4.9
4.6Travel to DenmarkExperience Denmark Travel: Scenic Rail & Transit Guide
By Victoria Philpott
One of the things that stood out to me while travelling in Denmark was how much space was given to bikes. During our June 2026 trip, my young son was fascinated by the ground-floor bicycle areas on the trains we took. On the double-decker trains, sitting on the top deck also gave us far-reaching views and plenty of opportunities for people and garden watching. Here, I’ll share my experience of travelling around Denmark, including scenic routes, transport options, ticket choices and practical tips for travelling with children.
DSB double-decker train pulling into Roskilde
Routes Overview
Add Aarhus to Skagen to your Denmark itinerary. I loved the journey north, where the scenery becomes more interesting as you pass through the Jutland countryside, forests and eventually the sandy dunes and coastline around Skagen. Seeing the colourful Danish houses pass by was another highlight. Rather than simply travelling from one end of the route to the other, I’d make the most of the stops along the way and use trains and local transport to explore more of northern Denmark. Popular connections such as Copenhagen to Aarhus, Copenhagen to Odense and Copenhagen Airport to Malmo are also easy to book.
Onboard Experience
Getting around Denmark felt straightforward to me. I’ve travelled extensively around Copenhagen and its outskirts by both bus and train and haven’t gone wrong once. Public transport was useful for reaching smaller towns, coastal areas and the countryside, while the trains we used had toilets and charging points and the stations were well equipped with screens and places to grab a coffee. Having a City Pass around Copenhagen also meant we didn’t need to worry about paying for individual journeys. The pass covers buses, trains and the Metro within the selected zones.
Some trains are double-deckers in Denmark
Station Tips
Copenhagen Airport is well connected if you’re continuing your journey by public transport. We took the direct train to Copenhagen Central Station (København H), where you can connect with regional trains for onward journeys. Even though we were standing, there was plenty of room for our bags, and I felt safe. The train is also a useful way to avoid city traffic. The airport has a Metro station at Terminal 3 too, so it’s worth checking which option works best for your destination. If you need lifts at your onward station, check the facilities beforehand.
Best Time to Travel
My last visit to Denmark was in June 2026 and, despite the long bright days, it was surprisingly chilly for what I expected in summer. The best time to visit really depends on what you want to do. The warmer months are appealing for outdoor sightseeing, cycling and coastal trips, while winter brings a very different atmosphere. Wrap up for cosy cities and wintry landscapes. In spring, nature comes back to life, while autumn brings colourful scenery, crisp air and fewer summer crowds.
Things to Know Before Traveling
When I first visited Denmark, I found it surprisingly difficult to remember place and station names between checking them on my phone and finding them again on ticket machines. To an untrained eye, some Danish names can look quite similar! For journeys involving different forms of transport, Rejseplanen is useful because it can plan connections using trains, buses, Metro, light rail and ferries. Something else to know if you’re travelling as a family is that a paying adult can take up to two children under 12 free on many DSB tickets.
Scenic Routes
For longer journeys in Denmark, I preferred travelling by train because it was comfortable for the whole family. One of my favourite routes was the Coastal Line from Copenhagen Central to Helsingør, which I travelled many times while we were staying in the seaside town of Rungsted Kyst, around halfway between the two. There’s plenty to look out for along the way, with stretches of woodland and pretty coastal towns, as well as North Zealand’s attractions. Away from central Copenhagen, it felt like we were travelling alongside local Danes rather than sticking with the tourists. For other journeys, buses can help fill the gaps between rail routes, while cycling is a major part of everyday transport in Denmark’s larger cities. If you’re visiting smaller islands, ferries and passenger boats are another important part of the transport network.
Booking Tips
For longer journeys across Denmark, I’d check your route and ticket options before travelling rather than assuming one ticket will suit every trip. If you’re travelling by train, check whether a seat reservation would be useful and whether there are specific rules for bringing a bike. For buses, coaches or ferries, check the relevant operator’s ticket and booking conditions before you travel, particularly if your journey involves more than one form of transport.
Travel Tips
I found travelling around Denmark straightforward, so if you’re exploring the country, I’d recommend staying in one place and doing day trips rather than moving your stuff around too, especially if you’re travelling with children. If you’re staying in Copenhagen and exploring the surrounding area, a City Pass Large can be useful as it covers zones 1–99. Ticket prices were much cheaper than I expected, too. Download the relevant transport apps before you go so you have another source of information while travelling. And if your train has an upstairs, that’s where I’d sit!
Conclusion
Is Denmark worth exploring using public transport? Absolutely! My family and I found getting around by train and bus relaxed and straightforward, and travelling this way gave us plenty of opportunities to watch the cities, coast and countryside go by. Trains were a big part of our trip, but Denmark also has extensive bus links, a strong cycling culture and ferry connections to many of its islands. I strongly recommend sampling the coffee shops and booths at the stations. You can’t beat a coffee and a Danish pastry on a Danish train watching Denmark go by!
Other destinations you might be interested in
Other Popular Journeys
The Omio App Makes Travel Planning Easy
We’ll get you where you want to go. From live train updates to mobile tickets, our innovative app is the ideal way to plan and keep track of your travel.
