Good news: you only really have to make one decision. Copenhagen public transport tickets are fully integrated — the metro, S-tog suburban trains, buses and harbour buses all run on the same zone-based fare, so a single ticket carries you across every mode. As a visitor you’ve got four main choices: single tickets (24 DKK for 2 zones, 30 DKK for the 3-zone airport trip), the Copenhagen City Pass (100 DKK for 24 hours, airport and harbour bus included), City Pass Large for day trips out of the city (200 DKK for 24 hours), or the Copenhagen Card (free transport plus 80 attractions). This guide compares all of them, walks through the Rejsebillet app and Rejsekort, and helps you pick the right ticket for how long you’re staying — so you can stop overthinking it and start exploring.
Tickets are just one piece of the puzzle, of course — for the full lay of the land, see our complete guide to getting around Copenhagen, then use this page to nail the fare.
Copenhagen Public Transport Tickets at a Glance
| Ticket type | Price | Coverage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single ticket, 2 zones | 24 DKK | Metro/bus/S-tog single trip | Occasional users |
| Single ticket, 3 zones | 30 DKK | Including the airport | Airport trips only |
| City Pass Large 24h | 200 DKK | Zones 1–99, all transit modes | A day trip out of the city |
| City Pass Large 72h | 440 DKK | 3 days, zones 1–99 | Several day trips |
| City Pass Small 24h | 100 DKK | Metro+bus+S-tog+harbour bus, zones 1–4 incl. airport | Best 1-day tourist value |
| City Pass Small 72h | 220 DKK | Same + 3 days | 3-day tourists |
| City Pass Small 120h | 340 DKK | Same + 5 days | Week-long visitors |
| Copenhagen Card 24h | 589 DKK | Transport + 80 attractions | Tourist with attractions |
| Copenhagen Card 48h | 859 DKK | Same + 2 days | 2-day tourist with attractions |
| Copenhagen Card 72h | 1,039 DKK | Same + 3 days | 3-day tourist |
Which Ticket by Trip Length
The right ticket depends almost entirely on how long you’re here and whether you’re doing attractions. Here’s the quick logic.
One day: Copenhagen City Pass 24h
For a single day, the City Pass 24h at 100 DKK is the pick. It covers the metro, S-tog, buses and harbour buses in zones 1–4, the airport run included. Buy it in the Rejsebillet app, at a machine, or at the visitor centre.
Two to three days: Copenhagen City Pass 72h
The 72-hour City Pass at 220 DKK works out to about 73 DKK a day, and the 48-hour pass is 160 DKK — both better value than stacking 24-hour passes, with the same coverage.
Three to five days with attractions: Copenhagen Card
If you’re hitting three or more paid attractions a day on top of heavy transport use, the Copenhagen Card starts to pay for itself (589 DKK for 24h, 859 for 48h, 1,039 for 72h). Our Copenhagen Card review runs the full math so you can be sure before you buy.
Long stays: Rejsekort
Rejsekort is the pay-as-you-go option, a couple of kroner cheaper than a single ticket (22 DKK for 2 zones and 28 DKK for 3 in 2026) — really only worth it for long-stay residents and students. The anonymous plastic card closed on 29 June 2026, so today you travel with the Rejsekort app or a Basiskort, and a personal Rejsekort needs a Danish CPR number. If you still have an old anonymous card, its balance can be refunded until 29 June 2027. Most visitors can skip it.
Copenhagen Zones Explained
The fare is zone-based, and here’s the reassuring part: central Copenhagen, where most of the sights are, is zone 1.
- Zone 1: central Copenhagen
- Zone 4: Copenhagen Airport
- Zones 1–99: the full range across the Capital Region, covered by City Pass Large; Roskilde and Hillerød lie further out within it
A 2-zone ticket covers all of central Copenhagen plus Frederiksberg, and the airport is a 3-zone trip. City Pass Large, which covers zones 1–99, takes in the whole of Greater Copenhagen — handy if you’re day-tripping out to a castle.
How to Buy Tickets
There are more ways to buy than you’ll ever need, but here they are ranked by how painless they are:
- The Rejsebillet app (easiest) — buy any ticket by card, with no separate validation step
- Self-service machines at every metro, S-tog and DSB station — Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay
- Bus drivers — cash and cards accepted, but the ticket only covers that one bus journey
- Visitor centres — the Copenhagen Visitor Center, Central Station and the airport tourist office
- City Pass at machines — possible, though the app is simpler
Validation and the Honour System
This trips people up, so pay attention: there are no ticket gates anywhere. It’s an honour system, and how you "validate" depends on your ticket:
- Mobile tickets (Rejsebillet or DSB app): validated automatically when you buy; just show your phone if asked
- Paper tickets: must be stamped at a platform machine before boarding (these are increasingly rare)
- Rejsekort: tap on at the start, tap off at the end — validation is automatic
- City Pass / Copenhagen Card: validated automatically; show it on your phone or the physical card
Because there are no barriers, it’s easy to assume nobody’s checking — but inspectors ride the metro, S-tog and buses at random. Riding without a valid ticket costs an adult 750 DKK on the metro, S-tog and DSB trains, and 1,000 DKK on a bus. Not worth the gamble.
