Public
Transport
The Metropolitan Transport
Company – HT (telephone number: 3613 1415) runs the urban
transport system. Information on trains can also be obtained from
the Danish State Railways.
There is an integrated bus and urban train network, known as S-tog
(telephone number: 3314 1701), as well as the first section of Copenhagen’s
new Metro (telephone
number: 3311 1700, fax number: 3311 2301), with 11 stations currently
in use.
Buses and trains run daily 0500-2430 hrs and there are additional
night buses from City Hall Square (Rådhuspladsen)
out to the suburbs. There is now a harbour bus service connecting
the Royal Library’s Black Diamond building
on Christians Brygge with Nordre Toldbod, with
stops along the waterfront, including Nyhavn. The
shuttle operates daily 0600-1800/1900 hrs throughout the year, 6
times an hour, (weather permitting)and tickets cost Dkk30.
The Metro runs daily 0500-0100 hrs (all night at weekends) from
Nørreport via Kongens Nytorv and Christianshavn to Lergravsparken
and Vestamager. Other sections linking the city centre with Frederiksberg
and Vanløse. The link to the airport is due for completion
by 2007. The trains are fully automatic, however, there is a Metro
steward on every train, whose job it is to check the tickets, provide
information and to help passengers.
Tickets for the Metro, buses and the trains are all the same. Fares
are calculated on a 7-zone structure indicated on coloured maps
at stations and bus stops. The price of a ticket depends on the
number of zones travelled through (minimum 2 zones). Tickets begin
at Dkk15 and are available for purchase from the bus driver, at
ticket offices or vending machines at stations and at the bus terminus
at City Hall Square (Rådhuspladsen). Fares
are doubled if you board the metro or night buses between 0100 and
0500 hrs.
Passes
Discount cards (klippekort) for 10 journeys (calculated according
to the number of zones you travel but generally saving around 40
per cent) and 24-hour tickets (Dkk90) are available at stations,
at bus terminus or from the tourist information office. It is cheaper
per journey to use a discount card than to buy a ticket. The Københavnkortet
(Copenhagen ‘Plus’ Card, see Passes in Tourist Information)
entitles the holder to free, unlimited travel on buses and trains
in the metropolitan area, as well as discounts on car hire, canal
and harbour tours and express ferries to Sweden. Tickets and discount
cards are subject to inspection and must be held throughout the
journey.
Trains
Danish
State Railways – DSB (telephone number: 7013 1415 (enquiries)
or 1418 (reservations)) operates punctual, clean and well-equipped
trains. Intercity trains are fitted with sockets for radios and
computers and mobile phones are available for hire in first class
and Fax facilities are also provided.
All international trains arrive in and depart from Hovedbanegården
central station (telephone number: 3314 8800), located
on Bernstorffsgade near the Tivoli. Facilities include currency
exchange (Danske Bank and Forex), a post office, fast-food outlets,
shops and a supermarket.
Rail services
Direct trains run from Copenhagen to various European destinations,
including Stockholm, Oslo and Hamburg,
all require seat reservations.
Intercity Lyn Express
trains offer a direct connection between Copenhagen and
other major Danish centres, including :
Odense (journey time – 1 hour 15 minutes),
Fredericia (journey time – 2 hours 30 minutes),
Århus
(journey time – 3 hours 30 minutes),
Esbjerg (journey time – 3 hours 30 minutes) and
Aalberg (journey time – 5 hours 10 minutes).
There are also frequent regional train departures to cities in the
surrounding area, including 3 trains an hour to Helsingør
(Elsinore).
Transport into the city centre
The Central Station is on the southwestern edge of the Old City,
from here, there are S-train connections to Vesterport,
Nørreport and Østerport
and other stations in the metropolitan area. Numerous bus routes
pass the station and taxis are readily available.
Taxis
There are 5 major taxi companies in the city –Taxa
4 x 35 (telephone number: 3535 3535), Codan Taxi
(telephone number: 7025 2525), Hovedstadens Taxi
(telephone number: 3877 7777), Ryvang Bilen A/S
(telephone number: 3918 1818) and Taxamotor (telephone
number: 3810 1010).
