From Kastrup Airport to the City Centre

Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup, CPH) lies just eight kilometres south-east of the city centre and is as tightly linked to the rail network as almost any major airport in Europe. The metro station and the train station both sit directly beneath the main terminal, and both get you into the centre in about a quarter of an hour. You won't need a taxi or an expensive express ticket – just a choice between two options that are nearly equally fast, and that choice comes down almost entirely to where your hotel is. For the wider picture on getting to Copenhagen in the first place, see the guide Getting to Copenhagen.

Where the metro and train depart

All rail connections run via Terminal 3, the airport's central arrivals and departures terminal. There are no separate stations for Terminal 1 or 2 – after baggage claim, just follow the signs for "Metro" or "Train". The Lufthavnen metro station sits at the end of Terminal 3, and the DSB train station is there too, on platforms 1 and 2. Both are a few minutes' walk away.

That's welcome news if you've just landed with luggage: the metro is step-free via lifts, driverless and low-floor, so a wheeled suitcase is no problem. At the train station, lifts and escalators reach every platform. If you need the DSB accessibility service, book it at least twelve hours ahead.

By M2 metro

The driverless M2 metro line is the easy default option. It runs 24 hours a day: every four to six minutes during the day and evening, and every 15 to 20 minutes overnight (roughly between 00:00 and 05:00, depending on the day of the week). It takes around 13 to 15 minutes to Kongens Nytorv in the heart of Indre By, and about 15 minutes to Nørreport according to the airport.

The frequent service is the real advantage: you never need to check a timetable, just head to the platform. The M2 serves the eastern and northern city centre directly – ideal if your hotel is around Kongens Nytorv, Nørreport, or the bustle of Nyhavn.

One thing to know if you're out late on weeknights (Monday to Thursday): the M2 runs a reduced overnight service on those nights. Between the airport and the western stations towards Vanløse, you'll need to change at Christianshavn onto the M1. During the day and at weekends, the M2 runs straight through.

By regional train

The fastest pure journey to the Central Station is the regional train. From the airport station to Copenhagen Central Station (København H) it takes around 13 minutes, with services roughly every ten minutes during the day and one to three an hour overnight. Worth knowing – the airport is not served by the S-train (S-tog) network. DSB regional and InterCity trains run there, along with Øresund trains, so don't go looking for an "S-train to the airport".

The train comes into its own when your destination is at or near the Central Station – around Tivoli and Vesterbro – or if you're continuing your journey straight on: to Malmö and the rest of Sweden, as well as to other parts of Denmark, København H is the most convenient starting point. Since the Øresund trains already run via the airport towards Sweden anyway, taking the train saves you a change.

Metro or train – the quick decision

Both options are roughly as fast as each other and cost exactly the same. Your destination is what decides it:

• Train, if your hotel is near the Central Station, Tivoli or Vesterbro – or if you're continuing on to Malmö, Sweden or elsewhere in Denmark.
• M2 metro, if you're heading into the eastern city centre (Kongens Nytorv, Nørreport, Nyhavn), or you'd simply rather have the shortest wait thanks to the frequent service.

The bottom line: the train is marginally faster for the pure trip to the Central Station, while the metro's tight frequency usually means shorter waits overall, and it runs reliably around the clock. Check for current disruptions or engineering works shortly before you travel via the metro's status page (m.dk). For how to get around once you're in the city, see the guide Public transport in Copenhagen.

Tickets, prices and apps

The airport and the city centre sit close together on the fare map: the airport is zone 4, the city centre zone 1, and the journey is charged as a 3-zone trip across the rings. A single ticket like this costs 30 DKK in 2026 (around €4) and works across metro, train and bus alike – around the clock, with no night surcharge. There's no separate, pricier airport express ticket, and the same ticket lets you change services within its validity (around ninety minutes, including transfers).

Buying tickets changed a little in 2026: the old DOT Billetter app was discontinued at the end of 2025. The recommended alternatives are:

• Rejsebillet app – for single tickets and the City Pass, valid for metro, train and bus.
• Rejsekort app – check-in/check-out and pay-as-you-go, also valid across all modes.
• DSB app – works reliably for train tickets.

Without a smartphone, buy from a ticket machine right by the platforms in Terminal 3. The machines take cards and some coins, but no notes.

If you're planning more than just the one-way transfer, a travel pass is often better value. The City Pass Small covers zones 1 to 4 – including the airport – and is valid on the metro, S-train, bus and harbour buses; the 24-hour version costs around 100 DKK. And with the Copenhagen Card (Discover), transport between the city and the airport is included at no extra cost, along with the M2 metro and S-trains within the city; it's available for 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours. Whether it's worth it for your trip is covered in the guide Is the Copenhagen Card worth it?.

Storing your luggage

If you're arriving early or leaving late and don't fancy dragging a suitcase around all day, there are left-luggage options. Copenhagen Central Station has a left-luggage facility at the Istedgade exit in the basement: small lockers for around 70 DKK, large ones for around 80 DKK per 24 hours – though they're often full at busy times. The airport itself also has a left-luggage service – handy if your departure overlaps with one last wander around the city.