Children and Discounts
Travelling as a family is cheap here, which is a nice surprise:
- Children under 12 travel free with a paying adult (up to 2 children per adult)
- Children 12-15 get 50% off adult fares
- Adult fares apply from 16
- Senior fares exist; Din Offentlige Transport’s site sets out who qualifies and how to buy them
- Student discounts with a Danish/EU student ID via the Rejsekort Pendlerkort
Where to Buy: Compared
| Source | Ticket types | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rejsebillet app | All single, day, City Pass | Convenient, paperless, mobile validation | Needs the app |
| Self-service machines | All single + day tickets | Cash and card; multilingual | Queues at peak times |
| Bus driver | Single tickets only | Buy right on the bus | Single trip only; cash slows boarding |
| Online (rejsekort.dk) | Rejsekort app and Basiskort | Set up and manage a Rejsekort | Aimed at residents |
| Visitor centre | All, including Copenhagen Card | Helpful staff | Limited locations |
Common Ticket Mistakes to Avoid
A few small slip-ups catch visitors out again and again. Sidestep these and you’ll travel smoothly:
- Buying a 2-zone single for the airport. The airport is a 3-zone trip from the centre, so you need a 3-zone ticket (30 DKK) or a City Pass — not the 24 DKK 2-zone single.
- Stacking single tickets when a pass is cheaper. Three or more trips in a day and a City Pass almost always wins; do the quick sum before your first ride.
- Assuming no gates means no checks. Inspectors board at random, and a 750 DKK fine on the metro or trains (1,000 DKK on buses) dwarfs any ticket you skipped.
- Forgetting the harbour bus. It is ordinary public transport, so a 2-zone ticket or a City Pass covers it — worth knowing if you want that scenic water ride.
- Setting up Rejsekort for a short trip. Saving a couple of kroner a ride rarely matters over a few days; the Rejsebillet app is simpler for visitors.
Copenhagen Public Transport Tickets FAQs
How much does a ticket cost?
A single 2-zone ticket is 24 DKK; a 3-zone (airport) single is 30 DKK. The City Pass 24h is 100 DKK (best value, airport and harbour bus included), City Pass Large for zones 1–99 is 200 DKK, and the Copenhagen Card 24h is 589 DKK with 80 attractions.
Can I use one ticket on the metro and bus?
Yes — tickets are integrated across the metro, S-tog and bus, and the same tickets cover the harbour bus. One ticket, within its validity window, covers any combination of modes.
City Pass or Copenhagen Card?
The City Pass (100 DKK/24h, 220 DKK/72h) covers transport only. The Copenhagen Card (589 DKK/24h, 1,039 DKK/72h) adds free entry to 80 attractions. If you’ll do three or more paid attractions, go Card; if you just need transport, go City Pass. Our Copenhagen Card review has the numbers.
Where do I buy tickets?
The Rejsebillet app (or the DSB app) is easiest. Otherwise, self-service machines at every metro, S-tog and DSB station, bus drivers (cash accepted), or the Copenhagen Visitor Center, Central Station and airport offices for the City Pass and Copenhagen Card.
Do I need to validate my ticket?
Mobile tickets from the app validate automatically. Paper tickets need stamping at a platform machine before boarding (rare now). With Rejsekort you tap on at the start and off at the end. It’s an honour system with random checks.
What is Rejsekort?
It’s Copenhagen’s pay-as-you-go card, a couple of kroner cheaper than single tickets — tap on at the start, tap off at the end. It’s best for long-stay residents and students; most visitors are better off with app tickets or a City Pass.
Are tickets cheaper online?
No — public transport tickets cost the same in the app or at machines and visitor centres. The one exception is DSB Orange tickets for intercity trains, which are cheaper when you book ahead; our train travel guide covers those.
Can I get a refund?
Generally no — single and day tickets are non-refundable once issued, and the Copenhagen Card can’t be refunded after activation. The balance on an old anonymous Rejsekort can be refunded until 29 June 2027.
Are the inspectors strict?
Yes — the fine is 750 DKK on the metro and trains and 1,000 DKK on buses, checks are random across all of them, and there’s no tourist exemption. "I didn’t know" won’t get you off, so always carry a valid ticket. Buying one takes under a minute in the app, which makes the risk pointless.
Related Reading
- Crossing to Malmö — the Øresund train, the bridge, and what a day in Sweden costs.
- Riding the Copenhagen metro
- Walking tours — free tip-based walks plus food, history and architecture tours.
- Airport to city centre
- Bike rental in Copenhagen — Donkey Republic and the rental shops worth using.
- Things to do in Copenhagen
- Day-by-day Copenhagen itineraries
- Taxi options in the city
The Verdict
Copenhagen public transport tickets are clearly priced and genuinely well-integrated, so this needn’t be complicated. For most visitors it comes down to: one day, the City Pass 24h (100 DKK); two or three days, the City Pass 48h or 72h (160 or 220 DKK); or the Copenhagen Card if you’re piling on paid attractions. Buy and validate through the Rejsebillet app, skip Rejsekort unless you’re staying a couple of weeks, and always hold a valid ticket — a 750 DKK fine on the metro, or 1,000 DKK on a bus, is real. Sort the fare in five minutes on arrival, and you’re free to roam.
Last updated: July 2026. Photo credits: images via copenhagentourism.org media library.
