickets and how inspections work
For visitors, the simplest purchase method is the official PublicTransport.dk guidance flow, which points to the Rejsebillet app for tickets and the national journey planner Rejseplanen for routing.
Ticket machines exist at selected stations and at Copenhagen Airport, which helps if your phone battery is dead. The trade-off is speed: machines can mean queues, and you still have to choose zones correctly.
Inspections are routine on metro, trains, and buses.
Make the consequences clear in your plan: if you are checked on a train or metro without a valid ticket, the inspection fee is about €100. If you are checked on a bus without a valid ticket, the inspection fee is about €134.
The main triggers are traveling with no ticket, traveling with too few zones, traveling with an expired ticket, or failing a required check-in/check-out behavior on travel cards. Buy before you enter the platform area, and keep the active ticket ready to show when asked.
If you want to stay central and reduce transfers, see the site’s Hotels hub and Copenhagen picks like Hotel d’Angleterre (central hub location).
Apps, real-time info, and service disruptions
Use two official tools and you will avoid most wasted time: buy tickets in the Rejsebillet app, and plan trips with Rejseplanen. Rejseplanen is the practical solution when a line is interrupted because it reroutes you across the full system rather than one operator.
For planned changes and maps, DOT provides timetables, planned changes, and zone and line maps. When your route matters for a timed entry or dinner booking, check the journey again close to departure and follow the disruption guidance inside the planner.
Trade-off: third-party map apps are fine for walking directions, but they do not always reflect short-notice service changes or Denmark’s zone logic as cleanly as the official tools.
Airport on public transport (only the ticket validity angle)
Copenhagen Airport is in zone 4. A typical visitor example is that you need a 3-zone ticket from the city center to the airport, because you start in zone 1 and travel out to zone 4. If you buy City Pass Small (zones 1 to 4), it can cover the airport trip as well.
The most common mistake is buying a 2-zone ticket out of habit, then riding to the airport. If your plan includes the airport on arrival or departure day, buy the airport-valid ticket before you enter the platform area.
For the full transfer comparison across metro vs train, use Copenhagen Airport to city center travel information.
Accessibility, families, peak hours
Accessibility is generally strong on the metro: metro stations are equipped with elevators or lifts, and wheelchair travel is supported. Many S-train stations also offer elevators or step-free access, but assisted boarding may require you to position yourself at the front carriage and signal the driver.
Families benefit from the child rule: children under 12 can travel free with an adult holding a valid ticket (up to two children per adult). The trade-off is that you still need to manage zones for the adults, and inspectors apply the same zone rules.
Peak-hour reality matters most for bikes. Bringing a bicycle on the metro is not allowed during weekday rush hours (commonly 07:00 to 09:00 and 15:30 to 17:30). Outside these periods, bicycle rules differ by mode and area, so confirm before you plan a bike-heavy day.
Practical tips that actually change the day
Buy before you enter the platform area, especially at the airport and major interchange stations.
When in doubt, use the official app and let it calculate zones instead of guessing.
Screenshot your active ticket on low-signal platforms only if the app supports it; otherwise keep the app open.
If you are doing multiple rides, compare a 24h City Pass Small (€13.40) versus your planned rides, including the airport.
Avoid bringing a bike on the metro in weekday rush hours; plan an off-peak move or use another mode.
For late-night arrivals, default to the metro first because it runs 24/7.
FAQ - Copenhagen public transport
Do I need to validate tickets in Copenhagen?
Mobile tickets activate digitally in the official app and expire automatically. Paper and card-based products have their own validation rules, so app tickets are the lowest-risk visitor choice.
How many zones do I need in central Copenhagen?
Many short trips in the center fit a 2-zone ticket, but crossings into the next ring require more. If you cross zones often, a City Pass can be simpler.
Is Copenhagen Airport included in City Pass?
City Pass Small covers zones 1 to 4 and can include the airport, which is in zone 4. Always confirm the zone coverage shown in the product before you buy.
What is the inspection fee if I get it wrong?
If you are checked on a train or metro without a valid ticket, the inspection fee is about €100. On buses, it is about €134, so treat zone choice as a real cost decision.
Can I use contactless bank cards to tap in and out?
Not confirmed for all modes and visitor contexts in Greater Copenhagen. If you want predictable validity, buy tickets in the official app.
Is the metro really 24/7?
Yes, the Copenhagen Metro runs 24 hours a day. Frequency drops late at night, so check the planner if you have a tight connection.
Can I bring a stroller on public transport?
Generally yes, but space is limited at peak times. The trade-off is crowding: avoid commuter peaks if you want a smooth boarding experience.
Can I take a bicycle on the metro?
Not during weekday rush hours, and rules differ by mode and area. Check the official rules before you plan a bicycle-heavy route.
What is the best app for tourists?
Use Rejsebillet to buy tickets and Rejseplanen to plan routes and handle disruptions. This combination reduces zone mistakes.
Are harbour buses included in normal tickets?
Harbour buses are part of the public transport system in Copenhagen, so normal tickets and passes can apply within their zone coverage.
Where do I find maps and planned changes?
Use DOT for maps and planned changes, and use Rejseplanen for real-time routing when something is disrupted.
Comments