Copenhagen Card: is it worth buying in 2026?

Planning a trip to Copenhagen? You’ve probably come across the Copenhagen Card: a sightseeing pass that includes free entry to many of the city’s top attractions, plus unlimited public transport.

It sounds like a great deal, but is it actually worth it? And will it really save you money? We’ve taken a fresh look at what’s included and whether the Copenhagen Card makes sense for your trip in 2026.

How does the Copenhagen Card work?

The idea is that you pay for the Copenhagen Card upfront and then get free access to a whole bunch of attractions across the city – plus the transport to get to them.

What does the Copenhagen Card cover?

The Copenhagen Card – DISCOVER (get it here) gives you free access to 80+ attractions across Copenhagen and beyond, plus unlimited public transport (including the airport and day trips to places like Roskilde and Helsingør).

Some of the top attractions included are:

• Tivoli Gardens
• Rosenborg Castle
• Home of Carlsberg
• Amalienborg Palace
• Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
• The National Museum
• Kronborg Castle
• Arken Museum of Modern Art
• Christiansborg Palace
• Guinness World Records Museum
• Copenhagen Zoo
• Danish Architecture Centre

The card also includes a canal cruise and some seasonal boat trips. For more on boat trips and canal cruises in Copenhagen, check out our guide.

What is the Copenhagen Card – HOP?

The Copenhagen Card is also available as a HOP version, which includes entry to around 40 attractions in the city centre, plus access to hop-on, hop-off bus tours.

However, it’s usually more expensive than the DISCOVER card and doesn’t include public transport or attractions outside the city centre, such as Kronborg Castle. Bus routes are also limited, with only one running daily year-round.

Unless you specifically want the hop-on, hop-off buses, we think the Copenhagen Card – DISCOVER offers much better value — which is why we’ve used it for our comparisons below.

How much does a Copenhagen Card cost?

There are five different types of Copenhagen Card – DISCOVER to choose from – they’re valid for 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, 96 hours and 120 hours respectively. The Copenhagen Card – HOP is available for 24 hours, 48 hours or 72 hours.

Each adult with a Copenhagen Card can add up to two discounted KIDS cards for children aged 3–11 when purchasing. If you’re travelling with more than two children per adult, the additional children will need a junior card. Infants aged 0–2 do not need their own card.

Prices (in Danish kronor) are correct at the time of publication.

Buying & activating the card

The Copenhagen Card is fully digital and available online or via the official app. After purchasing, you activate it on your phone just before entering your first attraction — this starts the validity period (for example 24, 48 or 72 hours).

To activate it, simply open the app, go to “My cards” (or tap the QR icon), and swipe to activate. Make sure you only do this when you’re ready, as it can’t be undone.

You’ll need internet to activate the card, but once it’s running, it works offline. Note that it’s valid for a set number of hours, not calendar days — so if you activate it at 4pm, it will run until 4pm the next day.

Is the Copenhagen Card sold at the airport?

You can’t buy a physical card at the airport anymore, but it’s worth purchasing in advance, as it covers transport into the city centre. If you’re taking it easy on your first day, consider activating it later.

How do I use the Copenhagen Card on the metro, train or bus?

The card gives unlimited access to buses, trains and the metro across the Copenhagen region, making it easy to reach day trips locations both in the city and beyond, such as Roskilde and Helsingør (the castle from Shakespeare’s Hamlet).

Unfortunately, you can’t use your Copenhagen Card to Card to travel to Malmö in Sweden, so check out our guide for tips on the cheapest ways to cross the bridge to Sweden.

Do I have to book any attractions in advance?

For most attractions, you can simply turn up and enter without booking. However, for a few popular sights it’s worth reserving a timeslot in advance.

The Home of Carlsberg and the Church of Our Saviour both require pre-booking (via the app or their websites), and Carlsberg can only be booked after activating your card. At Rosenborg Castle, you’ll be given a timed entry slot on arrival. If you want a specific departure time for the canal tour, you can reserve a spot at the booking kiosk on Ved Stranden.

So, is the Copenhagen Card worth buying?

Well, that depends on how long you’re staying in the city and what you want to see and do while you’re there. We’ve done some number-crunching to help you decide whether the card is worth buying.

We’ve looked at how much it would cost to visit some of Copenhagen’s top sights including transport and boat trips if you paid for each element individually – the DIY way!

And we’ve looked at how much it would cost using a 72-hour Copenhagen Card – DISCOVER.

