Copenhagen: Getting there & around

Orientation

Copenhagen sits on the east coast of Denmark's largest island, Zealand (Sjælland). A prominent point of orientation in the city is the main rail station, Central Station (Hoved Banegården), which is bordered to the west by the primary hotel precinct and to the northeast by the longstanding entertainment attraction of Tivoli. Just north of Tivoli is Rådhuspladsen, the central city square and the main terminus for the local bus network. To the east is the city's waterfront, including the canal-riddled district of Christianshavn.

Copenhagen boasts Europe's longest mall, Strøget, which is an amalgamation of five streets - Frederiksberggade, Nygade, Vimmelskaftet, Amagertorv and Østergade - running right through the centre of the city between Rådhuspladsen and Kongens Nytorv, the square at the head of the Nyhavn canal.

Getting There

• bus

  The cheapest earthbound way of travelling to Copenhagen from elsewhere in Europe is by bus; the biggest regional operator servicing the city is Eurolines.

• train

  The imposing bulk of Central Station (Hoved Banegården) is the terminal for rail services east across the Øresund to Sweden and west across Zealand to the other main Danish regions of Funen and Jutland.

• plane

  Most planes landing in Denmark from overseas will bounce their way down the runways of Copenhagen international airport (Kastrup) to the south of the city; this is one of northern Europe's main air entry points and a multitude of international carriers fly here. Departure tax is included in the ticket price. Denmark's domestic carrier, Maersk Air, links the capital with Billund, Esbjerg and Rønne.

  Central Station is where you can catch buses and trains to elsewhere in Denmark and trains to Sweden.

• air

  Copenhagen airport is 9km (6mi) southeast of the city centre, a 12-minute train ride from Central Station or a 15-minute dash from the centre in a taxi. A local bus service (250S) connects the airport with Råuspladsen, the city's central square, and also with Central Station, but takes 35 minutes. There's also a direct SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) bus running from the airport to Central Station and the SAS hotels located in the city.

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Getting Around

• boat

  If you want to explore Copenhagen's waterways, various companies run organised boat tours around the city's canals.

• car

  A car isn't necessary for exploring the inner-city sights, which are easily accessible via a leisurely stroll or public transport, but is useful for getting further afield. Unlike the driving in many other European capital cities, Copenhagen's is manageable; morning and afternoon peak-hour bottlenecks are the only real hassle.

• taxi

  Taxis are a good, albeit expensive, alternative to getting behind the wheel.

• bicycle

  Excellent bike paths, lots of bike racks and no hills make cycling a great option for getting around; just remember to lock up your bike. Seek out free bikes in the city centre.

• underground rail

  The brand-new metro system, which is driverless connects the east and west of Copenhagen via the city centre. Parts of the system are still under construction until 2007, when it will finally connect with the airport.

• Disabled Travellers

  Copenhagen tries to be a handicapped-friendly city, but facilities do vary greatly. The main hotel district has a lot of older hotels that were not built with wheelchair patrons in mind, and many of these are not accessible. Newer hotels are the best bets for up-to-date handicapped facilities. Most Danish tourist literature (the Danish Tourist Board's hotel guide, the camping association listings and the hostel booklet) indicate which places have rooms and facilities accessible to people in wheelchairs. Booklets can be picked up free at the Copenhagen tourist office; or check out an overview on the Danish Disability Council (DSI) website: www.handicap.dk.

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