Copenhagen’s public transport system is extremely reliable, and you can get just about anywhere, with multiple plans available to choose from. In fact, you can hop on the Metro at the airport and arrive in the city center in just about 20 minutes.

To and from the airport

If you arrive at the Copenhagen International Airport Kastrup, you’ll be on the island of Amager, just about 8 kilometres from the city center. You can get to the city center either by a train or the Metro. You can purchase a ticket at a stand at the airport, and it will run about €5. Once you’re in the city center, you may be able to walk, take a bus or even a short taxi ride to get to your final destination. If you decide to take a bus straight from the airport, opt for Bus Number 250S, and expect the ticket to cost about €3.5. You can buy the ticket on the bus, but you will need cash.

To save you time at the airport, here are a few direct instructions so that you can proceed directly to your preferred mode of transportation.

Metro

The Metro is just above Terminal 3. All of the trains will be going the same direction (to Vanløse Station), so you don’t have to worry that you’ll accidentally get on the wrong one.

Trains run every 4 to 6 minutes, with the night train running every 15 to 20 minutes.

While tickets can be bought at the station or the counter in Terminal 3, remember that the machines will only take coins or credit cards, but not notes.

Train

The train station is also near Terminal 3. Additionally, you can take a free 5-minute shuttle from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3, to save you a little bit of walking time.

The trains generally arrive every 10 minutes throughout the day, with the night train running between one and three times per hour. You should expect to disembark in the city center in around 13 minutes.

Tickets can be purchased at machines or the ticket counter in Terminal 3. As with the metro, the machines do not accept notes.

Bus

In about 30 to 35 minutes, Bus Number 5A goes straight to the Copenhagen Central Station, Nørreport, City Hall Square and several other options.

Buses run about every 10 minutes throughout the day, with the night bus running a few times each hour.

You can buy tickets at Terminal 3 or directly on the bus. However, the bus will only accept coins.

Taxi

Taxis can take you from the airport to Copenhagen’s city center in around 20 minutes. Passenger pickup is at Terminals 1 and 3, and they should be waiting in the taxi line.

You can expect the cost to be between €33.5-40.

Buses

The main buses in central Copenhagen are the A-buses. You can expect them to run every 3-7 minutes when it’s rush hour, between 07:00-09:00 and 15:30-17:30. At other times, they run every 10 minutes at all hours.

The S-buses run their routes every 5-10 minutes throughout rush hour, as well as about every 20 minutes at all other times. The S-buses have more direct routes than the A-buses, making them faster and with fewer stops. They usually operate between 06:00 in the morning and 01:00 at night.

Between 01:00 and 05:00 in the evenings, night buses are in service. These bus stops can be identified by their grey signs, and they are all N buses.

Metro

The Metro offers service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Throughout rush hour, the Metro runs every 2 to 4 minutes, and every 3 to 6 minutes otherwise. On Friday and Saturday evenings after 01:00, trains usually arrive between 7 and 15 minutes and every 20 minutes on weekdays after midnight.

Sometimes maintenance can occur in the evenings, causing a few delays.

Trains

The S-trains offer service between 05:00 in the morning and 00:30 in the evening. Line F arrives about every 4 to 5 minutes, while Lines A, B, C and E arrive approximately every 10 minutes, along with Lines H and Bx running every 20 minutes.

The trains run only one time each hour on Friday and Saturday between 01:00 and 05:00. Line F, however, runs every half hour.

Bike

If biking wasn’t the first method of transportation that you considered, this city might just change your mind. Once you find accommodation in Copenhagen for international students, you’ll quickly see that almost everyone on campus will be riding a bike to and from the university. Throughout the entire city, you’ll definitely also see more bikes than cars.

Copenhagen is criss-crossed with over 350 km of cycle paths and lanes, raised a bit above the road, making them extremely safe to utilize. Many intersections also have flashing lights to alert car drivers of approaching bikers.

Not only will you see commuters on bikes, but there are so many parks, beaches and forests that you can easily access while cycling. If you haven’t had a chance to purchase your own, you can even rent a bike for €3.5 per hour, complete with a built-in GPS. You can grab a bike and then return it at one of many stands located throughout Copenhagen’s city center.

Plus, if you take an S-train, you can also bring your bike along for the ride. If you want to take a bike on the metro or a regional train, you simply need to buy a bike ticket.