In a nutshell
- Copenhagen has an excellent public transportation system with a seriously modern metro.
- We’ll show you which tickets you need for getting around Copenhagen and exactly how everything works.
- Beyond the metro, we also cover the other ways to get around — buses, harbor ferries, and regional trains — so you can easily reach all the highlights Copenhagen has to offer.
Overview: Public Transit Tickets in Copenhagen
When you want to use the metro or buses — the classic modes of transportation — during your trip to Copenhagen, you can choose from three different options to find the best public transit ticket for you.
Ticket options for Copenhagen public transportation:
| Ticket | Best place to buy? |
|---|---|
| Single Ticket If you only ride occasionally, single tickets are the simplest option. | DOT app or ticket machine |
| City Pass Valid for unlimited rides on public transportation for 1 to 5 days | DOT app or ticket machine |
| Copenhagen Card With this card you can use public transportation in Copenhagen for 1 to 5 days and get free admission to many attractions. | Buy here |
We’ll walk you through each option in detail and tell you exactly where to buy them.
Single Tickets: Simple and Quick
If you’re staying at a centrally located hotel in Copenhagen and use public transportation no more than one to three times per day, or if you’re just making a day trip to Copenhagen, single tickets are the cheapest option for you.
You buy your ticket for a specific number of zones. That sounds complicated at first, but it’s actually really simple.
For all destinations within Copenhagen, you need a 2-zone ticket. If you want to travel from Copenhagen Airport into the city, you need to buy a 3-zone ticket.
If you want to reach destinations outside Copenhagen — such as Roskilde, Humlebæk (Louisiana Museum), or Helsingør — you’ll buy tickets for four or more zones. The exact number of zones you need depends on your destination.
Prices for Single Tickets
| Zones | How far can you go? | City Pass Large Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Zones | Entire city area | 24 DKK |
| 3 Zones | Airport | 30 DKK |
| 4+ Zones | Destinations outside Copenhagen | from 36 DKK |
Discounted Single Tickets
Up to two children under 12 can ride free with one adult.
If you have more children per adult, or if you’re traveling to Copenhagen with children who are between 12 and 15 years old, you’ll need a discounted ticket, which costs roughly half the regular price.
From age 16 and up, everyone pays the full fare.
Read all our tips for Copenhagen with kids here
Buying Single Tickets
You can buy single tickets either through the Rejsebillet app or in person on-site. We really recommend the Rejsebillet app — it’s super easy to use and lets you buy your ticket with just one tap before you board.
Buying Single Tickets in the Rejsebillet App
First, you’ll need to install the Rejsebillet app (Rejsebillet app for Android / Rejsebillet app for iOS).
Next, add a credit card to your profile. Once you’ve saved a card, buying tickets is a breeze — no need to re-enter your payment details every time.
Alternatively, you can also pay using Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Shortly before boarding, buy your ticket by tapping “Buy Ticket” in the menu. Select the “Zones” option in the top right, then choose your zone and the number of tickets. This way, you can also buy tickets for multiple people at once with a single tap.
Your ticket is then ready to use immediately. You can also see exactly how long it remains valid. A single ticket for two zones is valid for 75 minutes; for three zones it’s 90 minutes. Each additional zone adds another 15 minutes to the validity period.
Buying Single Tickets at the Machine
If you’d rather skip the app, you can buy your single ticket at a machine. You’ll find these at every metro station and at the major train stations. Your ticket is valid immediately upon purchase and doesn’t need to be separately validated.
City Pass: Multi-Day Ticket
If you plan to use Copenhagen public transportation frequently, the City Pass is absolutely worth it. It’s a ticket with a validity period of between 24 and 120 hours, letting you ride as much as you like.
The City Pass comes in two variants:
- City Pass Small: This ticket covers the entire Copenhagen city area, including the airport.
- City Pass Large: This ticket also covers zones four through 99, giving you access to great day-trip destinations in the surrounding area, such as Roskilde, Humlebæk, or Helsingør.
The City Pass Small is worth it if you use public transportation more than three times a day within Copenhagen.
Whether the City Pass Large makes sense for you depends on your itinerary and how many day trips you’re planning outside the city. In most cases, it’s only worth it if you’re really spending a lot of time beyond Copenhagen’s borders.
