If you’re an avid cruise ship enthusiast then you already know this problem. You get off the ship in a new port and thousands of people are getting off at the same time. It’s chaos and all the interesting bits of the new city are far away. How to get from the cruise ship into town becomes the big question.
Welcome to Copenhagen. Here, getting from cruise ship into town it’s not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.
Where am I?
Copenhagen has 3 landing docks: Ocean Quay, Nordre Tolbod and Langelinie. Make sure you know which one you have landed at.
Now during the high season most cruise lines WILL have a shuttle bus. I know it’s hard to find in the chaos, but please ask on the ship or on shore and someone should be able to point you in the right direction. The shuttle bus will very likely take you to Kgs. Nytorv which is very much in the center of town. The ride takes a maximum of about 15 – 20 min. It leaves and returns at set intervals so ask the driver when the bus to return is.
Taxi
There may be taxis but with the amount of people disembarking there is no way to reserve one, and they may all be taken very quickly. Sadly Denmark has no Uber, but don’t panic, everyone speaks at least English and probably one other foreign language and most signs are translated so you won’t be completely lost. Don’t be afraid to speak to locals, we are generally very friendly. The taxi ride will cost about 250 DKK and take about 20 min to get to Kgs. Nytorv from all 3 landing sites.
Walking:
It is possible to walk into town from all 3 places, but you must be a strong walker to do so. If you land at Langelinie however, it’s much easier to walk to the Little Mermaid than to take any transportation.
How to take Public Transportation
Tickets can be bought at the station either in the red machines (they accept both coins and credit card!) or at the 7/11 shops. These are ubiquitous and double as ticket offices. It is NOT possible to purchase a ticket once you are on the train or bus so you will need to get it beforehand.
Once you are confronted with the red machines, don’t try to understand the zone system. It’s horrible and not even the people who made it understand it. Anywhere in the center city can be reached with a 2 zone ticket (blue). This is 24 DKK and is one way. Once you have purchased it, you won’t need to stamp it, or even show it to anyone unless asked. Just keep it on you in case you are challenged by a conductor.
Children under 12 travel free in company with an adult, children 12-16 at half price.
The station closest to the city center is Nørreport station. From here you can also find connections to just about anywhere else if you need to travel a bit further. If you get off here however, you are quite close to nearly all of the major attractions.
The Copenhagen card
If all of this seems too much trouble to work out you can order a Copenhagen card already before you arrive in the city. With the Copenhagen card you have free access to many museums and free public transportation anywhere in the area. It can also be bought at the tourist information office and at most hotels. Here is a link to purchase it. If you need to go further than the city center or have more than one day to spend this is absolutely worth it. If you merely wish to go back and forth from the ship once then a normal 2 zone ticket is your best option.
From Ocean Quay
To get to Nørreport in the summer season take bus number 25 from the bus stop at Ocean Quay. It goes directly there. You can also take bus number 27 all year round to Østerport Station and then take the S-train in the direction Køge, Høje Taastrup, Frederikssund, Farum or Hillerød (lines A, B, C, E or H) and get off at Nørreport Station. (1 stop).
From Nordre Tolbod
To get to Nørreport take bus 1A to Østerport station and then the S-train in the direction Køge, Høje Taastrup, Frederikssund, Farum or Hillerød (lines A, B, C, E or H) and get off at Nørreport Station. (1 stop).
You can also take the hop on hop off bus to all central locations from here. The price is 199 DKK.
From Langelinie
If you would like to see the Little Mermaid your best bet is still to walk from here.
To get to Nørreport however, take bus 26 from the bus stop to Østerport station and take the S-train in the direction Køge, Høje Taastrup, Frederikssund, Farum or Hillerød (lines A, B, C, E or H) and get off at Nørreport Station. (1 stop).
You can also take the hop on hop off bus to all central locations from here. The price is 199 DKK.
Pro tips
The only thing the Central Train Station is central for is Tivoli Gardens amusement park.
If your ticket was never checked, don’t worry, it doesn’t have to happen every time, but if you don’t have a ticket and are stopped by a conductor the fines are pretty steep. The conductors also NEVER accept the excuse “oh, I am new here and I didn’t understand the signs”.
The airport is easy to reach. The ticket is 3 zones, 36 DKK pr adult, and trains depart from Nørreport, Østerport and the Central Train Station. However, the quickest way to get there is the Metro from Nørreport or Kgs. Nytorv. It takes about 20 min. and deposits you directly inside the departure terminal.
Don’t bother tipping on taxis, it is not necessary, as the tip is already included in the taxi meter when you start the tour.
We hope you’ve found this post useful and that if you find yourself in Copenhagen you will try one of the many wonderful tours and excursions. There is so much to see and experience. Remember that our wonderful Culinary Experience Tour starts just a 2 min walk from Nørreport station.
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