How to get around Denmark
Navigating Denmark is straightforward with a variety of public and private transport options. Here's what you need to know about getting between and within its cities and towns.
Inter-City Travel
Navigating between cities in Denmark offers several options catering to different budgets and travel preferences. Trains, operated by DSB, are a popular choice. For budget-conscious travelers, securing 'Orange tickets' well in advance can yield significant savings, with long journeys like Copenhagen to Esbjerg costing around DKK 99. However, standard tickets for the same route can be four times that price.
Long-distance buses, such as FlixBus, present a more affordable alternative, particularly when advance train tickets are unavailable. For those prioritizing flexibility, renting a car allows for extensive exploration; daily rates can range from €16-€34 or $79-$290, with a three-day rental potentially costing around $390, including VAT and insurance.
Domestic flights are available for quicker travel between major cities like Copenhagen, Billund, Aalborg, and Aarhus, typically serving as a faster but generally more expensive option for long distances.
Travel Within Cities
Within Danish cities, particularly Copenhagen, an efficient public transport network combines buses, S-trains, the Metro, and even harbor buses. The most economical way to travel is by using a Rejsekort, a rechargeable travel card that provides discounts on journeys, costing an initial DKK 80 for the card itself plus a minimum DKK 70 balance.
A local journey, such as Copenhagen to Hillerød, costs DKK 49 with a Rejsekort compared to DKK 84 for a single ticket, and off-peak travel can offer an additional 20% discount. Single tickets are zoned, with a 2-zone ticket around DKK 24 (€3.20) and an all-zone ticket potentially reaching DKK 108 (€14.48), making them a more expensive choice for frequent use.
For unlimited travel within specific zones, a City Pass (starting from DKK 100 for a 24-hour City Pass Small covering zones 1-4) or a Copenhagen Card (which also includes attractions, from €54 for 24 hours) are available. Bicycles are a widely embraced and very affordable mode of transport, with city bike rentals costing approximately DKK 20.
For occasional or shorter, direct trips, taxis are readily available but are considerably more expensive, with an average 5km ride in Copenhagen costing DKK 112-115 (€15) and airport transfers ranging from DKK 280-350.
