Denmark is served by 3 major airports including Copenhagen Airport Kastrup (CPH). Budget airlines: Norwegian Air, easyJet, Ryanair. Peak season: June to August. Best deals: April–May and September–October.
Copenhagen Airport Kastrup (CPH) is the largest and busiest airport in Scandinavia, handling over 30 million passengers annually and serving as the primary hub for SAS (Scandinavian Airlines). Located just 8km from the city center, it offers one of Europe's best airport-to-city connections — the Metro runs 24 hours a day, reaching central Copenhagen in just 14 minutes. The airport handles transatlantic traffic from North America, dense European routes, and connections throughout the Nordic region, making it the natural gateway to Denmark and Scandinavia as a whole.
Budget airlines have transformed Denmark's accessibility in recent years. Norwegian Air maintains an extensive Copenhagen network covering European destinations and formerly operated long-haul routes to the US. EasyJet and Ryanair compete on popular routes to the UK, Southern Europe, and Eastern Europe. Wizz Air has added Central European connections. Despite being a Nordic country with higher general costs, the intense airline competition at CPH means fares from London, Berlin, or Amsterdam to Copenhagen are often surprisingly affordable — particularly outside peak summer months.
Denmark is a compact country with outstanding road infrastructure, making it an ideal destination for a self-drive holiday. From Copenhagen, the Great Belt Bridge — one of the world's longest suspension bridges — connects the island of Zealand to Funen, and then motorways continue into the Jutland peninsula. The drive from Copenhagen to Aarhus, Denmark's second city, takes about 3 hours on well-maintained motorways. Along the way, Odense (birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen) and the Viking Ship Museum at Roskilde make excellent stops.
Billund Airport near Legoland is served by several European carriers and is the most convenient gateway to western Jutland. Families visiting Legoland often find it more practical to fly directly to Billund rather than drive 3 hours from Copenhagen. Aalborg Airport in northern Jutland handles some European routes and is useful for reaching Skagen, the dramatic sand spit at Denmark's northernmost point where the North Sea meets the Baltic. Both regional airports have efficient rental car facilities.
Denmark is also an outstanding jumping-off point for Scandinavian road trips. The Øresund Bridge connecting Copenhagen to Malmö, Sweden, is an engineering marvel and a 20-minute drive (toll approximately €35 one-way). From Malmö, the Swedish coastline stretches north toward Gothenburg and eventually Norway. Northward from Jutland, ferries cross to Norway at multiple points, and the journey from Hirtshals to Kristiansand or Stavanger opens up the Norwegian fjords. Denmark's flat terrain and excellent cycling infrastructure also make it one of Europe's finest cycling destinations.
Copenhagen itself has evolved into one of Europe's most desirable city-break destinations. The Nyhavn waterfront, Tivoli Gardens, the Meatpacking District's food scene, and the city's renowned New Nordic cuisine (including Noma and Geranium, both Michelin-starred) draw food-loving travelers worldwide. The Danish concept of hygge — cozy conviviality — means the city is equally appealing in winter, when Christmas markets fill Tivoli and candlelit cafés provide warm refuge from the short Scandinavian days.
Denmark is Scandinavia's most accessible entry point by air. Copenhagen Kastrup is northern Europe's busiest airport and a major connecting hub, while a handful of smaller regional airports serve Jutland and the islands. The Danish flight market benefits from intense competition — Scandinavian Airlines, Norwegian, Ryanair, and easyJet all fight for routes — which keeps prices more reasonable than you might expect for a Nordic country. But Scandinavian airport costs, transfer pricing, and seasonal demand patterns create traps that catch unprepared travelers. Here's how to navigate it all.
June through August is Denmark's golden window. Days stretch past 10pm, temperatures hover around 20-25°C, and the entire country comes alive — Tivoli Gardens runs its summer season, Copenhagen's harbor baths open for swimming, and the Danish coast draws crowds to Skagen, Bornholm, and the Wadden Sea. This is peak season, and flight prices reflect it: expect 40-70% premiums over winter fares on popular routes.
May and September offer the best value-to-experience ratio. Weather is still pleasant (15-20°C), tourist numbers drop significantly, and flight prices fall back toward shoulder-season levels. Copenhagen's restaurant and cultural scene runs year-round, so you lose nothing by visiting outside peak summer.
December brings a special draw: Danish hygge at its peak. Tivoli's Christmas market is spectacular, Copenhagen's streets glow with lights, and glogg (mulled wine) appears everywhere. Fares spike slightly around the Christmas holidays but remain well below summer levels. The tradeoff is short days — sunset by 3:30pm — and cold, often wet weather.
