Copenhagen Card

Copenhagen’s sights are spread across the city and beyond, and the Copenhagen Card makes one part of the puzzle easy: it bundles admission to 89 attractions with unlimited public transport across the Capital Region. You set the pace and choose the stops, from Tivoli Gardens and canal tours to castles and museums.

I like two things in particular: the card includes the airport trip, so you can use it from arrival, and its range lets you pair a central museum day with a trip farther afield. The catch is that the pass only pays off if you use it well, and some popular attractions need advance planning or have limited time slots.

• One card, two jobs: Admission to 89 attractions and unlimited regional public transport are included.
• Airport trips count: Travel to and from the airport is covered on public transport.
• Pick your duration: Passes are available for 24, 48, 72, 96, or 120 hours.
• Tivoli has a limit: Entry is included, but rides are not.
• Plan for busy sights: Rosenborg uses same-day time slots, and the Church of Our Saviour tower can fill up.
• Activate before you travel: Your card must be active before you board public transport or enter an attraction.

A city pass that works best at a brisk pace

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The Copenhagen Card is a self-guided sightseeing pass, not a tour with a guide or fixed route. It gives you admission to a large list of attractions and covers public transport, leaving you free to plan a full day or spread your visits across several days.

That freedom is useful in a city where a museum visit can sit alongside a canal tour, a palace, or a trip to another town in the Capital Region. But the same freedom means you need to make the plan. The pass does not choose stops, reserve every entry slot, or guarantee that a particular attraction is open when you arrive.

The starting price is listed at $97.05, with the final cost depending on the duration you choose. Since individual admissions and transport can add up, the card can be good value if you visit several paid attractions and use buses, trains, or the metro along the way. It is less compelling if you prefer a slow day, plan to see only one or two sights, or spend long hours inside a single museum.

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Choosing between 24 and 120 hours

You can choose a 24-, 48-, 72-, 96-, or 120-hour card. Think of these as consecutive hours of use rather than a simple calendar-day pass. A 24-hour card activated at 11 a.m. is intended for a 24-hour window from activation, not just the remainder of that day.

That distinction matters. If you activate at breakfast, the clock is already running while attractions may still be closed. A later start can give you more useful sightseeing time, particularly with a shorter pass. The best activation time depends on your arrival and plans, so check opening hours and travel needs before starting the card.

A 24-hour pass suits a concentrated day with several stops and local transport. For a visit lasting a few days, a 48- or 72-hour option gives you more room to fit in museums and other attractions without cramming every hour. The 96- and 120-hour cards make sense when you expect to keep sightseeing and using public transport over a longer stretch.

The card’s value is not just a matter of collecting as many admissions as possible. A canal tour and a museum may be more enjoyable than racing between six stops to squeeze out a little extra value. Before buying, check the current list in the Copenhagen Card app and add up the attractions you genuinely want to visit, along with the transport you expect to use.

Start with the airport transfer and city transport

One practical advantage is that the card covers public transport to and from the airport. If you plan to use it from the start of your trip, you can travel into the city on public transport and continue to included sights without buying separate transport tickets.

The pass covers buses, trains, and the metro throughout the Capital Region. That wider reach is handy for trips beyond central Copenhagen, including destinations such as Hillerød and Helsingør. It can turn a day out of the city into part of the same pass rather than a separate transport expense.

Once your card is activated, no scanning is needed for trains and metro. Show the card on buses and to ticket inspectors. This is simple, but there is one crucial rule: activate before boarding or entering. Owning a card that has not been activated is not the same as holding a valid ticket. A traveller who boarded the metro before activating the pass was fined 750 DKK, a costly reminder to get the app ready before you travel.

The transport coverage is also useful if your sightseeing plan changes. You can take a bus or train between stops instead of treating each journey as an extra cost. Still, do not let the promise of unlimited rides push you into unnecessary trips. The pass is most useful when transport supports the sights you already want to see.

Tivoli Gardens: entry, not rides

Tivoli Gardens is one of the best-known inclusions, and the card covers admission to the park. It does not cover the rides, which have an additional cost. Keep that distinction in mind when comparing the pass with the price of a standalone visit.

If you want to walk around Tivoli and take in the park, admission may be enough. If your main reason for going is to ride the attractions, budget for those separately. The card does not make the rides free.

Tivoli’s opening schedule can affect the value of a pass, too. If the park is closed during your visit, you cannot use the included admission. Check its dates before you activate a short-duration card, especially if Tivoli is one of your main reasons for buying it.

Canal tours, castles, and a useful mix of stops

A Stromma canal tour is among the included attractions. It adds a different view of Copenhagen to a day built around museums and indoor sights, and it is one of the activities you can pair with the card’s transport coverage. You cannot pre-book the canal tour online. If you want a particular time, you can visit the box office at Ved Stranden and arrange a slot on arrival. Book only one time slot per person.

Rosenborg Castle is another popular inclusion. It requires a same-day time slot obtained in person, so do not assume you can simply arrive whenever you like. If it is a priority, make it an early stop and secure your time before building the rest of the day around it.

