Copenhagen is one of the most rewarding cruise calls in Northern Europe, but how easy your day is depends on where your ship docks. Most large ships use the Oceankaj (Ocean Quay) terminals in Nordhavn, several kilometres north of the centre, so you will need a bus and the metro or a taxi to reach Nyhavn. Smaller and luxury ships often berth at Langelinie or Nordre Toldbod, where you can walk past the Little Mermaid and Kastellet into the old city. This guide covers all three terminals, what to see on foot, the excursions worth booking and how to get back on time.
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Copenhagen at a glance
- Where ships dock: Oceankaj (Ocean Quay) in Nordhavn for most large ships; Langelinie and Nordre Toldbod, closer to the centre, for smaller ships. No tender boats.
- Walk to town: Yes from Nordre Toldbod and Langelinie. No from Oceankaj, where you need a bus and the metro or a taxi.
- Getting into the centre from Oceankaj: bus 25 or 164 to Orientkaj, then the M4 metro to Kongens Nytorv, about 20 minutes.
- Currency: Danish krone (DKK). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including on public transport.
- Best for: canals and palaces on foot, Tivoli Gardens, design and food, or a castle day trip north to Helsingør.
Where cruise ships dock in Copenhagen
Copenhagen has three cruise terminals, run by Copenhagen Malmö Port. Your ship’s berth is set by the port, not the cruise line, so check the port’s “ships in port” page a few days before you arrive.
- Oceankaj (Ocean Quay): the newest and largest facility, with three terminal buildings in the Nordhavn district. It handles the biggest ships and most turnaround cruises. It sits in a working port area, so do not plan to walk into town. When ships are in, bus 25 leaves from the stop at Terminal 1 every 10 to 20 minutes for Orientkaj metro station, and bus 164 runs all year. From Orientkaj, the M4 line reaches Kongens Nytorv in about 20 minutes door to door. When we checked, Visit Copenhagen listed a two-zone ticket at 24 DKK and a daytime taxi to Kongens Nytorv at around 175 DKK.
- Langelinie: just north of the centre and popular with small and mid-size ships. The Little Mermaid is about a five-minute walk away, and a waterfront stroll through Kastellet brings you to Nyhavn in roughly half an hour. Østerport station is about 15 minutes on foot, and bus 27 from the nearby Indiakaj stop connects to it.
- Nordre Toldbod: the closest berth to the centre, used mainly by smaller luxury and expedition ships. Amalienborg Palace and Nyhavn are a short, flat walk, and Marmorkirken metro station is about 14 minutes on foot.
Hop-on hop-off buses also call at the terminals when ships are in port and stop at Nyhavn, Amalienborg and Tivoli.
Things to do within walking distance
From Langelinie or Nordre Toldbod you can see a remarkable amount on foot. From Oceankaj, take the metro to Kongens Nytorv and start from there; everything below is within a compact, flat area.
- The Little Mermaid and Kastellet: the famous statue sits on the Langelinie promenade, and the star-shaped 17th-century fortress beside it makes a lovely green walk towards town.
- Amalienborg Palace: the winter home of the Danish royal family, with four rococo palaces around an octagonal square. The changing of the guard takes place at noon.
- Nyhavn: the postcard canal of brightly painted 17th and 18th-century townhouses, now lined with cafés and the departure point for canal boat tours.
- Strøget and the old town: one of Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping streets, running from Kongens Nytorv to City Hall Square.
- Rosenborg Castle and the King’s Garden: a Renaissance castle holding the Danish crown jewels, set in the city’s oldest royal park.
- Tivoli Gardens: the historic amusement park opposite the Central Station. It opens seasonally, so check dates for your call.
Best Copenhagen shore excursions
Copenhagen is easy to explore independently, so an organised tour is most useful for trips outside the city. Whatever you book, allow a generous buffer, especially if your ship is at Oceankaj.
| Excursion | Time from the ship | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Canal boat tour from Nyhavn | Walk from Nordre Toldbod; about 20 minutes by metro from Oceankaj | An easy first look at the harbour, the Opera House and Christianshavn |
| Kronborg Castle, Helsingør | Roughly an hour north by coach or train | Shakespeare fans; the UNESCO-listed castle is the setting for Hamlet |
| Frederiksborg Castle | Under an hour north, often combined with Kronborg | A grand Renaissance palace on a lake, with a national history museum |
| Louisiana Museum of Modern Art | On the coast road towards Helsingør | Art lovers; a world-class collection with sculpture gardens facing the sea |
| Malmö, Sweden | Across the Øresund Bridge by train from Central Station | Ticking off a second country in a day |
| Guided walking or food tour | Starts in the centre | Smørrebrød, pastries and the stories behind the palaces |
Food and drink
Lunch in Copenhagen should mean smørrebrød, the open rye sandwiches topped with herring, roast beef or shrimp, ideally at one of the traditional lunch houses in the old town. Torvehallerne, the glass food halls beside Nørreport station, are ideal for grazing. For something quicker, a pølse from a hot dog stand is a local institution, and a cardamom bun or Danish pastry from a good bakery is the classic afternoon stop. Nyhavn’s waterfront terraces are atmospheric for a drink, though you pay for the view.
Tips for a day in Copenhagen
- Check your terminal first. The difference between Nordre Toldbod and Oceankaj is the difference between a ten-minute stroll and a bus-and-metro journey.
- Buy tickets on your phone. The DOT Tickets app sells public transport tickets in English, and contactless cards are accepted widely.
- Watch for cyclists. Bike lanes are busy and fast. Never stand in one, and look both ways before stepping off the kerb.
- Expect high prices. Copenhagen is an expensive city; service is included in restaurant bills, so tipping is optional.
- Leave a buffer from Oceankaj. Aim to be back on the shuttle bus at least an hour before all-aboard, as queues build late in the afternoon.
- Pack a layer. Even in summer, the harbour can be breezy and showers roll in quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Can you walk from the Copenhagen cruise port to the city centre?
From Nordre Toldbod and Langelinie, yes. Nordre Toldbod is a short walk from Amalienborg and Nyhavn, and Langelinie is about half an hour along the waterfront. From Oceankaj, no: take bus 25 or 164 to Orientkaj and the M4 metro, or a taxi.
How do I know which Copenhagen terminal my ship will use?
Copenhagen Malmö Port publishes a list of ships in port with the berth for each call. Large ships almost always use Oceankaj, while smaller luxury ships often get Langelinie or Nordre Toldbod.
Is Copenhagen a good port for a Baltic or Norway cruise?
Yes. It is a major turnaround port for Baltic and Norwegian Fjords itineraries, with fast metro links from the airport, and its compact centre makes it one of the easiest Scandinavian capitals to see in a day.
Do I need Danish kroner?
Not really. Cards, including contactless payments, are accepted almost everywhere, from cafés to hot dog stands. Euros are taken in some tourist shops, but usually at a poor rate.
Many Copenhagen sailings continue to Norway; see our guide to Norwegian Fjords cruises from the UK and our Bergen cruise port guide for the next stop on many itineraries.
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