Articles/City Flow
Copenhagen City Flow: Bikes First, Metro Second
Copenhagen is the rare capital where a rented bike is faster than the metro. How to combine bike, metro, and the new M4 line, plus what a Rejsekort actually costs.
Copenhagen is small enough to walk end to end in an afternoon, but that is not what residents do. The city moves on bicycles, and it does so at a level of infrastructure that no other European capital has fully matched. On top of the bike network sits a small but expanding metro, an S-tog suburban rail, and a small yellow harbor bus that is technically public transit and is worth taking for the ride.
First decision on arrival: rent a bike for the length of the stay or use transit and walk. For any visit of two days or more in good weather, rent the bike.
The bike question, answered clearly
Copenhagen has 385 kilometers of bike lanes, most of them fully separated from car traffic. The city is flat. The bikes are heavy and single speed. Rentals are widely available for 130 to 250 kroner per day, roughly 18 to 35 US dollars. Donkey Republic operates a docked bike share via app for about 45 kroner per hour or 129 for a day pass.
For visitors, the docked bike share is easiest. Pick a bike from any stand, unlock via app, ride, dock at another stand. No helmet is required by law but consider one for a longer stay. Cycle in the right lane, signal by hand before turning, and do not cycle on pedestrian sidewalks. Locals will correct you sharply if you do.
The metro: small, driverless, and expanding
The Copenhagen Metro has four lines. M1 and M2 run through the center and out to the airport (M2 only). M3, the City Ring line, opened in 2019 and is the most useful for a first visit. It is a 17 station loop that connects the main train station, Copenhagen Central, to Norreport, Osterport, and the residential neighborhoods around them.
M4, opened in 2020, extends the network further into the harbor and southern districts. The metro is driverless, clean, and runs 24 hours on Friday and Saturday nights.
A single ticket for two zones, which covers most central Copenhagen, is 24 kroner. A 24 hour city pass is 90 kroner. Buy tickets from machines or the DOT Mobilbilletter app.
S-tog: the suburban rail
The S-tog is the suburban commuter rail, painted red, running along seven lines. For visitors, it mainly matters as the fast way to reach Louisiana Museum in Humlebaek, which is 35 minutes north on the F line, and the beach at Bellevue. Same ticket system as the metro. Same DOT Mobilbilletter app.
The harbor bus 991 and 992
The yellow harbor buses are technically part of the public transit system and are covered by the same tickets. They run along the Copenhagen harbor from the Royal Library to Refshaleoen and the Little Mermaid area. Twenty minute journey, superb views, and cheaper than any harbor cruise. This is a transit option that doubles as sightseeing.
The Rejsekort and the ticket app
Rejsekort is the local rechargeable transit card, similar to Oyster in London or OV-chipkaart in the Netherlands. For a short visit, the DOT Mobilbilletter app on your phone is easier. It sells single tickets, day passes, and airport tickets, and validates automatically.
For a longer stay or if you plan to use trains beyond Copenhagen, the Rejsekort saves about 20 percent per ride. It is available at metro stations and 7-Eleven kiosks. Requires an ID and a small deposit.
Airport transfer
Copenhagen Airport is 8 kilometers from the center. The metro M2 line reaches the airport terminal directly, every 4 to 6 minutes during the day, and takes 15 minutes to Norreport. This costs 36 kroner as a three zone ticket, roughly 5 US dollars. There is no faster or cheaper option.
The S-tog and regional trains also stop at the airport and reach Copenhagen Central in 12 minutes, useful if your hotel is near the station.
Walking Copenhagen: the areas to prefer
Central Copenhagen is walkable. Stroget, the pedestrian shopping street, is one and a half kilometers long and connects the Radhuspladsen to Kongens Nytorv. From Kongens Nytorv, walk to Nyhavn, cross the bridge to Christianshavn, and continue to Christiania. Two hours of walking, no transit needed, and this covers a significant part of the classic Copenhagen sights.
For destinations further out, Refshaleoen for street food, Norrebro for coffee and nightlife, Vesterbro for the meatpacking district, use the metro or a bike.
Frequently asked
Questions we get about this trip
Are the bikes really faster than the metro?+
Yes, for distances between one and five kilometers. Doors to door, a bike ride from Norrebro to Christianshavn is 15 to 20 minutes. Metro plus walk is 25 to 35. Beyond five kilometers the metro wins.
Do I need to speak Danish?+
No. Copenhagen is one of the most English-fluent cities in the world. Signage, menus, and staff all switch to English immediately.
Is cycling safe for a novice?+
Yes, in daytime and following basic rules. The bike lanes are wide, separated, and heavily used. Cycle in the right lane, do not stop suddenly, and hand signal turns. Danes will correct you politely if you make a mistake.