Getting from Copenhagen Airport to the City

Updated By exploringdenmark8 min read

Getting from Copenhagen Airport to the city is about as easy as airport transfers get: the metro or a train will have you in the centre in around 13 minutes for a flat DKK 30. The airport sits just 8 km out, the metro runs around the clock, and the station is inside the terminal. This guide covers every option, the 2026 fares, and which to pick.

THREE WAYS IN METRO M213 minDKK 30 – 24/7to Kongens Nytorv TRAIN13 minDKK 30 – every ~10 minto Central Station TAXI20-30 min~DKK 250-350door to door Verdict: take the metro or train – DKK 30, ~13 minutes, no need for a taxi

Overview

Copenhagen Airport (CPH, Kastrup) is one of the best-connected airports in Europe for getting into town. The metro and the train both reach the centre in about 13 minutes, cost the same DKK 30, and leave from a station built right into Terminal 3 – so you never step outside. A taxi is there if you want the door-to-door comfort, but for most arrivals it is unnecessary. Below, each option in turn, then the tickets.

In one line

For Copenhagen Airport to the city, take the metro (M2) or a train: about 13 minutes, a flat DKK 30, both leaving from inside Terminal 3.

The metro (M2)

The driverless M2 (yellow line) runs directly from Lufthavnen station – in the extension of Terminal 3 – to Kongens Nytorv in the heart of the city in about 13 minutes, continuing to Nørreport. It runs 24 hours a day, every few minutes in the daytime and every 15-20 minutes overnight, so timetables barely matter. If your hotel is near Kongens Nytorv, Nørreport or out towards Frederiksberg, the metro is the natural choice.

The train

The DSB train leaves from Platform 2 and reaches Copenhagen Central Station in about 13 minutes, running roughly every 10 minutes through the day. It is the better option if you are staying near the Central Station, Tivoli or Vesterbro – and it is also your connection onward to the rest of Denmark, and across the bridge to Malmö in Sweden.

Bus and taxi

Two more options round things out. Bus 5C from outside Terminal 3 reaches the Central Station in about 30-40 minutes for the same DKK 30 ticket – slower, but handy for some routes. A taxi from the ranks outside Terminals 1 and 3 takes 20-30 minutes and costs roughly DKK 250-350 depending on traffic; some hotels offer a fixed fare worth asking about in rush hour.

Tickets and prices

A single 3-zone ticket costs DKK 30 in 2026 (the airport is in zone 3), and the same ticket works on the metro, train and bus – there is no price difference between them. It is valid for 90 minutes, including transfers. Buy it from the machines at the station (they take cards and coins, but not notes) or the DSB counter, or in the official Rejsebillet app; Rejseplanen is the journey planner. One rule worth heeding: buy before you board, as inspectors check and fines are steep.

City Pass vs a single ticket

If you will hop on and off over your stay, a City Pass Small (zones 1-4, airport included) at around DKK 100 for 24 hours can beat buying singles, and covers metro, train, bus and harbour buses. And if you are buying a Copenhagen Card, public transport – including this airport trip – is already built in, so you do not need a separate ticket at all.

Which option from Copenhagen Airport to the city?

  • Staying near Kongens Nytorv, Nørreport or Frederiksberg? Take the metro.
  • Staying near Central Station, Tivoli or Vesterbro? Take the train.
  • Arriving late or laden with luggage and want zero fuss? A taxi, or the always-on metro.
  • Planning lots of trips or holding a Copenhagen Card? A City Pass or the card itself.

Questions and answers

How much is Copenhagen Airport to the city?

A single 3-zone ticket is DKK 30 in 2026, and the same price applies on the metro, train and bus.

How long does it take?

About 13 minutes by metro or train into the centre – the airport is only 8 km out.

Does the metro run at night?

Yes, the M2 runs 24/7, every few minutes by day and every 15-20 minutes overnight.

Metro or train – which is better?

The metro for Kongens Nytorv and Nørreport; the train for Central Station and onward connections. Both take about 13 minutes and cost DKK 30.

Sources

  1. VisitCopenhagen – travelling to and from the airport.
  2. Rejseplanen – the official journey planner.
  3. Copenhagen Metro – lines, times and the airport station.