Is Copenhagen Card Worth It?

Copenhagen isn’t a cheap city, so anything that promises to save money on sightseeing is going to get my attention.

The Copenhagen Card gives you entry to a long list of attractions around Copenhagen, with some versions also including public transport. But it’s not exactly cheap either, which raises the obvious question: is the Copenhagen Card worth it?

I bought a Copenhagen Card for our trip and kept track of exactly what we used it for. Even though we visited in March, when some attractions were closed and opening hours were shorter, we still managed to save money.

The Copenhagen Card has changed since my visit, so I’ve updated the information below to help you decide whether it makes sense for your trip.

The short answer? Yes, the Copenhagen Card can be excellent value – but only if you’re planning to visit enough of the attractions it includes.

Here’s how to work out whether you’ll save money.

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What is the Copenhagen Card?

The Copenhagen Card is Copenhagen’s official sightseeing pass, giving you admission to a range of attractions for one set price.

There are two versions: Copenhagen Card DISCOVER and Copenhagen Card HOP.

Copenhagen Card DISCOVER

This is the option most similar to the Copenhagen Card I used.

It includes:

• Entry to more than 80 attractions
• Unlimited public transport in zones 1–99 throughout Copenhagen and the Capital Region
• Metro, trains, buses and harbour buses
• Public transport to and from Copenhagen Airport
• Attractions outside central Copenhagen, including places in Roskilde, Hillerød and Helsingør

DISCOVER is available for 24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours.

For most independent travellers who are happy using Copenhagen’s public transport, this is the card I’d look at first.

Copenhagen Card HOP

The HOP card works differently.

It includes:

• Entry to more than 40 attractions in central Copenhagen
• Unlimited use of Stromma’s Hop-On Hop-Off buses

It does not include Copenhagen’s regular public transport or transport from the airport.

HOP is available for 24, 48 or 72 hours.

This version could make sense if you prefer sightseeing buses and plan to concentrate your time in central Copenhagen. If you want to use the metro and trains or take day trips outside the city, DISCOVER is likely to be more useful.

Both cards are digital. You can visit as many included attractions as you like while your card is valid, but each attraction can only be visited once.

How Much Does the Copenhagen Card Cost?

The price depends on which card you choose and how long you need it.

Rather than listing every price here and having them become outdated, I recommend checking the current Copenhagen Card prices before you buy.

When comparing the cost, don’t just look at attraction entry fees. With the DISCOVER card, public transport is included too.

That can make quite a difference, particularly if you’re travelling from Copenhagen Airport or planning trips to places such as Frederiksborg Castle, Kronborg Castle or Roskilde.

The important question isn’t really “Is the Copenhagen Card expensive?”

It’s “Will I spend more than that anyway?”

Ready to Buy? Get your Copenhagen Card Here

What Attractions Are Included in the Copenhagen Card?

The DISCOVER card includes more than 80 attractions, while the HOP card includes more than 40 attractions in the city.

Popular attractions included with the Copenhagen Card include:

• Tivoli Gardens
• Rosenborg Castle
• Amalienborg Museum
• Christiansborg Palace attractions
• The National Museum of Denmark
• Copenhagen Zoo
• Designmuseum Danmark
• Danish Architecture Center
• Canal Tours Copenhagen
• Frederiksborg Castle
• Kronborg Castle
• Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde

There are plenty more, but don’t buy the card simply because the list looks impressive.

Instead, make a list of the attractions you genuinely want to visit and add up their normal admission prices. The official Copenhagen Card website also has a savings calculator to help you do this.

One thing to note if Tivoli Gardens is high on your list: admission to Tivoli is included, but the rides are not. Copenhagen Card holders can buy a discounted Ride Pass.

Watch Out for Reservations and Opening Days

A Copenhagen Card doesn’t necessarily mean you can simply walk straight into every attraction.

Some attractions require advance booking. Others have their own timed-entry arrangements. For example, Rosenborg Castle requires Copenhagen Card holders to collect a same-day timed ticket.

Always check the Copenhagen Card app when planning your days.

Opening days matter too. Hours can vary throughout the year and some attractions have different Monday opening arrangements.

I discovered just how much this can affect your plans during our trip.

Does the Copenhagen Card Include Public Transport?

The Copenhagen Card DISCOVER includes unlimited public transport in zones 1–99 for the entire time your card is valid.

That includes:

• Metro
• Trains
• Buses
• Harbour buses

The area covered extends well beyond central Copenhagen, so you can use the card to travel to places such as Roskilde, Hillerød and Helsingør.

Transport to and from Copenhagen Airport is also included.

You don’t need to buy separate public transport tickets while your DISCOVER card is active. Just make sure your digital card remains active for the entire journey.

The Copenhagen Card HOP does not include regular public transport. Instead, it includes Stromma’s Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing buses.

And although trains run across the Øresund Bridge to Malmö in Sweden, travel to Malmö is not included.

How Much Did I Save With the Copenhagen Card?

When we visited Copenhagen, I bought a 72-hour Copenhagen Card.

