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Copenhagen has two equally important things going for it.
One, it is packed full of interesting attractions and things to do. Two… it is quite expensive.
You can probably see how the latter influences your plans to do as much of the first as possible.
The good news is that Copenhagen has its own city pass: the Copenhagen City Card.
The idea is simple. You pay an upfront price for the card, but if you visit enough attractions, it works out cheaper than buying individual tickets. With more than 80 attractions included, unlimited public transport, and even your airport transfer covered, it’s easy to see why so many visitors consider it.
But does the math make sense?
🥳 TESTED TOP PICKS FOR COPENHAGEN
🚤 Top Repeat Activity: Stromma Canal Tour: I’ve done this tour more than 4 times now, and every time I see something different to excite me. Of the 4 times, I’ve only had a subpar guide once. It is also only $24 and has multiple departure times throughout the day. Just dress warm in the winter!
- 🚲 Fun to do: 3 Hour City Highlights Bike Tour: Even though I am scared of biking, this tour is the best way to explore the city.
- 📲 Best eSIM: You’ll need an eSIM to stay connected to the internet. I’ve tested several options. Airalo is one of the cheapest usually.
- 🥐 Best Meal: I always look forward to eating at Fleisch (smørrebrød), Andersen & Maillard is a standout option for coffee and pastries, and I’ve eaten more Gasoline Grill burgers than I’m willing to admit (even though the Tivoli location is a miss due to price and business)
👉 I regularly update these guides, so you are working with up to date recommendations, prices and locations. This article was last updated July 2026.
What is the Copenhagen City Card?
We are all hesitant when we see a product promising too much.
The idea isn’t unique to Copenhagen. Many major European cities, including Budapest, Amsterdam, and Stockholm, have similar city cards.
The concept is simple: instead of paying for each attraction individually, you purchase one pass that gives you access to a bundle of attractions and experiences for a fixed period.
Copenhagen actually offers two different city cards—Discover and Hop. While they may sound similar, they’re designed for different types of travelers.
80+ attractions included | 40+ attractions included |
Unlimited public transport (metro, buses, trains) | Unlimited Hop-On Hop-Off bus rides during validity |
Ideal if you plan to visit museums, castles, Tivoli, canal tours, and other attractions | Best if you mainly want an easy way to get around the city’s major sights |
Available for multiple durations (24–120 hours) | Available for shorter sightseeing visits |
Book your Copenhagen City Card here
What’s Included with the Copenhagen Card Discover?
Each Copenhagen Card Discover includes:
- Unlimited public transport throughout the Copenhagen Capital Region (metro, buses, trains, S-trains and harbour buses)
- Free public transport to and from Copenhagen Airport
- Free admission to 80+ museums, castles and attractions
- Free canal tour with Stromma
- Entry to major attractions such as Tivoli Gardens, Rosenborg Castle, Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen Zoo, the National Museum, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Kronborg Castle and many more
- Access to attractions both in Copenhagen and the surrounding Capital Region, including destinations like Roskilde, Helsingør and Hillerød
🔎 Traveling to Denmark? You’ll need an eSIM to stay connected and navigate around the city. Grab 10% off your Saily plan.
What’s Included with the Copenhagen Card HOP?
Each Copenhagen Card HOP includes:
- Unlimited rides on Stromma’s Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing buses
- Free admission to 40+ attractions in central Copenhagen
- Entry to popular sights such as Tivoli Gardens, Amalienborg Palace, Rosenborg Castle, Copenhagen Zoo, the National Museum, and many more
- The flexibility to hop on and off the sightseeing buses throughout the validity of your pass
- Digital access through the Copenhagen Card app—no paper ticket required
Copenhagen Card Discover vs. Copenhagen Card Hop
Discover | Hop | |
|---|---|---|
Adult Price (from) | 589 DKK (€79 / US$91) | 600 DKK (€81 / US$92) |
Validity | 24, 48, 72, 96 & 120 hours | 24, 48 & 72 hours |
Attractions Included | 80+ | 40+ |
Unlimited Public Transport | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Airport Transport Included | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Canal Tour Included | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Day Trips (Louisiana, Kronborg, Roskilde, etc.) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
How Much Can You Save with the Copenhagen Card?
While there is no set number of activities you can do per day (you’re free to do 2, 5 or even 10), common sense dictates that you won’t have time to do everything within 24 hours.
The following table is simply an estimate of what you can reasonably achieve within each card’s time limit.
The sweet spot, based on my experience, is 72 hours, where the savings become significant and you have enough time to visit a variety of attractions without stressing about fitting everything into your itinerary or worrying about last-minute changes to your plans.
Card | Example Included Attractions & Transport | Individual Cost | Card Price | Potential Saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
24 Hours | Airport Metro, Canal Tour, Tivoli Gardens, Rosenborg Castle | ≈850 DKK | 589 DKK | ≈261 DKK (31%) |
48 Hours | Everything above + Christiansborg Palace, National Museum, unlimited transport | ≈1,350 DKK | 859 DKK | ≈491 DKK (36%) |
72 Hours | Everything above + Louisiana Museum, Kronborg Castle, additional transport | ≈1,850 DKK | 1,039 DKK | ≈811 DKK (44%) |
The Pros of the Copenhagen Card Discover
Free admission, not just discounts
One thing I like about the Copenhagen Card Discover is that it focuses on free admission rather than endless discount offers. Older versions included more restaurant and shopping discounts, but I’d much rather have attractions I’d actually visit included in the price.
