Getting Around Copenhagen – Public Transport

Copenhagen is known for its excellent, well-functioning public transport system that is also far cleaner and safer than that of many other capital cities around the world. The reputation holds true, but even the best systems in the world can be confusing the first time you use them. Here’s our simple guide.

Rather like that of many US cities, Copenhagen’s public transport network operates a zone system integrated between all buses, trains and underground trains in the greater city area. Both regular tickets and more economical 10-journey cards (called klippekort) can be bought for journeys within 2-9 zones, with two zones getting you around the city itself, three zones covering most of the immediate suburbs-including the airport at Kastrup – and nine zones taking you to the very edge of Greater Copenhagen (HT) transport region. For most visitors to Copenhagen, two or three zones will suffice.

All forms of public transport, including the Metro, buses, S-Trains and regional (DSB) trains are included in this system. Tickets are valid for one hour from the time stamped on them when issued (or, in the case of the 10-journey clipcards, when they were stamped) for travel within that zone, and transfers are included.

Using a ticket machine

It all sounds fairly simple, but that doesn’t stop thousands of foreign visitors from standing in front of automated ticket machines each year, tearing their hair out as they try to figure out the system. While the newer touch-screen machines come with English instructions, the old machines do not. Added to this, the machines take coins and some credit/ debit cards, but not notes. If there is a serviced ticket area in the station you’re trying to leave, it often pays to wait in line for the chance to receive assistance from an actual human.

A couple of tips: For a single adult ticket, press on ‘enkelt billet – voksen’. Note you don’t have to ‘clip’ a regular ticket in the machines on the platform- only the 10-journey cards.

A Metro Station. Note the yellow clip machines at the bottom. Photo courtesy of Tomislav Medak.

Hub Stations

While the biggest station in Copenhagen is undoubtedly the Main (Central) Train Station Hovedbanegården, this is the connecting station for the S-Train and regional/ national lines only and as yet the Metro does not go anywhere near it. A huge, old-fashioned station with lots of platforms, it can be initially confusing and is plagued by pickpockets.

Other large stations in the downtown area are:

• Nørreport. The second biggest station after the Hovedbanegården, all forms of public transport make stops here, including buses, the Metro, regional trains and the S-Train. Note that entrance/ exit points for the Metro and other train systems are a few hundred yards apart, so make sure you follow the signs carefully: getting from one end to another can be confusing.
• Østerport. A hub station for S-Trains, buses and regional trains.
• Kongens Nytorv. An important stop for the Metro line as well as the city’s buses.
• Rådhuspladsen. The Town Hall Square is the nearest thing Copenhagen has to a bus station – though the old building was torn down earlier this year and building of the new one isn’t expected to be finished for a long time. Most of the city’s bus routes come through here; nevertheless, finding your stop can be confusing, as they are scattered over a large area.

Other things to remember

• When using a bus, get on at the front and leave by the middle or the back doors. The fold-up seats in the middle of the bus are fine to sit on, unless someone  boards with a pram or a stroller, in which case you will need to move: This area is reserved for them.
• You can take bicycles and prams unfolded on all forms of trains, including the S-Train and the Metro. As part of Copenhagen’s positive cycling initiative, it’s now free to take your cycle on the S-Train – on regional trains, you will need to to buy a separate ticket. Remember to use the correct carriages: on the S-Train these are marked by a cycle symbol on the outside door, while on regional lines carriages reserved for bikes and prams are found at either the front or the far end of the train.
• There is no real etiquette regarding mobile phone use or loud conversation on Copenhagen’s public transport, but regional trains do come with ‘silent’ carriages for those wanting peace and quiet. Note that people really do expect these ‘stillezoner‘ to be adhered to, and should you disrupt the peace you will be asked by your fellow passengers to desist! Those travelling with children are advised to find somewhere else to sit…

Top photo of Kongens Nytorv Metro Station courtesy of Karl Baron.