DieselHouse, Copenhagen: Visitor Information and Tickets
- Thor
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
DieselHouse is a small industrial museum built around a working, cathedral sized diesel engine inside the H.C. Ørsted power station area in Copenhagen’s south harbour. You come for the 10 minute engine start, the scale of the machinery, and the fact that entry is free, but you need to plan around very limited opening days.
Last update: 2026
DieselHouse facts for visitors: Quick overview
Best for: engineering nerds, industrial history, parents with curious teens who like loud things
Time needed: 45 to 90 minutes, longer if you time it for an engine start
Location: Energiporten 8, 2450 Copenhagen (South Harbour area near Enghave Brygge)
Ticketing model: free entry, no standard ticket sales, group tours require advance booking
Key facts
Official name: DieselHouse
Address: Energiporten 8, 2450 København S (also listed as 2450 København SV)
Entrance: enter from Energiporten, look for the DieselHouse signage by the industrial buildings
Closest metro: Enghave Brygge (M4), then about a 10 minute walk
Closest bus stop: H. C. Ørsted Værket (Vasbygade), served by bus 17
Opening hours pattern: closed in December and January, seasonal limited days (see below)
Typical price range: about €0 (DKK 0) for standard visits
Accessibility summary: the main hall is in an industrial building and is generally straightforward to navigate, but verify specific mobility needs with the venue before you go
Parking: free parking for 4 hours, but you must register your vehicle on arrival
Engine start schedule: Thursdays and selected Sundays each month, times below
Official website: DieselHouse official site
Tourist board listing: VisitCopenhagen, DieselHouse
DieselHouse tickets
DieselHouse tickets are easy because there usually are none. Standard entrance and standard tours are free, so your real “booking” job is timing.
Use the official opening hours page before you set out, because the museum runs on a seasonal calendar and can be closed for long stretches. If you want the best version of the visit, arrive with an engine start in mind rather than showing up at a random time.
If you are a group of more than 7 people, you need to book a tour in advance, and the museum states you can book about 2 months before your preferred date. For schools and education groups, they also offer tours, including expert tours when you need deeper engine knowledge. If you are traveling with a big family or a club, treat this like a book-ahead visit even though it is free.
For reference planning in the city, keep Copenhagen Travel Information 2026: Transport, Costs, Seasons, and Areas to Stay handy for ticket zones, typical costs, and where it makes sense to base yourself.
Opening hours and best time to visit
DieselHouse publishes a very specific seasonal pattern.
The museum states it is closed in December and January.
From February 1 to June 30, it states it is open Thursdays 10:00 to 16:00, and closed on public holidays.
The best time to visit is a Thursday when the engines are started, because it turns the museum from “static machines” into a live demonstration with sound, vibration, and the smell of a working engine hall.
If you are planning a longer Denmark trip, the season and daylight notes in Denmark Travel Information 2026: Transport, Costs, Seasons, and Regions to Stay help you decide whether you want a city break window (often spring and early autumn) or a summer base.
How to get there
If you are staying central, you can reach DieselHouse quickly by metro and a short walk.
Take Metro M4 to Enghave Brygge and walk toward the industrial harbour area around Energiporten. Expect about a 10 minute walk from the station, and plan for wind, this area can feel colder than the inner city.
If you prefer buses, aim for the stop H. C. Ørsted Værket (Vasbygade). Bus 17 serves this stop, and it puts you close to the power station area where DieselHouse sits.
Cycling also works well because the approach is flat. The trade off is that the final stretch is not a pretty canal postcard, it is working city infrastructure.
The experience: What to expect inside
You walk into an industrial hall where the machinery is the main exhibit, not a background prop. The centerpiece is the B&W2000 engine, also described on the museum’s site as the “H.C. Ørsted engine”, and it is enormous: the museum lists it as about 24.6 m long, 12.5 m high, and roughly 1,400 tons.
A good route is simple.
Start with the big hall overview, then move to the smaller engines and displays that explain how diesel tech evolved through the 1900s. If you time it right, stay for an engine start, the museum posts a short intro before they run the engines, and the run itself is short, roughly 10 minutes.
A real constraint is noise and sensory intensity. When engines run, it gets loud and the space has that industrial echo. It is not a quiet museum where you whisper and drift for hours.
Planning your time and itineraries
DieselHouse fits cleanly into a half day in the south and inner harbour zone.
Pair it with a waterfront walk back toward Enghave Brygge and Islands Brygge.
