No products in the basket.
The best day trips from Copenhagen
Updated On 6th June, 2022
Are you looking for the best day trips from Copenhagen? Then you are in luck! In this blog post, I will be going through exactly that. There are many incredible places to visit near Copenhagen. These places include some of the best castles in Denmark, jaw-dropping nature sites, and destinations with a rich history.
Exploring outside Copenhagen is a must when visiting Denmark. Copenhagen has a lot to offer but many miss the nearby gems because they do not realize how many amazing places there are to visit. Many of these places are easy day trips from Copenhagen, under 2 hours away. They are all accessible by public transport, and I will also guide you through exactly how to get there. If you are overwhelmed and not sure where to even start, I can guarantee that by the end of this blog post you will be at ease, ready to start your journey!
One of the reasons to explore outside of Copenhagen is to experience more of the true Danish culture and nature. While the city centre offers some of this and there are lots of things to do in Copenhagen, going outside of Copenhagen you will learn so much more about Denmark. You will also realize just how beautiful Danish nature is, something Copenhagen cannot quite compete against. You will find raw beauty, cliffs, magical forests, long sandy beaches, and more. You will also find some of the most impressive old, historic castles, including the Hamlet Castle. Some of these places you will even find in a Copenhagen travel guide!
So if you are ready for a unique adventure and want to experience some of the best places to visit in Denmark, keep reading!
Other travel guides you might find useful…
- Europe: the ultimate travel guide
- The best things to do in Denmark
- Copenhagen: a complete travel guide
- The best budget-friendly things to do in Copenhagen
- The best things to do in Bornholm, Denmark
- Roskilde, Denmark: the best things to do
- How to visit Malmo in one day
- A 2-week road trip in Norway
- A complete guide to Stockholm
- The best things to do in Europe: the ultimate Europe bucket list
- Top tips for travelling in Europe
How to get around…
The easiest way to get to these day trips from Copenhagen will be by public transport or car. The public transport methods are everything from regional trains and s-trains to buses and metros.
If you want to go to mostly nature sights, then hiring a car would be the best option for you.
If you want the cheapest possible way and want to visit more cities and castles, public transport would be the best option. Going by public transport to the nature spots is possible, but it will require more travel time.
See more budget travel tips here.
In the list below, I will link the best way to get to each destination by public transport. The best way to pay for your public transport will be via. the DSB app and/or with the Rejsekort (the blue card). You can also find more information on Rejsekort right here. You can download the DSB app right here.
The best day trips from Copenhagen...
1. Visit the charming village Dragør.
Dragør is one of the best places to visit in Denmark on a summer’s day. Dragør is the place you will find listed in every Copenhagen travel guide.
You can experience culture, history, and nature as well as museums, restaurants, and shopping. If you love charming, quaint towns with a quiet view of the sea, then Dragør is for you. Dragør has many events such as Midsummer, The Herrings Day, Art Festivals, and more. The town is small, but it has lots to do! You can find out what events are on in Dragør right here.
Dragør is one of the best places to visit near Copenhagen, because the town is easily accessible from the center of Copenhagen by public transport. It only takes about 30-40 minutes to reach Dragør by train/bus, making Dragør an easy day trip from Copenhagen. If you want to bike, it will take you about 45 minutes. Click here for the best transport route going to Dragør from Copenhagen Central Station (København H).
2. Go to Hillerød and visit Frederiksborg Castle.
Hillerød is one of the best places to visit in Denmark because of the beautiful castle, Frederiksborg Castle. Its history, gorgeous architecture, and magical gardens make it one of the best castles in Denmark.
The castle has a lot of history. It was built in the early 17th century by King Christian IV. The castle was used by Frederik VII in the 1850s as his royal residence. In 1859 a fire broke out and parts of the castles were destroyed. It was then rebuilt by J. C. Jacobsen. When visiting Frederiksborg Castle you will learn even more about these historic events. The entrance fee starts at 90 DKK per adult. You can find more information on ticket prices here.
Hillerød is one of the easy day trips from Copenhagen. You simply have to take one direct train from the central station to Hillerød. The easiest way to get to Hillerød as well as Frederiksborg Castle will be by s-train. Click here to find the exact route.
