How long should I plan for a layover in Copenhagen?

The best layover in Copenhagen is 3–48 hours. This gives you enough time to reach the city, see the highlights, and return to the airport with buffer time.

Do I need a visa for a layover in Copenhagen?

Copenhagen is visa-free for US passport holders — no visa is required for a layover.

What should I do during a layover in Copenhagen?

Nyhavn canal. Tivoli Gardens. Smørrebrød lunch.

Is Copenhagen a good layover city?

Yes — Copenhagen scores 84/100 on LayoverScore™, making it one of the top-rated layover cities. Nyhavn canal

CPH · Layover Guide

Copenhagen

Stop in Copenhagen.

Best layover: 3–48h

designfoodcyclingculture

LayoverScore™

Base city score. Your route score varies by savings and timing.

Start here

Find flights via Copenhagen Build your itinerary Check visa requirements

Visa-free · US passport13 min to center

Exit realism

Comfortable window

Enough room in Copenhagen for a real stop. Keep the buffer at the end anyway.

Landside playbook

If time slips

Drop the last stop. Go straight to the train, taxi rank, or ride pickup you already chose.
Add 15 minutes to map ETAs for the return leg at rush hour.
One ticket for the whole trip protects you when the inbound is late. Separate tickets do not.

Worth knowing

Do not stack three stops. One solid block in the city beats a rushed loop.
Do not treat one map time as gospel for immigration lines. Pad on your first pass through this hub.

Planning a stop in Copenhagen?

We'll alert you when fares drop through CPH.

Places to stay

Search hotels

LayoverScore™ breakdown

Score 84 · Discover 55 · Ease 14

Why Copenhagen scores 84

Airport qualityLounges, facilities, routing

DiscoverThings to do in the city

EaseTransit ease, visa access

Getting there

Metro (15 min)

min to center

metro

01Metro (15 min)

57 min by 35

01Nyhavn canal
02Tivoli Gardens
03Smørrebrød lunch

Experiences in Copenhagen

Timed tours and tickets for Copenhagen are listed on our partner site.

Open listings

Opens in a new tab.

Guldsmedemester Jørgen Dalsgaards Legatfond for Værdige Trængende Personer i Køb~60 min1 min walk
Grillhouse~60 min1 min walk
Rock Show~75 min1 min walk
Nordisk Film Biografer Field's~75 min1 min walk
Georg Carstensen~90 min1 min walk
Hop on Hop Off Boat Tour~90 min1 min walk

The Little Mermaid4.1
Tivoli Gardens4.5
Rosenborg Castle4.6
Amalienborg Palace4.5
Rådhuspladsen4.4

Need a room for your layover? Browse hotels near the airport.

Where to stay →

Jan

1°

Feb

1°

Mar

3°

Apr

7°

May

12°

Jun

16°

Jul

18°

Aug

18°

Sep

14°

Oct

10°

Nov

6°

Dec

3°

Sunshine hours

Rainfall

Getting there

Get an Uber from the airport

At the airport

8 lounges

Planning guides

How to plan a long layover How to save money with layovers Best layover cities ranked

Copenhagen

Stop in Copenhagen.

Best layover: 3–48h

designfoodcyclingculture

LayoverScore™

Base city score. Your route score varies by savings and timing.

Start here

Find flights via Copenhagen Build your itinerary Check visa requirements

Visa-free · US passport13 min to center

Exit realism

Comfortable window

Enough room in Copenhagen for a real stop. Keep the buffer at the end anyway.

Landside playbook

If time slips

Drop the last stop. Go straight to the train, taxi rank, or ride pickup you already chose.
Add 15 minutes to map ETAs for the return leg at rush hour.
One ticket for the whole trip protects you when the inbound is late. Separate tickets do not.

Worth knowing

Do not stack three stops. One solid block in the city beats a rushed loop.
Do not treat one map time as gospel for immigration lines. Pad on your first pass through this hub.

Planning a stop in Copenhagen?

We'll alert you when fares drop through CPH.

Places to stay

Search hotels

LayoverScore™ breakdown

Score 84 · Discover 55 · Ease 14

Why Copenhagen scores 84

Airport qualityLounges, facilities, routing

DiscoverThings to do in the city

EaseTransit ease, visa access

Getting there

Metro (15 min)

min to center

metro

01Metro (15 min)

57 min by 35

01Nyhavn canal
02Tivoli Gardens
03Smørrebrød lunch

Experiences in Copenhagen

Timed tours and tickets for Copenhagen are listed on our partner site.

Open listings

Opens in a new tab.

Guldsmedemester Jørgen Dalsgaards Legatfond for Værdige Trængende Personer i Køb~60 min1 min walk
Grillhouse~60 min1 min walk
Rock Show~75 min1 min walk
Nordisk Film Biografer Field's~75 min1 min walk
Georg Carstensen~90 min1 min walk
Hop on Hop Off Boat Tour~90 min1 min walk

The Little Mermaid4.1
Tivoli Gardens4.5
Rosenborg Castle4.6
Amalienborg Palace4.5
Rådhuspladsen4.4

Need a room for your layover? Browse hotels near the airport.

Where to stay →

Jan

1°

Feb

1°

Mar

3°

Apr

7°

May

12°

Jun

16°

Jul

18°

Aug

18°

Sep

14°

Oct

10°

Nov

6°

Dec

3°

Sunshine hours

Rainfall

Getting there

Get an Uber from the airport

At the airport

8 lounges

Planning guides

How to plan a long layover How to save money with layovers Best layover cities ranked

Copenhagen

Comfortable window

Landside playbook

If time slips

Worth knowing

Why Copenhagen scores 84

Experiences in Copenhagen

Read more about Copenhagen

Copenhagen

Comfortable window

Landside playbook

If time slips

Worth knowing

Why Copenhagen scores 84

Experiences in Copenhagen

Read more about Copenhagen