Copenhagen has one main long-distance train station, København H, also written Copenhagen Central. Three smaller central stops on the S-train Boulevard Line (Vesterport, Nørreport, Østerport) sit a few minutes apart, and Copenhagen Airport has its own train station built into Terminal 3. For most travellers, the default is København H.
The international picture sits on top of that. København H is the entry point for SJ trains to Stockholm, EuroCity services towards Hamburg run jointly by DSB and Deutsche Bahn, the Snälltåget night train to Berlin, and Øresund commuter trains to Malmö. The wrong station, or the wrong ticket office, can cost you a connection.
Copenhagen’s main train stations at a glance
If your booking page only shows “Copenhagen”, open the train details before paying and look at the named station. “Copenhagen All Stations” is not the same as København H. A booking that resolves to Høje Taastrup, 10 km west of the city, can be a real surprise on the day.
| Station | Best for | Networks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| København H (Copenhagen Central) | Long-distance, regional, international, S-tog Boulevard Line | DSB national, Øresundståg, SJ, Snälltåget, DB, S-tog, Metro M3, Metro M4 | The default. Next to Tivoli Gardens. |
| Vesterport | S-tog only (Boulevard Line) | S-tog | One stop north of København H. Useful for Vesterbro. |
| Nørreport | Local interchange | S-tog, regional, intercity, Metro M1, M2, M3 | Busiest station in Denmark. No Lyn / express services. |
| Østerport | Local and regional | S-tog, regional, intercity, Metro M3, M4 | Closer to Kastellet and the Little Mermaid. |
| Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup) | Airport arrivals and departures | Øresund trains, DSB IC, Øresundståg, SJ, Metro M2 (separate) | Built into Terminal 3. |
| Høje Taastrup | Some international and DSB IC | DSB IC, Snälltåget (some patterns) | Suburban interchange about 10 km west. |
The rule of thumb. Choose København H unless your trip is specifically airport, Vesterbro side (Vesterport), the Latin Quarter (Nørreport), Østerbro and Kastellet (Østerport), or a booking that names Høje Taastrup.
København H (Copenhagen Central): the default station
København H is the long-distance, regional, intercity, and international hub for the Danish capital. The H stands for Hovedbanegård, meaning main station. DSB, the Danish national operator, owns it, and the building sits beside Tivoli Gardens, with the main entrance on Bernstorffsgade and Banegårdspladsen.
A few numbers are useful for orientation. There are 7 platforms on an island layout (the count includes the Metro platforms below the concourse) and 13 tracks for long-distance and regional trains. A pedestrian tunnel runs below the main platforms and connects directly to the Metro M3 (Cityringen) and M4 platforms, so you do not need to leave the concourse to change to the Metro.
The main hall has a DSB ticket office and machines, left luggage lockers, ATMs, toilets, baby change, and showers. A 1st-class lounge sits above the ticket office. The DSB office sells DSB domestic tickets, most DSB international tickets, and pass-holder reservations. It does not sell SJ tickets to Stockholm; those are bought via SJ.se.
What to check before you set off: which platform group your train uses. SJ X 2000 to Stockholm departs from a separate platform 26 that is not part of the main 1 to 12 group.
The other three central stations: Vesterport, Nørreport, Østerport
Three smaller central rail stops sit on the Boulevard Line of the S-train, between København H and Østerport. None of them replace København H for long-distance travel. All three are useful for arriving closer to a specific neighbourhood.
Vesterport is one stop north of København H on the S-tog Boulevard Line and handles S-tog only. It is the closest train stop to Vesterbro, the quieter side of Tivoli, and the Vesterbrogade hotels.
Nørreport is the busiest station in Denmark, with around 165,000 passengers a day. It is fully underground and offers S-tog, regional and intercity trains, and Metro M1, M2, and M3 (Cityringen). It is the right station for the Latin Quarter, the shopping streets around Strøget, and the Botanical Garden. One thing to know. Nørreport does not see Lyn or InterCityLyn express services. Do not book it as a substitute for København H if you are catching a Lyn to Aarhus or an international train.
