neighbourhood
Nyhavn + waterfront walk
Iconic 17th-century harbour with painted houses. Hans Christian Andersen's former home. Cafes + canal boat tours (€15, 1 hour).
Kastrup Airport (CPH) · Denmark
24-Hour Layover in Copenhagen: What To Do
By AirConnect Editorial
Things to do in Copenhagen
Tours, tickets & day trips
Quick answer
Can you leave the airport on a 24-hour layover in Copenhagen?
Entry
Denmark is Schengen — visa-free for most Western passports up to 90 days. CPH airport is exceptional for transit — direct rail to centre in 13 minutes makes 4-hour layovers viable for downtown visits.
Into town
Metro M2 (to Kongens Nytorv / Nørreport): 13 min, DKK 36 (€5).
Time outside
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip
Times from CPH arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.
Top Copenhagen: Where to Go
The sights in Copenhagen worth leaving the airport for.
2Tivoli Gardens
World's 3rd-oldest amusement park (since 1843), open mid-April to late-September + winter. €25 entry. Walt Disney visited + was inspired to build Disneyland.
Photo: European Commission, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
3Christiania (alternative quarter)
Semi-autonomous "free town" since 1971 — alternative arts community. Walk through Pusher Street (no photos). Unique to Copenhagen.
Photo: Franklin Heijnen, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
market
Reffen street food + Refshaleøen
Open-air food hall on a former shipyard with 60+ vendors. Easy reach via harbour ferry from Nyhavn. Peak Copenhagen vibe.
Itinerary ideas for Copenhagen
Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.
3 hours in Copenhagen
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
See the 3-hour planPhoto: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.
24 hours
You are here24 hours in Copenhagen
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip
Insider tip
CPH is one of the closest major European airports to its city — Metro takes just 13 minutes to the centre for €5. The station is inside Terminal 3 (signed clearly). For 3-hour layovers: Nyhavn photo + smørrebrød lunch is achievable.
Into Copenhagen
Getting to Copenhagen City Centre
| Mode | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Metro M2 (to Kongens Nytorv / Nørreport) | DKK 36 (€5) | 13 min |
| DSB train (to København H) | DKK 30 (€4) | 12 min |
| Taxi (metered) | DKK 250–350 (€33–47) | 20–30 min |
Eat like a local
Eat Like a Local in Copenhagen
Smørrebrød (open-face sandwiches) at Hallernes — pickled herring + remoulade rye toppings, DKK 60-100. World-class restaurants Noma + Geranium both within 30 min of airport for fine-dining layovers.
24 hours in Copenhagen
24-Hour Itinerary
1
Day 1 — Arrival
Into Copenhagen and check in to your hotel
Take Metro M2 (to Kongens Nytorv / Nørreport) (13 min, DKK 36 (€5)). Most hotels hold bags before check-in.
2
Day 1 — Afternoon
Nyhavn + waterfront walk
Iconic 17th-century harbour with painted houses. Hans Christian Andersen's former home. Cafes + canal boat tours (€15, 1 hour).
3
Day 1 — Evening
Dinner like a local
Smørrebrød (open-face sandwiches) at Hallernes — pickled herring + remoulade rye toppings, DKK 60-100. World-class restaurants Noma + Geranium both within 30 min of airport for fine-dining layovers.
4
Day 2 — Morning
Tivoli Gardens
World's 3rd-oldest amusement park (since 1843), open mid-April to late-September + winter. €25 entry. Walt Disney visited + was inspired to build Disneyland.
5
Day 2 — Late morning
Christiania (alternative quarter)
Semi-autonomous "free town" since 1971 — alternative arts community. Walk through Pusher Street (no photos). Unique to Copenhagen.
6
Day 2 — Departure
Back to Kastrup Airport
Head back to Kastrup Airport by Metro M2 (to Kongens Nytorv / Nørreport) (13 min, DKK 36 (€5)). Be at the airport at least 2–3 hours before an international flight.
Your questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa for a 24-hour layover in Copenhagen?
Denmark is Schengen — visa-free for most Western passports up to 90 days. CPH airport is exceptional for transit — direct rail to centre in 13 minutes makes 4-hour layovers viable for downtown visits. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.
Is 24 hours enough to leave Kastrup Airport?
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip. Getting into Copenhagen by Metro M2 (to Kongens Nytorv / Nørreport) takes 13 min each way.
How do I get from Kastrup Airport to Copenhagen centre?
Metro M2 (to Kongens Nytorv / Nørreport): 13 min, DKK 36 (€5). DSB train (to København H): 12 min, DKK 30 (€4). Taxi (metered): 20–30 min, DKK 250–350 (€33–47).
Where can I leave my bags in Copenhagen?
Luggage storage near Kastrup Airport and in Copenhagen is listed in our Copenhagen luggage storage guide.
Getting out of Kastrup Airport
Skip the taxi rank and lock in your fare before you land.
Pre-book a fixed-price transfer
Our pickDriver waits at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and the price you see is the price you pay. English-speaking, fixed price. No surge, no haggling at 2am.
Check transfer pricesRenting a car instead? Compare rentals with free cancellation.Things to do in Copenhagen
Lock in a few experiences before you go — the good ones sell out.
Tours, tickets & day trips
Our pickGetYourGuide has the deepest catalogue for Copenhagen and free cancellation on most experiences — book now, decide later.
Browse Copenhagen
Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels.
Hotels near Copenhagen Airport
With 24 hours, a day-use hotel room is worth it — shower, sleep, and recharge before your next flight.
Find hotels in Copenhagen
Hotels, hostels & more · Trip.com
Search hotels
Also useful for your Copenhagen trip
Airlines that fly to Copenhagen
See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from CPH.
Flights to Copenhagen from 50 cities: fares and airlines →
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Airport lounges at Copenhagen Kastrup Airport
Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.
Copenhagen travel deals
Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.
How a layover in Copenhagen works
01
Check you can leave
Denmark is Schengen — visa-free for most Western passports up to 90 days. CPH airport is exceptional for transit — direct rail to centre in 13 minutes makes 4-hour layovers viable for downtown visits.
02
Head into town
Metro M2 (to Kongens Nytorv / Nørreport): 13 min, DKK 36 (€5).
Photo: Artem Yellow on Pexels.
03
Back in time for your flight
Head back to Kastrup Airport by Metro M2 (to Kongens Nytorv / Nørreport) (13 min, DKK 36 (€5)). Be at the airport at least 2–3 hours before an international flight.
Ready for Copenhagen?
Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.
Daylight on the ground
Daylight in Copenhagen swings from about 6.8 hours in Dec to 17.2 in Jun. The same six-hour stopover is a city break in Jun and mostly darkness in Dec — worth checking before you plan to leave the airport.