Copenhagen Airport Layover Guide
Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup) · Layover Guide
Things to Do at Copenhagen Airport During a Layover
The Metro M2 station is directly under Terminal 3. 15 minutes to Kongens Nytorv and Nyhavn. Copenhagen is one of the most compact and walkable major European cities for a layover.
15 min
To Nyhavn by Metro M2
5 lounges
Across T2 and T3
24h
Metro runs every 2 min in daytime
Highlights
Metro M2 — 14 min to Kongens Nytorv
DKK 26, runs every 4-6 min, 24 hours a day. No changes needed — direct to the city centre.
SAS Gold Lounge — Priority Pass
T2 Schengen. Also No1 Lounge in T3. Both accept Priority Pass walk-ins subject to capacity.
Nyhavn — 20 min from airport
Coloured 17th-century warehouses on the waterfront. Easy half-day from the airport with clear sightlines back.
Getting into Copenhagen
Transport from CPH
The Metro station is directly below Terminal 3 — no outdoor walking. Follow signs to Metro from arrivals. Buy tickets at MVT machines or via the DOT app.
| Option | Destination | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro M2 | Kongens Nytorv (Nyhavn) | 13–15 min | Every 2 min daytime. 24h service. Station directly under T3. Verify current fare at publictransport.dk. |
| DSB Train | Copenhagen Central Station (H) | 13–15 min | Platform above Metro station in T3. Every 10 min. Good for Tivoli (next to Central Station). |
| Taxi / Rideshare | City centre | 20–40 min | DKK 350–500 to city centre (approx). Traffic dependent. Viggo, Bolt and Taxa 4×35 available. |
Layover itineraries
At the airport
Carlsberg Aviator Lounge (T2, 05:00–20:30) or Aspire Lounge (T2, 06:00–20:00) — both walk-up from DKK 229 or 339. Food, drinks, Wi-Fi, showers.
Shopping — 120+ shops airside and landside. Heinemann Tax Free duty-free. Fashion, watches, Scandinavian design.
Quick city hop
Under 3 hours — Metro is fast but factor 15 minutes each way and a 60 to 90 minute security buffer. That leaves under an hour in the city. Nyhavn for a quick walk and a coffee is achievable if you move fast.
Solo Carlsberg Aviator Lounge at DKK 229 walk-up is excellent value. Good food, draft Carlsberg, relaxed atmosphere.
Nyhavn + Strøget
0:00
Metro M2 to Kongens Nytorv — 15 minutes.
0:15
Nyhavn — 17th-century canal with coloured townhouses. The most photographed spot in Copenhagen. Outdoor restaurants and cafes. Free to walk around.
1:00
Strøget — 5 minutes walk from Nyhavn. Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping street. Good for a walk and a coffee.
3:30
Metro back from Kongens Nytorv. Allow 15 minutes plus security buffer.
Tivoli Gardens
0:00
DSB train to Central Station — 15 minutes.
0:15
Tivoli Gardens — historic amusement park adjacent to Central Station. Founded 1843. Gardens, rides, restaurants, live music. Entry fee applies. Open spring through autumn and Christmas season.
4:00
DSB back to airport from Central Station.
Family Tivoli is the most family-friendly option — rides, gardens and food all in one place. Check opening hours at tivoligardens.com.
Couple Nyhavn is the most photogenic 30 minutes you can spend in Copenhagen. Lunch at one of the canal-side restaurants makes it a proper stop.
City centre
0:00
Metro M2 to Kongens Nytorv.
0:15
Nyhavn and breakfast or coffee at the canal.
1:00
Rosenborg Castle gardens (Kongens Have) — free public park, 20 minutes walk from Nyhavn. Rosenborg Castle inside is ticketed.
3:00
Strøget and lunch. The street connects Kongens Nytorv with Rådhuspladsen near Tivoli.
5:00
Tivoli (seasonal) or Christiansborg Palace tower (free).
7:00
Metro or train back. Allow security buffer.
Louisiana Museum
0:00
Train from airport to Humlebaek — about 40 minutes north. Check DSB timetable.
0:40
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art — world-class collection in a villa on the Øresund coast. Giacometti, Warhol, Calder. Sculpture garden overlooking Sweden. Allow 2 to 3 hours. Entry fee applies.
7:00
Train back from Humlebaek to airport.