3. Visit Legoland on a day trip from Copenhagen to Billund.
Did you know that Lego originated in Billund, Denmark, first made by Ole Kirk Christiansen? This is one of the reasons why visiting Billund is one of the best day trips from Copenhagen. You will find the original Legoland in Billund. It was first built in 1968. When stepping inside Legoland, you will quickly learn that everything inside Legoland is built from… you guessed it, Lego! Be amazed at the art of Lego all the while having fun going on the roller coaster rides.
Billund is located in Jylland, and it is about 2,5 hours by train from Copenhagen. Due to the travel time, this day trip from Copenhagen to Billund requires a bit more planning. If you start your day early, you can spend an entire day in Legoland from when they open to when they close! When ordering online, the ticket fee starts at 329 DKK per adult. You can find more information here.
The easiest way to get to Billund will be by regional train. You can find the exact route right here.
4. Learn about the history of Vikings in Roskilde.
Roskilde has a lot to offer and is one of the best day trips from Copenhagen. You may have heard of Roskilde because it hosts one of Europe’s largest festivals. While the Roskilde festival is a big part of Roskilde and its culture, Roskilde has so much more to offer than its annual festival.
Did you know that this is also the city of Vikings? The city dates back to the Viking Period. If you want to learn more about the history of Denmark in the Viking Period, then Roskilde is one of the best places to visit near Copenhagen. You can take a tour of the Viking Ship Museum. You can even go on one of the Viking Ships yourself! You can find more information on the Viking Museum right here.
If you want to learn more about the best things to do in Roskilde, you can find our top things to do right here.
There is a direct train from Copenhagen to Roskilde and it takes about 20 minutes, so it’s an easy day trip from Copenhagen. You can find the exact route here.
5. Go swimming at the beach in Tisvildeleje.
During the summer months, Tisvildeleje is a popular beach destination for Copenhageners. Picture a warm sunny day with long, sandy beaches, volleyball, ice cream trucks, and lots of hygge. Tisvildeleje is another place listed on every Copenhagen travel guide and for good reason. It is one of the best day trips from Copenhagen because of its beautiful sandy beaches and overall summer vibrations. It is also one of the best places in Denmark to watch the sunset.
It takes about 1,5 hours from Copenhagen to Tisvildeleje by train. You have to change trains twice. You can find the exact route right here.
6. Go see the Hamlet Castle in Helsingør.
Kronborg Castle is one of the best castles in Denmark to visit for Shakespeare fans especially. If you are a fan of Shakespeare at all, then you must go to Helsingør to see the iconic Kronborg Castle, also known as the Hamlet Castle. Helsingør is also known as Elsinore as was the setting for one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, Hamlet. It is one of the best castles in Denmark because of its history and iconic architecture. Inside the castle, you will find the history of the castle, and all year round you will see events related to Shakespeare. You can find the latest events right here. The entrance fee to the castle starts at 115 DKK per adult. You can find more information about the bookings right here.
It takes just 1 hour to get to Helsingør from Copenhagen, making it another one of the easy day trips from Copenhagen. You will have to take the regional train directly from Copenhagen to Helsingør. You can find the exact route right here.
7. Visit the UNESCO Heritage Site Stevns Klint.
Stevns Klint is one of the most famous UNESCO Heritage Sites in Denmark. Its raw beauty and beautiful trails make it one of the best places to visit near Copenhagen and the hiking here is one of the best things to do in Denmark. Another reason why Stevns Klint is one of the best day trips from Copenhagen is because of its crazy history. One of the first things you will notice about Stevns Klint is the layers. The layers in the cliff show some of the most life-changing events in time history. The asteroid that wiped out dinosaurs and most of the Earth’s Flora left these layers in the cliffs.
Going to Stevns Klint by public transport can be a bit of a challenge, but it is possible! It just requires a little more effort than most on this list… you will need to make bus changes and train changes more than once. You will also need to make sure all the trains and buses run when you want to return to Copenhagen! Make sure you plan ahead of time. The timetables change daily. You can plan your trip right here.
8. Visit the UNESCO Heritage Site Møns Klint.
Møns Klint is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the most famous places to visit near Copenhagen. This jaw-dropping cliff makes you wonder if you still are in fact in Denmark.
