In a nutshell
- The Copenhagen Card is the official city pass for Copenhagen and a true all-inclusive, worry-free way to explore.
- The Copenhagen Card Discover gets you into more than 80 attractions, free public transit, and a canal cruise — all included.
- For anyone spending at least 3 days in Copenhagen — and especially for families with kids — the card is almost always worth it. We do the math so you can decide.
Is the Copenhagen Card Worth It?
The Copenhagen Card is the official city pass for Copenhagen.
With the Copenhagen Card Discover, your city trip to Copenhagen includes free admission to more than 80 attractions in Copenhagen, access to Copenhagen’s public transportation, and the ability to join tours in Copenhagen.
In our rating, the card scores 92 out of 100 points — an outstanding result. We explain how we arrived at that score in detail below.
Alternatively, there’s the Copenhagen Card Hop, which includes hop-on/hop-off buses instead of public transportation and covers fewer attractions. In our opinion, though, the Copenhagen Card Discover offers significantly better value for money.
Want the full breakdown? Keep reading — you’ll find everything about prices, included highlights, and a sample calculation showing exactly how much you can save.
Buy the Copenhagen Card Discover
Copenhagen Card Discover vs. Copenhagen Card Hop
The Copenhagen Card comes in two versions.
The Copenhagen Card Discover includes public transportation in Copenhagen, including airport transfers.
The Copenhagen Card Hop includes no public transportation — instead, it covers the three routes of the hop-on/hop-off buses. On top of that, the Copenhagen Card Hop includes only about half as many attractions as the Discover Card.
Here’s an overview of the key differences between the two Copenhagen Cards:
| Copenhagen Card Discover | Copenhagen Card Hop | |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 92 out of 100 points | 72 out of 100 points |
| Validity Period | 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours | 24, 48, and 72 hours |
| Included Attractions | 80+ attractions | 40+ attractions |
| Public Transportation | Yes | No |
| Airport Transfer | Yes | No |
| Hop-on/Hop-off Bus | No | Yes |
| Buy now | Buy now |
Copenhagen Card Prices
| Copenhagen Card Discover | Copenhagen Card Hop | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 hours | 75 € | 78 € |
| 48 hours | 110 € | 112 € |
| 72 hours | 133 € | 134 € |
| 96 hours | 156 € | - |
| 120 hours | 180 € | - |
A quick note on prices: The original price of the Copenhagen Card is in Danish krone. When you buy the card online, however, the price is displayed in euros. Due to currency fluctuations, the prices in this table may differ slightly from the actual prices.
Discounted Prices for the Copenhagen Card
Every adult can bring two children up to and including age 11 for free. This is a real saving for families, since many attractions normally charge admission for children too. That way, you can take the kids everywhere at no extra cost.
Important: You need to add the free children when booking. If you’re a family with two children, for example, you book for 2 adults and 2 children. The children’s cards are free, but they still need to be in your cart.
For children aged 12 to 15, there is the Copenhagen Card Junior, which costs about half the regular price. From age 16, teenagers must pay the full price.
Also read all our tips for Copenhagen with kids
What’s Included with the Copenhagen Card?
Overview of all included attractions:
| Copenhagen Card Discover | Copenhagen Card Hop | Regular price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlights | ||||
| Canal tour | Yes | Yes | 169 kr. | |
| Tivoli | Yes | Yes | 200 kr. | |
| Design Museum | Yes | Yes | 140 kr. | |
| Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek | Yes | Yes | 135 kr. | |
| SMK National Gallery | Yes | Yes | 130 kr. | |
| Louisiana Museum | Yes | No | 145 kr. | |
| Vor Frelsers Kirche | Yes | Yes | 69 kr. | |
| Christiansborg Palace | Yes | Yes | 215 kr. | |
| Rosenborg Castle | Yes | Yes | 140 kr. | |
| Amalienborg Palace | Yes | Yes | 125 kr. | |
| Transportation | ||||
| Public transportation | Yes | No | 100 - 340 kr. | |
