Public transport in Copenhagen

Overview

Copenhagen's public transport is a single, integrated system: the driverless Copenhagen Metro (Danish: Københavns Metro), the larger S-train rapid transit network, regional and intercity trains, municipal buses, and harbour buses all share the same zone-based ticket. For a visitor this means you can buy one ticket and switch freely between metro, bus, harbour bus, and train within the zones you have paid for.

The Metro is owned by Metroselskabet (The Metro Company), which is owned by the municipalities of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg together with the Danish Ministry of Transport. Day-to-day operation is subcontracted to a private company; historically this has been Metro Service A/S. The system is fully automated and driverless, and it runs 24 hours a day, every day. Along with the New York City Subway and the Chicago "L", it is one of only three rapid transit systems in the world that operate 24/7 throughout their city limits.

Riding it end to end is straightforward. Plan your journey, check how many zones you will cross, buy a ticket in the Rejsebillet app or from a machine, and tap or scan before you board. Headways are short: trains run every two to four minutes during the day, with longer intervals of up to twenty minutes at night. In 2025 the Metro carried 135 million passengers, and Metroselskabet expects ridership to grow substantially in the coming years.

The network

The Copenhagen area is served by several distinct systems that work together under one ticketing scheme.

Metro (M1, M2, M3, M4) — the driverless light metro, with 4 lines and 44 stations, 30 of them underground. M1 and M2 share a common trunk between the city centre and Vanløse, then split to serve western and eastern Amager respectively; M2 reaches Copenhagen Airport. M3, the City Circle Line (Danish: Cityringen), is a wholly underground 15.5 km (9.6 mi) loop with 17 stops through central Copenhagen and Frederiksberg, linking Copenhagen Central Station with Vesterbro, Frederiksberg, Nørrebro, Østerbro and Indre By. It shares no track with M1 and M2 but intersects them at Kongens Nytorv and Frederiksberg. M4 extends the M3 to Nordhavn and Sydhavn, terminating at Copenhagen South Station, where it connects to the S-train network and to regional and long-distance trains. A fifth line, M5, is in the planning stages, intended to serve Refshaleøen and the under-construction Lynetteholmen neighbourhood, with the first section expected to open in 2036.
S-train (S-tog) — the larger rapid transit system that the Metro supplements, operated by DSB (Danish State Railways). It is integrated with the Metro and with regional trains.
Regional and Øresund trains — regional services and the Øresundståg trains that cross the Øresund bridge to Sweden are integrated with the Metro and S-train.
Buses — municipal buses operated by Movia, integrated into the same ticket system.
Harbour buses — boat services on the harbour, covered by the same tickets as metro, buses and trains.

Because the systems are integrated, you do not need a separate ticket for each one; a single ticket or pass covers metro, buses, harbour buses and trains within the zones you have purchased.

Tickets & fares

Public transport in Copenhagen and the rest of Zealand is divided into zones, and the price of your ticket depends on how many zones you travel through. Tickets bought through the Rejsebillet app or from ticket machines are valid on the metro, buses, harbour buses and trains across Copenhagen, Zealand, Lolland-Falster and Møn. All prices below are approximate and change over time — always check current fares before you travel.

Single ticket — for occasional trips. It activates immediately and expires after a short time limit that depends on the number of zones. Prices run from about DKK 24 (2 zones) to DKK 60 (8 zones), and single tickets are available in the Rejsebillet app.
City Pass (day ticket) — unlimited travel in the zones you select, valid for up to 5 days. Prices run from about DKK 100 (4 zones, 24 hours) to DKK 680 (all of Zealand, 120 hours), and it is available in the Rejsebillet app.
Rejsekort app (pay-as-you-go) — you swipe to check in and check out, and you do not need to work out your zones in advance. There is no need to re-check-in when you change means of transport mid-journey. Prices start from about DKK 22 (2 zones), with a 20% off-peak discount available. A physical Rejsekort travel card also exists and offers savings for longer stays or for residents.
Copenhagen Card — a tourist option that includes public transport plus access to various attractions and museums. It is worth considering if you plan to visit attractions on the same day.

You can buy tickets in several ways. The easiest is the Rejsebillet app. Ticket machines at train stations, metro stations and Copenhagen Airport accept cash or card, and 7-Eleven kiosks also sell tickets. The "DOT billetter" mobile app (Android and iOS) is another option, and you can buy tickets on buses with cash in Danish kroner only. Journey planning and ticket prices are available via journeyplanner.dk or DOT.

Children travel cheaply: two children under 12 travel free when accompanied by an adult holding a valid ticket, and children travelling alone pay a child fare until age 16, which is half the adult price (except for bicycle tickets). Most stations have lifts and escalators suitable for strollers and baby carriages.

Ticket validity depends on the ticket type and the number of zones covered. The Rejsebillet app shows a countdown timer, and machine-printed tickets show an expiration time. Your ticket must be ready for presentation before you enter a bus, train or metro, and staff carry out onboard inspections. Travelling without a valid ticket results in a fine of DKK 750. Misuse of travel documents — such as altering the date or zones, sharing or forwarding tickets, or travelling in the wrong customer category — may be a criminal offence, with the document confiscated, a report to the police, and damages claimed on top of the fare-evasion fine.

Bicycles are permitted on public transport, but the rules and prices differ between buses, trains and the metro, so check the relevant operator's guidance before you set out.

From the airport

Copenhagen Airport (CPH) is on the island of Amager, and both the Metro and mainline trains connect it directly to central Copenhagen. The airport has separate stations for mainline trains and for the metro, both in Terminal 3: the mainline station is underneath the arrivals hall, while the metro station is upstairs from the arrivals hall.

By train — the journey from Copenhagen Airport to the Central Station (Hovedbanegården) takes 12 minutes. You need a ticket for 3 zones, costing about DKK 30, which you can buy from one of the machines in the arrivals hall.
By metro — the Metro also connects the airport with central Copenhagen, taking 14 minutes to the city centre for the same ticket and the same price of about DKK 30. Trains leave every 4 minutes during the day and every 15 minutes at night. Note that the next metro station after the airport is named Kastrup — the historic name for the airport — but it has nothing to do with the airport itself.

If you plan to visit attractions on the same day, consider buying a City Pass or Copenhagen Card instead of a single ticket.

Etiquette & customs

Danish public transport is calm and orderly, and a few simple habits will help you fit in.

Queuing — wait for passengers to exit before you board, and let people off the train or bus first. Queues form naturally at doors and on platforms.
Escalators — stand on the right so that people in a hurry can pass on the left.
Quiet and priority seating — keep noise to a minimum, especially in the quiet areas and at night, and give up priority seats to those who need them.
Eating and drinking — keep food and drink modest and tidy; avoid strong-smelling food on crowded trains.
Rush hour — move down the carriage and away from the doors so others can board, and have your ticket ready before you enter, since staff carry out onboard inspections.

Official links

Survival terms

Subway/metro — Metro (Københavns Metro) — the driverless city metro
Ticket — billet — a single or period ticket
Line — linje — a numbered route, e.g. M1, M2, M3, M4
Entrance — indgang — where you enter a station
Exit — udgang — where you leave a station
Transfer — skift — changing between lines or modes
Single fare — enkeltbillet — a one-journey ticket
Day pass — dagskort / City Pass — unlimited travel for a set period

Before you travel, download the Rejsebillet app and check your zone count, so you can tap in with confidence and avoid the DKK 750 fine for travelling without a valid ticket.