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 on Facebook Marketplace or DBA. You can buy bikes in bikeshops, but you can also get new but cheap bikes in major supermarkets.
Different bus companies operate within Denmark and offers a cheaper alternative than the train. There are numerous connections between Aarhus and Copenhagen (both central station and airport).
You can find the bus schedules and information about tickets on Midttrafik. The Rejsekort can be used in all buses. Please note that buses usually don’t accept credit cards. Usually, you can buy the ticket in a self-service ticket machine in the bus.
DSB runs national train connections throughout the country with frequent services.
For information on ticket prices and timetables, please visit DSB or JourneyPlanner.
Please note that the seat reservations are not included automatically in the ticket, but you can add them to your ticket. It is not possible to buy tickets on the train, but you can buy them in kiosks, ticket-machines and online through DSB. If you do not have a ticket, you risk being fined.
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.
You can plan your journey on JourneyPlanner, but we also collected the best ways to get from Copenhagen to various places in Denmark:
The easiest way to determine the quickest mode of transportation is to use the JourneyPlanner (Rejseplanen).
Alternatively, visit the websites of the national railway network DSB or the regional public transport companies. Their websites gives you information on public transportation within the area including individual bus timetables:
Rejsekort (travel card) is an electronic ticketing system for travelling by bus, train and metro. Rejsekort unites the different transport operators, travel zones, ticketing systems and discount schemes into a common system, which makes it easier for passengers to use public transport services in Denmark.
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.
Here are some companies where you can lease a car from:
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:
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:
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.
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.
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 about foreign vehicles and how to register your car
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.
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.
You do not need to convert a driver’s licence issued in an EU country, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Switzerland or Norway.
You can obtain a Danish driving licence at your local Citizen Service (Borgerservice).
You must bring along a number of documentation. 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 Lifeindenmark.dk or Færdelsstyrsen.
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. Find a list of taxi companies in Denmark here.