Østerport handles S-tog, regional and intercity trains, plus the Metro M3 (Cityringen) and M4. It carries around 30,000 passengers a day and is closer to Kastellet, the Little Mermaid, and the Østerbro hotels.
What to check before you book: that the booking page shows “København H” (or “Copenhagen H”), not just “Copenhagen”. The wrong central stop can add a 5 minute S-tog hop you did not plan for.
Copenhagen Airport train station (Kastrup)
Copenhagen Airport has its own train station built into Terminal 3, called Københavns Lufthavn or Kastrup on most timetables. For most travellers arriving by air, the train is the right way into the city.
Frequency and service mix make it work as an airport link. Local Øresund trains run roughly every 10 minutes to København H, with a journey time of about 13 to 15 minutes. Every 20 minutes one of those continues across the Øresund Bridge to Malmö C. DSB IC trains run from the airport directly to Odense, Aarhus, Aalborg, and Esbjerg without changing at København H, which can save 20 minutes if you are heading to Jutland. Øresundståg services run on to Lund, Helsingborg, Landskrona, and Hässleholm, with longer-distance services to Gothenburg, Kalmar, and Karlskrona. SJ X 2000 to Stockholm also calls here.
A note on Metro versus train. The Metro M2 has its own platforms outside Terminal 3 and runs into the city via Christianshavn, Kongens Nytorv, Nørreport, and on to Vanløse. It does not call at København H. For København H, the train from inside Terminal 3 is the direct option and the one most travellers want.
What to check: the live screens for the next train towards København H, and your ticket. Any DSB or Øresund ticket already covers the airport zones, so you do not need a separate airport surcharge.
Switching between Copenhagen’s stations
The Boulevard Line of the S-train connects København H, Vesterport, Nørreport, and Østerport in a few minutes. The Metro M3 Cityringen, which opened on 29 September 2019, connects København H, Nørreport, and Østerport on the same loop, along with stops like Kongens Nytorv and Marmorkirken.
For a station-to-station hop between the four central rail stops, the S-tog Boulevard Line is the quickest tool. From København H to Nørreport is about 3 minutes on either the S-tog or the Metro Cityringen. For an onward stop that is not on the Boulevard Line, the Metro Cityringen is usually the right call. Buses cover the gaps but are rarely faster than going underground.
What to check at København H: which platform group your S-tog uses. The Boulevard Line uses platforms in the same complex as long-distance, but the long-distance tracks themselves are separate.
International trains from København H: Stockholm, Hamburg, Berlin
København H is the international terminus for Copenhagen. Three operators dominate the international map from here.
SJ, the Swedish national operator, runs daytime EuroCity / X 2000 services to Stockholm via the Øresund Bridge. SJ X 2000 departs from a separate platform 26 at København H, which sits about 250 m south of the main building. Reach it by walking along platforms 3 to 6, up the steps to the Tietgensgade road bridge, across the road, and back down to platform 26. Allow 5 to 6 minutes from the main hall. The official signage says 15 minutes, which is conservative.
Snälltåget, a Swedish open-access operator, runs the year-round main route from Stockholm via Malmö to Copenhagen, and a seasonal Berlin Night Express from Stockholm via Copenhagen, Malmö, and Hamburg to Berlin between April and September, plus selected dates outside the main season. As of November 2025 Snälltåget had announced a daily daytime Stockholm to Hamburg service planned from May 2026. Snälltåget uses København H, and in some operating patterns it uses Høje Taastrup or Ørestad.
DSB and Deutsche Bahn co-operate on EuroCity services towards Hamburg with onward connections deeper into Germany. These are sold through DSB or via DB and are the usual route towards Germany by day from København H.
What to check: SJ tickets are not sold at the København H DSB ticket office. Buy SJ tickets via SJ.se before you travel. Reservations on SJ EuroCity / X 2000 and on Snälltåget are compulsory, including for Interrail and Eurail pass holders.
