In a nutshell
- A Copenhagen hop-on/hop-off bus is one of the easiest ways to quickly get your bearings in the city.
- There are two operators running hop-on/hop-off tours in Copenhagen — we break down both and tell you which one is worth your money.
- Short on time? Our top pick is Red Sightseeing Copenhagen — it hits all the major sights and you can even add a boat tour for just a little extra.
What you need to know about hop-on/hop-off providers in Copenhagen
In Copenhagen, the selection isn’t as large as it is in, say, London or Berlin. You only have to choose between two hop-on/hop-off providers: Red Sightseeing Copenhagen and Stromma and City Sightseeing, which have joined forces as a single provider.
Here’s more good news: you can’t go wrong with either provider. They differ somewhat in price and route, but both still pass by the most important attractions. Those are, by the way:
- Strøget pedestrian zone
- Nyhavn
- The Little Mermaid
- Tivoli
- Amalienborg Palace
- Rosenborg Castle
- Christiansborg Palace
- Frederiks Church
- Rådhuspladsen
The only major difference is that Red Sightseeing runs just one classic route through Copenhagen, while Stromma and City Sightseeing offer their own slightly smaller classic hop-on/hop-off route plus the Colorful Route along Freetown Christiania and the Urban Green Route through the western part of the city.
Our Recommendation: Red Sightseeing Copenhagen
You don’t need to spend ages studying routes and comparing prices. We’ll just tell you which Copenhagen hop-on/hop-off bus we’d take. And that is — drumroll — Red Sightseeing Copenhagen.
For us, this is the best provider. It has the best value for money, its route and schedule are easy to understand (there’s only one, after all), and you only need to keep track of one type of bus. Stromma and City Sightseeing operate two different buses.
Even though there’s only one route, the Red Sightseeing buses still pass by almost all of the top attractions in Copenhagen and Copenhagen’s best museums.
Here’s a rundown of everything we like better about Red Sightseeing compared to the other tour:
- One bus goes to all the major attractions.
- The provider is slightly cheaper.
- The route is a bit larger than the classic hop-on/hop-off route with Stromma and City Sightseeing (e.g., Christianshavn and the island of Brygge are included).
- With the 24-hour ticket, you can add a boat tour through Copenhagen.
- The departure times are more reliable than those of Stromma and City Sightseeing.
- There’s an app where you can track the buses live.
Book the Red Sightseeing Copenhagen hop-on/hop-off bus
Copenhagen hop-on/hop-off providers at a glance
Want to compare the two sightseeing bus tours yourself? Our table has all the key details for both providers side by side.
| Top Pick | ||
|---|---|---|
| Red Sightseeing Copenhagen | Stromma & City Sightseeing | |
| Price for 24 hrs | 30 € | 30 € (Classic Route) 37 € (all three routes) |
| Price for 48 hrs | 33 € | 33 € (Classic Route) 39 € (all three routes) |
| Price for 72 hrs | 35 € | 42 € (all three routes) |
| Children free | up to 2 years | up to 5 years |
| City pass discount | Not included in any pass | Included in the Copenhagen Card Hop |
| Combo options | Combo with boat tour and other options | Combo with boat tour |
| Routes | 1 | 3 |
| Stops | 18 | 14 (Classic Route) 7 (Colorful Route) 6 (Home of Carlsberg) |
| Frequency | 30–60 minutes | 30–60 minutes |
| Operating hours | 9 am–4 pm | 9 am–5 pm |
| Audio guide | German | German |
| Ticket | Book here | Book here |
Combo ticket: combine hop-on/hop-off with a boat tour
With both providers, you can also combine the tours through Copenhagen with a boat trip through the city.
With Red Sightseeing Copenhagen, the 24-hour ticket gives you the option to add a boat tour. This is definitely worth it if you only plan to use the bus for one day to get a first overview of Copenhagen. If you want to use the bus over multiple days, you won’t be able to add the boat tour.
A boat tour lets you see everything from the water — and it’s seriously cool! On top of that, the boat passes by spots you simply won’t see from the bus.
Another great perk: the Copenhagen hop-on/hop-off tour with boat trip is only 5 euros more than without. But for that, you get a full hour of boat tour included. Totally worth it.
The boat trip takes place on the same day as the hop-on/hop-off bus you’ve booked.
Book the Red Sightseeing Copenhagen combo ticket: hop-on/hop-off bus and boat tour
Our verdict
The Copenhagen hop-on/hop-off bus is worth it if it’s your first time in the city and you want a relaxed overview of the highlights.
We recommend going with Red Sightseeing Copenhagen. It covers all the major attractions and the prices are lower than those of competitor Stromma and City Sightseeing. Plus, there’s a good chance the bus will stop right near your hotel in Copenhagen.
You can add the combo with a boat tour even with just a one-day ticket. We’d recommend this if you want to spend one day getting the lay of the land and then explore the city on your own afterward.
Book hop-on/hop-off with Red Sightseeing Copenhagen
Book hop-on/hop-off including boat tour with Red Sightseeing Copenhagen
Frequently asked questions about hop-on/hop-off buses in Copenhagen
Is hop-on/hop-off worth it in Copenhagen?
Absolutely! It’s especially useful at the start of your trip to get a solid overview of the city.
After that, you’ll do just fine exploring on your own — and you can also check out some lesser-known spots in Copenhagen or join a specialized guided tour of Copenhagen.
Should you buy your hop-on/hop-off ticket in advance?
Yes, book your ticket at least three to four days before the tour. Tickets often sell out a few days ahead.
Booking early isn’t a problem either, since both providers allow you to cancel up to 24 hours in advance.
Is the hop-on/hop-off tour in Copenhagen wheelchair accessible?
With Red Sightseeing Copenhagen, the buses are wheelchair accessible. With Stromma and City Sightseeing, most buses are as well.
Is the Copenhagen hop-on/hop-off bus suitable for children?
If you’re in Copenhagen with kids, riding the bus is always a treat — especially when it’s one of the cool red double-deckers.
Children also ride free with both providers up to a certain age. With Red Sightseeing, that’s up to and including age 2, and with Stromma and City Sightseeing up to age 5.
That said, there are no special extras for kids on the hop-on/hop-off buses in Copenhagen.
Are dogs allowed on the hop-on/hop-off buses in Copenhagen?
On Red Sightseeing buses, service dogs as well as small and medium-sized dogs are welcome.
On Stromma and City Sightseeing, no dogs are allowed.
Are the hop-on/hop-off buses included in the Copenhagen Card?
The tour by Stromma and City Sightseeing is included in the Copenhagen Card Hop. However, this card ranked lower in our city pass comparison than its sister card, the Copenhagen Card Discover, which includes far more attractions. You can find more details in our Copenhagen Card article.
Red Sightseeing hop-on/hop-off is currently not included in any city pass.