Møns Klint is one of the best day trips from Copenhagen for nature lovers. The cliff has hiking trails scattered all over, never leaving you bored. You can spend one day here, but you can also easily spend much longer if you want. The best place to go when visiting for the first time will be to the main area at the Geological Center. This is the most picturesque spot in Møns Klint. It is also where you will learn more about the cliff and its history.
Møns Klint is another nature spot near Copenhagen that is a bit more challenging to reach by public transport. While it is possible, it requires a lot more patience and planning, but as one of the best places to visit in Denmark, it’s worth it. You will need to make quite a few changes to buses and trains. It can take anywhere between 3-4 hours to reach Møns Klint from Copenhagen. You can plan your trip right here.
9. Go to Humlebæk and visit the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.
Are you a fan of modern art and beautiful views? Then the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is the place for you! This is another one of the Copenhageners’ favorite ways to spend a day out of Copenhagen.
You cannot read a Copenhagen travel guide without stumbling upon this museum. It is one of the best places to visit in Denmark and one of the most popular museums near Copenhagen. Its daring art and its gorgeous outdoors with a view of the sea is what make this museum unique. Start by exploring the inside exhibitions and end your visit by exploring the outdoor exhibitions then have your lunch with a view of the sea! The entrance fee starts at 145 DKK per adult. You can find more information on tickets and bookings right here.
If you are looking for easy day trips from Copenhagen, this is one of the easiest to reach. It is located only a 20-minute train away from Copenhagen Central station. You can find out exactly how to get to this destination right here.
10. Go to the Deer Park in Jægersborg.
Do you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city? Even if there are loads of fun things to do in Copenhagen, it can get a bit much sometimes. Then visiting the Deer Park in Jægersborg is the perfect choice for you. This is one of the best places to visit near Copenhagen for a quiet, serene atmosphere. Grab yourself a coffee/tea from one of the coffee trucks, then go for a wander, get lost, and just enjoy the silence and beauty.
This is yet another location for those of you looking for easy day trips from Copenhagen. It is located a short 20-minute train ride from Copenhagen Central station. You will need to take the s-train directly to Klampenborg St. You can find the exact route right here.
Day trips from Copenhagen outside of Denmark...
11. Day trip from Copenhagen to Malmö...
If you are wanting to tick more countries off your Europe bucket list, you have chosen the right country to visit! Copenhagen is located right next to Sweden, and it only takes about 30 minutes to reach Malmö, Sweden. Going on a day trip from Copenhagen to Sweden is a perfect choice for those of you who have already experienced most of or all of the above. It is also just a fun way to see just how close Sweden is to Denmark!
You can find my full guide to Malmö right here, which includes how to get to Malmö.
12. Day trip from Copenhagen to Oslo...
Another Scandinavian city close to Copenhagen is Oslo. Oslo is quite a bit more hilly and mountainous than Copenhagen. This is one of the reasons why it is one of the best places to visit near Copenhagen.
While Oslo is not as close as Malmö, it is still worth considering. You can go on a day trip from Copenhagen to Oslo by taking the DFDS ferry. The ferry is an overnight ferry, making it a bit longer than a day trip. You can choose to take the ferry the night before, spend the next day in Oslo and go back on the same day. This trip will end up taking you about 1,5 days in total. You can find more information about the ferry right here.
What are your favourite day trips from Copenhagen?
Where are your favourite places to visit in Denmark? Anything you’d add?
Love as always and happy adventuring…
My name is Kristina, and I am a 24-year-old digital creator and photographer. I have a love for simpler, budget-friendly adventures because they make me more aware and grateful for the smaller moments. With my content, my writing, and my photography, I hope to inspire you to find more adventures in your everyday life.
Did you find this post helpful? I’d love you to share it for me.
Pin and save this blog post for later…
IT’S LOVELY TO MEET YOU
I’M MOLLIE AND I STARTED THIS BLOG BACK IN 2013 WHEN I HEADED OUT ON MY FIRST BACKPACKING ADVENTURE.
I’D LOVE TO SHARE THE JOURNEY WITH YOU, WE’VE GROWN A LOT SINCE THEN!
