Is the Copenhagen Card worth it? An honest review & details of savings

There are plenty of things to do in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark but it's not a cheap city. A discount card like the Copenhagen Card allows you to see a lot of the most important places while saving you money at the same time.

Is the Copenhagen Card worth buying for every trip or does it depend on the kind of traveler you are? This post breaks it down for you.
 

What is the Copenhagen Card?

Copenhagen is by no means a cheap city so you’re going to want to do anything you can to make it more budget friendly. And I don’t just mean buying supermarket beers.

To make things worse, the Danish capital is absolutely packed full of cool things to see and do, which makes its expensive-ness even more annoying as you have to be very selective about which attractions you choose to visit.

The Copenhagen City Card is your ticket to the city. It is an all-inclusive card that grants you entry to many of the city’s top attractions (such as the National Museum, Kronborg Castle, The Round Tower), offers free access to public transport, and treats you to a range of great perks and discounts.

If you’re keen on culture and looking to visit more than just the city’s bars, then this card is a good way to get your money’s worth. The Copenhagen Card opens the door to the famous Tivoli Gardens, dozens of museums, palaces, castles, and some exciting boat and train tours.
 

Copenhagen Card cost and options

The type of Copenhagen card you’ll want to buy will depend on how long you intend on spending in the city. The more expensive Copenhagen Card price is for adults (16+) and the cheaper price is for children (ages 10-15). Families can take two children under 10 for free. The options are as follows:

• Copenhagen Card 24 hours: 57€/28€ (US$65/US$33)
• Copenhagen Card 48 hours: 83€/42€ (US$97/US$49)
• Copenhagen Card 72 hours: 102€//50€ (US$119/US$58)
• Copenhagen Card 96 hours: 120€/60€ (US$140/US$70)
• Copenhagen Card 120 hours: 135€//67€ (US$157/US$78)

Copenhagen Card benefits: what's included?

The following are completely free to enter with the Copenhagen Card:

Museums and galleries

• Alhambra: The Museum for Humour and Satire (EUR 8)
• Amber Museum (EUR 4)
• Arken Museum of Modern Art (EUR 20)
• Bakkehuset [closed until April 2020] (EUR 8)
• Circus Museum (EUR 8)
• Copenhagen Contemporary (EUR 13)
• Danish Architecture Centre (EUR 15)
• Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art (EUR 11)
• Design Museum of Denmark (EUR 16)
• Experimentarium (EUR 31)
• Frederikssund Museum (EUR 7)
• Frigate Peder Skram – The Vessels at Holmen (EUR 7)
• Glyptoteket (EUR 15)
• Guinness World Records (EUR 12)
• Hans Christian Andersen Fairytale House (EUR 10)
• Helsingor City Museum (EUR 6)
• J.F. Willumsens Museum (EUR 8)
• Karen Blixen Museum (EUR 12)
• Koge Museum (EUR 14)
• Kos Museum of Art in Public (EUR 9)
• Kunstforeningen GL Strand (EUR 12)
• Kunsthal Charlottenborg (EUR 12)
• Lejre Museum (EUR 7)
• Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (EUR 20)
• M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark (EUR 17)
• Medical Museion (EUR 10)
• Mosede Fort Denmark (EUR 14)
• Munkeruphus (EUR 9)
• Museum of Contemporary Art (EUR 8)
• Natural History Museum of Denmark: Botanical Garden (EUR 14)
• Natural History Museum of Denmark: Zoological Museum (EUR 15)
• Natural History Museum of Denmark (EUR 13)
• Nikolaj Kunsthal (EUR 8)
• Nordatlantens Brygge (EUR 5)
• Open Air Museum (EUR 10)
• Ordrupgaard (EUR 10)
• Planetarium (EUR 21)
• Ragnarock (EUR 13)
• Ripley’s Believe It or Not (EUR 12)
• Roskilde Museum (EUR 7)
• Rudolph Tegner Museum and Statue Park (EUR 10)
• SMK: The National Gallery of Denmark (EUR 17)
• The Danish Jewish Museum (EUR 10)
• The Danish Museum of Science (EUR 14)
• The Danish Music Museum (EUR 9)
• The Hirschsprung Collection (EUR 13)
• The Mystic Exploratorie (EUR 8)
• The National Museum (EUR 13)
• The Vedbækfundene Museum (EUR 5)
• The Workers Museum (EUR 12)
• Thorvaldsens Museum (EUR 11)
• Viking Ship Museum (EUR 15)

