Is the Copenhagen Card Worth It?

Overview

The Copenhagen Card is the city’s official sightseeing pass: a digital card that gets you into more than 80 museums and attractions for free and lets you ride all public transport in the region without a separate ticket. The pitch is simple – pay once, then stop counting. Whether that saves you money depends entirely on how much you actually do, so this guide ends with the maths rather than a hard sell.

What it is

The main product is the Copenhagen Card – Discover: a 100% digital pass you redeem in the official app and activate when you are ready. The clock starts the moment you first use it, and runs continuously for the duration you bought. There is also a smaller Hop version with fewer attractions and a hop-on hop-off bus instead of public transport – but for most visitors, Discover is the better value.

What’s included

Two things, bundled:

• 80+ attractions – including Tivoli Gardens, Rosenborg Castle, Amalienborg, the National Museum, the National Aquarium, the Zoo and a classic canal tour, plus many more across the region.
• Unlimited public transport – buses, trains, the metro and the yellow harbour buses across the whole Capital Region, including to and from the airport and out to Roskilde and Helsingør.

Prices and durations

The Copenhagen Card comes in 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120-hour versions, and you pay for time rather than a set number of attractions. As a 2026 anchor, the 24-hour adult card is around DKK 479 (roughly €65), with the cost per hour falling on the longer cards. Adult rates apply from age 16, with cheaper junior rates for ages 12-15 and little ones cheaper again. Prices are adjusted yearly, so confirm the current rate before booking.

Is the Copenhagen Card worth it?

Do the sum for your own plan. Over a packed 72 hours you might pay, very roughly, around DKK 155 for Tivoli, DKK 109 for a canal tour, DKK 130 for Rosenborg, DKK 175 for Christiansborg and about DKK 285 for three days of transport – already over DKK 850 before any other museum. A 72-hour card typically lands near or below that, and then every extra attraction is “free”. The rule of thumb: roughly two to three paid sights a day plus transport and the card wins.

When to skip it

It is not for everyone. Give it a miss if you are in town for under a day, if your idea of Copenhagen is wandering Nyhavn, swimming in the harbour and sitting in cafes (much of which is free), or if you only plan to see one or two paid sights. A pace that suits the card is a fairly busy one.

How to buy and use it

1. Buy online (the official Copenhagen Card site or a reseller) or in person at the Copenhagen tourist information office near Tivoli.
2. Redeem the code in the official Copenhagen Card app on your phone.
3. Activate only when you start – the timer begins on first use, so do not activate it on arrival if you are not sightseeing yet.
4. Scan and go at attractions and show it to transport staff if asked.

Questions and answers

Is the Copenhagen Card worth it?

Yes if you visit two to three paid attractions a day and use public transport – the savings add up quickly. No if your trip is short, slow, or focused on free things.

Does the Copenhagen Card include transport from the airport?

Yes. Public transport across the whole Capital Region is included, which covers the train or metro between the airport and the city, as long as your card is active.

Is Tivoli included?

Entry to Tivoli Gardens is included, but the ride wristband is extra. Several attractions work this way, so check the add-ons.

How long is the card valid?

For the hours you buy – 24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 – counted continuously from the moment you first activate it, so time your activation well.