Practical guide · Checked 27 October 2026
Copenhagen cruise port: which terminal, how to get there, and where to sleep first
Copenhagen is one of the busiest cruise ports in Northern Europe, and many Baltic and Norwegian fjord cruises start or end here. That is good news, because the city is small and the metro is excellent. It is also where people lose money: a taxi from the wrong side of the harbour, a flight that lands on sailing morning, or a hotel on the far side of town. We at Nord Guide live here, so this page tells you which of the three berths you will use, the cheapest and the easiest way to reach each one, and how we would spend the night before and the day in port.
Quick booking picks
Sailing from Copenhagen? Book the night before first.
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Quick answer: big ships and most turnaround cruises use Ocean Quay (Oceankaj) in Nordhavn, which is too far out to walk. From the airport, take the metro M2 to Kongens Nytorv, M4 to Orientkaj and bus 25 or 164 to the terminal: about 40 minutes for DKK 30 (about US$4.50 / £3.40). A taxi is roughly DKK 425 to 550. Smaller ships use Langelinie or Nordre Toldbod, both a short walk from the Little Mermaid and about 15 minutes on foot from a metro station. Fly in the day before and stay near Kongens Nytorv or Østerport.
Checked 27 October 2026 against Visit Copenhagen's cruise terminal page, the port operator CMP and Stromma. Taxi and ticket prices are approximate "from" prices. US$ and £ amounts are rough conversions.
The three cruise berths at a glance
Your cruise documents name the berth. If they only say "Copenhagen", Visit Copenhagen has a ship finder where you search by ship name or date. Do not guess: Ocean Quay and Langelinie are only a few kilometres apart, but the best way to reach each one is different.
| Berth | Where | To the airport | To the centre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Quay (Oceankaj), terminals 1–3 | Nordhavn docks, the largest ships | Bus + metro ~40 min, DKK 30 · taxi ~DKK 425–550 | Bus 25 or 164 to Orientkaj, then M4 · taxi ~DKK 175–215 to Kongens Nytorv |
| Langelinie | Next to the Little Mermaid | Bus 27 or a 15-min walk to Østerport, then train or metro ~35 min, DKK 30 · taxi ~DKK 270–333 | Walk along the waterfront, or taxi ~DKK 96–120 |
| Nordre Toldbod | Smaller ships, just south of Langelinie | 14-min walk to Marmorkirken, metro ~35 min, DKK 30 · taxi ~DKK 232–286 | You are already on the edge of the old town |
From Copenhagen Airport to the ship
To Ocean Quay by public transport. Take metro line M2 from the airport to Kongens Nytorv, change to M4 towards Orientkaj, and at Orientkaj take bus 25 or bus 164 to the terminal. Bus 25 is the cruise-day bus: it runs every 10 to 20 minutes from when the first ship arrives (not before 08:00) until one hour before the last ship leaves (not after 20:00), and stops at the terminals where ships are berthed. Bus 164 runs all year. The whole trip takes about 40 minutes on a 3-zone ticket, DKK 30, and children under 12 travel free with an adult. Buy the ticket in the DOT ticket app or at the ticket machines in the airport metro station before you board. Our Copenhagen Airport guide explains tickets and the arrivals hall.
To Langelinie or Nordre Toldbod. Ride the metro to Østerport (for Langelinie) or Marmorkirken (for Nordre Toldbod) and walk about 15 minutes, or take bus 27 from Østerport to the Indiakaj stop by Langelinie. Same DKK 30 ticket, about 35 minutes.
By taxi. The port operator CMP puts Ocean Quay to the airport at about DKK 450 to 550, depending on the time of day. Langelinie and Nordre Toldbod are cheaper because they are closer to the centre. Danish taxis take cards.
With two big suitcases, we would pre-book. Dragging cruise luggage through two metro changes and onto a bus is the one situation where a fixed-price car is worth it. You book before you fly, the driver meets you in arrivals, and you know the price in advance.