January through March is low season proper. Fares hit their annual lows, hotels offer significant discounts, and Copenhagen's museums, restaurants, and indoor attractions provide plenty of reasons to visit. If you don't mind cold weather and limited daylight, this is when Denmark delivers the best value per euro spent.
Copenhagen Kastrup is Scandinavia's largest airport and handles over 30 million passengers annually. It serves as the primary hub for Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and is a focus city for Norwegian and easyJet. With three terminals (T1 domestic/Schengen, T2 international, T3 connecting the rail station), it's well-organized and efficient — most passengers clear security in under 20 minutes.
Kastrup's location is exceptional: it sits on the island of Amager, just 8 km south of Copenhagen's city center and directly connected to Sweden's Malmo via the Oresund Bridge. This dual-country catchment area drives the high passenger volumes and route diversity.
Getting to Copenhagen city center: The Metro (M2 line) runs every 4-6 minutes from Terminal 3 to Kongens Nytorv (central Copenhagen) in just 14 minutes for 39 DKK (about 5.20 euros). This is the best option for most travelers — fast, frequent, and cheap by Nordic standards. The DSB train reaches Copenhagen Central Station in 13 minutes for the same price. Taxis cost 250-350 DKK (35-47 euros) and take 20-30 minutes depending on traffic. There is absolutely no reason to take a taxi unless you have heavy luggage and a hotel far from a Metro station.
To Malmo, Sweden: The Oresund train from Kastrup reaches Malmo Central in 20 minutes for about 130 DKK (17 euros). Malmo hotels are often 30-40% cheaper than Copenhagen, making a Malmo base with Kastrup flights a genuine budget strategy — especially for longer stays.
Billund is Denmark's second-largest airport, located in central Jutland. It exists partly because of LEGOLAND — the original theme park is literally next door — and partly because it serves Jutland's business community (Lego, Vestas, Grundfos are all headquartered nearby). Ryanair, SAS, and a handful of charter airlines operate from Billund.
Routes include London Stansted (Ryanair, from 15 euros), Edinburgh, Barcelona, and various seasonal destinations. Billund makes sense if Jutland is your destination — it's 100 km from Aarhus, Denmark's second city, and close to Legoland, Vejle, and the lake district. A bus to Aarhus takes 90 minutes and costs about 130 DKK (17 euros).
Aalborg serves northern Jutland and has a small network of domestic and European routes. SAS connects it to Copenhagen multiple times daily (useful for domestic connections), and a few seasonal European routes operate in summer. Unless your trip focuses on northern Jutland (Skagen, Rubjerg Knude, Thy National Park), Aalborg is unlikely to feature in your planning.
Despite Aarhus being Denmark's second city, its airport is small and poorly connected — a legacy of Billund's dominance in the region. Ryanair flies to London Stansted, and there are a few seasonal routes, but options are limited. Most Aarhus-bound travelers fly into Copenhagen or Billund instead. The irony: Aarhus is easier to reach from Copenhagen (3-hour train, frequent service) than from its own undersized airport.
SAS is Denmark's flag carrier and the dominant force at Copenhagen. Their "SAS Go Light" fare competes directly with budget carriers on European routes — no checked bag, but a 8kg carry-on is included. Copenhagen to London from 50 euros, Oslo from 40 euros, Stockholm from 35 euros. SAS Go Light fares are often only 10-20 euros more than Ryanair or easyJet once you factor in baggage and seat selection. The SAS EuroBonus loyalty program is worth joining even for occasional travelers — status earns through Star Alliance.
Norwegian has rebuilt its European short-haul network after its pandemic restructuring. From Copenhagen, they fly to Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Stockholm, Helsinki, and several Mediterranean destinations. Base fares include a small cabin bag; a standard carry-on requires the Flex or Premium fare. Copenhagen to Oslo starts from 30 euros one-way, and Mediterranean routes (Barcelona, Malaga, Nice) from 40-70 euros in shoulder season.
Ryanair's Copenhagen base offers routes to southern and eastern Europe at aggressive prices. Copenhagen to Milan Bergamo from 15 euros, Budapest from 15 euros, Malaga from 25 euros, Dublin from 20 euros. Ryanair also flies from Billund and Aarhus. The standard Ryanair model applies: tiny personal bag free, everything else costs extra.
easyJet connects Copenhagen to London Gatwick, Paris CDG, Berlin, Geneva, Edinburgh, Manchester, and other western European cities. Fares from Copenhagen start at 25-40 euros one-way on competitive routes. easyJet's cabin bag allowance (45x36x20cm for free, plus a 56x45x25cm overhead bag for an additional fee) falls between Ryanair's stingy free tier and SAS's more generous Go Light policy.
