Transportation in Aarhus and Denmark

Bicycles are the most popular means to get around in Denmark. Bike paths cut across the country, and all Danes are used to bikes as a means of transportation. You can rent a bicycle for a short stay in Denmark or buy a second hand bike. Major supermarkets offer new but cheap bikes from around DKK 1,500. You can also buy a second-hand bike at police auctions around the country. For the times and locations of the next auction, contact your local police station. During the summer, Viborg, Aarhus and Copenhagen provide city bikes parked in the city centre which you can use free of charge.

Cycling culture

In Denmark, cycling is a practical means of transportation. We cycle to work, to school, when we bring the kids to kindergarten, to keep in shape and not least - we cycle because it is fun. Therefore, there is a vast network of cycle paths and routes throughout Denmark which makes life easier and better for cyclists.

Find out more about cycling in Denmark at Visit Denmark or find information on where and how to buy a bike here.

Abildskou Coaches operates within Denmark and offers a cheaper alternative than the train. The service between Copenhagen and Aarhus, Silkeborg and Viborg is the Line 888 which runs several times a day, with certain buses going directly from Copenhagen Airport, others from Valby train station west of Copenhagen. Valby station is easily reached by S-trains and regional train connections.

City buses

City buses (easily recognised by their yellow colour) are run by the five regional public bus companies. You can buy multi-ride tickets and season cards in most kiosks and supermarkets. In Aarhus you can only buy multi ride tickets online via the Midttrafik app. Please note that city buses usually don’t accept credit cards, so you will need to have cash to hand. Usually, you can buy the ticket in a self-service ticket machine in the bus. A train ticket often includes a free ride with connecting city buses – ask the bus driver if your train ticket is valid for the bus. The Rejsekort (electronic travel card) can be used in a growing number of regional buses. Please note that you cannot bring a bike with you in a city bus.

Regional buses

Regional buses are also run by the five regional public bus companies. Regional buses connect smaller cities and the countryside with public transport to major cities, train stations etc. The frequency of regional buses varies a lot depending on the day of the week, time of the year and whether it is day or night. Multi-ride tickets and season cards can be purchased in most kiosks and supermarkets. Please note that regional buses don’t accept credit cards, so you have to pay in cash. The Rejsekort can be used in a growing number of regional buses.

DSB runs national train connections throughout the country with frequent services.

• Copenhagen and Zealand are connected to Fyn and all of Jutland by InterCity trains, which run direct trains every hour. 
• The InterCity Lyn ('lightning') trains connect the Copenhagen area with Odense, Aarhus and East Jutland by hourly direct trains with few stops.
• Other companies run regional train services (including commuter trains) in different parts of Denmark.

When travelling on a weekend or with lots of luggage, you are strongly advised to pay a small additional fee to book a specific seat. Tickets can be bought at the station (in the kiosk or at self-service ticket-machines), online or through the DSB mobile app. Please note that it is not possible to buy tickets on the train. It is important that you purchase your ticket before boarding the train. Otherwise, you risk being fined DKK 750.

You can buy discount tickets called DSB Orange which are considerably cheaper (but less flexible) than regular tickets. The DSB Orange should be bought well in advance.

For information on ticket prices and timetables, contact the DSB Customer Centre at +45 7013 1415 or book your tickets online at: www.dsb.dk or via the www.journeyplanner.dk.

Here are the best ways to get from Copenhagen (Kastrup Airport) to various places in Denmark:

By train to Aarhus

• You can either take the airport bus to Copenhagen’s central train station or, more conveniently, take a direct train from Kastrup airport to Aarhus. The train ride takes 3–4 hours and there are trains leaving for Aarhus every half hour during the day and evening. Aarhus central train station (Hovedbanegården) is centrally located in downtown Aarhus at the very end of the main shopping street. Outside the station you will find a taxi rank and bus stops for most city buses.

By train to Aarslev

• The train ride takes approximately 2 hours and you will have to change trains in Odense. There are trains leaving Copenhagen for Odense every half hour during the day and evening. Connecting trains for Aarslev leave every half hour during workdays and hourly during evening and weekends.