All the taxis are licensed and can be booked by telephone or hailed
in the street. The initial rate is Dkk22, plus Dkk7.70 per kilometre
(rising to Dkk9.60 after 1800 hrs and during weekends). Most taxis
accept credit cards but visitors should inform the driver at the
beginning of the trip. It is not customary for customers to tip
the driver as a service charge is included in the fare, but to round
up the final amount instead.
There are also cheaper cycle taxis, like a backwards rickshaw with
space for 2 passengers at the front, available from Quickshaw
(telephone number: 7020 1375) and Cykeltaxa
(telephone number: 7026 0055). Cycle taxis can be ordered by telephone,
hailed in the street or found at dedicated ranks in the city centre,
such as Tivoli, City Hall Square (Rådhuspladsen) or Kongens
Nytorv, they operate within a 14-zone system and the price starts
at Dkk25 for a journey in zone one.
Limousines
Limousine services are provided by VIP
Limousine Service (telephone number: 3542 4020, fax number:
3542 4066), where a limousine costs Dkk760 per hour (minimum of
2 hours).
Dankse Limousine Service (telephone number: 3315 0630,
fax number: 3315 0634, e-mail: info@limousine-service.dk)
charges Dkk545 per hour for a sedan.
Stretch limos or Rolls Royces are available from Luxcars
(telephone number: 7020 1023, e-mail: info@luxcars.dk)
for Dkk1200 per hour (minimum 2 hours).
Driving
in the City
Copenhagen is remarkably
free of traffic. Environmental awareness and the compact nature
of the city means that many residents prefer to cycle, rollerblade
or walk.
Parking meters are in operation in large sectors of the Old City.
These are contained within 3 parking zones, where parking fees are
payable:
The Red Zone (Dkk20 per hour
Monday to Friday 0800–2000 hrs and Saturday 0800-1400 hrs)
The Green Zone (Dkk12 per hour Monday to Friday
0800-1800 hrs and Saturday 0800-1400 hrs) and t
The
Blue Zone (Dkk7 per hour Monday to Friday 0800-1800 hrs).
Tickets are available from coin-operated parking meters, which are
colour coded to indicate which zone you are in. Beyond threethe
coloured zones, parking is free, although for 2 hours only Monday
to Friday 0800-1900 hrs.
Multi-storey car parks in the city are open 0600/0800-2000/0000
hrs. Some are closed Saturday afternoon and on Sunday.
Car Hire
Self-drive cars are only rented to people over the age of
21, who hold a valid driving licence and an international
credit card. Some individual car companies may impose their own
age restrictions. The prices given below, which reduce significantly
for multi-day hire, include unlimited mileage, tax and insurance,
although customers should check details of insurance cover on offer.
Avis
(telephone number: 3373 4099, fax number: 3373 4090, e-mail: copenhagen@avis.dk)
hires out small cars from Dkk550 per day.
Hertz
(telephone number: 3317 9020, fax number: 3317 9029, e-mail: mail@hertzdk.dk)
charges from Dkk560 per day and drivers must be at least 25 years.
Danecars/National
(telephone number: 3963 2375, e-mail: info@danecars.dk)
EasyBiler
(telephone number: 3393 0393, e-mail:
info@easybiler.dk)
Europcar
(telephone number: 3355 9900, fax number: 3355 9933, e-mail: cs@europcar.dk)
charges from Dkk350 to Dkk510 per day for a small or economy car.
At the top end of the range, non-Danish residents over 26 years
can hire luxury cars from Luxcars
(telephone number: 7020 1023, e-mail: info@luxcars.dk),
starting from around Dkk1375 per day for a BMW.
Bicycle
Hire
Cycling is the preferred
method of transport for many of Copenhagen’s residents and
there are cycle routes along all the major streets, through some
of the city’s most scenic areas. Between April and September,
the city provides its visitors with free bicycles
to get around. There are 125
City Bike Parks located around the city, where bikes can be
collected for a Dkk20 deposit.
Several companies hire bicycles for trips outside the city, including
Københavns Cykelbørs, Gothersgade
157 (telephone number: 3314 0717), for Dkk60 per day with a deposit
of Dkk200, Københavns Cykler, Central Station
(telephone number: 3333 8613), for Dkk75 per day, with a deposit
of Dkk500, and Østerport Cyker, Oslo Plads
9, Østerport Station (telephone number: 3333 8513), for Dkk75
per day, with a deposit of Dkk500. ID is required in all cases.
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