Our timing wasn’t exactly ideal for getting maximum value from it. We visited in March, it was freezing cold and snowing, and Tivoli Gardens was closed.

One of our three days was also a Monday, which limited some of our sightseeing options.

Even so, we managed to fit quite a lot into our three days.

Here’s what we used our Copenhagen Card for:

Activity	Entry Fee at the Time
National Museum	85 DKK
HC Andersen Fairytale House	60 DKK
Nikolaj Kunsthal	70 DKK
Canal Boat Tour	80 DKK
Amalienborg	95 DKK
Rosenborg Castle	110 DKK
Round Tower	25 DKK
National Aquarium Denmark	170 DKK
Public transport – approximately 12 trips	288 DKK
Total	983 DKK

I paid 659 DKK for my 72-hour Copenhagen Card.

That meant I saved 324 DKK over three days.

Not bad considering the weather, shorter winter opening hours and our Monday sightseeing day!

Would the Same Itinerary Still Save Money Today?

Both admission prices and Copenhagen Card prices have increased significantly since my visit. The attractions included have changed too.

For example, we visited the Round Tower with our Copenhagen Card, but the Round Tower is no longer included.

That’s why I don’t think simply updating my old table with today’s prices gives you a particularly useful answer.

Instead, use my experience as an example of how to work out whether the Copenhagen Card is worth it for you.

List the attractions you genuinely want to visit, check their current admission prices and add the public transport you would otherwise need. Then compare the total with the appropriate Copenhagen Card.

And don’t count attractions you wouldn’t otherwise have paid to visit. Going somewhere purely because it’s included doesn’t really count as a saving!

So is Copenhagen Card Worth It?

For us, absolutely.

But that doesn’t mean it’s automatically good value for everyone.

The Copenhagen Card Is Probably Worth It If…

You’re more likely to get good value if you:

• Plan to visit several paid attractions
• Want to visit Copenhagen’s castles and museums
• Plan to take a canal tour
• Will use public transport regularly
• Want to visit attractions outside central Copenhagen
• Will use the DISCOVER card for airport transport

The DISCOVER card can be particularly useful for day trips to places such as Frederiksborg Castle, Kronborg Castle or Roskilde, where both public transport and included attractions can add to the value.

The Copenhagen Card May Not Be Worth It If…

I’d think twice if you:

• Prefer wandering neighbourhoods and enjoying Copenhagen’s free sights
• Only plan to visit one or two paid attractions
• Want a very relaxed itinerary
• Are staying centrally and expect to walk almost everywhere
• Want to visit several attractions that aren’t included

And don’t race around Copenhagen just to “get your money’s worth”.

Saving money isn’t much of a win if you spend your entire trip rushing from museum to museum.

Where to Buy the Copenhagen Card

You can buy the Copenhagen Card before your trip and use it digitally.

Buy your Copenhagen Card here.

Don’t activate it until you’re ready to start using it because the cards are valid for a set number of hours rather than calendar days.

If you arrive at Copenhagen Airport in the morning and plan to start sightseeing straight away, activating your DISCOVER card there may make sense because your transport into the city is included.

Arriving late at night? It may be better value to buy a separate airport ticket and activate your Copenhagen Card the following morning.

Check the app before visiting attractions too, particularly those requiring reservations or timed entry.

Copenhagen Card FAQs

Does the Copenhagen Card include public transport?

The Copenhagen Card DISCOVER includes unlimited travel on trains, buses, metro and harbour buses in zones 1–99 while your card is valid. The HOP card does not include regular public transport.

Does the Copenhagen Card include transport from Copenhagen Airport?

Yes. Transport between Copenhagen Airport and the city is included with the DISCOVER card. Just remember that your card’s validity period starts as soon as you activate it.

Is Tivoli Gardens included in the Copenhagen Card?

Yes, admission to Tivoli Gardens is included, but rides are not. Copenhagen Card holders can buy a discounted Ride Pass if they want to go on the rides.

How long is the Copenhagen Card valid?

The DISCOVER card is available for 24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours, while the HOP card is available for 24, 48 or 72 hours. The time starts when you activate your card, not when you buy it.

Is the Copenhagen Card worth it for three days?

It can be. I used a 72-hour Copenhagen Card and saved 324 DKK, despite visiting during winter when some attractions had shorter opening hours or were closed.

Whether you’ll save today depends on the attractions you want to visit and how much you’ll use public transport.

My Copenhagen Card Verdict

So, is the Copenhagen Card worth it?

It certainly was for us.

We saved money despite visiting in winter, having limited opening hours and not having ideal sightseeing conditions.

But I wouldn’t automatically buy one for every Copenhagen trip.

Look at what you genuinely want to see, add up the admission prices and consider how much you’ll use public transport. If the Copenhagen Card comes out cheaper – or even fairly close once you factor in the convenience – it’s well worth considering.

If I returned to Copenhagen for another attraction-heavy few days, I’d happily buy one again.

Looking for somewhere to stay? Take a look at these boutique hotels in Copenhagen.

You may also be interested in reading these posts
Travel Diaries – Copenhagen
Travel Diaries – Stockholm
Travel Diaries – Tromsø

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