Independent Guide · Updated June 2026

The Copenhagen Card Does it actually pay off?

We run the numbers — you make the call.

The Copenhagen Card is Copenhagen’s official city pass — available in two versions. Discover covers 80+ attractions and unlimited public transport including the airport. Hop covers 40+ city-centre attractions and the hop-on hop-off bus only. The calculator below shows which one pays off for your trip.

Your Copenhagen Card Savings Calculator
Select your card
Travellers
Duration
Attractions you plan to visit
Showing the 15 most-visited attractions. See the full worth-it breakdown for both cards →
Without Card
$57 (€52)
72hr Discover
$161 (€139)
You Save
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Tick 5 more attractions to break even

Prices verified June 2026. Airport metro saving applies to Discover card only.

See full pricing for all durations and age groups →
See the full worth-it breakdown for both cards →
★★★★★ Discover: 4.6 · 5,514 reviews on GetYourGuide (verified June 2026)
★★★★ Hop: 4.2 · 415 reviews on GetYourGuide (verified June 2026)
Buy the Copenhagen Card → See the full worth-it breakdown for both cards →
How It Compares

Discover Card or Hop Card — which is right for you?

Two cards, two different trips. Here’s how to choose.

Copenhagen Card
Discover Card
From $91 (€79)
24 · 48 · 72 · 96 · 120 hours
★★★★★ 4.6 · 5,514 reviews
✓ 80+ museums & attractions
✓ Unlimited public transport — metro, trains, buses, harbour buses
✓ Airport metro included — no extra cost
✓ Day trips covered — Kronborg, Louisiana, Roskilde and more
✓ Up to 120 hours — longest duration available
✓ No physical card — everything is in the app
✓ Free cancellation — up to 24 hours before use
✓ Children 0–11 covered for transport — up to 2 per adult card
✗ Hop-on hop-off bus not included
Best for: museums, transport & day trips
Buy the Copenhagen Card →
Copenhagen Card
Hop Card
From $93 (€80)
24 · 48 · 72 hours only
★★★★ 4.2 · 415 reviews
✓ 40+ city-centre attractions
✓ Unlimited hop-on hop-off bus — 3 city routes
✓ No physical card — everything is in the app
✓ Free cancellation — up to 24 hours before use
✓ Children 0–11 covered for transport — up to 2 per adult card
✗ Public transport not included
✗ Airport metro not included
✗ Day trips not possible — city centre only
✗ Maximum 72 hours — no longer durations
Best for: city sightseeing by bus
Buy the Copenhagen Card →

Full Discover vs Hop breakdown — see every difference →

Top Attractions

The best attractions — and what each one costs without the card

View all 80+ Copenhagen Card attractions →

No booking needed
Amusement park · City centre · Allow 2–4 hrs

Tivoli Gardens

One of the world’s oldest amusement parks — gardens, live music and restaurants in the heart of Copenhagen.

Gardens access is included. Ride tickets cost extra — roughly €20–30 per person.
Without card: €20
See Card →
No booking needed
Historic castle · 40 min from city · Allow 2 hrs

Kronborg Castle

Hamlet’s castle — a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most dramatic fortresses in northern Europe.

The Discover card covers the train from Copenhagen Central. 40 minutes each way.
Without card: €18
See Card →
No booking needed
Zoo · City centre · Allow 3–4 hrs

Copenhagen Zoo

4,000 animals including a Bjarke Ingels-designed panda habitat. One of northern Europe’s finest zoos.

Without card: €26
See Card →
No booking needed
Boat tour · City centre · Allow 1 hr

Canal Tours Copenhagen

The classic way to see Copenhagen from the water — a one-hour guided canal tour through the historic city.

Board at Gammel Strand or Nyhavn. Runs every 30 minutes in season.
Without card: €18
See Card →
No booking needed
Historic castle · Crown Jewels · Allow 1–2 hrs

Rosenborg Castle

The Danish Crown Jewels, 400 years of royal history, and one of Copenhagen’s most visited attractions.

Without card: €16
See Card →
No booking needed
Art museum · 40 min from city · Allow 2–3 hrs

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

World-class modern art, sculpture gardens, and sea views — 40 minutes from Copenhagen by train.

