Day Trips from Copenhagen – Louisiana, Kronborg, Roskilde & Malmö

Copenhagen is an ideal base for day trips: several of Zealand's most rewarding destinations are just a short train ride away, and three of the four trips featured here are even fully covered by the Copenhagen Card – including admission and the train fare. Head north for art and a Renaissance castle, west for royal tombs and Viking ships, or across the Öresund into a second country altogether. For getting around locally and to the station, see the guide Getting Around Copenhagen.

Louisiana Museum in Humlebæk

The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk combines modern art, architecture and a sculpture park with sweeping views across the Öresund – for many, the country's finest museum. It sits within walking distance of Humlebæk station, reached via the Kystbanen (coastal line, DSB regional train). The journey from Copenhagen takes around 40 minutes, with several departures an hour.

In 2026 it's open Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 to 22:00 and Saturday/Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00; closed Mondays. The long weekday evenings are a real advantage – even an afternoon start still leaves plenty of time. Admission costs DKK 145 for adults, DKK 130 for students with ID; free under 18. Tickets bought online are valid for a year, so you can use them flexibly. Admission is included with the Copenhagen Card.

Kronborg Castle in Helsingør

One stop further on the Kystbanen, the Renaissance castle Kronborg rises above Helsingør – made world-famous by Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The coastal train runs to Helsingør station (roughly every 20 minutes), from where it's about a 10-minute walk; buses 801A and 802 also run there. In 2026 the castle is open as normal, with no full closures – the state rooms, royal apartments and the casemates with the statue of the sleeping Holger Danske are all accessible, not just the exterior.

Opening hours change with the season:

• High season (28 March to 31 October) – daily 10:00 to 17:00.
• Winter (2 January to 28 March) – Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 16:00, closed Mondays.
• Christmas period (1 November to 30 December) – Tue–Fri 10:00 to 16:00, Sat/Sun 10:00 to 17:00; closed on 24, 25 and 31 December.

Admission costs DKK 150 for adults, or DKK 135 with a 10 percent online discount; free for children. The castle doesn't state an official minimum visit time, but allow one to two hours for the interiors and casemates rather than a quick look. The Copenhagen Card covers admission here too.

Roskilde – Cathedral and Viking Ships

Heading west, you can reach Roskilde by DSB regional train from København H in just around 20 to 26 minutes, with several departures an hour. The town brings together two very different World Heritage themes that combine well in a single day: medieval royal Denmark in the cathedral, and the Viking age down by the fjord.

Roskilde Cathedral is the burial place of the Danish monarchs and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2026 it's open in May Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 17:00 and Sunday 13:00 to 16:00, from June to August Mon–Sat 10:00 to 18:00, and from October to March Mon–Sat 10:00 to 16:00 and Sunday 13:00 to 16:00 – hours can vary around services. Admission costs DKK 60 for adults, DKK 40 for students and seniors 65+, DKK 50 per person for groups of ten or more; free under 18.

The Viking Ship Museum (Vikingeskibsmuseet) on the Roskilde Fjord displays original salvaged Viking ships. It's open in summer (1 May to 18 October) daily 10:00 to 17:00 and in winter (19 October to 30 April) daily 10:00 to 16:00. Admission is tiered by season: adults pay DKK 165 in summer and DKK 130 in winter, students DKK 105 and DKK 80, under-18s go free, and a family ticket costs DKK 310 or DKK 240. From the station it's about a 20 to 25-minute walk, or a short ride on bus 203. The cathedral and museum are both open all day and connected on foot or by bus – the classic one-day combination. Admission and the train fare are both covered by the Copenhagen Card.

In summer, Roskilde is also known for its major music festival. Roskilde Festival 2026 runs from 27 June to 4 July, with warm-up days from 27 to 30 June and the music programme from 1 to 4 July. A full festival ticket cost DKK 2,600 (sold out as of June 2026), a two-day ticket DKK 2,200, a day ticket DKK 1,430. If you only want to see the cathedral and the Viking ships, it's best to avoid the festival weekend, when the town is packed and prices climb.

Malmö in Sweden

Via the Öresund Bridge, you can be in a second country within the day. The direct Öresundståg runs without changing from København H to Malmö in around 35 to 40 minutes, 2 to 3 times an hour. Unlike the Danish destinations, this trip is not covered by the Copenhagen Card – the card only covers Danish destinations and transport. You'll need a separate Öresund ticket, valid for train, S-train, metro and bus across greater Copenhagen (zones 1–99) and into southern Sweden; the single fare is around DKK 109 per adult, with two children under seven travelling free.

If you're an EU or EEA citizen, you can enter Sweden on a valid national ID card or passport – a passport isn't strictly required, though travellers from outside the EU/EEA should check entry requirements before setting off. There's a border check at Hyllie station on the way in, so keep valid ID with you at all times.

A note on the well-known landmark: the Turning Torso is a private residential and office tower and not normally open to the public. Visits to the upper floors (levels 53/54) are only possible for pre-booked groups or on a handful of summer dates with limited spaces. For day visitors, the tower is mainly worth seeing from outside – good views can be had from the Västra Hamnen district and the jetty at Ribersborgs Kallbadhus. The old town and the relaxed beach district are also worth the walk.

Planning your day trip

Which trip suits you depends on your interests, the season and which card you're using. A quick overview:

• Modern art with a view – Louisiana in Humlebæk, around 40 minutes on the Kystbanen, open until 22:00 on weekdays.
• Renaissance and Hamlet – Kronborg in Helsingør, one stop further on the same line; note the Monday closure in winter.
• Double World Heritage – Roskilde with its cathedral and Viking Ship Museum, just over 20 minutes by train, both doable in one day.
• A second country – Malmö via the Öresund Bridge, requiring a separate Öresund ticket and valid ID.

Three of the four destinations – Louisiana, Kronborg and Roskilde – are fully covered by the Copenhagen Card, including admission and the regional train. If you're combining several in one day, the card pays off noticeably; see the guide Copenhagen Card for details. For choosing the right season, see the guide Best Time to Visit Copenhagen, and for fitting the trips into your itinerary, see Trip Planning.