Høje Taastrup and other suburban stations
Høje Taastrup is a suburban interchange about 10 km west of central Copenhagen that occasionally shows up in international itineraries. It is used by some DSB IC services en route to Aalborg, by Snälltåget’s Berlin Night Express in some operating patterns, and by trains on the Hamburg to Berlin route in some patterns. Foreign booking systems sometimes return a Høje Taastrup result when København H is full.
The fix is simple. Read the named station on the booking before paying. If it says Høje Taastrup, plan the suburban S-tog journey out from København H. Lines A and B of the S-train run there from the central platforms in about 20 minutes.
What to check: that the named station on your ticket matches where you actually want to be. A Høje Taastrup arrival with a hotel in central Copenhagen is a tight transfer if you have not planned for it.
Operators using København H
København H is shared by Danish, Swedish, and German operators, with overlapping ticket systems.
DSB is the Danish national operator. It runs IC and ICL (Lyn) services across Denmark, most regional trains in eastern Denmark, and the cross-border DSB and DB EuroCity towards Hamburg.
Øresundståg is the brand of Skånetrafiken, currently operated by VR Sverige under contract (the contract changed hands from Transdev in December 2025). It runs cross-border services between Denmark (København H, Copenhagen Airport, Ørestad, Tårnby, Nykøbing F) and Sweden (Malmö, Lund, Helsingborg, and longer-distance flows to Gothenburg, Kalmar, and Karlskrona). Øresund tickets are integrated, and an Øresundståg train is a normal way to travel from København H to Malmö in around 35 minutes.
SJ is the Swedish national operator. EuroCity / X 2000 daytime services from København H to Stockholm via the Øresund Bridge are SJ.
Snälltåget is a Swedish open-access operator. It runs a year-round Stockholm to Malmö to Copenhagen daytime service, with the seasonal Berlin Night Express on top.
Deutsche Bahn (DB) co-operates with DSB on EuroCity services towards Hamburg. Tickets are sold by either operator.
What to check: which operator your booking is with. That determines where the ticket is sold, the reservation rules, and which counter you go to with a question on the day.
Tickets, fares, and rail passes at Copenhagen stations
DSB ticket machines and the København H counter cover DSB national tickets, most DSB international tickets, and pass-holder reservations. SJ tickets are bought via SJ.se rather than at København H. Local public transport across the capital region uses Rejsekort, a contactless smart card, or zone tickets, and is integrated across S-tog, Metro, regional trains, and buses in the relevant zones.
A few pass-holder rules trip travellers up regularly. Reservations on SJ EuroCity / X 2000 to Stockholm are compulsory, including for Interrail and Eurail pass holders. Reservations on Snälltåget are compulsory, including for pass holders, on both the daytime Stockholm to Copenhagen service and the Berlin Night Express. Reservations on DSB IC inside Denmark are optional but recommended on peak Fridays and on seat-numbered services. Local Øresund trains from København H to Malmö and to the Airport are walk-up, with no reservation needed.
Where to buy on the ground. Counters and machines at København H, machines at Nørreport, Vesterport, Østerport, and the Airport. For an Interrail or Eurail trip, plan to add the reservation separately for any SJ EuroCity / X 2000 to Stockholm or Snälltåget service before you board.
What to check: whether your pass needs a separate paid reservation for the specific international train you have booked, and whether that reservation has been issued before you leave the booking site.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main train stations in Copenhagen?
The main long-distance station is København H (Copenhagen Central). Three smaller central rail stops on the S-train Boulevard Line are Vesterport (S-tog only), Nørreport (the busiest station in Denmark, with S-tog, regional, intercity, and Metro M1, M2, and M3), and Østerport (S-tog, regional and intercity, and Metro M3 and M4). Copenhagen Airport has its own train station built into Terminal 3, called Københavns Lufthavn or Kastrup. Høje Taastrup, about 10 km west of central Copenhagen, sometimes appears in international booking results.
