Copenhagen - Sweden Day Trip

DSB trains in Copenhagen's central station

Archived article

Note: Some of the information in the archived article below is outdated with the opening of the Øresund bridge/tunnel link between Denmark and Sweden.

If you're staying in Copenhagen for more than a few days, an excursion to Helsingør, Helsingborg, and Malmö offers a pleasant break from city sightseeing. You can easily cover the circuit in one day, or--if you have time--you can break the journey with overnight stays.

Danish Railways (DSB) offers a circular excursion ticket that covers train and ferry transportation. You don't need reservations--just hop on any train or ferry as the mood suits you. Here's a suggested itinerary:

Early morning

• Depart Copenhagen's central railway station for Helsingør (Denmark), the "Elsinore" in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Trains leave at 9, 29, and 49 minutes past the hour.

• If you're breaking the journey with an overnight stay and enjoy modern art, consider stopping at the Louisiana Museum in Humlebæk.

Late morning - early afternoon

• Tour Kronborg Slot (Hamlet's castle) in Helsingør, have lunch, and visit a shop or two in this very pleasant small city. If you have time, visit the Trade and Seafaring Museum.

• Walk back to the railway station and catch the ferry to Helsingborg, Sweden. (If you haven't eaten, you can grab a snack on the boat during the 20-minute crossing.)

ABOVE: Kronborg Slot, Helsingør.

Early afternoon - midafternoon

• Explore downtown Helsingborg, then walk to the railroad station and catch the train to Malmö. (See tourism links on page 2.)

Late afternoon - evening

• Explore downtown Malmö, or--better yet--spend the night.

• Later, walk to the catamaran terminal and take the boat to Copenhagen.

Notes:

• A one-day excursion won't give you time for extensive sightseeing, but you should have enough time to see Kronborg Castle in Helsingør.

• In bad weather, catamaran service may be suspended. (This can happen in winter when the channel between Denmark and Sweden freezes over.) In such cases, you'll normally be given free bus transportation to the ferry terminal at Limhamn, and a city bus will take you from the Dragør ferry terminal to central Copenhagen on the Danish side.

• If you're driving, you'll need to make your own ferry arrangements. Also, you won't be able to ride the catamaran from Malmö--instead, you'll need to take the car ferry from suburban Limhamn, which will deliver you to the Copenhagen suburb of Dragør 50 minutes later. (Dragør is an attractive village of narrow streets, ancient houses, and cozy taverns, and it's worth a look before you drive back to Copenhagen.)

For up-to-date information on transportation services, check with the Copenhagen tourist office, the DSB schedules and ticket clerks in the main railway station, or the concierge at your hotel.

Related Web links

Continued on page 2

 

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