Copenhagen is the capital and most popular tourist destination of Denmark. This city is famous for the best public transport system in the country, which includes buses, a network of railways, and the subway. Copenhagen Metro is the real pride of Denmark, Europe and the whole world as a whole, which confirms its title World’s Best Metro.
What type of transport is the most convenient and beneficial for tourists? How much are tickets and where can I buy them? Which travel card is best to buy if you come to Copenhagen for a few days? The answers to these and many other questions are in our article.
Underground
The first and only metro in all of Denmark was opened in 2002, 10 years after parliament passed the relevant decision. According to the approved project, the metro was to become the fastest and safest way of transportation for residents of a large capital. Using an innovative approach, the Danes became the owners of the world’s first fully automated underground.
In 2009, the Copenhagen metro won first place in the World’s Best Metro nomination, in addition, for more than 10 years it has been considered the best in all of Europe. Regular inspections and studies show that the Danish metro is notable for its stable operation, positive ratings of passengers and a high level of safety.
Statistics say! More than 50 million people use the services of the Copenhagen metro every year, about 140,000 people use it daily. More than 15% of them are tourists.
To date, 22 stations have been opened in Copenhagen, located on two lines:
- Trains run along the green line (M1) from Vanløse, located in the city center, to Vestamager, a station in the Ørestad suburb, and vice versa. The route is 13.1 km long, with only 15 stops.
- The terminal stations of the yellow (M2) line are the same Vanløse and Lufthavnen, which is located in Terminal 3 of the capital’s airport. Length – 14.2 km, 16 stops. The total length of both routes is 21 kilometers, since M1 and M2 have several common stations.
Tourist, make no mistake! Despite the same name, Kastrup station is not located at Kastrup airport.
In 2018, blue and orange branches will be added to the Copenhagen metro map. The first will go through the whole city along the ring route, the second – connect the capital with two suburbs and move from the Köbenhounes-Hovedbanegor station to the Nerrebro stop.
Initially, the metro metropolitan worked from 5 am to 1 am on weekdays and around the clock on weekends. In 2009, the transport schedule changed, making Copenhagen one of the first cities in Europe, where the metro operates continuously around the clock.
On a note! Trains in the Danish underground travel from 2 (during rush hour) to 10-20 minutes (at night).
As already mentioned, the Copenhagen metro has a high level of security, thanks to the full automation of the work. There are no drivers in local trains; they are controlled by a system that clearly controls the speed, braking time and distance between trains. In addition to automatic telephone exchanges (Automatic Train Control), the work of the metro is regulated by a system that controls the power supply and security of trains, as well as everything that happens inside the cars using cameras.
Interesting to know! Not far from Copenhagen is the Metro Management and Maintenance Center, where trains are tested and overhauled. It is in this place that the uninterrupted operation of the subway is monitored and decisions are made in emergency situations.
Doors in cars are controlled by the ATO subsystem. They are equipped with special sensors that stop the closing process as soon as any obstacles are detected.
Another aspect that enhances safety in the Copenhagen metro is the use of non-combustible materials or non-combustible materials that do not emit toxins when ignited in the manufacture of compositions. All stations have evacuation schemes and fire extinguishers. Every two months, the metro undergoes a preventive check.
Public transport in Copenhagen has a single fare payment system, so when you buy a ticket for the subway, you can also use buses and trains in this area. You can buy a ticket in special machines installed at each station (accept Danish crowns and cards of major banks), or online, on the official state website – intl.m.dk/#!/.
The fare for the Copenhagen metro starts at DKK 24 for an adult and varies, depending on the route, duration and type of ticket.
The city is divided into several zones, if your route passes through two of them, you need to pay 24 DKK, if after three – 36 DKK. Tourists, as part of an examination of the main attractions of Copenhagen, are most often suited to the first type of tickets. It is important to take into account the ratio between time and route of the trip in order to choose the most advantageous travel card.
Remember! Tickets for 2-3 zones are valid for an hour, for 4-6 – 90 minutes, for all – 2 hours. During this time period, you can get up and get into transport any number of times. The last trip should begin at least a minute before the end of the travel card.
- Penalty for travel in transport without a ticket – 750 DKK;
- Children under 16 years have a 50% discount when buying travel cards;
- Each adult can spend free with him two children under the age of 12 years;
- Separate tickets must be purchased for dogs (except for guide dogs and placed in a hand bag) and bicycles. If, in the opinion of the metro staff, you interfere with others, you will be asked to stop the trip. Dogs cannot be transported in the head and tail of the metro train – this is the allergy zone. During peak hours, bicycles are prohibited.