| Airport transfer | Yes | No | 30 kr. | |
| Hop-on/Hop-off Bus | No | Yes | 300 to 369 kr. | |
| Ferry to Frederiksborg Castle | Yes | No | 40 kr. | |
| GoBoat Harbor Tours | Yes | No | 195 kr. | |
| Museums | ||||
| Workers Museum | Yes | Yes | 135 kr. | |
| Bakkehuset | Yes | Yes | 75 kr. | |
| Amber Museum | Yes | Yes | 25 kr. | |
| Cisternerne | Yes | Yes | 120 kr. | |
| Copenhagen Contemporary | Yes | Yes | 140 kr. | |
| Danish Architecture Center | Yes | Yes | 125 kr. | |
| Guinness World Records Museum + Mystic Expoloratorium | Yes | Yes | 224 kr. | |
| Ikono Museum | Yes | Yes | 166 kr. | |
| Jewish Museum | Yes | Yes | 100 kr. | |
| Copenhagen Museum | Yes | Yes | 100 kr. | |
| War Museum | Yes | Yes | 105 kr. | |
| Kunsthalle Charlottenborg | Yes | Yes | 90 kr. | |
| Maca Museum | Yes | Yes | 160 kr. | |
| Medical Museion | Yes | Yes | 110 kr. | |
| Museum of Illusions | Yes | Yes | 139 kr. | |
| National Museum | Yes | Yes | 140 kr. | |
| Natural History Museum incl. Palm House | Yes | Yes | 115 kr. | |
| Nikolaj Kunsthalle | Yes | Yes | 110 kr. | |
| Nordic Atlantic House | Yes | Yes | 60 kr. | |
| Ripleys Believe it or not + Hans Christian Andersen Experience | Yes | Yes | 224 kr. | |
| Storm Museum | Yes | Yes | 75 kr. | |
| The Black Diamond | Yes | Yes | 75 kr. | |
| Thorvaldsens Museum | Yes | Yes | 110 kr. | |
| Resistance Museum | Yes | Yes | 130 kr. | |
| Arken Museum | Yes | No | 145 kr. | |
| Classic Car House | Yes | No | 135 kr. | |
| Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art | Yes | No | 70 kr. | |
| The Ships at Holmen | Yes | No | 160 kr. | |
| Enigma - Museum of Communication | Yes | No | 140 kr. | |
| Frederikssund Museum | Yes | No | 125 kr. | |
| Gammel Strand | Yes | No | 90 kr. | |
| Hirschsprung Collection | Yes | No | 110 kr. | |
| Karen Blixen Museum | Yes | No | 100 kr. | |
| Køge Museum | Yes | No | 110 kr. | |
| Lejre Museum | Yes | No | 60 kr. | |
| Maritime Museum Helsingør | Yes | No | 145 kr. | |
| Open Air Museum Lyngby | Yes | No | 145 kr. | |
| Ordrupgaard | Yes | No | 140 kr. | |
| Ragnarock Roskilde | Yes | No | 120 kr. | |
| Roskilde Museum | Yes | No | 60 kr. | |
| Rudolph Tegners Museum in Dronningmølle | Yes | No | 80 kr. | |
| Technology Museum Helsingør | Yes | No | 130 kr. | |
| Attractions for Children | ||||
| Copenhagen Zoo | Yes | Yes | 249 kr. | |
| Planetarium | Yes | Yes | 195 kr. | |
| Experimentarium | Yes | No | 250 kr. | |
| Heerup Museum | Yes | No | 70 kr. | |
| Museum for Art in Public Spaces | Yes | No | 110 kr. | |
| Øresund Aquarium | Yes | No | 80 kr. | |
| Viking Ship Museum Roskilde | Yes | No | 160 kr. | |
| Circus Museum | Yes | No | 75 kr. | |
| Special Experiences | ||||
| Home of Carlsberg Brewery | Yes | Yes | 215 kr. | |
| Scavenger Hunt: Treasure Hunt | Yes | Yes | 399 kr. | |
| Solve a Mystery | Yes | Yes | 189 kr. | |
| The Tube | Yes | Yes | 100 kr. | |
| Casino Copenhagen | Yes | No | 95 kr. | |
| Casino Marienlyst | Yes | No | 70 kr. | |
| Casino Vesterport | Yes | Yes | 85 kr. | |
| Day Trips | ||||
| Boat trip in Lyngby | Yes | No | 149 kr. | |
| Roskilde Cathedral | Yes | No | 80 kr. | |
| Fort Denmark | Yes | No | 110 kr. | |
| Land of Legends in Lejre | Yes | No | 215 kr. | |
| Munkeruphus Dronningmølle | Yes | No | 85 kr. | |
| Jægerspris Castle | Yes | No | 80 kr. | |
| Kronborg Castle in Helsingør | Yes | No | 145 kr. | |
| Frederiksborg Castle | Yes | No | 115 kr. |
Our Rating for the Copenhagen Card
How Do We Rate?
In our city pass ratings, each pass can earn 100 points, broken down as follows:
- Attractions: 30 points
- Transportation: 20 points
- Ease of use: 20 points
- Value for money: 30 points
Our Rating: Included Attractions
- Nearly all of Copenhagen’s major attractions are included in the Copenhagen Card Discover
- Virtually every imaginable museum in Copenhagen is included
- There are many high-priced attractions for children included
- Outside Copenhagen, many top-tier attractions are included as well
- The Den Blå Planet aquarium and Rundetårn are the only more notable places to visit not included in the Copenhagen Card
Our rating for the Copenhagen Card Discover: 28 out of 30 points
Our Rating: Included Transportation
- Public transportation is fully included.