Hours to fill before you can board, or after you leave the ship? The terminals do not store bags for the day, so see our Copenhagen luggage storage guide for lockers in the city and services that send bags ahead to the ship or the airport.
Pre-book a Copenhagen Airport transfer with Welcome Pickups →
Many cruise lines also sell their own transfers. Compare the price per person with a private car for your whole group before you tick the box.
From the ship into the city
From Ocean Quay take bus 25 or 164 to Orientkaj and the M4 metro to Kongens Nytorv, for Nyhavn and the old town, in about 20 minutes on a 2-zone ticket (DKK 24). The same M4 line carries on to Copenhagen Central Station, next to Tivoli. On turnaround days CMP has also run free electric shuttle buses from the terminals to Orientkaj, so look for them at the terminal exit.
From Langelinie you can simply walk. Head south past the Little Mermaid and the star-shaped Kastellet fortress, then through the Amalienborg palace square to Nyhavn. It is one of the nicest walks in the city, and it is flat.
Hop-on hop-off. Stromma's Classic route stops on Langelinie itself on ship days (stops 6, 7 and 8). For Ocean Quay, Stromma runs a separate Cruise Bus (the black line) from terminals 1, 2 and 3 into the centre, with stops at Rosenborg Castle, Tivoli, Ved Stranden, Nyhavn and the Little Mermaid, and it brings you back the same way. Two things catch people out: the Cruise Bus runs only on the day your ship arrives, and the last bus back depends on the ships in port, so ask the staff at the quay before you go. On 27 October 2026 Stromma listed tickets from DKK 279 (about US$42 / £32), and a bus and canal tour combination from DKK 389. The routes, timetable and whether a ticket is worth it are in our Copenhagen hop-on hop-off bus guide.
Where to stay before or after a cruise
The one we would book: a hotel within a few minutes' walk of Kongens Nytorv or Nyhavn. The M4 metro from Kongens Nytorv runs direct to Orientkaj for Ocean Quay, Langelinie is a walk or a short taxi ride away, and the M2 from the same station goes straight back to the airport. In the evening you are in the prettiest part of the city, with Nyhavn on the doorstep.
Find a stay near Nyhavn and Kongens Nytorv →
Østerbro, around Østerport station, is quieter and closest to Langelinie and Nordre Toldbod. It suits families and anyone who wants to walk to the ship.
An airport hotel only makes sense if your flight lands late in the evening, or if you fly home early on the morning you leave the ship. Otherwise you spend your one free evening at a terminal instead of in town.
Find a hotel at Copenhagen Airport →
Our where to stay in Copenhagen guide compares every central area if you are staying longer.
What booking it wrong costs
- Flying in on sailing day. A delayed connection or a missing suitcase on embarkation morning can mean chasing the ship to the next port at your own expense. One night in a Copenhagen hotel is the cheapest insurance you can buy.
- The wrong hotel area. A hotel far from the metro turns a 40-minute, DKK 30 trip into a taxi ride of DKK 400 or more each way.
- An Ocean Quay taxi at the wrong hour. The same taxi to the airport is about DKK 425 on a weekday daytime and around DKK 520 in the evening or at the weekend, according to Visit Copenhagen.
- Waiting for the Cruise Bus on day two. If your ship stays overnight, the Ocean Quay Cruise Bus does not run on your second day. Use bus 25 or 164 to the metro instead.
One day in port: how we would spend it
Most port calls give you seven or eight hours. That is enough for the centre if you do not try to see everything.
- Morning: walk or ride to Nyhavn and take a one-hour canal tour first, before the boats fill up. It is the fastest way to see the harbour, Christianshavn and the Opera House in one go. Book a canal tour or the Stromma Classic Canal Tour on Tiqets.
- Midday: Amalienborg Palace square and the Marble Church, then lunch with smørrebrød, the Danish open sandwich, in the old town.
