Is the Copenhagen Card Worth Buying? Benefits, Costs & Travel Tips

Let’s face it, Copenhagen is a great place to visit, and there are thousands of things to do and see, but it’s not the cheapest city. We never bought a city card before and had to consider this one for a while. Many cities offer discount cards for purchase, and Copenhagen is no exception. While many City Cards out there don’t provide good value, the Copenhagen Card is one of the exceptions. The question remains: is the card worth it? Can you save money? 

The answer is: YES!  Absolutely! Here is why. Read on to see how much we saved. 

We’ve never really been fans of city discount cards, but the Copenhagen Card completely changed our minds. The key to deciding whether a city pass is worth it always depends on what you actually want to see and do. For instance, when we visited Dubrovnik, we looked into their city card, but it just didn’t match our plans.

Copenhagen, however, was a different story. The Copenhagen Card was a perfect fit for the way we wanted to explore the city.

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The Copenhagen Card in a Nutshell

• free admission to more than 85 museums and other attractions
• discounts at restaurants and on activities
• free canal cruise
• free public transportation in the entire Copenhagen region, including to and from Copenhagen airport
• Free to bring two children between the ages of 0 – 11 

The Copenhagen Card opens the door to the famous Tivoli Gardens, Christianborg Palace, dozens of museums, castles, and boat and train tours.

Reasons to buy the Copenhagen Card

Free Public Transport

For us, the number one reason is the public transport you have access to with the Copenhagen Card. You get unlimited use of the trains, trams, metro, and harbor buses throughout the region, including zones 1-99.  

If your itinerary is packed

The Copenhagen Card is for you if you are an active traveler and want to squeeze as much activity into your visit as possible. This is also our case. If you prefer a more relaxed approach to your travels and stroll around the city, visiting a museum or two, this card may not be worth buying. 

To make this card worthwhile, be sure to visit at least two of the attractions with free entry every day. Otherwise, you won’t make your money back with the amount you save.

Denmark Travel Tips: Essential Things to Know Before You Visit

Where can you buy the Copenhagen Card

You can buy the Copenhagen Card almost anywhere in the city. If you prefer a physical card, you’ll find plenty of sales points, including most 7-Elevens, hotels, tourist information centers, train stations, and even some museums.

Alternatively, you can purchase the card online and either pick it up upon arrival or simply download the digital version directly to your phone. The official app is easy to use and very convenient. We chose the app and activated our card directly on our phones.

Get the most out of the Copenhagen Card

Like the city, the card is also not the cheapest. Here are a few tips on how to get the most out of the Copenhagen Card. 

1. Go through the list of attractions included with the card and write down everything you want to see during your trip.
2. Plan your visits accordingly, and check the opening hours (some attractions are closed during weekends and Mondays).
3. Check the distance between the attractions to save time and visit the attractions that are close by. 

Top Attractions Covered by the Copenhagen Card

One of the best things about the Copenhagen Card is just how many iconic sights it includes. With free entry to more than 85 museums and attractions, here are some of the most popular highlights:

• • Tivoli Gardens. Copenhagen’s world-famous amusement park.
  • Rosenborg Castle. Home to the Danish crown jewels.
  • Christiansborg Palace. Explore the Royal Reception Rooms, kitchens, and ruins.
  • Canal Tour. See Copenhagen from the water with a classic boat cruise.
  • National Museum of Denmark. Denmark’s largest cultural history museum.
  • Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. A world-class art museum with sea views, perfect for a day trip.
  • Copenhagen Zoo. One of the oldest zoos in Europe.
  • Botanical Garden (Palm House & Butterfly House) – a green oasis in the city center.
  • Planetarium. Interactive space exhibitions and shows.

And that’s just the beginning. The card also covers dozens of smaller museums, castles, aquariums, and hidden gems, which can add up quickly if you’re exploring actively.

Is the Copenhagen Card Worth It for Families, Couples, or Solo Travelers?

The value of the Copenhagen Card depends on your travel preferences and the company you’re traveling with. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Families. Families get the best deal, since up to two children under 11 can join for free with every paying adult. That means a family with two adults and two kids can save hundreds of euros on attractions and transport. Zoos, castles, and Tivoli are especially family favorites.
• Couples. For couples traveling together, the card simplifies everything; no need to calculate ticket costs or juggle metro passes. If you’re planning a busy sightseeing schedule, you’ll both save money and time. It’s also a stress-free way to enjoy romantic boat tours or evening visits to Tivoli Gardens without worrying about extra costs.
• Solo Travelers. Solo travelers benefit if they’re active sightseers who want to pack a lot into each day. If your style is hopping between museums, castles, and neighborhoods, the card is a no-brainer. However, if you prefer a slower pace, enjoying long café breaks or just wandering around the city, you may not get the full value.

In short: The more attractions you visit, the more you save. Families and energetic travelers get the most significant return, while slow travelers might be better off paying as they go.

Our Experience with the Copenhagen Card

As mentioned, this was our first time purchasing a city discount card, and we loved it. Felt like we are owning the city, traveling with it, getting into museums and galleries, and more. Below is a comparison of what we saw and how much it would have cost us without the card.