Prices for the City Pass
| What? | Price City Pass Small | Price City Pass Large |
|---|---|---|
| 24 hours (1 day) | 100 DKK | 200 DKK |
| 48 hours (2 days) | 160 DKK | 320 DKK |
| 72 hours (3 days) | 220 DKK | 440 DKK |
| 96 hours (4 days) | 280 DKK | 560 DKK |
| 120 hours (5 days) | 340 DKK | 680 DKK |
Buying the City Pass
Just like single tickets, you can buy the City Pass in the Rejsebillet app or at a machine on-site.
Both options are equally convenient and equally priced.
Copenhagen Card: Often a Great Investment
The Copenhagen Card gets you free admission to more than 80 attractions, including many of the most important sights in Copenhagen and great tours in Copenhagen.
You can also use it on public transit in all zones from one to 99.
Prices for the Copenhagen Card:
| Price | |
|---|---|
| 24 hours | 75 € |
| 48 hours | 110 € |
| 72 hours | 133 € |
| 96 hours | 156 € |
| 120 hours | 180 € |
The card can save you a serious amount of money — we’d wholeheartedly recommend it, especially if you’re spending at least three days in Copenhagen.
Check out our detailed review of the Copenhagen Card — we break down exactly what’s included and how much you can realistically save.
Public Transportation in Copenhagen
Metro in Copenhagen
Copenhagen’s metro is one of the most modern in Europe. There are four metro lines in total.
The first line didn’t open until 2002, and some of the M4 stations have only been in service since 2024.
The trains run driverless and fully automatically. All stations are very modern and fully accessible, with escalators and elevators throughout.
All metro lines pass through the city center. The central hub is Kongens Nytorv station, where all four lines converge.
Buses in Copenhagen
The metro gets you almost everywhere quickly and easily. That said, a few destinations are better reached by bus.
On the bus, you board at the front and show your ticket to the driver. You can also buy a ticket directly from the bus driver — though it’s pretty unusual in Copenhagen — and only with cash and exact change.
Harbor Buses in Copenhagen
The harbor buses aren’t actually buses at all — they’re ferries.
They’re not the fastest way to get around, but they’re a fantastic alternative to a conventional boat tour in Copenhagen, since you can use them with a regular public transit ticket.
The harbor buses run from København Syd to Refshaleøen, where the Reffen Street Food Market is located. Line 991 always travels southbound, while Line 992 runs northbound. The full route takes just over an hour.
Commuter Trains and S-Trains in Copenhagen
To reach the suburbs and nearby towns, you can use the red S-trains and the commuter trains of the Danish national railway.
Within the city, they depart from Copenhagen Central Station (København H), Østerport, and Nørreport.
Frequently Asked Questions About Public Transportation in Copenhagen
Do I need to check in and check out on the Copenhagen Metro?
With a single ticket, City Pass, or the Copenhagen Card, you can simply board the metro, buses, and other forms of transportation — you do not need to hold them up to the card readers.
In all buses and train stations, you’ll find card readers for checking in and out. These are only for the so-called Rejsekort, however. That’s a ticket many locals use, but it’s not relevant for tourists.
How long are public transit tickets in Copenhagen valid?
A single ticket for two zones is always valid for 75 minutes. During this time, you can transfer as many times as you like and switch between the metro and buses.
A ticket for three zones is valid for 90 minutes, with an additional 15 minutes added for each extra zone.
If you have a City Pass or a Copenhagen Card, it’s valid for a set number of hours — for example, 24 or 72 hours.
So if you buy a 72-hour City Pass on a Tuesday at 6:00 PM, it’s valid until Friday at 5:59 PM.
How do I find out how many zones I need in Copenhagen?
Within Copenhagen, a 2-zone ticket is always enough. For the airport, you’ll need a 3-zone ticket.
For destinations outside the city, check the DOT website to find the best connection and how many zones you’ll need to cross.
Can I take a bicycle on the metro or bus in Copenhagen?
Yes, you can. Bikes are allowed on the metro, except on weekdays between 7:00 and 9:00 AM and 3:30 to 5:30 PM.
The same applies to buses — but keep in mind that each bus has a maximum of two spots for bicycles, strollers, and wheelchairs. If those spots are already taken, you won’t be able to board with your bike.
To bring a bicycle, you’ll need a bike ticket in addition to your regular fare, which costs 15 DKK.
On S-trains and harbor buses, you can bring your bike free of charge.