Three days in Copenhagen: would you save cash?

Costs (in Danish kronor) are for one adult and assume a three-day trip to Copenhagen. All prices correct at time of publication.

We’ve picked a handful of Copenhagen’s top sights — enough to fill three days, including castles, a museum, a boat trip, the zoo and Tivoli Gardens.

Visited separately in high season, these would cost around DKK 1503, rising to DKK 1795 once you add transport and airport transfers.

By comparison, a 72-hour Copenhagen Card – DISCOVER costs DKK 1,039, saving you DKK 756 — plus the convenience of not having to buy individual tickets.

So, is the Copenhagen Card worth it?

If you’re planning to visit several paid attractions over two or three days, including the top paid-for attractions like Rosenborg Slot and the Tivoli Gardens amusement park, the Copenhagen Card can offer significant savings, and we’d recommend buying it in advance.

However, if you prefer a slower trip focused on walking, cycling, checking out great food markets and free sights like Nyhavn or Christiania, you’re less likely to get value from it.

Also keep in mind that some attractions close on certain days (often Mondays), so it’s worth checking opening times before planning your itinerary.

Ready to get the card and start saving? You can buy the Copenhagen Card online below.

Tips for getting the most out of the Copenhagen Card

• Check included attractions in advance: the list changes slightly each year, so make sure your must-sees are included.
• Plan around opening days: many museums close on Mondays or have seasonal hours.
• Use the transport: the card covers the wider region, so it’s worth visiting places like the Louisiana Museum or Kronborg Castle.
• Don’t activate too early: wait until you’re ready to start sightseeing to get full value.
• Avoid using it on free-entry days: some museums are free at certain times, so save your card hours for paid attractions.
• Head beyond the city centre: with transport included, it’s easy to visit top spots like the Louisiana Museum and the M/S Maritime Museum.

Final thoughts: is the Copenhagen Card worth it?

The only real reason not to buy the card is if you’re planning a slow trip, seeing just one or two sights and mostly exploring on foot. Copenhagen has plenty of free things to do — see our guide for 82 of them — but if you want to visit a few of the main attractions, the Copenhagen Card will almost certainly save you money.

Pros

• Can save you money if you visit several paid attractions
• All-in-one convenience: transport and entry are included
• Easy to budget: no need to buy separate tickets
• Encourages exploring: pop into attractions without extra cost
• Simple to use via the app

Cons

• Requires planning: to make the most of the time-based validity
• Less value for slow travel: if you only visit a few sights or focus on free attractions

The Copenhagen Card can offer excellent value if you plan to visit several of the city’s top attractions and use public transport — especially over two or three days. It’s convenient, easy to use and can save you both time and money. If your trip is more relaxed, focused on free sights and exploring on foot or by bike, you may not need it.

Have you used the Copenhagen Card, or are you thinking about getting one? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear your experience!

FAQS

When does the Copenhagen Card activate?

The Copenhagen Card activates when you choose — simply start it when you’re ready to visit your first attraction or use public transport.

Does the Copenhagen Card include Tivoli rides?

No, the Copenhagen Card only covers the entrance fee to the Tivoli Gardens. If you wish to go on a ride you will need to buy individual ride tickets or an unlimited ride ticket. 

Does the Copenhagen Card give food discounts or restaurant discounts?

No, the Copenhagen no longer gives discounts at restaurants.

Does the Copenhagen Card include the zoo?

Yes, the Copenhagen Card covers the entrance fee to Copenhagen zoo.

Does the Copenhagen Card include the aquarium?

No, entrance to Copenhagen’s National Aquarium (Den Blå Planet) is no longer included on the Copenhagen Card.

Does the Copenhagen Card include a canal tour?

Yes, it includes a canal tour, the (seasonal) Frederiksborg ferry, plus a (seasonal) boat trip on the beautiful lakes outside Copenhagen. 

Does the Copenhagen Card include the Botanical Gardens?

Admission to the city’s Botanical Gardens is free, but you have to pay for entrance to the Palm House and the Butterfly House, both of which are included in the Copenhagen Card.

Can you get Copenhagen Card discount codes?

We haven’t been able to track down any discount codes for 2026. Watch out for spammy coupon sites that promise a ‘discount’ but actually just send you to the Copenhagen Card booking page and don’t save you any money.

See also:
82 cheap and free things to do in Copenhagen
Where to find cheap beer in Copenhagen
Free museums in Copenhagen
Is the Stockholm Pass worth buying?