By Metro and S-train from Copenhagen to Campus Emdrup

• Taking the 24 hour metro and changing to the S-train is the easiest way to reach Campus Emdrup from Kastrup Airport. The metro (towards Vanløse Station) runs every four to twenty minutes and you should get off at Nørreport St. From here you can take the S-train (towards Farum Station) and get off at Emdrup Station. From Copenhagen Central station there are direct trains (S-train) to Emdrup Station, connecting Emdrup to national train and bus connections from Aarhus (among other cities).

By train to Roskilde and Slagelse

• There are frequent services from Kastrup Airport to Roskilde (approximately 50 minutes). Some of the services run directly from the airport but sometimes it might be necessary to change at Copenhagen Central Station. Please see: www.journeyplanner.dk for a detailed plan. The same applies to Slagelse (approximately 80 minutes), although it’s sometimes faster to use the Metro. Both Slagelse and Roskilde can be reached by direct national train connections from Funen and Jutland.

By train to Viborg

• The train ride takes 4.5 - 5 hours and there are trains leaving every hour from the airport during the day and evening. You will have to change trains at Aarhus Central Station.

What is a rejsekort?

Car leasing

Leasing is like long-term rental, where you pay a given amount a month for using a car. Repairs, insurance etc. is included in the price. The only thing you pay extra is the mileage. In recent years, leasing cars to privates has become widespread, perhaps because of the flexibility of changing cars every 2-3 years and predictability of the expenses.

You lease a car by contacting a leasing service and putting down a payment of approx. 10.000 DKK – 20.000 DKK. You pay a monthly fee of approx. 1500-3500 DKK a month, depending on the cars original price and how much you intend to drive. For each car, an average monthly mileage is set, based on your own assumptions. If you exceed the predefined mileage, you will need to pay an extra fee. If you driver less than approximated, you will get a refund. Often discount cards on gas are included in the price, reducing your expenditure. The leasing contract often runs for a period of three years.

Leasing sites

• ExpatRide Car Leasing
• Terminalen (in Danish)
• Budget Minileasing (in English)
• Koch Biler (in Danish) 

Car-pooling

Several Danish sites offer car-pooling. The point of car-pooling is to use the empty seats in cars going a longer distance, by matching people driving with empty seats and people needing a ride. This approach is environmentally friendly and money saving. You need to register with the different sites in order to use their pooling services.

The following websites in English offer carpooling services:

• GoMore 
• Carpool 

Car rental

Generally, you need to be at least 23 years old and have had your driver’s license for at least 6 months to be able to rent a car. Here are some examples of car rental companies:

• Avis - Has a special 30 days car rental offer for international students and academic staff at Aarhus University. Contact Avis for further information  
• Europcar

Car sharing

One of the cheapest ways to have access to a car in Denmark is through a car sharing association. The car sharing association is like a club, where you become a member and gain access to the common pool of cars. The association is non-profit, so the expenditure is kept to a minimum.

There is a fee for joining a car sharing association and an insurance fee as well. These fees are only paid once, when joining. The rest of the time, you only pay a low monthly fee, and gas when using the cars. In order to join an association, you must be over 23 years old and have had your driver’s license for at least a year.

We recommend the car association LetsGo. They have cars placed in Copenhagen and Frederiksberg, in Aarhus, Greve and Herning. You make a reservation online and pick up the car from a parking lot near you. 

Read more about LetsGo membership and prices

Why choose car sharing?

There are many upsides to car sharing. The cost for one. Owning a similar car would cost 40.000 – 50.000 DKK a year, whereas you only pay the annual fee. The environmental effects are also significant. Car sharing reduces the amount of cars polluting, as approx. five users can share one car.

If you need to drive everyday, it might be a better and cheaper solution to buy your own car. Also if you only need the car few times a year, then you might be better off renting a car those few times. All in all car sharing is a great alternative to buying a car.

If you take up residence in Denmark and bring a vehicle, you must register your foreign registered vehicle within 30 days of arrival and you must pay a registration tax. The expenses in relation to bringing your car to Denmark are considerable, and for this reason many people choose not to bring their car with them to Denmark.

