Car Rental in Copenhagen

Why rent a car in Copenhagen?

Copenhagen is a stunning and sophisticated place to visit. One of the largest cities in Scandinavia, it is home to varied, well-preserved architecture, world-class museums, and unique neighborhoods. The city has recently also rebranded itself as a destination for foodies and coffee lovers with amazing restaurants and coffee shops all over the place. After seeing Copenhagen, why not explore the rest of Zealand? The island on which Copenhagen is located sports long, pretty beaches; historic coastal towns; and impressive palaces. With a rental car, even the Swedish city of Malmö on the other side of the Øresund Bridge or the rest of Denmark is within your reach.

Top ways to enter Copenhagen

• Copenhagen Airport: Also known as Copenhagen-Kastrup, it handled 30.3 million travelers in 2019, making it by far the busiest airport in Denmark and the fifteenth-busiest in all of Europe. The airport is a large hub for Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Air and is served by tens of other carriers providing flights to countless destinations in Europe and beyond. Located about 12 km (7.4 miles) south of the city center, the airport can be reached in about 15 minutes by car.
• Malmö Airport: Serving the third-largest city in Sweden just on the other side of the Øresund Bridge, Malmö Airport handles about two million travelers every year. The airport is popular with a number of low-cost carriers that offer flights to countries like Germany, Poland, Spain, and Serbia. Located about 63 km (39 miles) east of Copenhagen, the airport can be reached in about 50 minutes. Although the airport is very close to Copenhagen and Denmark, you’d have to cross the international border, so you should ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit it. To travel from Malmö to Copenhagen, you have to pay a fee for crossing the Øresund Bridge. Find out more about toll bridges in Denmark and the means of payment on our toll road section below.
• Billund Airport: Serving the city of the same name and located near the popular Legoland Park, Billund Airport handled 3.5 million travelers in 2019. The airport has flights by around 20 different airlines offering connections with many European countries as well as some destinations in the Middle East and North Africa. Located 265 km (165 miles) west of Copenhagen, the airport can be reached in about three hours. To travel from Billund to Copenhagen, you have to pay a fee for crossing the Storebælt Bridge. Find out more about toll bridges in Denmark and the means of payment on our toll road section below.
• Aarhus Airport. The second-busiest in the country serving its second city, Aarhus Airport is an increasingly popular port of entry for visitors to Denmark thanks to it being served by several low-cost carriers. Many travelers who come to Denmark on a longer vacation choose to enter the country via Aarhus, pick up their rental there, and end their trip in Copenhagen (or vice versa). Regardless of whether you take the ferry from the city of Aarhus (the airport is some distance to the northeast of it) or choose to drive all the way, the trip to the capital takes about four hours.
• Hamburg Airport: Serving Germany’s second city, Hamburg Helmut Schmidt Airport handled 17 million travelers in 2018. The airport is a large hub for the German low-cost carrier Eurowings and also has flights by nearly 40 other airlines. Hamburg Airport is located 340 km (211 miles) southwest of Copenhagen and can be reached in about 4 hours and 40 minutes. As with Malmö, you’d have to cross an international border, so ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit it. To take the fastest route between Copenhagen to Hamburg, you have to take a ferry from Puttgarden in Germany to Rødby in Denmark. There are a number of ferries every day and it is possible to bring a car on board. 

City facts

• Located at the point where the Baltic Sea meets the North Sea, Copenhagen has an oceanic climate. The average high temperature is 22°C  (72°F) in July, the warmest month, and 3°C  (38°F) in January, the coldest. There are, on average, 13 days with precipitation per month; August is the most humid month while February is the driest. Copenhagen experiences at least some snowfall every winter.
• Copenhagen is a very green city with lots of public parks and gardens that locals and visitors alike enjoy. Some of the most famous ones include the King’s Garden which surrounds the Rosenborg Castle, the Copenhagen Botanical Gardens near Copenhagen University, and the vast Frederiksberg Gardens that are home to many species of waterbird. Many beautiful beaches (that are, of course, especially enjoyable during the summer months) are also located just a short drive away from the city center. 