What we visited	Price DKK
Copenhagen ZOO	195.00 kr.
The Cistern	115.00 kr.
Tivoli Amusement Park	145.00 kr.
The Round Tower	25.00 kr.
Christianborg The Royal Reception Rooms	95.00 kr.
Christianborg The Royal Kitchen	60.00 kr.
Christianborg The ruins	60.00 kr.
The Botanical Garden (Palm House and Butterfly House)	60.00 kr.
Rosenborg Castle	125.00 kr.
Planetarium	175.00 kr.
Submarine	160.00 kr.
	1,215.00 kr.

We had only two days in Copenhagen and managed to visit 11 attractions. It came to a total of 1,215 Danish crowns, which is about 164€. And these are just the attractions. Let’s examine public transport costs and how much we’ve saved.

To get from the airport (without the Copenhagen Card), you will need a 3-zone ticket. A 3-zone adult ticket is 38 DKK.  Then, to move around the city, you will need a 2-zone ticket. A 2-zone adult ticket is 24 DKK. However, that’s only one ticket, and if you need to move around throughout the day, you can opt for a CityPass, making it easy for you to get around Copenhagen. There are various types to purchase, but for our purpose, for the two days we spend here, we would have to buy the City Pass X-Large for 260 DKK for 24 hours, meaning we would have to buy it twice. 

To sum up: 

• Without Copenhagen Card: 1215 DKK (attractions, museum, etc.) + 38 DKK from the Airport + 520 DKK for the City Pass = 1 773 DKK (about 239 €).
• However, we purchased the Copenhagen Card, and it cost us only the price for the 72-hour card, 804 DKK (approximately 108€). 

Let us repeat. YES! The Copenhagen Card is worth the money. 

For more information on the card visit their official website.

Free Things to See and Do in Copenhagen

Copenhagen Card Prices & Durations

Duration	Adult (16+)	Junior (12-15 yrs)	Kids (3-11 yrs)*	Price (approx. EUR)
24 hours	DKK 559	DKK 379	Free*	~ €75
48 hours	DKK 819	DKK 489	Free*	~ €110
72 hours	DKK 989	DKK 559	Free*	~ €133
96 hours	DKK 1,159	DKK 649	Free*	~ €156
120 hours	DKK 1,339	DKK 719	Free*	~ €180

*Kids aged 0-11 travel free with a paying adult in the Discover version.

Copenhagen Card vs. Alternatives

Before buying the Copenhagen Card, it’s smart to compare it with other options available in Copenhagen:

• • City Pass (Transport Only). If you’re mainly concerned about getting around, the City Pass might be enough. It covers unlimited travel on buses, trains, and the metro within specific zones. Prices depend on the duration (24–120 hours), but they do not include attractions, so you’ll still have to purchase tickets separately.
  • Single Attraction Tickets. Buying tickets individually works if you only want to see one or two highlights, such as Tivoli Gardens or Rosenborg Castle. However, with most attractions costing between 95–195 DKK (€13–26) each, the expenses add up very quickly.
  • Copenhagen Card (All-Inclusive). With free entry to 85+ attractions plus unlimited public transport (zones 1–99, including the airport), the Copenhagen Card is designed for travelers who want to explore actively. If you’re planning to visit at least 2–3 attractions per day, the card almost always pays for itself.

Our verdict: If you’re a slow traveler who only wants to stroll the city and maybe enter a museum or two, a City Pass or single tickets will be enough. But if your goal is to see Copenhagen’s castles, museums, and famous sights without worrying about costs, the Copenhagen Card is the clear winner.

Copenhagen Card FAQ

• Is the Copenhagen Card worth it for 1 day? Yes, if you plan to visit at least 2–3 major attractions in a single day (like Tivoli Gardens, Rosenborg Castle, and a Canal Tour), the card pays for itself. If you only want a relaxed stroll or a single museum visit, a single ticket might be more cost-effective.
• Does the Copenhagen Card include transport from the airport? Absolutely! The card covers unlimited public transport across zones 1–99, which includes the metro, trains, buses, harbor buses, and the trip from Copenhagen Airport to the city center.
• Can I cancel or refund the Copenhagen Card? Yes, if you purchased online and haven’t activated the card yet, you can usually cancel or refund through the official Copenhagen Card website. Once activated, the card is non-refundable.
• Is the Copenhagen Card available digitally? Yes. You can download the free Copenhagen Card app, buy your card online, and activate it directly on your phone. This digital version works the same way as the physical card, justshow the QR code at entrances and when using transport.

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For us, the Copenhagen Card wasn’t just about saving money; it made exploring stress-free. We didn’t have to stop and think every time we wanted to enter a museum, hop on the metro, or join a canal cruise. Instead, we could enjoy the city and focus on the experiences.
If you’re an active traveler who wants to make the most of your time in Copenhagen, the card is absolutely worth it. For us, it turned sightseeing into a smooth, carefree adventure, and that peace of mind was priceless.

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