Itinerary · Checked 21 October 2026
One week in Denmark by train: Copenhagen, Odense and Aarhus without a car
Here in Denmark we usually take the train between the big cities. It is quicker than driving once you count parking, the stations are right in the middle of town, and you cross the Great Belt, partly in a tunnel under the sea and partly on a long, low bridge over it, while someone else does the work. This plan gives you three nights in Copenhagen, one in Odense and two in Aarhus, with the real train times and fares, and the Monday closures that catch out a lot of visitors in winter.
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For a first week in Denmark without a car, sleep 3 nights in Copenhagen, 1 in Odense and 2 in Aarhus, with a train day trip to Kronborg Castle in Helsingør. The long legs are all direct DSB trains: Copenhagen–Odense about 1 h 10–1 h 20, Odense–Aarhus about 1 h 35 and Aarhus–Copenhagen about 2 h 40–2 h 50 on the InterCityLyn. Bought early as DSB Orange tickets, the three legs start from DKK 278 in total (about US$42 / £31). From November, plan around Mondays: Rosenborg, Kronborg, H.C. Andersen's House and ARoS are all closed that day in late autumn and winter. If day 2 falls on a Monday, swap days 2 and 3.
Checked 21 October 2026 against DSB's route pages for Copenhagen–Odense, Odense–Aarhus and Aarhus–Copenhagen. Orange fares are "from" prices and the cheap ones sell out first. US$ and £ amounts are rough conversions at the 20 October 2026 ECB rate.
The week at a glance
| Day | Base | Highlights | Train that day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Copenhagen | Nyhavn, a canal tour, the harbour | Airport to city by metro, about 15 min |
| 2 | Copenhagen | Rosenborg, the old town, Tivoli in season | None, walk or take the metro |
| 3 | Copenhagen | Day trip to Kronborg Castle, Helsingør | Kystbanen coast line, about 45 min each way |
| 4 | Odense | H.C. Andersen's House and the old town | Copenhagen → Odense, about 1 h 10–1 h 20 |
| 5 | Aarhus | Den Gamle By, the open-air old town | Odense → Aarhus, about 1 h 35 |
| 6 | Aarhus | ARoS and its rainbow panorama, the Latin Quarter | None |
| 7 | Home | Train back to Copenhagen or straight on to the airport | Aarhus → Copenhagen, about 2 h 40–2 h 50 |
Train times are DSB's InterCityLyn times; ordinary InterCity trains take up to about 20 minutes longer. Kystbanen and metro times are from our Kronborg and airport guides.
Days 1–3: Copenhagen
Day 1: land, drop your bags and get on the water
The metro from the airport takes about 15 minutes to the city centre, so even an afternoon arrival leaves time for a walk along the harbour from Nyhavn towards Christianshavn. A one-hour canal tour is the easiest way to get your bearings on the first day; our Nyhavn guide covers the quay itself and our canal tours guide compares the boats.
Live dates & prices
The one-hour guided canal cruise from Gammel Strand. Prices change by day.
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Day 2: castles, the old town and Tivoli
Start at Rosenborg Castle and the Crown Jewels, then walk through the King's Garden and the old town. In the evening, Tivoli is the classic choice when it is open: Christmas in Tivoli has been open since 13 November 2026 and runs to 3 January 2027 (closed 24 December); after that the gardens shut until the spring season. Our Tivoli guide has the ticket prices. If you plan several paid sights on days 1 to 3, run the numbers on whether the Copenhagen Card is worth it.
Day 3: Kronborg Castle in Helsingør
The Kystbanen coast line from Copenhagen Central Station to Helsingør takes about 45 minutes and runs several times an hour, and Kronborg, Hamlet's castle, is a 10-minute walk along the harbour from the station. An adult day ticket was DKK 150 at the gate or DKK 135 online (about US$22 / £17 at the gate, US$20 / £15 online, at ECB rates of 20 October 2026) when we checked on 20 October 2026, and children go free. From 1 November to 30 December Kronborg is closed on Mondays (it opens on Monday 28 December), so do not put this day on a Monday in winter. Our Kronborg day trip guide covers the town and the ferry to Sweden; if you would rather see Viking ships, swap in Roskilde, which is also on a direct train line.
Kronborg tickets and tours on GetYourGuide →
Where to sleep: Vesterbro or the old town (Indre By) keep you close to Copenhagen Central Station for the Kystbanen and the train west on day 4. Our where to stay in Copenhagen guide compares the areas.
Day 4: Odense, Hans Christian Andersen's town
Take a morning train west from Copenhagen Central Station. On the InterCityLyn it takes about 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 20 minutes, and DSB runs more than 50 departures a day. On the way the train crosses the Great Belt, first through a tunnel and then over the western bridge, so take a window seat.
