Denmark Rail Passes and Train Tips
By Rick Steves
Are rail passes a good value for Denmark?
Rail passes are usually a good value in Denmark, whether or not you're venturing by train beyond its borders. A pass also allows you to hop trains with more convenience than separate tickets (though trains on some international routes do require reservations).
How do I see whether a rail pass makes sense for my trip in particular?
Train, Bus & Boat Fares: Scandinavia
Use this map to add up approximate pay-as-you-go fares for your itinerary, and compare that cost to the price of a rail pass for the number of days you expect to spend on the train. Dotted lines show ferry routes, some of which are discounted if you have a rail pass. Dashed lines show bus connections, which aren't covered by rail passes.
Also, follow the links below for:
• More tips for figuring out whether a pass makes sense for your trip
• The basics on choosing among rail passes
• More tips on how to save money by fine-tuning your rail pass
• Advice on deciding between first and second class
• Fare-estimate maps outside Scandinavia
• Answers to frequently asked rail-pass questions
What are my options for rail passes that cover Denmark?
Scandinavia Eurail Pass (4 countries)
Eurail Global Pass (33 countries) → read more about this pass
►Rail Europe shopping cart: Have an order underway? Review and complete it here.
Do I need to make seat reservations on Danish trains?
Within Denmark, you can generally hop on any train with just your pass in hand. Reservations are required, though, on some international routes (such as overnight trains and Swedish-run high-speed trains serving Copenhagen), as indicated in online train schedules. Some reservations aren't available outside Europe, but they don't generally sell out terribly far in advance. Private and shared sleepers on night trains are both available with second-class rail passes.
What do rail passes cover in Denmark?
Passes cover nearly all trains within Denmark, except for the rare privately operated line (a pass does get you a 50 percent discount on the Hjørring–Hirtshals railroad, as well as the Frederikshavn–Skagen railroad; claiming this discount doesn't require use of a pass's travel day). On international ferries where the train actually goes on the ferry, e.g. to Germany or Sweden, a rail pass includes the trip as long as it covers both countries. Passes also grant free or discounted travel on a few less-popular bus and ferry routes.
Any tips for buying point-to-point train tickets in Denmark?
If a rail pass doesn't pencil out for your trip, you may be able to shave off the cost of your train tickets with some local deals. For example, kids ages 4–9 travel free with ticket-buying adults (not with rail passes) on most Danish trains; otherwise kids generally ride for half the adult fare (and keep in mind that child-ticket deals vary across neighboring countries).
See our general tips for buying point-to-point tickets.