If you want a full day, build your morning around the engine schedule, then go north for food and a different Copenhagen mood.
If you are choosing a base that keeps this area easy, check the neighborhood notes in Copenhagen Travel Information 2026, especially the sections on Vesterbro and South Harbour access.
Accessibility, families, and constraints
Families can do DieselHouse fast and successfully because the visit is short, visual, and hands-on in feel. For younger kids, bring ear protection if you plan to catch an engine start.
It is not ideal for travelers who need a predictable daily schedule, because the venue can be open only one day per week in parts of the year. It is also not ideal if you dislike loud mechanical environments.
For mobility access, the building is an industrial hall and the core experience is on the main floor, but the museum does not publish full step-by-step access details on its main visitor page. If ramps, lift access, or accessible toilets are essential for you, email ahead using the contact on the official site.
Rules, security, and surprises
Expect a working-site vibe rather than a polished national museum entry sequence.
Parking is a surprise benefit: the venue states you get free parking for 4 hours, but you must register your vehicle on arrival.
The museum states it is closed on public holidays.
For groups over 7, plan on booking a tour rather than arriving unannounced.
Photography rules are not spelled out clearly on the main visitor page. Personal photos are usually fine in museums, but this is a working engine environment, so ask staff if you are filming during an engine start.
Costs and spending on site
For most visitors, the cost is effectively zero.
Entry: about €0 (DKK 0)
Public transport to get there: a short metro ride in Copenhagen can be around €2 to €4 (about DKK 16 to 24), depending on zones and ticket type
Bring water if you arrive by foot or bike. This is not the part of Copenhagen where you trip over cafes every 30 meters.
If you are budgeting for Copenhagen in general, the cost ranges in Copenhagen Travel Information 2026 give you a realistic baseline for meals and transport.
Nearby landmarks and combinations
To make the trip feel worthwhile even if you miss an engine start, stack DieselHouse with something nearby.
Enghave Brygge and Sydhavn waterfront: good for a brisk harbour walk.
Vesterbro: easy to reach for lunch, bakeries, and a more classic Copenhagen street scene.
Carlsberg and Valby area: reachable by a short hop if you want architecture and a different museum style.
If you want a high-comfort central stay after a day of industrial wandering, use the hotel guides on GlobalTravelsInfo as a shortcut, for example Hotel d’Angleterre Copenhagen: Luxury landmark
Practical tips that change the day
Time your arrival for an engine start, otherwise the visit is much more “look and read”.
Bring ear protection for kids if you plan to watch the engines run.
Wear a warm layer, harbour wind can bite even when the city center feels mild.
If you drive, register your car right away to use the free 4 hour parking.
If you are a group of 8+, book ahead even though entry is free.
Screenshot the official opening hours before you leave, mobile signal can be patchy in industrial areas.
FAQ
Is DieselHouse free to visit?Yes, the venue states entrance and standard tours are free, so you do not need to buy a standard ticket.
When is DieselHouse open?It publishes a seasonal pattern, including being closed in December and January, and being open Thursdays 10:00 to 16:00 from February 1 to June 30.
When do they start the big engine?The museum lists B&W2000 starts at 11:00 on the first and third Sunday of each month, and it also posts Thursday engine start times for smaller engines.
How long should I plan for DieselHouse?Plan 45 to 90 minutes, then add buffer if you want to wait for an engine start.
What is the address for DieselHouse?Use Energiporten 8, 2450 Copenhagen, which appears on the museum’s own contact line and in the official tourism listing.
What is the closest metro station?Enghave Brygge on Metro M4 is a practical option, then you walk about 10 minutes.
Can I visit as a large group?Yes, but the museum states groups of more than 7 should book a tour in advance, with booking opening about 2 months before the visit date.
Is DieselHouse good for kids?Yes if your kid likes machines and noise, but it can be loud during engine starts, so ear protection helps.
Is DieselHouse accessible for wheelchairs?The core hall is in an industrial building and is typically easier than a multi-floor historic museum, but the venue does not publish full access details on the main visitor page, so contact them if you need confirmed features.
Can I park at DieselHouse?Yes, the venue states free parking for 4 hours, but you must register your vehicle on arrival.
Can you combine DieselHouse with central Copenhagen sights in one day?Yes, it is only a few kilometers from Copenhagen Central Station by metro, so you can do DieselHouse first, then head to Vesterbro or the inner city for the rest of your day.
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