Copenhagen Public Transport: Metro, Harbour Buses and Copenhagen Card

Copenhagen's public transport network is fully integrated across four modes: the Metro (lines M1, M2, M3 and M4), red suburban S-trains (S-tog), city A-buses and the yellow electric Harbour Buses (Havnebusserne). One single ticket or pass covers all four modes within your chosen zones, and there are no turnstiles at stations; you simply hold a valid digital or paper ticket before stepping onto the platform.

How the four Metro lines work

• M1 and M2 (Green and Yellow): share the central east-west tunnel through Christianshavn, Kongens Nytorv, Nørreport and Frederiksberg. M2 runs south-east to Copenhagen Airport (CPH).
• M3 Cityringen (Red Circle Line): a 17-station underground loop linking København H Central Station, Rådhuspladsen, Gammel Strand (for Christiansborg), Kongens Nytorv, Marmorkirken, Østerport, Nørrebros Runddel, Frederiksberg and Enghave Plads in Vesterbro.
• M4 (Blue Line): connects the northern waterfront of Nordhavn and Østerport through the city centre and København H down to the southern harbour islands of Havneholmen, Enghave Brygge and Sydhavn.

Riding the Yellow Harbour Buses (Routes 991 and 992)

One of the best low-cost secrets in town is the pair of yellow electric Movia Harbour Buses: Route 991 (sailing south from Refshaleøen / Reffen past Nordre Toldbod, the Opera House, Nyhavn, Knippelsbro, the Black Diamond Library and Islands Brygge to Teglholmen) and Route 992 (sailing north along the same stops). Unlike tourist canal tour boats, these ferries are regular city buses on water and cost the exact same standard 2-zone city ticket.

Tickets: DOT Tickets App, City Pass and Copenhagen Card

Because Copenhagen's anonymous plastic Rejsekort has been replaced by app-based ticketing, visitors have three simple ways to pay:

1. DOT Tickets app (or Rejsekort as an app): download the official DOT Tickets (Din Offentlige Transport) smartphone app to buy a single 2-zone city ticket (valid for 75 minutes across central Copenhagen) or a 3-zone airport ticket in seconds with Apple Pay or a bank card before boarding.
2. City Pass Small (24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours): covers unlimited travel in Zones 1 to 4, which includes the entire city centre, the harbour buses and journeys to and from Copenhagen Airport.
3. Copenhagen Card (Discover): includes unlimited public transport across the entire Capital Region (Zones 1 to 99, including the trains to Kronborg, Louisiana and Roskilde) plus admission to over 80 museums and attractions including Tivoli Gardens, Rosenborg, Christiansborg, the Round Tower and a canal tour. If you visit three major sights a day plus a regional day trip, it quickly pays for itself.