Copenhagen airport layover

5 & 1/2 hours seems like alot but...when was the last time anyone had an on time flight. Then when you do land and eventually are assigned a gate you have to clear customs. See where this is going. Guess I just don't want to deal with getting a new boarding pass, all the hassle of clearing security etc. again for a 2 hour shot at a new city. I'd rather store up my energy for my destination. Oh dear...I do sound like an old grouch.

Thanks, Marie, for a bit of realism. It's just that I'm headed for Amsterdam, which I've visited a number of times and where I'll be for six days anyway, and I've never been to Copenhagen before. I realize that this is probably a stretch.

Anybody done this? With the Metro right there at the airport it's tempting. I'd just like some idea of what a realistic time frame for re-clearing security etc. Incidentally, I'll be coming from Poland and heading to Amsterdam, so I'm not sure that I'll have much of a delay since all three are Schengen countries.

Why would you have to get a new boarding pass? If you are traveling on the same airline they will probably give you the boarding passes for both flights when you check in at your departure airport. Even so, given the fact that you would first have to find the left luggage place (if there is one), leave your bag, allow travel time into the city and back, pick the bag back up and go back through security again, I wouldn't risk it.

I'm not sure I would risk it either, but the train into Copenhagen goes (of course) to the Copenhagen train station. We locked our bags there - easy to find the lockers. The train station is right across the street from Tivoli Gardens (amusement park that is fun to see).

My take is that if you are adventurous enough and understand the risk of missing your onward flight, go for it. If doing this, I would definitely check my bags through to the final destination - this way getting from the airplane through passport control shouldn't take more than 15 mins. It has been a long time so I can't remember how long the train ride is into the city. Either way, you will have 2-3 hrs there if all goes well.

If I remember correctly, the euro is not used in Denmark - so you will need local currency unless paying with a cc. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

With your limited time affected by possibility of a late arrival I would not go into Copenhagen. I found very little there of interest to me.

I suggest you spend your time in the air terminal to eat a meal and relax. Walking around some airports can be interesting and you will not have to hurry your visit to the city.

Or sweat the lines in security to board your departure flight.

Thanks for the advice, Carl--though Copenhagen must indeed be a grim destination if staying 5 and a half hours at an international airport seems more interesting as as option! I think it's probably worth it for us to try doing a short walking tour of the central area, though, since I travel quite a bit and am less fond of airports generally than I am of cities.

I think you're right, Arnold, to check the bags through to Amsterdam. One less thing to worry about. I was assuming that passport control wouldn't be a huge issue since I'll be coming from and going to another Schengen country. Based on information online, the Metro M2 line at Terminal 2 leaves for the city every 4 to 6 minutes and takes 15 minutes to get to the center area. I'll pick up some Danish currency at an ATM or currency exchange at the airport, since the Metro requires Danish money, and have a bit aside for snacks and drinks in Copenhagen.

Of course, if it turns out that the plane is late, I'll just stay at the airport and spend several relaxing hours nursing overpriced airport drinks.

If anyone has actually done this recently and can let me know whether it was a good or bad idea, I'd really like to hear about your experiences. Thanks, everyone!

I can't weigh in on the time question. I'm such a nervous Nelly about missing planes that I wouldn't be able to enjoy any time in the city. However, I do think that Copenhagen is a great place. It's got beautiful architecture, medieval to modern. There's the Stroget, a long pedestrianized street, starting near the station, which opens, periodically, onto squares with sculptures, fountains, cafes and restaurants. It's fun just to stroll around and people-watch. The TI office is near the station, and you could get a map with sights marked. Also, you might inquire about boat tours on the canals, but maybe your time won't be sufficient.

