7 places to see outside Copenhagen

You probably already have a good impression of Copenhagen, but there’s much more to Denmark than its capital city. This guide will introduce you to some of the most beautiful and iconic places in Denmark, and tell you how to get there in order to build and refresh your impression of Denmark as a country.

All transportation and pricing tips are from Copenhagen, except the last tip, which starts from Aalborg.

1. Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

Address: Gammel Strandvej 13, 3050 Humlebæk.

Louisiana is the most visited and one of the most famous modern art museums in Denmark. With a large range of collections, temporary exhibitions, live events and a killer landscape, it’s a classic go-to favourite for a day off.

Transportation & Budget

The museum of modern art lies on the beautiful east coast of Denmark around 35 km north of Copenhagen. You can get here by taking the regional train from Copenhagen Central Station or Nørreport towards Helsingør station. The train runs every 20 minutes and takes 45 minutes. Details:

• An entrance ticket to Louisiana costs DKK 110 for a student and DKK 125 for a regular adult. If you’re lucky enough to be 27 or younger, we suggest getting a club card. It costs DKK 135 and will give you one year of free entrance and 10% discount on everything.
• If you don’t have a rejsekort (and there are unfortunately plenty of reasons not to), the train ticket to Humlebæk costs DKK 92 one-way. We suggest getting a 24-hour ticket. It will set you back DKK 160 and can take you there and back, or anywhere you want within the east Zealand area.

Total cost: DKK 270 (transport + entrance)

2. Kronborg Castle – where ‘Hamlet’ took place

Address: Kronborg, 3000 Helsingør

Kronborg Castle is the fictitious location of the famous Shakespeare play Hamlet. Every summer there are live Shakespeare plays at the theatre called Hamletscenen at the castle. Previous Hamlet’s here include Laurence Olivier, Derek Jacobi, and Jude Law.

Transportation & Budget

It will take roughly an hour to get to Kronborg Castle from Copenhagen Central Station by regional train towards Helsingør, 45 minutes on train and 20 minutes on foot, the exact same train you should take to Louisiana:

• It will cost the same for transportation if you buy the 24-hour ticket mentioned for your trip to Louisiana. Rejsekort is the second cheapest option.
• The ticket for entering the castle June- August is DKK 135 kr for a student, and otherwise DKK 145.
• Outside peak season, tickets are much cheaper, at DKK 85 for a student.

Total cost: DKK 295 (transport + entrance + play)

3. Roskilde – Copenhagen’s viking neighbour

There a many good reasons to go to Roskilde. The famous Roskilde Festival, the Viking Ship Museum, and the world heritage site Roskilde Cathedral. Because it is so close to Copenhagen, it is a perfect destination for you to take a day off during one of your weekends in Denmark.

Transportation & Budget

• It takes around 25 minutes to get to Roskilde by train from Copenhagen Central Station and it departs quite often. The train ticket costs DKK 84 one-way, but is much cheaper using Rejsekort or, once more, a 24-hour-pass.
• The Viking Ship Museum ticket costs between DKK 90 and 110 for students depending on the time of the year.

Total cost: DKK 160 (transport only)

4. Aarhus + ARoS Art Museum

Address: Aros Allé 2, 8000 Aarhus

ARoS museum is located in the city of Aarhus, which was recently rated as the second best destination in Europe by the Lonely Planet. Aarhus is quite a relaxing place – a good place for a day off. When in Aarhus, visiting ARoS museum is a must! Don’t forget to try the famous rainbow panorama at the top.

Transportation & Budget

The journey from Copenhagen to Aarhus takes 3.3 hours by train and around 4 hours by bus (and 40 minutes by plane if you’re made of money).

• A train ticket costs between DKK 89 and DKK 200, depending on when you book and whether or not you have a DSB Ungdomsbillet for the under-25s and students. We recommend taking the bus which only costs DKK 100 if you take it during off-peak hours. You can get bus tickets here but there are other bus options also.
• Spending a night in Aarhus costs approximately DKK 200 using Airbnb.
• A ticket to the ARoS museum costs DKK 100 if you are under 30 or a student, DKK 130 if not, and free if you are under 18 years old.

Total cost: DKK 700 (transport + museum + accommodation for two nights)

5. Anholt – the island in the middle of Kattegat

This is a somewhat out of the ordinary destination. Anholt is located in the middle of the Kattegat sea. The landscape is very unique with the sparse vegetation of its desert covering 80 per cent of the island. There are also various activities during the whole summer, such as music festivals, outdoor yoga sessions, and a local football tournament.

Transportation & Budget

To get to Anholt you need to take a bus to Grenaa which takes around 4 hours and a ferry that takes another 3 hours. Options for overnight stay include camping sites, AirBnB, and vacation home rental – this last option can be an amazing experience if you go as a large group.

• A return trip from Copenhagen to Grenaa with bus costs DKK 200 each way. You can get tickets here.
• A return trip to Grenaa with ferry costs DKK 370 during peak season. Only DKK 140 off season. You can get information and book tickets here.

Total transport costs: DKK 570 (accommodation prices vary)

6. Jomfru Ane Gade – one of the most famous bar streets

Address: Jomfru Ane Gade, 9000 Aalborg

Jomfru Ane Gade is located in Aalborg, the fourth largest city in Denmark, built right by Limfjorden. Limfjord is technically a fjord, but looks more like a river than pictures you’ll have seen of Norwegian fjords. Right in the heart of this laid-back city lies the most famous bar street in Denmark, Jomfru Ane Gade. With countless bars and nightclubs, the street is sleepless at night. Friday nights are particularly good!

Transportation & Budget

To get to Aalborg by public transport, you have three options – by air, by train and by bus. Flying to Aalborg takes about 1.5 hours, around 5 hours by train and around 6 hours by bus.

• It costs around DKK 500 to get to Aalborg by air, between DKK 89 and DKK 250 by train (depending on how far in advance you book, and whether or not you have a DSB Ungdomsbillet).
• This would not be a one-day trip, hence you will also need to spend on a place to stay. Places go from around DKK 200 per night on AirBnB.

Total cost: DKK 650 (transport + accommodation)

7. Grenen – Denmark ends here

Now that you have visited Aalborg, there is absolutely no reason not to take a detour to Grenen. Grenen, which literally translates to ‘the branch’ is the northern most point in Denmark. It is located close to Skagen, a beautiful town. As a traditional summer destination, Skagen has the perfect mix of both historical and cultural elements, and beautiful landscapes. Skagen Museum features the works of famous Skagen-painters from the late 1800s. Although you can’t look over to Norway or Sweden at Grenen, it feels special to know that there are two other countries right across the sea.

Transportation & Budget
In order to get from Aalborg to Skagen, you take the train to Frederikshavn Station, then change to a local train (run by a different company which requires a different ticket). It will take you around 2 hours from Aalborg to Skagen.

• Though you can rent places in Skagen, the cheapest option is to return to Aalborg and stay there.
• A ticket to Skagen Museum costs DKK 110.

Total cost: Approx. DKK 400 (if you go from and stay in Aalborg)

Have any other suggestions? Share your ideas in the comment field below!