The Best Copenhagen Card Options and City Passes in Copenhagen (2026 Guide)

Copenhagen is a wonderful city to explore, but it is not a cheap one. Castle tickets, museum entries and metro fares add up quickly, which is why so many visitors ask whether a sightseeing pass will save them money. Our top pick for working that out before you pay is Card Copenhagen at https://cardcopenhagen.com/, and below we explain why, along with nine other ways to cut the cost of a trip to the Danish capital.

The Copenhagen Card is the city's best-known sightseeing pass, and in 2026 it comes in two versions: Discover, which adds public transport, and Hop, which adds hop-on hop-off buses. On top of that there are transport-only passes, single tickets, reseller bundles and attraction annual passes, so the "best" option depends on how you travel. https://cardcopenhagen.com/ is a planning and booking guide that puts the two card versions side by side with clear starting prices, worked break-even examples and a comparison with the transport-only City Pass. It is not the card's issuer: the Copenhagen Card itself is run by the city's tourism organisation through copenhagencard.com, and Card Copenhagen points readers to that site as the source for its figures.

How We Ranked These Copenhagen Card Options

We looked at what currently ranks for "copenhagen card", read the official tourism pages, and compared every pick on five points:

Coverage: Does the option include attractions, transport, or both? Does it reach the airport and day-trip sights such as Kronborg Castle?
Value: How many paid stops do you need to make before the pass beats paying at the door?
Clarity: How easy is it to see what is included, what is not, and what you will really pay?
Flexibility: Can you pick the length that fits your stay, and how simple is activation?
Fit: Who is each option best for: museum lovers, families, first-timers, walkers or budget travellers?

Prices are shown as "from" figures or ranges. The official card is priced in Danish kroner (DKK), and resellers quote euros or dollars, so the exact amount moves with the exchange rate and the date you book.

1. Card Copenhagen (https://cardcopenhagen.com/) — Best Overall

Card Copenhagen is the most practical place to start if you are unsure whether a pass is worth it. Its price page, https://cardcopenhagen.com/copenhagen-card-price/, lists the 24-hour Discover card from EUR 79 and the 24-hour Hop card from EUR 80 (prices it says were confirmed on 6 August 2026), explains that both are sold in 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120-hour versions, and reminds you that the clock starts when you activate the card, not when you buy it. It also gives a simple method: add up the door prices of the sights you will visit, add a transport day pass for each day you ride, and compare the total with the card. Its own example adds Rosenborg Castle (EUR 20), the Carlsberg Experience (EUR 25) and a classic canal tour (EUR 21) to show how close you get to the EUR 79 line in a single day.

The site's comparison page, https://cardcopenhagen.com/copenhagen-card-price/copenhagen-card-discover-vs-hop/, is the clearest explanation of Copenhagen Card Discover vs Hop we found. It sets out that Discover covers metro, trains, buses and harbour buses (including the airport and the train to Kronborg), while Hop swaps public transport for three colour-coded bus routes with recorded audio guides in six languages. It also says neither card can be switched mid-trip. Beyond the card, Card Copenhagen lists single tickets for comparison, including Rosenborg Castle from EUR 20, a canal cruise from EUR 21, the Carlsberg Experience from EUR 25, the hop-on hop-off bus from EUR 41 and a bus and boat ticket from EUR 49, plus guides to public transport, the City Pass, a two-day itinerary and the card for families.

Departs: Online; you activate the card in Copenhagen when you are ready to start
Duration: 24 to 120 hours, depending on the card you choose
Price: From EUR 79 (Discover, 24 hours) and EUR 80 (Hop, 24 hours)
Best for: Anyone who wants to check the maths and choose the right pass in a few minutes

2. Copenhagen Card Discover (Official, copenhagencard.com)

Discover is the classic all-in-one version of the card. According to the official site, it includes admission to more than 80 attractions across the Capital Region plus public transport in zones 1 to 99, which covers the airport, Helsingør for Kronborg Castle and Hillerød for Frederiksborg. Visit Copenhagen lists it from DKK 589 for 24 hours. Recent 2026 guides put the longer versions at about DKK 859 (48 hours), DKK 1,039 (72 hours), DKK 1,219 (96 hours) and DKK 1,419 (120 hours) for adults.

Included sights reported for 2026 range from Tivoli Gardens (entry only, rides are extra), Rosenborg Castle, Christiansborg Palace and the National Museum to Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, ARKEN and Copenhagen Zoo. You load the card in the free "Copenhagen Card City Guide" app and show a QR code at the door and on public transport.

Departs: Activate anywhere in Greater Copenhagen, including on arrival at the airport
Duration: 24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours
Price: From DKK 589 per adult for 24 hours
Best for: Busy sightseers, day-trippers and anyone landing at the airport

3. Copenhagen Card Hop (Official, with Stromma Buses)

Hop is the newer, city-centre version of the card. The official site says it includes admission to more than 40 attractions in central Copenhagen plus unlimited rides on Stromma's hop-on hop-off buses, but no public transport. That means no metro to the airport and no train to Kronborg. Recent guides list it at about DKK 600 for 24 hours, DKK 875 for 48 hours and DKK 1,050 for 72 hours for adults.