City Rail
Another type of transport connecting Copenhagen and its suburbs is trains, which are of three types:
- Regional They reach the largest suburbs of Elsinore and Roskilde, as well as the terminal of the capital’s airport. The travel interval is 10-40 minutes, work from 5 am to half the first night on weekdays, around the clock at night.
- S-tog trains. The most convenient way for tourists to get from the center of Copenhagen to the suburbs. They run at intervals of 5-30 minutes at the same time as regional trains. The branches are called letters of the Latin alphabet, each route ends in a particular suburb. S-tog tickets are the same as metro tickets.
- Lokalbaner. The so-called local trains connect the capital with the remote suburbs. Within Greater Copenhagen, you can use standard travel cards. The schedule varies throughout the day, more details can be found on the official website – www.lokaltog.dk (in Danish).
Buses
Copenhagen’s largest carrier is the operator Movia. Their minibuses can be recognized thanks to the number and the bright yellow color in which the cars and the places of their stops are painted. They work from 6 am to midnight, the fare is the same as on the subway. A break between buses is from 5 to 7 minutes.
At night, tourists can use the services of night buses marked with the letter N (for example, 65N). They ply the city from one in the morning until five in the morning, their stops are painted gray. Night routes are paid at standard rates, the interval between cars is 15-20 minutes.
In addition, there are buses with a red stripe in Copenhagen whose route numbers are accompanied by the letter A (e.g. 78A). They connect the most visited places in the city center and transport the largest number of people daily, compared to other modes of transport. Arrive at the station every 2-5 minutes.
The most unnecessary type of transport for tourists in Copenhagen is minibuses with a blue stripe and numbers like 330S. These are the so-called express buses that go directly to the suburbs and practically do not stop within the capital.
Important! Copenhagen Central Bus Station is located on Town Hall Square. From here you can get to anywhere in the city.
Special Travel
City Pass allows you to use all public transport in Copenhagen an unlimited number of times over a certain period of time. It is perfect for tourists who want to visit many places in different parts of the city within 2-5 days.
The cost of City Pass varies depending on the time for which you purchase a ticket: 24 hours – 80 DKK, 48 hours – 150 DKK, 72 hours – 200 DKK, 120 hours – 300 DKK. Each adult can bring two children under the age of 12 for free, passengers from 12 to 16 years are given a discount on the purchase of 50%. There are two ways to buy City Pass:
- On the official website shop.dinoffentligetransport.dk. As soon as you book a pass, an SMS with the City Pass code will be sent to your mobile phone, which will open you free access to all types of public transport. Do not forget to charge your phone to present your electronic ticket if necessary.
- At specialized points of sale. Throughout the city there are more than 20 such trays, their exact address can be found on the website www.citypass.dk.
Important! The ticket does not take effect from the moment of purchase, but from the time you specified (if you bought online) or immediately after the first use.
The most favorable travel ticket for active tourists is the Map of Copenhagen. If you do not want to think about subway tickets or buses, standing in lines at the entrance to the museum and other attractions, CC is exactly what you need.
Copenhagen Card has the following advantages:
- Free use of all types of public transport in the Greater Copenhagen area (1-99 zones);
- Free access to more than 80 places of interest to tourists, including the best museums in the world and ancient castles of Denmark;
- Up to 20% discount on cafes and restaurants throughout Copenhagen;
- Free book-guide on the city, telling about all its sights and places that are worth visiting for every tourist;
- The opportunity to use the benefits of the card not only for themselves, but also for their two children under the age of 9 years inclusive at no additional cost;
The cost of the Copenhagen Card starts from 54 euros per day and increases to 121 euros for 5 days. You can order a ticket and find out the exact prices on the official website of a representative of copenhagencard.com.
Important! CC is valid for one person only!
To use public transport or go to the museum, show your card at the entrance so that employees can scan it. It must also be presented to controllers in the subway or buses to avoid a fine for stowaways.
The card is valid for a certain period of time from the moment of first use. Please note that before taking a metro / train / bus for the first time or entering a museum / cafe, you must write the start date in the specified field of your CC with a pen.
Need to know! Map of Copenhagen allows tourists to visit all the main attractions, but only once. For each subsequent entry you will have to pay the full cost of the ticket.
Prices on the page are for May 2018.
Transport Copenhagen – a real attraction of Denmark. Use it often to see as many beautiful metropolitan places as possible. Have a nice trip!
What does the best metro in Europe look like – watch the video.
