Minimum Layover Time to Leave Airport?

For me, the simple answer is "it depends", but 8 hours is plenty of time. Take the metro to Kongens nytorv and you're in central Copenhagen.

Well the main thing is that it absolutely depends on the specific airport's proximity to and ease of access to/from the city in question. Copenhagen is a perfect place to actually be able to go into the city from the airport. Paris would be a nightmare.

Not much goes wrong in Denmark. . . .

We did have one bad experiences with exceeding long check-in lines at CPH once, but you won’t have to do that. Just make sure you allow time for long lines at security on the return, just in case.

Not much goes wrong in Denmark. . . .

Are you sure about that? I've heard that something is rotten in the state of Denmark… 😀

Badger, ba-da-boom with a cymbal crash.

I appreciate the answers thus far.

Also, feel free to share any entertaining layover experiences, good or bad. I've experienced a few surges in adrenaline while running late to and within the airport, like last summer when I had a flat tire on the way to Dulles and ended up soaking wet with sweat. That was not a comfortable flight, but fortunately for my wife and seatmates I showered earlier.

You want fun? Try an 8-hour flight in still damp clothes. After arrival and check-in a shower never felt so good. Well, except for a desert deployment and no shower for two weeks. We were all stinky as heck.

love it Badger!

Badger for the win!

My advice would be to book a flight that doesn’t have an 8 hour layover.

Interesting question, in general I always prefer to get out of the airport & an 8-hour layover IF I got some sleep coming from the US, absolutely! It would also depend upon the time of day.

Coming over Dec '23 at Christmas time, SAS flight was delayed out of SF & I knew the connecting flight (on a jammed holiday weekend go figure) had been cancelled out of CPH. So I had a 6-hour layover & a friend picked me up to drive into Copenhagen for a great walk around & quite a good dinner. I arrived back at CPH 45 minutes before my 11PM connecting flight, I was literally the ONLY person in the security line. This is not something I would have attempted mid day. So yes! ABSOLUTELY go downtown & take a walk. Sounds like fun.

Thank you for the kind words!

Joking aside, the metro is a fast, frequent and cheap way to get to central Copenhagen. So definitely pay it a visit, it's a charming city.

There is a direct train to Christianshavn, so we'll go there. Unfortunately the walking tours require another bus connection and I don't feel like navigating that following a night of little or no sleep. We'll probably just do our own thing in Christianshavn with a simple out-and-back train. That's about all my brain can likely handle.

We usually opt out of an 8-hour layover, but the price was right and we realized this was actually an opportunity to visit a city we haven't been to before. So there! lol

Go for it! Have a great trip…

Margie, is that an order?

Of course not, I only do suggestions from my limited experience. Twenty years ago, we walked all over old town Geneva after a long international flight. Today, all I would want to do is figure out how much time I had to kill before I could get a good nights sleep without waking up at 4 am.

Personally I would stay on the metro one more stop until Kongens Nytorv, but Christianshavn is also not a bad idea.

Margie, I hear you. Same here.

Badger, thank you. Makes sense.

Yes - take the Metro to Kongens Nytorv.

Then walk along "Strøget" (which is pedestrians only) to the town hall square and on for the central station. Take the train back to the airport. Watch the clock all the time to find out if you have time for breakfast/lunch/dinner or a beer or two.

Google Maps will help you find your way.

https://rejseplanen.dk/webapp/?language=en_EN will help you find the right train in the central station.