H.C. Andersen's House is about an 8-minute walk from Odense Station, and adult tickets are DKK 165 (about US$25 / £19), under-18s free, including his Childhood Home. From 1 November to 30 December 2026 the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00, so it is closed on Mondays (apart from an extra opening on Monday 28 December). Spend the evening in the cobbled streets of the old Andersen quarter. Our Odense guide has the rest, including Egeskov Castle and the Funen Village.
Days 5–6: Aarhus, Denmark's second city
Day 5: Odense to Aarhus and Den Gamle By
The train from Odense to Aarhus takes about 1 hour 35 minutes on the InterCityLyn, with more than 30 departures a day. In the afternoon, go to Den Gamle By, an open-air museum of old Danish town houses, shops and workshops that won Europe's Museum of the Year award for 2026. It is open every day of the year (10:00–17:00 until 30 December), and adult entry is €29 on its English site (roughly DKK 217 / US$33); under-18s are free. Den Gamle By suggests four to five hours for the whole town, so arrive early.
Day 6: ARoS, the Latin Quarter and the harbour
ARoS is the art museum with the circular rainbow walkway, Your rainbow panorama, on the roof. Adult entry is DKK 200 (about US$30 / £22), under-18s free. From October to May it opens Tuesday to Friday 10:00–20:00 and at weekends 09:00–17:00, and it is closed on Mondays. After ARoS, wander the Latin Quarter, the oldest part of the city, and finish by the water. Our Aarhus in 48 hours guide and Aarhus restaurants guide fill in the details.
Stays in central Aarhus (nights 5–6) →
Aarhus tours and tickets on GetYourGuide →
Day 7: back to Copenhagen
Aarhus to Copenhagen takes about 2 hours 40 to 2 hours 50 minutes on the InterCityLyn. DSB notes that its trains also run between Copenhagen Airport and Odense, so check the DSB app or Rejseplanen, the Danish journey planner, for a train that runs through to the airport, or change at Copenhagen Central Station. Leave a buffer: an Orange ticket is only valid on the train you booked.
The Monday rule, and how to plan around it
Locals rarely think to mention it, but many museums and castles close on Mondays outside the summer. On this route in winter that means:
- Rosenborg Castle: closed on Mondays from 2 November to 23 December 2026, and on 24 and 25 December.
- Kronborg Castle: closed on Mondays from 1 November to 30 December 2026, except Monday 28 December.
- H.C. Andersen's House: closed on Mondays from 1 November to 30 December 2026, except Monday 28 December.
- ARoS: closed on Mondays from 1 October to 31 May, except Mondays 21 and 28 December and in the winter holiday (week 7).
- Den Gamle By: open every day of the year, so it is your Monday sight.
If day 2 (Rosenborg) falls on a Monday, simply swap days 2 and 3, so the Monday becomes your canal and city day. The easy fix for the rest is to move the days around so that Monday is a train day or your Den Gamle By day. If you arrive on a Friday, for example, Monday becomes day 4; go straight from Copenhagen to Aarhus that day (direct trains run all day), see Den Gamle By on the Monday and ARoS on the Tuesday, then stop a night in Odense on the way back. The fares come to about the same.
Over Christmas, check each opening separately: Rosenborg is closed on 24 and 25 December, ARoS is closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January, H.C. Andersen's House and Kronborg are closed on 24, 25 and 31 December, and Den Gamle By closes at 15:00 on 24 and 31 December.
Train tickets: what to buy
| Leg | InterCityLyn time | DSB Orange from (checked 21 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Copenhagen → Odense | About 1 h 10–1 h 20 | DKK 89 (~US$13 / £10) |
| Odense → Aarhus | About 1 h 35 | DKK 70 (~US$10.50 / £8) |
| Aarhus → Copenhagen | About 2 h 40–2 h 50 | DKK 119 (~US$18 / £13) |
| Total, three legs | About 5 h 30 on trains | DKK 278 (~US$42 / £31) |
- DSB Orange is the cheapest ticket. It goes on sale about two months before the travel date, is valid only on the departure you choose and cannot be changed or refunded. The earlier you book, the more departures you get at the low price.
- Standard tickets cost more, but you can take any train that day on the route and get your money back without a fee up to the day before departure when you buy in the DSB app or online. Worth it if your plans may move.
- Seat tickets are DKK 30 (~US$4.50) per journey, whatever the distance, and are the way to be sure of a seat on Friday and Sunday afternoons.
- Children: one adult can take two children under 12 free, and 12 to 15-year-olds get 50% off an Orange ticket.
- Rail passes: Interrail and Eurail passes cover Denmark, but add up your Orange fares first. On this route they start from DKK 278 in total.
- Where to buy: on dsb.dk or in the DSB app. The day trip to Helsingør is a regional journey; buy it in the DSB app or at the ticket machines at the station.
Our pick
The train tickets we would buy, and when
Book Orange for the three long legs once your hotel dates are fixed. They total from DKK 278 (about US$42) and DSB puts them on sale about two months before travel, so the cheap departures are there if you book early. If your flights are still moving, wait: Orange tickets cannot be changed or refunded, while a Standard ticket bought in the DSB app or online can be refunded without a fee up to the day before departure. (DSB Orange Fri tickets can be refunded up to 30 minutes before departure.)