- With the Copenhagen Card Discover, you can also use the metro from the airport into the city.
- Public transit is included well beyond Copenhagen, including routes to Roskilde, Helsingør, and the Louisiana Museum.
Our rating for the Copenhagen Card Discover: 20 out of 20 points
Our Rating: Ease of Use
- The Copenhagen Card is managed entirely through an app. It’s super convenient and intuitive.
- At almost all attractions, you can simply walk in with the card and don’t need to wait in line at the ticket counter.
- Reservations are hardly ever required — only for Vor Frelsers Kirke and the Carlsberg Brewery do you need to book a time slot in advance.
- One point is deducted because the card only works through the app. Without a smartphone, you can’t use the Copenhagen Card.
Our rating for the Copenhagen Card Discover: 19 out of 20 points
Our Rating: Value for Money
- You can save quite a bit with the Copenhagen Card. The longer you stay in Copenhagen, the greater your potential savings.
- The Copenhagen Card makes your city trip easier, since you don’t have to wait in line anywhere or worry about buying public transit tickets.
- For short stays, the Copenhagen Card often doesn’t make financial sense. With the 24- and 48-hour cards, it can be hard to visit enough attractions to justify the cost.
Our rating for the Copenhagen Card Discover: 25 out of 30 points
Our Verdict
The Copenhagen Card Discover is an excellent city pass that, with 92 out of 100 points, has received one of the highest ratings of any pass we’ve reviewed.
We can wholeheartedly recommend the card for stays of three days or more in Copenhagen. It makes your trip easier and delivers real savings.
Buy the Copenhagen Card Discover
Our Rating for the Copenhagen Card Hop
For the sake of completeness, here’s how the Copenhagen Card Hop stacks up:
- Attractions: 23 out of 30 points (Only half as many attractions as the Discover Card; notably missing the Louisiana Museum and some attractions for children.)
- Transportation: 10 out of 20 points (No public transit and no airport transfer; hop-on/hop-off bus included instead)
- Ease of use: 19 out of 20 points (just as convenient as the Discover Card)
- Value for money: 20 out of 30 points (The card is slightly more expensive than the Discover Card but offers less)
- Overall rating: 72 out of 100 points
Honestly, the Copenhagen Card Hop isn’t a bad city card. It just falls a bit short compared to the Discover Card. If you’re really set on using the hop-on/hop-off buses in Copenhagen, it’s a reasonable choice.
Sample Calculation: 72 Hours in Copenhagen
Most visitors spend about three nights in Copenhagen, so we’ve used that timeframe for our sample calculation.
Our suggested itinerary for three days:
Day 1: Arrive at the airport or train station. In the afternoon, take a canal boat tour through Copenhagen. In the evening, head up the tower of Vor Frelsers Kirke for the most stunning panorama over Copenhagen, then wrap up the evening at a restaurant in the Christianshavn neighborhood.
Day 2: Today is all about culture. Visit Christiansborg Palace and one of the famous art museums, such as the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. A stroll through the legendary amusement park Tivoli is a must, before you end the evening in the hip Vesterbro neighborhood.
Day 3: Start the day with a visit to the Little Mermaid. Nearby is the Design Museum, which we really can’t recommend highly enough. For lunch, head to Torvehallerne and grab a bite at one of the many food stalls. In the afternoon, explore the beautiful grounds of Rosenborg Castle and the Botanical Garden. Linger a little longer at one of the two spots and visit either Rosenborg Castle or the Palm House in the Botanical Garden. End the evening in the historic center around Nyhavn.
Day 4: Time to say goodbye. Use your Copenhagen Card one last time for the trip back to the train station or airport.
| without Copenhagen Card | with Copenhagen Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Copenhagen Card Discover (72 hours) | - | 133 € |
| Canal tour | 23 € | free |
| Church of Our Saviour | 9 € | free |
| Christiansborg Palace | 29 € | free |
| Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek | 18 € | free |
| Tivoli | 27 € | free |
| Design Museum | 19 € | free |
| Botanical Garden | 9 € | free |
| Public transit for 72 hours | 29.00 € | free |
| Total | 163 EUR | 133 EUR |
With our suggested itinerary, you save about 30 euros with the Copenhagen Card Discover. We’ve kept the schedule fairly relaxed, so it’s entirely possible to fit in even more must-sees during that time.
As a general rule: the longer you stay in Copenhagen, the more worthwhile the Copenhagen Card becomes. If you’re there for four or five days, the math gets even more favorable — the cost per day works out significantly cheaper with the longer card options.