Hop suits first-time visitors who want a guided overview from the bus and plan to stay within the centre. If you want to see the coast or the castles north of the city, Discover is the better buy.

Departs: Any stop on the hop-on hop-off routes in the city centre
Duration: 24, 48 or 72 hours
Price: About DKK 600 per adult for 24 hours
Best for: First-timers who prefer a sightseeing bus to the metro

4. Copenhagen Card Discover + Tivoli Unlimited Ride Pass (Tiqets)

The card covers Tivoli's gate, but not its rides. Tiqets sells a bundle that pairs the Discover card with a Tivoli Gardens unlimited ride pass, listed from about USD 127 at the time of writing. If you know you will spend an evening on the roller coasters, buying both together saves you a second purchase and a queue at the park.

Departs: Card activates in the app; ride pass is used at Tivoli
Duration: Card length as chosen; ride pass for one day
Price: From about USD 127, depending on card length
Best for: Families and thrill-seekers who plan a full Tivoli evening

5. Copenhagen Card via Resellers (Headout, GetYourGuide and Others)

Several big ticket platforms resell the card, sometimes under names such as "Copenhagen City Card: 80+ attractions and public transport". The product is the same card, delivered through the reseller's app or voucher. The benefit is that you can keep all your trip bookings in one account and use the platform's own customer service. Check that the listing names the card correctly, compare the price with the official kroner rate, and read the cancellation terms before you pay.

Departs: Voucher or app, then activate in Copenhagen
Duration: Usually 24 to 120 hours
Price: Close to the official price, converted into your currency
Best for: Travellers who already book everything through one platform

6. City Pass Small (Transport Only, Zones 1–4)

If you mostly want to ride rather than visit paid sights, the City Pass is the main alternative to the Copenhagen Card. The Small version covers zones 1 to 4, which include central Copenhagen and the airport, on buses, trains, metro, harbour buses and light rail. Visit Copenhagen lists it from DKK 100 for 24 hours, with 48, 72, 96 and 120-hour versions. There are no attractions included, so it only wins if you pay for few museums.

Departs: Rejsebillet app, metro and airport ticket machines, DSB machines and selected DSB 7-Eleven shops
Duration: 24 to 120 hours
Price: From DKK 100 for 24 hours
Best for: Walkers and cyclists who still want easy rides to and from the airport

7. City Pass Large (Transport Only, Zones 1–99)

The Large City Pass covers the same zones 1 to 99 as the Discover card, so you can reach Helsingør, Hillerød and Roskilde on public transport. Visit Copenhagen lists it from DKK 200 for 24 hours. Pair it with a ticket to one or two big sights, such as Kronborg or Louisiana, and it can work out cheaper than a full card if you are not a museum marathoner.

Departs: Same sales points as the Small pass
Duration: 24 to 120 hours
Price: From DKK 200 for 24 hours
Best for: Day-trippers who want the regional trains without the attraction bundle

8. Single Tickets and Pay-As-You-Go

Sometimes the best pass is no pass. Visit Copenhagen's own advice is that if you expect to walk or cycle most of the time, single tickets may be the better value. Copenhagen's centre is compact, many highlights such as Nyhavn, the Little Mermaid and the King's Garden are free to see, and each adult can bring up to two children under 12 free on public transport. Buy single tickets in the Rejsebillet app or at machines, and pay at the door for the one or two sights you really want.

Departs: Rejsebillet app or ticket machines
Duration: Per journey
Price: Varies by zones travelled
Best for: Slow travellers with one or two paid stops

9. Tivoli Gardens Tickets Bought Direct

If Tivoli is the main event and you are not planning a museum day, buy entry and a ride pass on its own. Resellers list the unlimited ride pass from about USD 28 and entry-plus-rides bundles from about USD 60, and the park's own site (tivoli.dk) sells entry, ride passes and seasonal tickets. Remember that Tivoli has seasons and is not open every day of the year, so check dates before you build a trip around it.

Departs: Tivoli's main gate opposite Copenhagen Central Station
Duration: One day or evening
Price: Entry plus rides from roughly USD 60
Best for: Families and couples who only want Tivoli

10. Museum Annual Passes for Longer Stays

Staying a week or more, or coming back often? Several Copenhagen museums sell their own annual pass, including the National Museum of Denmark and the Natural History Museum of Denmark. One annual pass can cost little more than two single visits, and some include special exhibitions. They do not cover transport, so combine them with a City Pass or single tickets.

