Copenhagen, as one of the world's most important major cities, is always busy and bustling. There are a lot of tourists exploring the city, locals are running around to get to where they need to be, and many are hustling to make a living. Yet, even with all of this going on, the Danish capital remains more peaceful than many other capital cities around the world. It's busy, yes, but it's not so hectic that visitors will be put off. And it's all thanks to the city's public transport. Thanks to the many systems in place, you can go to your destination with no problem at all.
Copenhagen's Travel Passes
As with any other city, Copenhagen offers travel passes to make commuting within the city easier and more time-efficient. The first one is the
Copenhagen Card which gives you unlimited access to the city's public transport systems. Not to mention free entry to more than 80 museums and cultural attractions in the Danish capital. There are many types of Copenhagen Cards that are available, giving you unlimited access from 24 to 120 hours in total. They cost around DKK 54.00 to DKK 133.00 each. Meanwhile, the
City Pass offers similar unlimited access for the same amount of time but instead comes in the form of a digital travel ticket you can download on your phone.
The Underground Metro in Copenhagen
Similar to
London and
Paris, Copenhagen is another capital city that has its own underground metro system. It has three separate routes and they all run 24/7, making it convenient for late-night commuters as well. Normally, each train arrives at the station around three to six minutes from each other, allowing you very little time to catch it if you're running late. Even more so during rush hour, when the trains travel only in two to four-minute intervals. As for late-night trains, their intervals are longer at seven to fifteen minutes each.
Copenhagen's S-Train
If you know all about
Copenhagen's many districts, you'll know that some parts are more urban than others. Hence, the city also has the S-train system, making it convenient for those who are traveling within the central and more bustling parts of the Danish capital. Unlike Copenhagen's metro system, the S-train travels above ground and only runs from 5:00 am in the morning to 12:30 am-midnight every weekday. On Fridays and Saturdays, however, the S-trains run from 1:00 am to 5:00 am in the morning. Among its many lines, line F is the busiest, traveling in between four to five-minute intervals. All the other lines, from A to E, stop at the station every ten minutes.
Riding The Bus
The Danish capital has three kinds of buses. The first one is the A-bus which travels throughout the central neighborhoods of the city. They run 24/7 and travel in between ten-minute intervals. During rush hour, however, which is often around 7:00 am to 9:00 am in the morning and 15:30 (3:30) pm to 17:30 (5:30) pm in the afternoon, their intervals are reduced to every three to seven minutes. The S-buses, on the other hand, which only run from 6:00 am in the morning to 1:00 am at night, more or less travel the same routes but with fewer stops. While the night buses only run from 1:00 am to 5:00 am in the wee hours of the morning.
Source: Flickr.com/ Luis Suarez
Harbor Buses in Copenhagen
Although you could say that Copenhagen's harbor buses are the fourth kind of bus in the city, they're more regarded as ferries than typical buses. You can, however, buy a ticket for the harbor bus the same way you do when going for a standard land bus, be it digital or at a stop. Depending on where you depart from, the harbor bus can either take you up north to Refshaleøen or down south to Teglholmen. They all travel a single route regardless of the destination and has a total of nine stops in between.
Bikes and Electric Scooters
Just like in Amsterdam, riding your bike has become a common way to get around Copenhagen. Thanks to the city's bike project,
Bycyklen, you can now easily rent electric bikes throughout the city. Just look for a nearby stop, pay the necessary amount for the time that you'll need the bike, and you're good to go! Do note that you don't have to return the bike to the original stop that you got it from. As long as you return it to any stop within the city, you're fine. Also, you can rent bikes from rental services throughout Copenhagen too.
Although many popular transportation apps don't operate in Denmark, the country itself has come up with its very own. Most of which you can use in Copenhagen. From ride-hailing apps to journey-planning programs, going digital with your commute can make for a time-efficient and more convenient way of traveling. If use a transportation app, you're more assured to get a ride instead of trying to hail a taxi off the street, especially during rush hour. And in terms of purchasing tickets, you won't need to fall in line and get out your change if you already bought them online.
Copenhagen was already a pleasant city to begin with, but thanks to its efficient public transport systems, it became an easier place to visit or even move to. Whenever you need to travel within the city, you have nothing to worry about!