Wizz Air has been expanding at Copenhagen with routes to eastern Europe and the Balkans. Copenhagen to Bucharest from 20 euros, Gdansk from 15 euros, Skopje from 25 euros. If eastern Europe is your destination, Wizz Air often undercuts the competition significantly.
For European routes from Copenhagen, the optimal booking window is 5-8 weeks before departure for budget carriers. SAS Go Light fares are often best at 4-6 weeks out — they release competitive fares to match low-cost carriers but pull them as flights fill. Norwegian follows a similar pattern.
For intercontinental flights, book 2-4 months ahead. SAS runs sales to the US and Asia in January and September. Copenhagen to New York starts from about 300 euros round-trip during sales; normal off-peak pricing sits around 400-500 euros.
Denmark is one of Europe's most expensive countries. A cheap flight means nothing if you haven't budgeted for Copenhagen's costs on the ground. A beer costs 50-70 DKK (7-9 euros) at a restaurant, a basic lunch is 100-150 DKK (13-20 euros), and a mid-range dinner runs 250-400 DKK (33-53 euros) per person. Factor this into your trip budget before celebrating a 15-euro flight deal.
Denmark uses the Danish krone (DKK), not the euro. The exchange rate hovers around 7.45 DKK to 1 EUR (pegged within a narrow band). While many Copenhagen businesses accept euros, the exchange rate they apply is usually unfavorable. Use a no-foreign-transaction-fee debit card and pay in DKK everywhere. Decline any "pay in your home currency" offers — dynamic currency conversion adds 3-5% to every transaction.
Flying into Copenhagen and staying in Malmo (Sweden) is a valid budget strategy, but factor in the Oresund crossing cost. Each train trip is about 130 DKK (17 euros), so a 3-night stay involves 6 crossings at 100+ euros total. The hotel savings need to exceed this. It works best for stays of 4+ nights or if you plan to explore both cities anyway.
Kastrup's shopping area is extensive and designed to capture spending. Tax-free shopping only applies if you're flying outside the EU. Intra-EU travelers get zero tax benefit from airport purchases — the prices are simply inflated retail with an "airport premium." Buy your Danish souvenirs and design goods in the city instead.
The Copenhagen flight market has four distinct baggage tiers to navigate:
Pro tip: Denmark is compact and well-connected by train. If you're doing a multi-city Danish trip (Copenhagen → Odense → Aarhus), you don't need to fly domestically. The train covers Copenhagen to Aarhus in 3 hours, which means your luggage strategy only needs to account for the international flights.
Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo form a natural triangle with excellent flight connections between them. The most efficient routing: fly into Copenhagen, train to Malmo, fly to Stockholm, fly to Oslo, fly home. Each inter-Scandinavian flight costs 30-60 euros on SAS or Norwegian, and you avoid backtracking. Price each leg independently — one-way fares on Scandinavian routes carry no round-trip penalty.
SAS's hub operation at Kastrup makes Copenhagen a natural connecting point. If you're flying from North America to Scandinavia, a SAS connection through Copenhagen often beats routing through Helsinki (Finnair) or Amsterdam (KLM) on price. Copenhagen to regional Scandinavian cities — Bergen, Tromso, Gothenburg, Turku — have multiple daily frequencies with short connection times (minimum 45 minutes for Schengen-to-Schengen at Kastrup).
Copenhagen to Hamburg is just 4.5 hours by direct train (DSB/DB cooperation), making a Copenhagen-Hamburg combo trip practical without any additional flights. Alternatively, fly into Copenhagen and out of Hamburg (or Berlin) — one-way fares from both cities are readily available on budget carriers, and you avoid retracing your steps.
The Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea is a charming detour. DAT (Danish Air Transport) flies Copenhagen to Bornholm (RNN) in 35 minutes for about 60-100 euros one-way. Alternatively, take the ferry from Ystad in Sweden (reachable by train from Copenhagen via Malmo) — 80 minutes, about 30 euros. If you're visiting in summer, Bornholm's round houses, smoked herring, and rocky coastline are worth 2-3 days.
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Average round-trip airfares to Denmark vary significantly by season. Book during low-demand months to save up to 50%.
| Months | Avg Price | Demand |
|---|---|---|
| June–August | $500–800 | High |
| December (Christmas) | $450–700 | High |
| April–May | $350–550 | Medium |
| September–October | $320–520 | Medium |
| January–March | $250–450 | Low |
| November | $240–420 | Low |
| Code | Airport | City |
|---|---|---|
| CPH | Copenhagen Airport Kastrup | Copenhagen |
| BLL | Billund Airport | Billund |
| AAL | Aalborg Airport | Aalborg |
Transit tips: CPH is SAS's primary hub with excellent connections throughout Scandinavia and to North America/Asia. Minimum connection time is 45 minutes for Schengen-to-Schengen. The airport is efficient and well-signposted. Lounges in all terminals.