- Afternoon: Rosenborg Castle and the King's Garden, or Tivoli Gardens when it is open. Tivoli's summer season runs from 30 March to 26 September 2027, so check the dates for your call before you plan around it. See our Tivoli guide for prices and opening times. Compare Tivoli entry tickets on Tiqets.
- Back on board: aim to be at the ship at least an hour before all-aboard time. From Kongens Nytorv to Ocean Quay takes about 20 to 30 minutes on the metro and bus.
Prefer a guide to do the planning? Shore tours bought from independent operators are often cheaper than the ship's own, but the ship will not wait if a private tour runs late, so choose one that ends well before all-aboard.
Compare Copenhagen shore excursions →
Our 48 hours in Copenhagen plan works well if you have a day or two either side of the cruise, and the canal tours guide helps you choose a boat.
Want the day in port timed hour by hour? Our one day in Copenhagen itinerary has the full walking route, with prices and the November and December closures.
Quick answers
Where do cruise ships dock in Copenhagen?
Copenhagen has three cruise berths. Ocean Quay (Oceankaj) in Nordhavn has three terminals and takes the largest ships and most turnaround cruises. Langelinie is a long pier next to the Little Mermaid, and Nordre Toldbod is a small berth just south of it for smaller ships. Your cruise line tells you which one, and Visit Copenhagen lists the berth for every ship by date.
How do I get from Copenhagen Airport to the cruise port?
For Ocean Quay, take metro line M2 from the airport to Kongens Nytorv, change to M4 towards Orientkaj, then take bus 25 (on cruise days) or bus 164 to the terminal. It takes about 40 minutes and a 3-zone ticket costs DKK 30. For Langelinie and Nordre Toldbod, ride the metro to Østerport or Marmorkirken and walk about 15 minutes. A taxi to Ocean Quay is roughly DKK 425 to 550 depending on the time of day.
How much is a taxi from the Copenhagen cruise port to the airport?
Visit Copenhagen gives about DKK 425 on weekdays and about DKK 520 in the evening and at weekends from Ocean Quay, and the port operator CMP says DKK 450 to 550. From Langelinie it is about DKK 270 to 333 and from Nordre Toldbod about DKK 232 to 286. Allow about 30 to 40 minutes.
Can you walk from the Copenhagen cruise terminal to the city centre?
From Langelinie and Nordre Toldbod, yes: you are next to the Little Mermaid and Kastellet, and Nyhavn is a pleasant walk along the waterfront. From Ocean Quay, no. It sits out on the Nordhavn docks, so take bus 25 or 164 to Orientkaj metro station, or the hop-on hop-off Cruise Bus.
Is there a hop-on hop-off bus from the Copenhagen cruise port?
Yes. Stromma's Classic route stops on Langelinie itself on ship days, and its Cruise Bus (black line) collects passengers at Ocean Quay terminals 1, 2 and 3 on the day a ship arrives and drops them at Rosenborg, Tivoli, Ved Stranden, Nyhavn and the Little Mermaid. On 27 October 2026 Stromma listed tickets from DKK 279.
Should I arrive in Copenhagen the day before my cruise?
We would. A flight that lands on embarkation morning leaves no room for a delay or lost luggage, and the ship will not wait. One night in Copenhagen costs less than the stress, and you get an evening in Nyhavn or Tivoli season as a bonus.
Your next step
Start with our free Copenhagen pre-departure checklist: payments, transport tickets, what to pack and what to book before you fly. If you have two or more days in Copenhagen around your cruise and want them planned for you, our Copenhagen in 5 Days PDF (€9.97, about US$11.20) gives you a day-by-day route you can cut to fit. Want it built around your ship times and flights instead? We write a custom Copenhagen itinerary from 595 kr.
Plan the trip
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through one, NordGuide earns a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
Pick one with free cancellation as soon as your cruise dates are fixed.
Aim to land the day before you sail.
Canal tours, walking tours and castle tickets for your day in port.
Sources, checked 27 October 2026: Visit Copenhagen, cruise terminals · CMP, cruises Copenhagen · Stromma hop-on hop-off · CMP shuttle buses.