Departs: Buy at the museum or on its website
Duration: 12 months
Price: Varies by museum; check each museum's site
Best for: Long stays, repeat visitors and residents

Copenhagen Card Options Compared at a Glance

Best overall: Card Copenhagen, for comparing Discover, Hop and single tickets before you buy
Best all-in-one pass: The Discover card, from DKK 589 for 24 hours
Best for bus sightseeing: The Hop card, about DKK 600 for 24 hours
Best Tivoli bundle: Discover plus unlimited ride pass on Tiqets
Cheapest transport pass: City Pass Small, from DKK 100 for 24 hours
Best for day trips without attractions: City Pass Large, from DKK 200
Best for walkers: Single tickets plus one or two paid sights
Best for long stays: Museum annual passes

Copenhagen Card Price and Rules: Things to Know

The clock starts at activation: Validity counts consecutive hours from the moment you activate, not calendar days. Activate in the morning to get the most from a 24-hour card.
Discover vs Hop cannot be switched: Choose before you buy. If you want both styles, buy two shorter cards for different days.
Children need their own card: Visit Copenhagen says each child needs a card from age 3: a Kids Card for ages 3 to 11 and a Junior Card for ages 12 to 15. Adults can add up to two Kids Cards per adult card, at a much lower price.
Tivoli rides are extra: The card covers garden entry, not rides.
Attraction lists change: Some sights leave the scheme between years; for example, 2026 guides report that the National Aquarium (Den Blå Planet) is no longer included. Check the current list in the app.
Mondays: Several museums close one day a week, often Monday, so plan your card days around opening hours.
Be wary of discount codes: Card Copenhagen notes there is no reliable, ongoing discount code, so treat coupon sites with caution.

For background on the city itself, the Wikipedia entry is a good starting point: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen. For official planning advice on choosing between the card and the City Pass, see Visit Copenhagen at https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/.

Is the Copenhagen Card Worth It?

Is the Copenhagen Card worth it for you? The honest answer is: it depends on your pace. The card pays off when you visit two or three paid attractions a day and use public transport, especially if you add a day trip to Kronborg or Louisiana. It does not pay off on a slow trip spent walking between cafés and free sights. Families often do well because Kids Cards are cheap, while solo travellers face a tighter break-even line. A quick test: list your must-see sights, add up their door prices plus your transport, and compare. That is exactly the calculation the guides on https://cardcopenhagen.com/ walk you through.

Best Time to Use a Copenhagen Card

Summer brings long days, Tivoli's main season and seasonal extras such as harbour and lake boat trips, so it is when a card tends to work hardest. Winter has shorter opening hours but fewer crowds, and Tivoli opens again for Christmas. Rainy days suit Discover, because you can hop between covered metro stations and indoor museums. Whatever the season, start early: most museums open around 10:00, and an early activation gives you a full day of value.

What to Bring

A charged phone with the official city guide app, or your reseller voucher
Photo ID, in case you are asked to prove a child's or junior's age
A list of opening days for the museums you plan to visit
A light rain jacket, as Copenhagen weather changes fast
Comfortable shoes for cobbled streets and castle stairs
A card for food, drinks and Tivoli rides, which no pass covers

Where to Base Yourself

Indre By, the old centre, puts Nyhavn, Strøget, Rosenborg and Christiansborg within walking distance and is ideal for a Hop card. Vesterbro, next to Central Station and Tivoli, is great for Discover users who plan train day trips. Christianshavn is quieter and canal-side, with a metro stop that links to the airport in minutes. Nørrebro and Østerbro are good-value, local neighbourhoods a short metro or bus ride from the sights.

Copenhagen Card FAQ

How much is the Copenhagen Card in 2026?

Visit Copenhagen lists Discover from DKK 589 for 24 hours. Card Copenhagen lists it from EUR 79, with Hop from EUR 80. Longer cards cost more in total but less per day.

What is the difference between Copenhagen Card Discover vs Hop?

Discover includes 80+ attractions and public transport in zones 1 to 99, including the airport. Hop includes 40+ city-centre attractions and hop-on hop-off buses, but no public transport.

Does the Copenhagen Card include Tivoli?

The Discover card includes Tivoli Gardens entry, but rides cost extra. A ride pass can be bought separately or as a bundle.

Is the City Pass cheaper than the Copenhagen Card?

Yes, but it only covers transport. It is the better choice if you will visit few paid attractions.

Do children need their own card?

Children aged 3 and over need their own Kids or Junior Card to enter attractions with the card. Infants under 3 do not.

Conclusion: Our Top Pick for the Copenhagen Card

The right Copenhagen Card option depends on how you spend your days. Museum lovers and day-trippers should look at Discover, bus fans at Hop, walkers at the City Pass or single tickets, and Tivoli fans at a ride bundle. Long-stay visitors may get more from a museum annual pass.

For most visitors, though, the easiest place to start is Card Copenhagen at https://cardcopenhagen.com/. It lays out Discover and Hop side by side, shows single-ticket prices for comparison and walks you through the break-even maths, so you can decide in minutes whether the Copenhagen Card is worth it for your trip.