Getting to the city: Metro runs 24/7 to Kongens Nytorv (city center) in 14 minutes for 38 DKK (~$5.50). Trains to Copenhagen Central Station take 14 minutes. Taxis cost 250–350 DKK (~$36–50).
Transit tips: Billund is a destination airport with no hub connections. Mainly used for Legoland visitors and Jutland business travelers. Check-in is fast due to the airport's modest size.
Getting to the city: No rail connection. Bus 43 runs to Vejle train station (30 min) for connections to Aarhus and Copenhagen by rail. Most visitors rent a car — the airport is surrounded by motorways serving all of Jutland.
Fly during shoulder season (April–May and September–October) to save 30-50% on airfare to Denmark compared to peak season prices.
Flying isn't always the best option for getting around Denmark. Here are the alternatives:
For Copenhagen–Aarhus, the train is competitive with flying when airport time is factored in. Domestic flights within Denmark are rarely worth it given the country's compact size. The exception is if you need to reach Aalborg quickly from Copenhagen — the 50-minute flight saves time over the 4.5-hour train journey.
Compare prices across all major airlines.
Data and regulations verified against official sources. Last checked 2026-04-27.
Fly into Copenhagen Kastrup for the widest route selection and lowest fares in Scandinavia.
Copenhagen handles over 30 million passengers annually with fierce competition from SAS, Norwegian, easyJet, and Ryanair keeping fares 20 to 30 percent below smaller Scandinavian airports. The Metro runs 24 hours a day from the terminal to central Copenhagen in just 14 minutes for 38 DKK, making the total cost from plane to hotel among the lowest in Northern Europe.
Consider crossing the Oresund Bridge from Malmo if Swedish flights are cheaper.
When flights to Malmo or Copenhagen's Swedish neighbor are significantly cheaper, the Oresund Bridge crossing takes only 20 to 35 minutes by train for about 130 SEK. Ryanair and Wizz Air both serve Malmo, and the fare differential can reach 40 to 60 EUR compared to Copenhagen on the same dates. This is a well-known Scandinavian budget travel trick.
Target November or January for the cheapest flights to Denmark at 40 to 50 percent below summer peak.
Round-trip fares from the US average $240 to $450 in November versus $500 to $800 in summer. Copenhagen's famous hygge culture makes it a cozy winter destination, with Christmas markets at Tivoli Gardens running from mid-November through late December. EasyJet and Norwegian one-way fares from London drop below 25 GBP in midweek November.
The Metro and S-train from the airport terminal run to Copenhagen Central Station in about 14–17 minutes for €3–4. This is one of Europe's most convenient airport-to-city connections. Taxis cost around €25–35.
Yes, Norwegian Air, easyJet, and Ryanair operate from Copenhagen. Norwegian in particular has an extensive Copenhagen network. Fares are generally higher than Southern Europe but competitive with other Nordic cities.
Yes, the Øresund Bridge connects Copenhagen to Malmö, Sweden — a famous 16km combined rail and road bridge. The drive takes about 20 minutes and a toll applies (approximately €35 for a car one-way).
January–February and November offer the lowest prices. Copenhagen has a vibrant winter scene (Christmas markets, cozy hygge culture), making it a pleasant winter destination. Summer is peak season with the best weather but higher fares.
November and January through March offer the lowest airfares to Denmark, with round-trip tickets from the US averaging $240 to $450 and budget carrier one-way fares from the UK available from 20 to 35 GBP. December sees a price bump due to Copenhagen's Tivoli Christmas market popularity. For the absolute cheapest fares, target midweek flights in late January or February when demand is at its annual low and SAS frequently discounts European routes.
From the US, round-trip fares to Copenhagen average $240 to $450 in winter, $350 to $550 in spring, and $500 to $800 in peak summer. SAS operates direct flights from New York, Chicago, and other US cities. From the UK, Norwegian and easyJet offer one-way fares from 25 GBP in low season to 80 to 130 GBP in summer. Billund Airport fares are typically 10 to 20 percent higher than Copenhagen due to less competition.
For summer travel in June through August, book 2 to 3 months ahead as Copenhagen's popularity with European and American tourists creates strong demand. December Tivoli trips should be secured by October. Spring and autumn travel can be booked 4 to 6 weeks in advance. SAS releases seasonal sales in January and September that can reduce transatlantic fares by 15 to 25 percent on Copenhagen routes.
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