Christiansborg Palace’s Royal Reception Rooms are included, as is the Amalienborg Museum. These give you options for exploring royal history in the city, while the card also covers the Church of Our Saviour. The church’s tower has narrow stairs and pathways, and access can be limited when it is crowded. Pre-booking is recommended if you want to avoid waiting to buy a ticket on site and reserve a preferred time.

For the tower, planning matters more than spontaneity. Check the booking options before you go, and keep in mind that a pass does not mean you can skip capacity limits. Re-entry is not allowed after you leave an attraction, so plan your visit as one continuous stop.

Museums, design, and the trip to Louisiana

The card includes several museums that can fill out a day between landmark visits. Design Museum Denmark and Glyptoteket Museum are among the listed options. The National Gallery of Denmark and the Guinness World Records Museum also appear in the available attractions described for the pass.

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is included as well. It gives the pass a reach beyond central Copenhagen and can be a strong reason to choose a longer duration if you want time for both city sights and a regional outing. The card’s Capital Region transport coverage supports that wider itinerary.

Home of Carlsberg is another included attraction, but it has a special booking step. You need to enter your card number when reserving, and that number only appears in the app after you activate the card. So if Carlsberg is high on your list, plan around the order of operations: activate first, find the card number, then make the reservation.

Attraction lists can change, so do not rely on an old guide or a saved itinerary without checking. The app and current official information are the sensible places to confirm that a particular museum or attraction is still included and to find any booking links.

Making the pass pay its way

The simplest way to judge value is to build a realistic plan. Choose the sights you would visit even without a pass, note their admission costs, and add the public transport you expect to use. Then compare that total with the price of the duration you are considering.

Several attractions in a day can make a short pass worthwhile, especially when you also use the metro, buses, or trains. A longer pass can be a good fit if you like museums and intend to visit attractions regularly. But if you prefer to spend most of a day at one place, or your itinerary includes free activities and long breaks, individual tickets may cost less.

There is no need to turn Copenhagen into a sightseeing contest. Aim for a mix you will enjoy, such as a museum, a canal tour, and a palace visit, rather than choosing stops only because they are included. The card’s flexibility is valuable when it saves separate purchases; it is not valuable if it makes you rush.

The listed starting price is $97.05. Check the current price for the duration you want, since the 24-hour option and longer cards are different products. An online cost calculator on the official Copenhagen Card website can also help you compare planned admissions with the pass price.

Redeem the card before your first ride

After purchase, your voucher provides codes to redeem the digital card in the Copenhagen Card City Guide app. Download the app, choose Redeem card, and enter the code shown with your booking confirmation. Activate the card when you are ready to start using it.

Do this before you reach a ticket inspector, not while standing on a platform with a train arriving. Once active, the app shows the valid period and can send a reminder when the card is close to expiring. Keep your phone charged and the card easy to display, since the pass is digital.

A pass can be used to enter an attraction right before it expires, and you can stay inside after the expiry time. You cannot re-enter after leaving, however, so do not plan to step out and come back later on the same admission.

The voucher is valid only for the selected date and time, if a time is specified. If you need help with redemption, Copenhagen Visitor Service is at Vesterbrogade 4B, 1620 København V. Children aged 0 to 2 are free; anyone aged 3 or older needs a Copenhagen Card.

Who should buy the Copenhagen Card?

I would consider this card if you want to visit several paid attractions, use public transport often, or make a trip beyond the city centre. It is particularly handy when you want the airport transfer included and would rather avoid buying separate transport tickets as you go.

It is a weaker choice for a relaxed itinerary with few paid stops. It also calls for a little homework: confirm that your chosen attractions are included, check opening days and booking rules, and activate at a time that gives you a useful block of hours.

Book the card if your plan naturally includes several attractions and regular transport use. Choose individual tickets if you want to wander slowly, see only a couple of sights, or focus on Tivoli rides, which are not included. The card can simplify Copenhagen, but the best value comes from a plan that suits your pace.

FAQ

What does the Copenhagen Card include?

It includes admission to 89 attractions and museums, plus unlimited public transport throughout the Capital Region. Public transport to and from the airport is included.

Which durations can I choose?

The available options are 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours.

Does the card cover Tivoli Gardens rides?

No. Admission to Tivoli Gardens is included, but rides are not.

Does the card include transport from the airport?

Yes. It covers travel to and from the airport on public transport.

Which types of public transport are included?

The card covers buses, trains, and the metro throughout the Capital Region.

Do I need to activate the card before travelling?

Yes. Redeem the voucher in the Copenhagen Card City Guide app and activate the card before using it for transport or an attraction.

Can I book the included canal tour online?

No. You cannot pre-book the canal tour online. To secure a particular time, visit the box office at Ved Stranden on arrival.

How do I get a time slot for Rosenborg Castle?

You need to go to Rosenborg Castle and obtain a same-day ticket with a time slot.

Do children need their own Copenhagen Card?

Children aged 0 to 2 are free. Participants aged 3 and older need a Copenhagen Card.