The Discover card covers the train journey. One of Denmark’s most visited museums.
Without card: €20
See Card →
How It Works

How to use the Copenhagen Card

1

Buy online

Buy the Copenhagen Card here — you’ll receive a booking confirmation email with an 8-character reference code. The card is 100% digital — no pickup required.

2

Download the app

Download the Copenhagen Card City Guide app — free on iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play). This is the only app the card works with.

3

Enter your code

Open the app, go to “My Cards” and enter your 8-character code. Do not activate yet — activation starts the timer immediately and cannot be undone or paused.

4

Activate when ready

When you are ready to start exploring, tap Activate and swipe to confirm. The hours count from this moment — not from purchase. Codes are valid for up to 24 months from purchase.

5

Show your QR code

Show the QR code in the app at each attraction entrance and tap it on transport validators. One scan per attraction — re-entry is not possible. The app works offline once activated.

Your booking email is not your card

You must enter the 8-character code from your confirmation email into the Copenhagen Card City Guide app before visiting any venue. Showing the email at an attraction will not get you in.

Full activation guide and troubleshooting →
Before You Buy

6 things worth knowing before you buy the Copenhagen Card

Tivoli Gardens rides are not included
  • Gardens entry is included with the card
  • Rides require separate tickets — not covered
  • Budget roughly €20–30 per person for rides
Many museums close on Mondays
  • Roughly half the card’s venues are closed on Mondays
  • Plan your itinerary around a Tuesday–Sunday visit
  • Frederiksborg Castle is a notable exception — open every day
Activate when you are ready — not when you buy
  • The timer starts the moment you activate in the app
  • Buy in advance, activate on your first morning
  • Codes are valid for up to 24 months from purchase
Children aged 3–11 need their own card
  • Infants aged 0–2 are free — no card needed
  • Children aged 3–11 need a child card on the same order
  • You cannot add children’s cards to an existing booking
Some attractions require advance booking
  • The card covers entry — but not the timed slot
  • Pre-book: Palm House, Home of Carlsberg, Museum of Illusions
  • Also pre-book: IKONO Copenhagen and the Planetarium
All cards on one order activate simultaneously
  • All cards in one order activate at the same time
  • You cannot stagger activation times across cards
  • Buy separate orders if your group starts on different days
Common Questions

Questions we get asked every day

How many attractions do I need to visit for the card to pay off?

For a solo adult on the 72-hour Discover card ($161 / €139), visiting Tivoli Gardens, Kronborg Castle, Copenhagen Zoo, Canal Tours, and Rosenborg Castle adds up to €98 in individual tickets. Add the airport metro return (€14) and you are at €112 — two more attractions and the card pays for itself. For the Hop card ($163 / €141), the same logic applies but without the airport saving — you need around 7 city-centre attractions to break even.

Does the Copenhagen Card include the airport metro?

The Discover card includes unlimited public transport across the Capital Region, which covers the metro to and from Copenhagen Airport (CPH). The Hop card does not cover the airport — it only includes the Stromma hop-on hop-off buses.

What is the difference between Discover and Hop?

Discover covers 80+ attractions and all public transport including metro, trains, harbour buses, and the airport. Hop covers 40+ city-centre attractions and the Stromma hop-on hop-off bus only — no metro, no airport, no day trips. Discover is available up to 120 hours; Hop stops at 72 hours.

Can children use the Copenhagen Card for free?

The same rules apply to both cards. Infants aged 0–2 are free with no card needed. Children aged 3–11 need their own child card ordered at the same time as the adult card. Youth aged 12–15 pay a discounted rate — they are not free. On the Discover card, each adult cardholder also covers up to 2 children aged 0–11 for unlimited public transport. This transport benefit does not apply to the Hop card, which only includes the hop-on hop-off bus.

When does the card start counting?

When you activate it in the app — not when you buy it. You can buy months in advance and activate on the morning you want to start. Codes are valid for up to 24 months from purchase.

Can I share the card with someone else?

No. The card is non-transferable. Each person needs their own card. The QR code is personal and cannot be used by more than one person.

All Copenhagen Card questions answered →

Ready to Book?

Buy the Copenhagen Card

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before use — activated cards are non-refundable.

Buy the Copenhagen Card →