Hi JER. I recommend that you do go in to Copenhagen. I flew to Copenhagen in May of 2007. Getting out of the Copenhagen airport was quick and easy. If you carry your travel bag in the airplane, leave the bag in the Copenhagen airport. When I arrived there, getting my Passort stamped was done quickly, and I walked around the corner to buy my ticket for riding the train into Copenhagen. Very simple. When you arrive at the Copenhagen train station, look at your wrist watch to see what amount of time you can be in the city. (Be sure that the time on you watch is set correctly for that time Zone). In my opinion, your best sightseeing option in Copenhagen is to go to and in the Rosenborg Palace ("Castle") and its Royal Danish Treasury. The Treasury has magnificent crowns worn by Kings of Denmark hundreds of years ago. My favorite item there is big carved ivory : it is exquisite and beautiful, it was owned by Kings of Denmark, I think it is my favorite item that I ever saw in a museum, anywhere. I recommend : ride in a Taxi car from the Central train station in Copenhagen to Rosenborg Palace. When you leave that palace, you could walk to NORREPORT train station, ride in the S train to Central Station, and ride in a train from there to the Airport. Taxis in Copenhagen are expensive. I guess you will have time to ride in an S train from Central station to NORREPORT Station, and walk from there to Rosenborg Palace. That palace is not huge, but it was the favorite palace of King Christian IV. He also owned the palace Frederiksborg located at Hillerod, north of Copenhagen. Some people would advise you to walk on the Stroget streets to the Nyhaven canal. But, the Stroget (pedestrian streets) is not special for people who have been at a narrow street in an other old city in Europe. And most of the people you would see there are probably not Danish. Riding in a Taxi from Central station to Rosenborg can be done in less time than walking on the Stroget streets to Nyhaven.

JER, when you arrive at the Copenhagen Central station, if you can be away from that train station for 2 hours, you will have enough time to visit the Rosenborg Castle, if you ride in a Taxi to Rosenborg, and ride in an S train from NORREPORT back to Central station. If your airplane's arrival at the Copenhagen airport is not very late, you could visit Rosenborg castle, and when you return to the Copenhagen airport, and go through airport security, you could be at your departure Gate one hour before the scheduled departure time of your airline Flight. That is, if you do not need to be at the airline's check - in counter in the Copenhagen airport for you departure flight.

I did this a few years ago. I had a 5 hour lay over on by way home from Ireland. We jumped on the train to downtown, walked to the big square near the train station (my mom remembered the way from a visit 40 years ago) and then grabbed a city tour on one of the open top busses. We got back to the airport with plenty of time for lunch and some shopping. It was much better than staying at the airport.

Thanks for the information! I will post a report when we try this on our summer trip!

I am imagining you haven't quite taken the trip yet, since it's still just spring.

Ordinarily, I also would be shy about leaving an airport for only a little time, but CPH is not so far from the city and well connected by the metro, which is driverless. There is usually no reason to rush to a metro here if you are at the top of the steps because another will come in literally two minutes. I'm assuming your layover does not have special circumstances (like at 2am on a Sunday night). My experience at CPH has never been like what it is in the states.

The metro from the airport to Kongens Nytorv, for example, will take you 13 minutes. Norreport station will take you 15 minutes. Both would be great places for you to peek out at Copenhagen for a few hours and it would be really straightforward to get back.

I got those times from here:
http://www.rejseplanen.dk/bin/query.exe/en?ml=m&
If it redirects you to a Danish part, it is written in English.

For so short a time, it will make your life easier if you change your money, a little bit, before hand. Many places here ONLY take a Danish credit card with a chip in it or cash, this is particularly true at grocery stores: if you don't have cash, forget it.

Be warned: it is unbelievably expensive here. I thought London at the height of the pound was expensive. Nope. But if you like them at all, the hot dog stands are absolutely a Copenhagen/Danish thing and not to be missed.

Thanks for your replies. I've saved them to a document for later referral. Unfortunately I won't have a layover in Copenhagen this summer because SAS cancelled my flight bewteen Poland and Amsterdam! I've had to make other arrangements, which now involve a short layover in Munich. Grrr....I was looking forward to a brief peek at Copenhagen.

But I'm saving the info in case I someday soon get another chance to take SAS somewhere. Given, though, that they are ending direct service to Seattle, it's a bit of a long shot.