Castles and churches

• Amalienborg (EUR 15)
• Christiansborg, The Royal Kitchens (EUR 8)
• Christiansborg, The Royal Reception Rooms (EUR 13)
• Christiansborg, The Royal Stables (EUR 8)
• Church of Our Saviour (EUR 7)
• Cisternerne (EUR 9)
• City Hall Tower (EUR 5)
• Esrum Abbey and Møllegård (EUR 8)
• Frederiksborg Castle (EUR 10)
• GL Holtegaard (EUR 10)
• Jaegerspris Castle (EUR 10)
• Kronborg Castle (EUR 13)
• Rosenborg Castle (EUR 15)
• Roskilde Cathedral (EUR 10)
• Ruins Under Christiansborg (EUR 8)
• The Round Tower (EUR 4)

Entertainment & nature

• Casino Copenhagen (EUR 15)
• Copenhagen Zoo (EUR 26)
• Den Bla Planet, National Aquarium (EUR 23)
• Falcon Garden (EUR 17)
• Lejre Land of Legends (EUR 25)
• Skibsklarerergaarden (EUR 6)
• The Oresund Aquarium (EUR 12)
• Tivoli Gardens (EUR 18)
• Falkonergården (EUR 17)

Tours

• Boat Tours (EUR 13)
• Canal Tours Copenhagen (EUR 13)
• Copenhagen Train Tours (EUR 11)
• Danish War Museum (EUR 11)
• Kronborg Mini-Cruise (EUR 9)
• The Frederiksborg Ferry (EUR 5)
• The Netto Boats (EUR 6)
• The Shipyard Museum (EUR 6)
• Baadfarten Boat Tours (EUR 89)
• Solve a Mystery (EUR 39)

Free Public Transport

In addition to free entry into some of Copenhagen’s top attractions, the Copenhagen Card also provides you with free public transport. You will have unlimited use of the trains, trams, metro, and harbour buses throughout the region, including zones 1-99 (check the limits on the Copenhagen Card website). This includes transport to and from Copenhagen airport.

If you purchase a City Pass Large, which offers unlimited travel in zones 1-99 for 72 hours, you’ll pay 53 EUR.

The 72 hour Copenhagen Card includes free entry to so many sights and is only an extra 46 EUR, making the transportation element of the card really worthwhile. If you are planning to travel a lot by public transport the Copenhagen Card is worth buying as you will definitely save money.
 

Copenhagen Card discount list

Sightseeing Tours

• City Bike Adventures – 20%
• City Sightseeing Copenhagen Bus All Lines – 20%
• City Sightseeing Copenhagen Bus Mermaid – 20%
• Copenhagen Bicycles – 10%
• Copenhagen Panorama Sightseeing – 20%
• Copenhagen Urban Adventures – 20%
• Hop On – Hop Off Boat – 20%
• Hop On – Hop Off Bus & Boat – 20%
• Hop On – Hop Off Bus All Lines – 20%
• Hop On – Hop Off Bus Mermaid – 20%
• Hop On – Hop Off Bus, Boat & City Train – 20%
• Magnificent Malmo – 10%
• Nova Fairy Tales – 10%
• Our Way Tours – 20%
• Red Buses – 16.66%
• Segway Cruise Copenhagen – 15%
• Segway Tours Copenhagen – 10%
• Tours Copenhagen – 10%

Transport

• Donkey Republic – 10%
• Sundbusserne – 25%

Cafes & restaurants

• Groften Tivoli – 10%
• Cock’s & Cows – 20%
• Hard Rock Cafe – 10%
• Hereford Village – 10%
• Restaurant Amalfi – 15%
• Restaurant Bonjour Vietnam – 20%
• Restaurant Vita – 10%
• Wallmans Dinnershow – 25%

Copenhagen Card app

The Copenhagen Card includes both a physical guidebook and an app to give you insight into what to see and do around the city, which is great if it's your first time in Copenhagen.
 

Example itinerary with and without the Copenhagen card

Let’s imagine you’re going to buy the 72 hour Copenhagen Card and you are going to use the card all day as you make your way through your jam-packed itinerary. This is what your trip could end up looking like:

Day One:

• Morning – Tivoli Gardens
• Afternoon – Canal Tours Copenhagen

Day Two:

• Morning – Glyptoteket
• Afternoon – Rosenborg Castle

Day Three:

• Morning – Copenhagen Zoo
• Afternoon – The National History Museum of Denmark

Without a Copenhagen Card, this itinerary will cost you EUR 100 just on entry to the attractions you visit. That doesn’t factor in any public transport you use during that time, which could cost you up to EUR 53 if you are using it a lot. That brings the total to EUR 153.