Can I drive in Denmark without registering my car?

If you are staying in Denmark for a limited period of up to 185 days, you may drive a foreign registered vehicle during your stay in Denmark without paying the registration tax. 

If your stay exceeds 185 days, but you are on a fixed-term assignment in Denmark, you may pay a portion of the normal vehicle registration tax on a quarterly basis.

Read more on the website of the Danish tax authorities (the Danish Customs and Tax Administration) under Staying in Denmark temporarily

How to register your vehicle and buy number plates

1. Car inspection

Before the vehicle can be registered to Danish number plates, an ordinary technical inspection and a customs inspection must be performed by a vehicle inspection authority to determine the identity, the number of kilometres on the odometer, features and general condition of the vehicle.

2. Car registration

When the vehicle has passed this inspection you must ask for a valuation of the vehicle in the Danish Register of Motor Vehicles (Motorregistret) in the Danish Customs and Tax Administration's self-service system E-tax (TastSelv).

The Danish Customs and Tax Administration will then assess the value of your vehicle and determine the registration tax to be paid. You will receive the Danish Customs and Tax Administration's valuation in E-tax.

You pay the registration tax to one of the Danish Customs and Tax Administration's four motor registry offices via online banking, a manual bank transfer at your bank or at the post office.

3. Number plates

When you have paid the registration tax, you can buy number plates from one of the Danish Customs and Tax Administration's motor registry offices.

Read more about car registration and number plates on the website of the Danish tax authorities (the Danish Customs and Tax Administration) and in the Work in Denmark Welcome guide on the Workindenmark website under Publications

Liability insurance

Owners of motor vehicles in Denmark are required by law to take out liability insurance. Read more about liability insurance for motor vehicles in the insurance guide Insurance and pension for everyday needs.

Customs duty and VAT

If your vehicle has been registered in another EU country and it is a used car, you may bring the vehicle to Denmark without paying VAT. Customs duty (10%) and VAT (25%) are usually charged on vehicles imported from non-EU countries.

Read more about customs duty and VAT on the website of the Danish tax authorities (the Danish Customs and Tax Administration)

Taking a car out of Denmark

If you have a car registered in Denmark, you will need to de-register the vehicle in Denmark when you leave. In certain cases, you may be entitled to a refund of the registration fee. It is also possible to buy a new car with border plates (no tax or VAT).

Read more on the website of the The Danish Customs and Tax Administration.

Read more

Read more about how to register your car and which documents to bring at the different stages on the skat.dk website.

Driving licences issued in a non-EU/EEA country

When relocating to Denmark with a non-EU/EEA driving licence, you may be required to exchange your licence for a Danish equivalent within 90 days and complete a driving test (consisting of a theoretical and a practical part) prior to the exchange. It depends on where your driving licence was issued whether you need to change your licence or not. Please notice that there are Group 1 countries, Group 2 countries and Other countries. Read more about Group 1, Group 2 and Other countries

Driving licences issued in an EU/EEA country

You do not need to convert a driver’s licence issued in an EU country, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Switzerland or Norway. However, please be aware that if you lose your original driving licence, it can be difficult to acquire the documentary proof required to apply for a new driving licence from the country that issued your licence.

Where and how to exchange your driving licence

You can obtain a Danish driving licence at your local Citizen Service (Borgerservice). 

You must bring along your:

• National driving licence
• CPR card
• Passport or birth certificate
• Valid residence permit/certificate
• Passport photo
• A medical certificate issued by your doctor

The exchange fee is DKK 280 (2016 rate).

If your current driving licence is not in the Latin alphabet, you must present a certified translation of the licence. If you have any questions, or need to find a certified translator, contact your local Citizen Service for help.

For more details on the process of exchanging your licence, see Færdelsstyrsen or International Community

In Denmark, taxis are relatively expensive in comparison to other countries. However, they are safe, reliable, and comfortable. There are several taxi companies in the larger cities – ask your colleagues for the local taxa-companies. Read more about taxi travel in Denmark