Copenhagen to Hamburg by train

Direct trains run from København H to Hamburg Hbf in about 5 hours, via Odense, Kolding and the border at Padborg.

Direct trains and when they leave

Plan around the last direct train. Until 12 December 2026, five a day leave København H, roughly every two hours from early morning, and the last one goes in the early afternoon. In the winter timetable from 13 December there are up to six, and the last departure moves to late afternoon. The trip takes between about 4 hours 40 minutes and 5 hours 20 minutes.

Two kinds of train share the route: EuroCity Express (ECE) trains and Czech Railways ComfortJets, which timetables list as railjets (RJ). The EuroCity trains run between Copenhagen and Hamburg, while the ComfortJets carry on to Berlin and Prague. DSB runs the Danish section and DB the German one from Padborg. You keep the same seat.

Leaving later? On most weekdays Snälltåget's train from Stockholm departs København Syd in the late afternoon and reaches Hamburg Hbf in about 5 hours. It needs a reservation with Snälltåget. Otherwise you are looking at changes along the way and around 6 hours 30 minutes.

Stations along the way

Board at København H, Copenhagen's central station. The train calls at Ringsted, Odense and Kolding, crosses the border at Padborg and stops at Schleswig. Railjets call at Hamburg-Altona before Hamburg Hbf, which saves a transfer if you are staying in Altona. The EuroCity trains run straight to Hamburg Hbf.

Tickets, fares and Interrail

DSB and DB both sell tickets for the whole journey. DSB fares from Copenhagen to Hamburg start from DKK 221, and first class starts from DKK 520 one way. The cheapest fares cannot be refunded. Full Flex tickets can be refunded until the day before travel.

Travelling with children? On a DSB adult ticket you can take up to four children under 15 free to Germany, paying only their seat reservations.

Interrail passes are valid on the direct EuroCity and railjet trains. In summer 2026 reservations were compulsory from 26 June into August; outside the summer peak they are optional. On a five-hour trip a reserved seat is still worth having.

Changes to the service this winter

• 29 November to 5 December 2026: track work means fewer direct trains reach Hamburg Hbf. Both morning railjets end at Hamburg-Altona and do not continue to Berlin and Prague.
• 25 January to 21 February 2027: the railjets are out of the timetable, leaving four EuroCity trains a day.
• 5 March 2027: the late-afternoon train ends at Hamburg-Altona.
• 6 and 7 March 2027: the EuroCity trains end at Hamburg-Altona and the railjets go no further than Padborg, so expect one change to reach Hamburg Hbf and a slightly longer trip.