Top sights and activities

• Christiansborg Palace. Almost 100 years old, the stunning building is home to the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s office, and the Supreme Court. Built in Baroque and Neoclassical styles, Christiansborg replaced two former palaces of the same name. The palace is open to tourists, and even if you’re not interested in politics, it is one of the most impressive places in Copenhagen.
• National Gallery. Located in the heart of the city, the national gallery is home to nearly a quarter of a million of paintings, sculptures, and other works of art. Most are by the best Danish artists, but the gallery’s collection also includes art made by such world-famous masters as Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, and Albrecht Dürer. Located in a beautiful building, the National Gallery is a must-visit place for any art lover. If you still can’t get enough, the larger Copenhagen area is also home to the Louisiana Museum of Contemporary Art, Thorvaldsens Museum, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, and Ordrupgaard Museum which all have stunning and varied art collections on display.
• The National Museum. Immense and all-encompassing, the National Museum covers Danish history from the time when the first nomadic tribes arrived in the present-day territory of Denmark after the Ice Age to the Viking era, the Danish world explorations, and the present day. There are exhibitions on such varied topics as archaeology, ethnography, and the Danish royal family as well as a children’s museum. Many impressive artifacts are on display, especially in the Voices from the Colonies Exhibition, a large part of which is dedicated to the Danish colonization of Greenland. If visiting the National Museum has only raised your interest in Danish history, continue with a visit to the Old Denmark Open Air Museum.
• Tivoli Gardens. An amusement park set right in the center of the city, a day here is fun for any age. With rides, roller coasters, shows, concerts, gardens, restaurants, and festivals, there are exciting activities here year-round.
• Frilandsmuseet. Translated simply as the Open Air Museum, this popular family attraction is best known for the collection of many different traditional farmhouses, workshops, and mills that have been brought to the capital from not just all over Denmark, but even as far as the Faroe Islands. The museum is about 15 km (9 miles) north of the city center and can be reached by car in 20 minutes.
• If you plan to visit the city in the colder months, read more about things to do in winter in Copenhagen.

Traffic and parking

• Denmark drives on the right-hand side of the road.
• Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limit is 130 km/h (80 mph) on motorways, 80 km/h (50 mph) on all other intercity roads, and 50 km/h (31 mph) within urban and built-up areas. 
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for both experienced drivers and novice drivers. Denmark has some of the highest drunk-driving penalty fees in Europe. Exceeding the legal limit by more than 0.02% or reckless drunk driving is a criminal offense that will lead to jail time.
• Drivers are only permitted to use a mobile phone via a hands-free system.
• Paid parking spots are available in Copenhagen, although the amount of spaces is limited in the old town and city center. The parking fees depend on the area of the city, the hour of the day, and the length of your parking. Learn more about parking in Copenhagen on the city’s official website. 
• Copenhagen has some of the best-developed bicycle infrastructure in the world. Cyclists are seen as equal participants of the traffic and expect to be fully respected by drivers. 
• Children under 135 cm (4ft 6 in) must have a child seat or an equivalent child restraint. Do ask your rental car provider about the availability of one if you plan to travel with young children.
• The car’s registration and insurance documents must be in it at all times.
• When driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The general emergency number, like elsewhere in the EU, is 112. There are also emergency telephone booths on most national highways after every 2 km (1.2 miles) of the way. 

Toll roads

As of November 2019, there are no toll roads in Denmark.

You have to pay a toll fee when crossing the Øresund Bridge which connects Copenhagen with Malmö in Sweden. The price for a passenger car is 440 DKK (about 59 EUR) and can be purchased online and 57 if bought at the toll booth upon entering the bridge.

If you plan to travel to make it a return trip, it is cheaper if you purchase the ØresundGO contract — which costs 359 DKK (about 48 EUR) itself, with all tolls costing 170 DKK (roughly 23 EUR) per crossing. You can sign up for it here ; just remember to cancel it if you don't intend to use it again, as it auto-renews after a year.

Keep in mind that some rental cars might come pre-equipped with this and that your rental car provider might charge an additional fee for this service. Ask your rental car provider in advance about this.

A toll also needs to be paid for crossing the Storebælt (or Great Belt) Bridge which connects the Danish islands of Zealand (on which Copenhagen is located) and Funen. The bridge is about 115 km (71 miles) southwest of Copenhagen. If you plan to drive from Copenhagen to Odense, Aarhus, Billund, or Hamburg in Germany, you will most likely cross this bridge. The price for a single crossing of the 18 km (11 miles) long bridge with a passenger car is 270 DKK or 36 EUR. The fee can be paid at a toll booth upon entering the bridge. Learn more about the Storebælt Bridge on its official website. 