Families with children under 12 can also save considerably more with the Copenhagen Card, since children ride and enter for free.
Buy the Copenhagen Card Discover
How to Buy and Activate the Copenhagen Card
The Copenhagen Card is only available for purchase online. We recommend buying it through GetYourGuide — you always pay at the current daily exchange rate and have access to all the usual payment methods.
Copenhagen Card Discover on GetYourGuide
Copenhagen Card Hop on GetYourGuide
Right after your purchase, you’ll receive the codes for your Copenhagen Cards by email.
Next, you’ll need to install the Copenhagen Card City Guide app:
Copenhagen Card App for iOS in the Apple App Store
Copenhagen Card City Guide App for Android in the Google Play Store
Copy the Reference Number from your confirmation email, tap Redeem a card in the app, and enter the number. Your Copenhagen Card is now loaded in the app. If you’ve purchased multiple cards, repeat the process for each one.
Before you can use the card, you’ll need to activate it — just tap “Activate” in the app.
Once you’ve activated the card, the validity period begins. So only do this when you’re ready to use the card for the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Copenhagen Card
Can I buy the Copenhagen Card on-site?
No, unfortunately not. The Copenhagen Card is only available online.
Can I use the Copenhagen Card without a smartphone?
That used to be possible, but unfortunately it’s no longer an option. The Copenhagen Card is now digital only. There are no physical cards and no print-at-home option. Without a smartphone, you won’t be able to use the card.
Can I visit individual attractions multiple times with the Copenhagen Card?
No, unfortunately that’s not possible. You may visit each attraction exactly once.
The card is scanned electronically at the entrance, so a second visit to the same place won’t work.
Do I need to hold the Copenhagen Card Discover up to the card readers on public transportation?
At metro and S-train stations in Copenhagen, as well as on buses, there are card readers where you normally tap your ticket when boarding and exiting.
With the Copenhagen Card Discover, you don’t need to do that. You can simply board the metro or S-train and only show your card if there’s an inspection.
When riding the bus, just briefly show the driver your Copenhagen Card Discover when you board.
Can I use the Copenhagen Card to get to the airport?
Yes! The Copenhagen Card Discover includes transfers to and from the airport.
The Copenhagen Card Hop does not include this. For that card, you’ll need to buy a separate ticket for the transfer. A round-trip ticket between the city center and the airport costs around 72 DKK (€9.70).
Can I travel to destinations outside Copenhagen with the Copenhagen Card?
Yes, with the Copenhagen Card Discover you can also visit many attractions outside of Copenhagen. The card is valid for all trips in zones 1 through 99, covering the greater Copenhagen area.
This includes, among others, Roskilde and Helsingør.
The Swedish city of Malmö, however, is outside this area. For that, you’ll need to purchase a separate train ticket.
Is the Copenhagen Card worth it with kids?
Yes, absolutely. With children under 12, the Copenhagen Card is a real money-saver — children up to and including age 11 get in completely free. Each adult can add two free children’s cards.
This is a great deal, because popular kid-friendly attractions like the Zoo, Tivoli, and Experimentarium normally charge children aged 3 and up quite a lot for admission — typically around 20 euros each.
I have more than 2 children. What do I do?
Every adult can add two free children’s tickets. So with two adults, you can add up to four free tickets for children up to 11 years old.
If you’re traveling alone with more than two children, or if two adults have more than four children, you’ll need to purchase a discounted Copenhagen Card Junior for the additional kids.
Where do the hop-on/hop-off buses run?
In Copenhagen, there are several hop-on/hop-off bus providers. If you opt for the Copenhagen Card Hop, you can use it to ride the Stromma buses. There are three lines in total. You can find information about the individual stops on this page.
Do I need to reserve tickets for attractions in advance?
For almost all attractions, you can simply walk right in and show your Copenhagen Card at the entrance.
There are two exceptions: For the Home of Carlsberg Brewery and Vor Frelsers Kirke, you need to reserve a time slot in advance — easy to do through the Copenhagen Card app.
At Rosenborg Castle, it can sometimes happen that you can’t get in right away. In that case, you can buy a ticket for a specific time and come back later. Unfortunately, online reservations aren’t available there.
Can I save multiple Copenhagen Cards on one smartphone?
Yes, no problem. You can save the tickets for your entire travel group in one app. However, if you ever want to split up and visit different attractions, everyone should have their own app.
Can I transfer the Copenhagen Card to someone else?
Yes, that is possible. You can transfer the cards exactly once. Just tap “Transfer card” in your app and follow the instructions. The other person also needs to have the app installed and tap “Receive card” on their end. Everything else is explained from there.