Is Copenhagen H the same as Copenhagen Central Station?
Yes. København H, written Copenhagen H in some English-language systems, is the same station as Copenhagen Central. The H stands for Hovedbanegård, the Danish for main station. It is owned by DSB, sits next to Tivoli Gardens with the main entrance on Bernstorffsgade and Banegårdspladsen, and handles long-distance, regional, intercity, international, and S-train Boulevard Line services. It is the default station for most journeys into or out of Copenhagen.
What is the train station at Copenhagen Airport called?
Copenhagen Airport railway station, written Københavns Lufthavn or Kastrup on most timetables. It is built into Terminal 3 below the check-in and arrival area. Local Øresund trains run roughly every 10 minutes to København H, with a journey time of about 13 to 15 minutes, and every 20 minutes one of those continues across the Øresund Bridge to Malmö C. DSB IC trains run from the airport directly to Odense, Aarhus, Aalborg, and Esbjerg. SJ X 2000 to Stockholm also calls here.
How do I get from Copenhagen Airport to Copenhagen Central by train?
Take the Øresund train from the station inside Terminal 3 towards København H. The journey takes about 13 to 15 minutes, with trains roughly every 10 minutes. Any DSB or Øresund ticket already covers the airport zones, so you do not need a separate airport surcharge. Do not confuse the Metro M2, which has its own platforms outside Terminal 3, with the train. The Metro goes via Christianshavn, Kongens Nytorv, Nørreport, and on to Vanløse, not via København H.
Which station do the trains to Stockholm leave from?
København H. SJ runs daytime EuroCity / X 2000 services to Stockholm via the Øresund Bridge from København H, and these also call at Copenhagen Airport. Snälltåget, an open-access operator, runs a year-round daytime service from Stockholm via Malmö to Copenhagen Central, plus a seasonal Berlin Night Express from Stockholm via Copenhagen, Malmö, and Hamburg to Berlin between April and September with selected dates outside that window. SJ tickets are bought via SJ.se, not at the København H DSB ticket office.
Where does the SJ X 2000 to Stockholm depart from at København H?
Platform 26, a separate platform about 250 m south of the main building. To reach it, walk along platforms 3 to 6, up the stairs at the end of the platforms onto the Tietgensgade road bridge, across the road, and down again onto platform 26. Allow 5 to 6 minutes from the main hall. The official signage says 15 minutes, which is conservative but worth following on a tight connection.
Can I use an Interrail or Eurail pass at Copenhagen stations?
Yes, both passes cover DSB national and regional services, the Øresundståg cross-border trains to Sweden, and the EuroCity towards Hamburg. Two rules trip pass holders up. Reservations on SJ EuroCity / X 2000 to Stockholm are compulsory, including for pass holders, and are bought via SJ.se. Reservations on Snälltåget, both the daytime Stockholm to Copenhagen service and the Berlin Night Express, are also compulsory and must be booked through Snälltåget. Local Øresund trains from København H to Malmö and to the Airport are walk-up.
Is Nørreport the same as Copenhagen Central?
No. Nørreport is a separate, fully underground station around the original location of the medieval North Gate. It handles S-tog, regional, and intercity trains, plus the Metro M1, M2, and M3 (Cityringen). It is the busiest station in Denmark, with around 165,000 passengers a day, but it does not see Lyn or InterCityLyn express services and is not the long-distance terminus. Do not book it as a substitute for København H if you are catching a Lyn to Aarhus or an international train.
Where does the Snälltåget night train to Berlin leave from?
The Snälltåget Berlin Night Express runs from Stockholm via Copenhagen, Malmö, and Hamburg to Berlin between April and September, with selected dates outside the main season. Snälltåget uses København H, and in some operating patterns it uses Høje Taastrup or Ørestad. Reservations are compulsory, including for Interrail and Eurail pass holders. Always check the named station on your ticket before paying; foreign booking systems sometimes return a Høje Taastrup result when København H is full.