With the Copenhagen Card, this itinerary will cost EUR 102 – the price of the 72-hour card.

On top of that, with the Copenhagen card in tow, you could save money on your meals by eating in the restaurants that offer a discount. Eating in Denmark is not cheap so saving 20% will be a welcome relief for your travel budget.

While this itinerary looks pretty busy, some of the attractions, such as the Rosenborg Castle, can be done in just a couple of hours, leaving you with time to add in a couple of extra attractions if you’re feeling zealous.
 

Who is the Copenhagen Card for?

The Copenhagen Card is for anyone who wants to squeeze as much activity into their vacation as possible. Whether it's your first time or tenth time visiting the city, there's just so much to do.

Denmark is steeped in history and culture and there is no better way to learn all about it than by perusing the country’s finest museums, galleries, castles, palaces, and monuments.

If you are an active traveler and plan on packing a lot into your Copenhagen vacation, this card is really good value. Plus if you are traveling in a family, it is worth noting that two children under 10 can accompany each paying adult for free. That could make a serious difference in price if you want to drag your kids through museums all weekend or want to treat them to a trip to the zoo or the Tivoli Gardens.

While a lot of City Cards out there are not actually particularly good value, the Copenhagen Card is one of the exceptions. For the proactive traveler, this card could be a godsend.

Having said that, in order to make this card worthwhile, you need to make sure you are visiting at least two of the attractions with free entry every day, otherwise, you just won’t make your money back with the amount you save.

If you want a chilled vacation, which involves wandering around the city and maybe popping into a museum or two, this card is not worth buying. It will be more economical in that scenario simply to buy individual tickets as and when you need them.
 

How to choose the best Copenhagen Card for you?

There isn’t much choice when it comes to buying the card. You simply buy the card that corresponds with the amount of time you will be there whether that's 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, 96 hours, or 120 hours.

My advice is to buy the card for slightly less time than the total duration of your trip. These cards are expensive so you don’t want to be paying for time that you aren’t going to use.
 

Where to buy the Copenhagen Card?

You can buy the card at various sales points all over the city, including most 7-Elevens, hotels, tourist information points, stations and museums. Alternatively, you can buy the card online and collect it from the city or download it onto your phone as a digital card. If you choose to collect it, you can do so from the following places:

• Copenhagen Airport Service Information (Terminal 3)
• Copenhagen Visitor Centre
• Tours & Tickets Copenhagen Central Station
• Tivoli Box Office

Honestly, the easiest option is to buy it online and to use your phone to present your card in digital format. This way, you won’t lose your card and you know you will always have it on you.
 

Practical tips for getting the most out of your Copenhagen Card

The Copenhagen Card is expensive but when you look at how much you can save when you use it well, it is worth buying. My first piece of advice is to go through the list above of attractions included with the card and make a note of everything you want to see during your trip.

Next, check the opening times of these attractions – some will be closed on Sundays or Mondays so you should plan the order in which you visit them accordingly. Also, be aware of what time they open and close each day.

Then, check where these attractions are situated on the map. It sounds obvious to say it, but I will anyway. If two or three attractions are all close to each other, try and plan your day so that you visit all of them in one go. This will save you precious time schlepping back and forth across the city, leaving you with more time to visit attractions and make the most of your card.

Seeing as you have a public transport ticket attached to your Copenhagen Card, it makes sense to use it. Once the museums are closed and you can’t enjoy any more free entries, use your travel pass to explore the city. Hop on a tram or the metro and see where you end up. You might end up discovering a hidden gem while you’re at it.

Ready to explore Copenhagen? Get your Copenhagen Card from GetYourGuide. They allow you to cancel up to 24 hours beforehand in case you change your mind.
 

Don't forget travel insurance

Plan for the best, prepare for the worst. Travel insurance has you covered in case (part of) your trip gets canceled, you get sick or hurt abroad, and sometimes even when your electronics break or get stolen. I always make sure I'm covered every trip I go on.

Don't have travel insurance yet? Check out SafetyWing. They offer super flexible plans that you can even sign up for while you're already on your trip. On top of that, they were the first travel insurance to cover COVID, and when I got COVID, they reimbursed all of my expenses without making a fuss. Their customer support team is great and I can personally recommend them.