Ideas for day trips

• Malmö. Sweden’s third city, Malmö is a fun place to visit. The city center has some interesting architecture which, while typically Scandinavian, is quite different from that of Copenhagen. Special points of interest include Malmö City Hall, St. Petri Church, and the Technology and Maritime Museum. After visiting Malmö itself, why not explore the rest of the Scania region? Located right on the other side of the Øresund Bridge, Malmö is about a 45-minute drive from the center of Copenhagen. Despite the short distance and no border checks (both Denmark and Sweden are members of the Schengen Area), you have to cross an international border, so ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit it. You also have to pay a toll for crossing the Øresund Bridge (find more information on our Toll roads section above).
• Roskilde. The old capital of Denmark is now the site of one of the most famous music festivals in Europe, but the city is worth a visit even when the world’s largest bands are not playing on its stages. The heritage of Vikings who once ruled Denmark from here can be appreciated in awesome interactive museums like the Viking Ship Museum, Roskilde Museum, and Roskilde Mini Town. If you’re looking for something more outdoorsy, the city is also home to the beautiful Boserup Forest and many parks. Located 35 km (22 miles) west of Copenhagen, Roskilde takes about 40 minutes to reach.
• Hillerød. A small and otherwise unassuming town, Hillerød’s claim to fame is its impressive Frederiksborg Palace. Built in the 17th century as a home for King Christian IV and surrounded by water and large gardens, it gives many the famous Copenhagen and Stockholm palaces a run for their money. It’s easy to go and see for yourself - located just 37 km (23 miles) northwest of Copenhagen, Hillerød can be reached in about 35 minutes.
• Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. The most visited in all of the country, Louisiana welcomes over half a million people every year. Named after the wife of the first owner of the property, its collections include works by Warhol, Kiefer, and Picasso, as well as many notable Danish artists of the last 150 years. The museum is about a 30 km (18 mile) drive north of the capital, near the city of Elsinore. Visit its English language homepage to learn more.
• Køge. A small and very cozy harbor city, Køge is known for its quaint architecture which includes several notable castles, churches, squares, and even an outdoor gallery. Natural attractions include a very nice city park, as well as the nearby Stevns cliffs, one of the most impressive outdoor attractions in the Copenhagen area. Køge Port also provides a ferry service to the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. The drive from Copenhagen to Køge takes about 45 minutes.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in Copenhagen is the Volkswagen Golf, closely followed by the Audi Q2 and the Volkswagen Polo. The most popular rental car types are compact, economy, and mini.

Further destinations

• Elsinore. Also known as Helsingør, this small Danish city gained world fame as the setting of Shakespeare’s immortal masterpiece, Hamlet. The main attraction of the city is the impressive Kronborg Palace, but travelers also love the Danish Maritime Museum, the Shipyard Museum, and the well-preserved city center. Located 49 km (30 miles) north of Copenhagen, Elsinore can be reached in about 45 minutes.
• Kongernes Nordsjælland National Park. Quite small and densely populated, Denmark can’t compete with the vast and untamed wilderness areas of Sweden and Norway, but there is still untamed nature to be found. In Zealand, your best bet is with the Kongernes Nordsjælland in the northern part of the island. Home to beautiful oak forests, Lake Esrum, and bird species like the white-tailed eagle and Eurasian kingfisher, it is a perfect place to escape the city and spend a day outdoors. Located near Elsinore, the national park is just 55 km (34 miles) north of Copenhagen and can be reached in about 50 minutes.
• Odense. Located on the island of Funen, Denmark’s third-largest city might not be as popular a tourist destination as Copenhagen or Legoland. Those who do venture to it, however, will find plenty to enjoy. Odense is home to the Danish Railway Museum, Hans Christian Andersen Museum (the famous writer was born and grew up in the city), and Egeskov Castle, and is also near coastal towns like Middelfart, Frederica, and Nyborg. Located 166 km (103 miles) west of Copenhagen, Odense can be reached in about two hours. You will have to pay a toll for crossing the Storebælt Bridge which connects Zealand and Funen - find out more about the means of payment on our Toll Roads section above. 
• Lolland-Falster. Unexplored not just by foreign visitors, but even by many Danes, Lolland-Falster is a small archipelago to the south of the capital region. You won’t find many famous landmarks here - the region is mainly rural - but these islands have plenty of ambiance and scenic, empty beaches to interest those looking to get off the beaten path. The archipelago is connected to Zealand by bridges and tunnels and is only about a 90-minute drive from Copenhagen.
• LEGOLAND. Located in Billund, where the original LEGO factory was first built, LEGOLAND is an exciting amusement park for all ages. There are nine different areas in the park, including Mini Land, Pirate Land, and LEGO Movie World, which has roller coasters, water rides, building areas, and shows. The park also includes a resort with fun LEGO-themed rooms. Billund is located about three hours away from Copenhagen.

Car rental prices in Copenhagen

• Medium cars - from $32 per day
• Small cars - from $29 per day
• SUVs - from $37 per day
• Large cars - from $35 per day
• Station wagons - from $37 per day
• Vans - from $52 per day
• Premium cars - from $60 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Follow these simple tricks to land a great rental car in Denmark:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Copenhagen is the cheapest in October when renting a car is about 55% cheaper than the yearly average and a whole 78% cheaper than renting a vehicle in July.