It’s completely digital
You don’t need to pick up a physical card when you arrive. Just download the app, activate it when you’re ready, and you’re good to go. I also like that you can activate it before leaving Copenhagen Airport and use it straight away for your airport transfer.
It covers more than just Copenhagen
This is probably the biggest advantage over the Hop card. You’re not limited to the city centre. The card also covers attractions further afield, including the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Kronborg Castle, Frederiksborg Castle, the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, and Roskilde Cathedral. If you’re planning a few day trips, the value adds up quickly.
There’s a good mix of attractions
It’s not just museums. You get everything from the Stromma Canal Tour (which I’d recommend anyway) to castles, modern art museums, Copenhagen Zoo, family attractions, and even places like the Frigate Peder Skram. It makes it easy to build an itinerary that doesn’t feel repetitive.
Public transport is included
This sounds obvious, but it’s one of the biggest perks. You can jump on the metro, train or bus without worrying about buying tickets every time you move around the city. It also makes visiting places outside Copenhagen much easier. A lot of other City Cards have 20 different versions depending on transport set up. I much prefer the simplicity of this, with one price that covers everything.
Book your Copenhagen Card here
Is the Copenhagen Card Discover Worth It for Families?
If you’re travelling as a family, the Copenhagen Card can pay for itself surprisingly quickly.
For example, a family of 2 adults and 2 children (under 12) purchasing the 48-hour Discover Card would already save almost €50 by visiting just these three attractions:
- Copenhagen Zoo
- Tivoli Gardens (admission only)
- Stromma Canal Tour
And that’s before taking advantage of the card’s unlimited public transport or visiting any of the other included attractions.
Add just one more family-friendly attraction, such as:
- The Blue Planet (National Aquarium) – probably my top pick for families.
- Experimentarium – one of Denmark’s best hands-on science museums.
- The Viking Ship Museum (Roskilde) – especially good if your kids are into Vikings and boats.
…and the value is closer to €150 in savings.
Estimations are for a family of 2 adults and 2 kids under 12, for the 48-hour City Card Discover.
The official Copenhagen Card website includes a calculator at checkout, where you can select the attractions you plan to visit.
It automatically adds up the individual ticket prices and compares them with the cost of the card, making it easy to see whether you’ll actually save money.
I think it is a feature that all City Cards should adopt!
Discover or Hop: Which One Is Better?
For me, the answer is simple: Discover.
The biggest surprise is that the Hop card is actually slightly more expensive, despite including fewer attractions and no public transport.
The reason must be that Hop on Hop Off buses are a more pricey add on, but there is no value add (for my style of travel).
Duration | Discover | Hop |
|---|---|---|
24 hours | 589 DKK (€79) | 600 DKK (€81) |
48 hours | 859 DKK (€115) | 875 DKK (€118) |
72 hours | 1,039 DKK (€139) | 1,050 DKK (€141) |
So, Is the Copenhagen Card Overpriced?
I would say the Hop card is both overpriced and slightly less flexible of a choice.
The Discover Card makes sense even for a 24-hour visit if you’re on a layover or only have one full day in Copenhagen. That said, I think the real value starts to show with the 48-hour and especially the 72-hour card. You have enough time to enjoy the city without rushing from attraction to attraction, and the savings become much more noticeable.
One thing I also like is that the card isn’t just for first-time visitors. If you’ve already been to Copenhagen and ticked off the major sights, there are still plenty of reasons to buy it.
There are easily 5–10 lesser-known attractions included that I’d happily buy this for, from unique museums and historic ships to places outside the city centre that many visitors never make it to.
Have more questions about Copenhagen?
Here are some more guides to help you plan your trip:
Short on time? Top Denmark recommendations
📲 Best eSIM for Denmark: The easiest way to stay connected in Denmark is with an eSIM you install before departure. I’ve tested several options. Airalo is one of the cheapest usually.
🚖 Airport Tip: The fastest way to head into the city from CPH airport is with the train but metro also works depending on where you’re heading.
🚲 Best THINGS TO DO: Denmark has a ton of interesting activities, both as a country but also within Copenhagen.
These are my favorite tested options in various spots around the country:
- Billund: 1-Day Ticket to LEGOLAND® with All Rides Access – $72
- Combine with visit to LEGOHOUSE – from $44
- Copenhagen: Kronborg, Frederiksborg Castle and Roskilde Tour – $211 (full day tour)
- Visit the Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church – FREE
- Take a ferry to Samsø island, one of my favorite spots in Denmark.
And some more options for Copenhagen specifically:
- 3-hour Copenhagen City Highlights Bike Tour $55
- 🔥(MUST) Classic Canal Tour with Guide – $33
- Copenhagen: Tivoli Gardens Entry Ticket & Ride Pass – $76
- CopenHill Ski Pass Including Rental Gear – $57 (much harder than it looks!)
- Den Blå Planet (National Aquarium of Denmark) – from $33
Copenhagen: Danish Architecture Center Entrance Ticket $19 (save your souvenir shopping time for here)