Solo Louisiana Museum is one of the best modern art museums in northern Europe. If you have 6+ hours this is the best single destination from CPH.
Couple Louisiana has a sculpture garden facing Sweden across the water. Genuinely one of the most beautiful museum settings in Europe.
Copenhagen full day
0:00
Metro M2 to Kongens Nytorv.
0:30
Nyhavn — breakfast at the canal.
1:30
Christiansborg Palace — seat of the Danish Parliament. Free tower access with views over the city. Museum and state rooms below (entry fee).
3:30
Lunch in Torvehallerne food market — Copenhagen’s indoor market with Danish open sandwiches, pastries and coffee. 10 minutes walk from Christiansborg.
5:00
The Little Mermaid — 30 minutes walk from Torvehallerne or short bus. Touristy but the waterfront walk is worth it.
6:30
Tivoli Gardens (seasonal) near Central Station to finish.
8:30
DSB train back from Central Station. Allow security buffer.
Louisiana + Nyhavn
0:00
Train to Humlebaek for Louisiana Museum — 40 minutes.
0:40
Louisiana Museum — 3 hours. Lunch in the museum cafe overlooking the water.
4:00
Train back to central Copenhagen. Change for Metro or walk to Nyhavn.
5:30
Nyhavn and dinner at the canal before heading back.
8:30
Metro M2 back to airport from Kongens Nytorv.
Solo Louisiana plus Nyhavn dinner is a near-perfect Copenhagen day. High quality, low stress.
Family Tivoli plus Nyhavn covers the two most child-friendly highlights without a long train journey.
Couple Christiansborg tower is free and gives the best panoramic view of Copenhagen — underrated and worth doing.
Airport lounges
Carlsberg Aviator
Carlsberg Aviator Lounge
T2 — between Pier A and B (Schengen)
05:00–20:30 daily (20:00 Sat). Nordic tapas cold buffet, 3 Carlsberg draft taps, wine. Priority Pass accepted.
DKK 229 walk-up
Aspire Lounge
Aspire Lounge
T2 — Pier A (Schengen) — opened December 2025
06:00–20:00. Danish and locally sourced food, central bar with baristas, showers. Priority Pass accepted.
DKK 339 walk-up
Danske Bank Aviator
Danske Bank Aviator Business Lounge
T2 — between Pier A and B (Schengen)
05:00–21:30 (21:00 Sat). Hot and cold buffet, soundproofed office pods. NOT Priority Pass — Danske Bank World Elite Mastercard or eligible airlines.
DKK 269 walk-up
Eventyr Lounge
Eventyr Lounge
T3 — Pier C, Gate C26 (Non-Schengen)
05:30–20:00. Priority Pass accepted. Was temporarily closed Jan–Apr 2026 — verify current status at cph.dk before travelling.
DKK 300 walk-up
Airport hotels at Copenhagen
Copenhagen Airport has six hotels within 2km. The Hilton Copenhagen Airport is the closest at 0.2km, connected to Terminal 3. Clarion Hotel and Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers are both 0.5km away. ibis Copenhagen Airport is the budget pick. Scandic Copenhagen Airport offers Park and Fly at 2km.
Common questions
How long does it take to get to Nyhavn from CPH?
About 15 minutes by Metro M2 from the station directly under Terminal 3 to Kongens Nytorv, which is right at Nyhavn. The metro runs every 2 minutes during the day. It is one of the fastest city connections of any major European airport.
Is Louisiana Museum worth the trip from the airport?
Yes, if you have 6 hours or more. The train from CPH to Humlebaek takes about 40 minutes. Louisiana is one of the most architecturally and artistically exceptional museums in northern Europe — permanent collection includes Giacometti, Warhol, Jean Arp and Francis Bacon. The sculpture garden has views across the Øresund to Sweden. Allow at least 2.5 to 3 hours on site.
Is the Eventyr Lounge open?
It was temporarily closed from January to April 2026. It should have reopened by now but verify current status at cph.dk or on the Priority Pass app before travelling.
Do I need a visa to leave the airport during a layover?
Denmark is part of the Schengen area. Leaving the airport means entering Denmark and Schengen entry rules apply. Passengers on through-tickets staying in the transit zone may not need a visa. Check your specific nationality requirements at nyidanmark.dk before planning to leave the terminal.
Information sourced from cph.dk. Verify lounge status and transport fares at official sites before travelling.