Day Trips from Copenhagen

Updated By exploringdenmark9 min read

One of Copenhagen’s quiet superpowers is how much sits within an hour of it. The best day trips from Copenhagen take in Viking ships, a real-life Hamlet castle, a world-class art museum on the coast – and even a second country. Here are seven worth the train fare, with how to reach each and why it earns the day.

WITHIN AN HOUR OR TWO HISTORY Roskilde – 25 min Kronborg – 45 min Frederiksborg – 40 min Castles & Viking ships ART & COAST Louisiana – 35 min Dragør – 35 min Møns Klint – ~2 hr Modern art & cliffs ANOTHER COUNTRY Malmö, Sweden ~35 min by train over the Øresund Bridge Bring your passport All reachable on public transport – no car required

The best day trips from Copenhagen

You do not need a car for any of these. Denmark’s trains are fast and frequent, and the best day trips from Copenhagen all run on the same Rejsekort or ticket you use in the city. A few are close enough for a half-day; others fill a full one. Pick by mood – castles and Vikings to the west and north, art and cliffs along the coast, or a hop across the bridge to Sweden.

Plan around the season

Outdoor highlights like Møns Klint and castle gardens are best in the warmer months, while museums work year-round. If you are still choosing dates, see our guide to the best time to visit Denmark.

Roskilde

About 25-30 minutes by train. The old royal capital packs two heavyweight sights: Roskilde Cathedral, a UNESCO-listed church and burial place of Danish monarchs, and the Viking Ship Museum, where you can see reconstructed longships and even sail one in summer. Easy, rewarding, and the most “Danish history in a day” you will find.

Kronborg and Helsingør

About 45 minutes by train. Kronborg Castle is the Renaissance fortress Shakespeare used as Elsinore in Hamlet – dramatic ramparts, grand halls and Sweden visible across the narrow sound. The harbour town of Helsingør also hides the striking, subterranean M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark. A brilliant castle-plus-coast combination.

Frederiksborg Castle (Hillerød)

About 40 minutes on the S-train. The fairy-tale Frederiksborg Castle sits on three islets in a lake, with baroque gardens and the Museum of National History inside. It is arguably Denmark’s most beautiful castle, and the gardens alone justify the trip on a fine day.

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

About 35 minutes by train to Humlebæk. Louisiana is one of the world’s great modern-art museums – not just for the art, but for the setting: galleries that open onto a sculpture park and lawns running down to the Øresund. Even art-sceptics tend to love it. Pair it easily with Kronborg on the same northern line.

Dragør

About 35 minutes by bus. A perfectly preserved old fishing town of cobbled lanes and yellow cottages, right by the airport on Amager. It is small, photogenic and refreshingly unrushed – ideal for a relaxed half-day, a harbour lunch, and a complete change of pace from the city.

Møns Klint

Around two hours, best by car or organised tour. The dazzling white chalk cliffs of Møn plunge into a turquoise sea, backed by beech forest and some of Denmark’s darkest night skies. It is the country’s most spectacular natural sight and the furthest of these trips – so go on a clear day and make it a full one. More in our Møn guide.

Malmö, Sweden

About 35-40 minutes by train over the Øresund Bridge. Cross into Sweden for the day: Malmö offers the twisting Turning Torso tower, an old town, parks and a distinctly different feel – a second country on a single ticket. Carry your passport, and if you are a non-EU visitor, factor in EU border procedures.

Getting around

Most of these run on the regional train and S-train network from Copenhagen Central or Nørreport – tap in and out with a Rejsekort, or buy single tickets. Malmö is a cross-border train (buy a ticket to Sweden); Møns Klint is the one that genuinely benefits from a car or a guided tour. Full network detail is in our public transport guide.

Questions and answers

Which is the best single day trip?

For most first-timers, Roskilde (Vikings and a royal cathedral) or Louisiana (art and coast). Castle fans should not miss Kronborg or Frederiksborg.

Can I do two in one day?

Yes – Louisiana and Kronborg sit on the same northern line and pair well. Otherwise, one destination per day is a more relaxed pace.

Do I need a car?

No, except for Møns Klint, which is awkward on public transport. Everything else is comfortably reachable by train or bus.

Do I need my passport for Malmö?

Yes, bring it – you are crossing into Sweden, and ID checks can apply at the border.

Sources

  1. VisitDenmark – the official tourism board, for attractions and opening times.
  2. VisitCopenhagen – the official city tourism site, for day-trip routes.