Getting around

It is easy to travel to and from Denmark by air. There are direct flight connections from Denmark to major cities throughout the world, and a dense network of domestic flights connects the different parts of Denmark.

However, Denmark is a small country with well-functioning road and train connections so many Danes prefer to travel by train or car between the different regions of Denmark.

Danish roads are good, and traffic is generally smooth, which means that going by car is fast compared to most other countries, and a network of buses, trains and other public transport connect all parts of the country.

When distances are short, the bicycle is for many Danes a popular alternative to local buses, trains and metro.

As a means of transportation, bicycles play an important role in Denmark, and there is considerable focus on ensuring excellent conditions for cyclists.

The Danes love to bike. With more than 4.5 million bikes – almost one per citizen – you see bikes everywhere in the Danish streets. Drivers are used to paying attention to cyclists, and in many places – among them the capital of Copenhagen – cycling is the most popular way to get around.

Bikes have separate lanes along busy roads and streets, and there are also bicycle paths through some of the best countryside. Bicycles have separate, often roofed, parking facilities, and in some cities municipal bikes can be used free of charge.

Cycling rules in Denmark

For many Danes, the bicycle is a means of transport. There are many cyclists on the bicycle lanes in cities – and many locals ride fast. Therefore, it is important that you stay alert and take care of yourself and others when you cycle in Denmark. 

• Read more about how to cycle in Denmark – Danish Road Safety Council

The road system in Denmark is of a high quality, which allows you to get from A to B fairly quickly. But, as in most other countries, the main roads around large cities get very congested during rush hour.

Apart from the Great Belt Bridge (between Sealand and Funen) and the Øresund Bridge (between Copenhagen and Sweden), the entire motorway network can be used free of charge.

General speed limits for ordinary private cars are 110-130 km/h on motorways, 80 km/h on highways, and 50 km/h in towns. There may, however, be local exceptions so it is always necessary to pay attention to road signs.

A large number of cyclists mean that you need to be very vigilant as a driver. This is particularly important, as many cyclists do not always ride by the rules, occasionally jumping a red light or taking a short-cut down a one-way street.

Public transport is very efficient in Denmark. Regular and rather punctual bus and train services run between even the most remote parts of Denmark. And in the Greater Copenhagen Area, the well-run local train network (‘S-tog’), metro and bus services ensure that you can get around without a car.

In many cases, you will find the express trains equally fast and comfortable as domestic flights. DSB operates regular train services between Copenhagen and towns across Denmark and southern Sweden.

A train from Copenhagen to Aarhus will take 3 hours, to Aalborg 4 hours and to Odense 1,5 hours. You can see train routes, find times and book train tickets with DSB by calling +45 70 13 14 15. There is also the option for booking on the DSB website, where they have a handy tutorial on how to use their Danish booking system.

When planning a journey by train, bus or metro, you will find Rejseplanen (Journey Planner) a useful tool. This journey planner covers all regional and local transport companies in the entire country. Rejseplanen contains data from all Danish train and bus companies as well as most ferries.

• Rejseplanen (Journey planner) (choose English)
• DSB – Find journey and price
• Metro, bus and train in Copenhagen and the eastern part of Denmark

There are several daily domestic flights from Copenhagen to cities around Denmark. VisitDenmark, the official tourism site of Denmark, has a handy list of airports in Denmark:

• List of airports

Denmark is an island nation and there are a great many ferry routes between various islands and between Denmark and other countries. A list of ferry routes in Denmark is available at Visitdenmark.dk:

• VisitDenmark’s list of ferry routes