Copenhagen is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. It is strenuous and tiring to cover the breadth of this city on foot or by bicycle. Bus hopping to explore this stellar city, however, makes the journey easier and extremely convenient. Not to mention that it is also fun, safe, and appealing to the tourist’s sense of exploring any new place. 

Now, hop on with us to learn more about Copenhagen’s commute system and decide for yourself if this adventurous journey should not just be attempted in this city but in other places as well!

Hop-on Hop-off Bus Copenhagen

What Is A Hop-on Hop-off Bus?

The Hop-on Hop-off bus is a bus designed to enable travelers to make the most out of their sightseeing experience. The bus is extremely convenient to get around as it covers multiple routes and multiple stops throughout the city. It enables you to jump on and off any of the buses at any of the spots. You also have the option to ride on for as long as you like. 

The buses are double-deckers with an open roof on warm days, providing a panoramic view of the city. A major advantage of hopping buses is you can glaze through the spots and get off on the ones you wish to take a closer look at. Despite this, take it from ardent travelers like us that you will want to get off at every stop as that is how enthralling this picturesque city is.

Who Should Opt For It?

• If you have children, then Hop-on Hop-off buses are a better option to ensure a hassle-free experience.
• We highly recommend this method if you only have a limited time to spend and wish to cover all the must-see places.
• Most highly recommended for travelers who live in the moment and travel without a plan.

Pros 

• Stops at the city’s major sightseeing places.
• Audio guide in different languages which helps you know more about the city.
• A maximum of 2 children accompanied by an adult can travel for free. The age limit varies depending on the city and the ticket you purchase.
• Free Wi-Fi on board.
• The top deck offers great views of the city.
• Dedicated bus stops with legible signboards.
• Outfitted to be wheelchair and stroller accessible.

Cons

• No guaranteed seat or prior booking options. It works on a first come first serve basis.
• Slightly more expensive than public transport. 
• Strong possibility of multiple shaky pictures as you will be seeing the city on a moving bus.

Things To Know

1. The driver on each bus will verify your ticket. They will also announce when the stop approaches and in addition to the audio guide, the driver also provides a brief about each place on the PA system. 
2. Use the complimentary earphones throughout the trip to listen to the audio guide.
3. You don’t have to stick to the same bus. You can hop on and off any similar sightseeing bus.

Tour Operators

Red Sightseeing and Stromma are two of the more popular companies that offer Hop-on Hop-off bus services in Copenhagen. Let’s discuss the bus routes, tickets, and other details.

Red Sightseeing

A sightseeing expert since 2012, offering Hop-on Hop-off bus and boat services in six locations across Europe such as Copenhagen, Stockholm, Berlin, Riga, Helsinki, and Tallinn. 

Routes

Twin’s Tip: Download the iOS or Android app to check the real-time status of the buses. You can also click on the stop to view more information about the place.

The Red Line has 22 bus stops that cover the main attractions of the city such as Tivoli Gardens, Christianshavn Square, Christiansborg Palace, Nyhavn, Amalienborg Palace, Rosenborg Castle, and Little Mermaid. You have the option to choose a ticket validity time—24 hr, 48 hr, and 72 hr. 

• Availability: Throughout the year.
• Frequency: It is a bit irregular and depends on the demand. It can take anywhere from 10-45 minutes in summer (April to September) and 30-60 minutes in winter (October to March).
• First/ Last departure from Central Station/ Tivoli Gardens: 09:00/ 17:00 in summer and 09:00/ 16:00 in winter.

The Blue Line is a 60-minute guided boat ride along the harbor and canals of Copenhagen. 

Twin’s tip: Save money by purchasing a combo ticket that is inclusive of the boat tour.

Tickets

Tickets can only be purchased on their official website. The cost depends on the tour package you choose. A 24 hr bus tour costs around 220 DKK while the most popular bus + boat combo tour costs 260 DKK. 

Carefully go through the ticket details on rescheduling and cancellation. 

You have the option to pay in multiple currencies. They also offer combo tickets for Hop-on Hop-off tours that include other attractions like the Tivoli Gardens entrance, Ripley’s Believe it or not, Hans Christian Andersen Experience, The Mystic Exploratorie, and the Guinness World Records Museum.

Stromma

It is one of the largest companies that handle tourism and excursions in Northern Europe. They operate in 18 different cities. In addition to the Hop-on Hop-off tours, they also offer canal tours, day trips, and theme tours in selective destinations.

Canal Tours, Copenhagen City Sightseeing, Copenhagen Panorama Excursions, and Hop On – Hop Off are part of the Stromma group.

Routes

Note: The mobile version of the Stromma app is not available

The Classic Route (Red) has 15 main bus stops that include the major attractions— Strøget, Nyhavn, Amalienborg Palace, The Little Mermaid, Rosenborg Castle, and Tivoli. 

• Availability: Every day
• Frequency: Every 30 minutes
• First/ Last Departure from stop 1: 10:00/ 16:00

The Urban Green Route (Green) connects the nature-oriented sites that are perfect for family picnics. It covers 11 stops including the must-see Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen Zoo, and Planetarium. 

• Availability: All days from May to September and only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from October to April
• Frequency: Every 2 hours
• First/ Last Departure from stop 12: 11:00/ 15:00

The Colorful Route (Purple) helps you discover the contrasting sides of Copenhagen. It offers 7 stops including Strøget, Christiania Freetown, The Opera, Reffen, and Tivoli. 

• Availability: All days from May to September and only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from October to April
• Frequency: Every 2 hours
• First/ Last Departure from stop 1: 12:00/ 16:00

The Grand Tour is a live guided one-hour canal tour around the harbors and canals of Copenhagen. 

Twin’s Tip: Ensure you get the benefits of a discount by purchasing the bus and boat tour combination.

Tickets

You can buy tickets from their official website. The famous Hop On – Hop Off Bus + Boat tour costs 250 DKK and is valid for 48 hours. A 72-hour all-routes ticket costs 240 DKK. You also have the option to choose a single line with a 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour validity. You will also benefit from a voucher for entering Tivoli Gardens if you opt for the combo ticket.

Frequently Asked Questions

Enjoy the ride!

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