The mistake that costs money: buying Orange for a departure you then miss. Leave a buffer on the day you fly in or out, and book a seat ticket (DKK 30, about US$4.50) for Friday and Sunday afternoons.
Compare Copenhagen hotels for your three nights → Hotels in Aarhus →
DSB fares checked 21 October 2026 and are "from" prices. Affiliate links: if you book through one, NordGuide earns a commission at no extra cost to you.
Doing this week in November or December
This is a good week to do by train in winter. The roads are dark by mid-afternoon in December, but on the train that does not matter, and the cities are at their cosiest, what we call hyggelig. In Copenhagen, Christmas in Tivoli runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 (closed 24 December), and our Copenhagen Christmas markets guide lists the free markets in the city. In Aarhus, Den Gamle By opens for Christmas evenings from 18:00 to 21:00 on 27 and 28 November and 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19 December 2026. Pack for grey skies, wind and drizzle; snow is possible but far from certain. Our Copenhagen in December guide covers the rest of the month.
Train or car?
The train wins for Copenhagen, Odense and Aarhus: the stations are in the centre, you skip the Great Belt Bridge toll and city parking, and you can sleep or read on the way. A car makes sense if you want Møns Klint, Skagen, LEGOLAND or small countryside hotels. For that version, see our 7-day Denmark road trip and driving in Denmark guides. Travelling with children? Our Denmark with kids guide adds family stops, and LEGOLAND is reachable without a car too: see LEGOLAND Billund from Copenhagen for the train and bus via Vejle.
Quick answers
Can you see Denmark in a week without a car?
Yes. Copenhagen, Helsingør, Odense and Aarhus are all linked by direct DSB trains, and the stations sit in the middle of each city. Three nights in Copenhagen, one in Odense and two in Aarhus is a relaxed week. You only need a car for places like Møns Klint, Skagen or small coastal hotels.
How long is the train from Copenhagen to Aarhus?
About 2 hours 48 minutes on DSB's InterCityLyn and a little over 3 hours on an ordinary InterCity train, with more than 30 departures a day. Copenhagen to Odense takes about 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 20 minutes on the InterCityLyn, and Odense to Aarhus about 1 hour 35 minutes.
How much do the trains cost for a week in Denmark?
On 21 October 2026 the Danish DSB route pages advertised Orange fares from DKK 89 for Copenhagen–Odense (the English DSB page showed DKK 69 the same day), DKK 70 for Odense–Aarhus and DKK 119 for Aarhus–Copenhagen, so the three long legs start from DKK 278 in total (about US$42 / £31). Orange tickets go on sale about two months ahead, are valid only on the departure you choose and cannot be changed or refunded. A seat ticket is DKK 30 extra per journey.
Do you need to reserve seats on Danish trains?
No, but it helps on busy Friday and Sunday trains. A DSB seat ticket costs DKK 30 whatever the distance, and it is the only way to be sure you sit together.
Which museums close on Mondays in Denmark in winter?
Several of the big ones on this route. Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen is closed on Mondays from 2 November to 23 December 2026, ARoS in Aarhus is closed on Mondays from October to May (apart from 21 and 28 December and the winter holiday in week 7), H.C. Andersen's House in Odense is closed on Mondays from 1 November to 30 December 2026 (apart from 28 December), and Kronborg Castle is closed on Mondays from 1 November to 30 December 2026 (apart from 28 December). Den Gamle By in Aarhus is open every day of the year, so it is the place to spend a Monday. If day 2 of the plan falls on a Monday, swap days 2 and 3.
Is a week in Denmark by train a good idea in November or December?
Yes. The trains run whatever the weather and the daylight, which is short in winter, and Christmas in Tivoli runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 (closed 24 December). Den Gamle By in Aarhus adds Christmas evenings on selected Fridays and Saturdays from 27 November to 19 December 2026.
Plan the trip
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Flying in and out of Copenhagen keeps the loop simple.
Three nights; close to Copenhagen Central Station is easiest.
Compare with GetYourGuide before you book.
Opening times change with the season, so check your dates.
Sources, checked 21 October 2026: DSB København–Odense · DSB Copenhagen–Odense · DSB Odense–Aarhus · DSB København–Aarhus · DSB Aarhus–København · DSB Orange terms and seat tickets · Rosenborg Castle opening hours · H.C. Andersen's House tickets (Museum Odense shop, DKK 165) · ARoS opening hours and prices · Den Gamle By tickets and opening hours · Interrail Denmark Pass. H.C. Andersen's House and Kronborg prices and hours are from our Odense (checked 18 October 2026) and Kronborg (checked 20 October 2026) guides; Tivoli dates from our Tivoli guide. Currency conversions use the ECB reference rate of 20 October 2026.