The Copenhagen Metro, or Københavns Metro, is a driverless light rapid transit system serving Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, and Tårnby. It opened in October 2002 and is fully integrated with local transport across the city, including DSB and regional trains as well as Movia bus services. Today, the system has four lines and 44 stations, with 30 underground. M1 and M2 share the central route before splitting toward Vestamager and Copenhagen Airport, while M3 forms a fully underground circle line and M4 extends the network to Nordhavn and Sydhavn. The metro runs 24/7, making it one of the few rapid transit systems in the world with round-the-clock service within city limits.
| Key | Information |
|---|---|
| System | Driverless light rapid transit in Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, and Tårnby |
| First opened | October 2002 |
| Current lines | M1, M2, M3, M4 |
| Total stations | 44 |
| Underground stations | 30 |
| Operating hours | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week |
| Airport connection | Direct on M2 via Lufthavnen station |
| Annual ridership | 135 million passengers in 2025 |
| Planned expansion | M5 |
Copenhagen Metro Map
Map of Copenhagen Metro System showing different lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Copenhagen Metro System map in PDF format.
Copenhagen Metro Line and Stations
The Copenhagen Metro is a fully automated public transport system with 44 stations across Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, and Tårnby. Since opening in 2002, it has expanded in stages: new sections arrived in 2003, the airport branch in 2007, the City Circle Line in 2019, the first M4 segment in 2020, and the Sydhavn extension in 2024.
M1 and M2 share tracks between Vanløse and Christianshavn, where passengers can transfer between lines. From there, M1 continues to Vestamager, while M2 heads to Lufthavnen for Copenhagen Airport. Together, M1 and M2 cover 21 km (13.0 miles), and the running time from one end to the other is about 23 minutes.
M3, the City Circle Line, opened on 29 September 2019. It has 17 stations and forms a 15.5 km (9.6 miles) underground loop around the city centre, with a full-circle running time of about 25 minutes. M4 started on 28 March 2020 and was extended to Sydhavnen on 22 June 2024. It now runs between København Syd and Orientkaj, adding another useful route through central Copenhagen.
Several metro stations connect with regional trains or the S-train network, which makes the system an important part of city transport and transportation in Copenhagen as a whole.
| Station | Details |
|---|---|
| M1 | Vanløse – Frederiksberg – Nørreport – Kongens Nytorv – Ørestad – Vestamager; opened 2002; 15 stations |
| M2 | Vanløse – Frederiksberg – Nørreport – Kongens Nytorv – Amagerbro – Lufthavnen; opened 2002; 16 stations |
| M3 | København H – Frederiksberg – Nørrebro – Østerport – Kongens Nytorv – København H; opened 2019; 17 stations |
| M4 | København Syd – København H – Kongens Nytorv – Østerport – Nordhavn – Orientkaj; opened 2020; 13 stations |
| Copenhagen Central Station | Transfer to regional trains and S-trains |
| Lufthavnen | Airport station with regional train connection |
| Nørreport | Transfer to regional trains and S-trains |
| Ørestad | Regional train interchange |
| Østerport | Transfer to regional trains and S-trains |
| København S | Transfer to regional trains and S-trains |
| Nørrebro | S-train interchange |
| Flintholm | S-train interchange |
| Vanløse | S-train interchange |
| Nordhavn | S-train interchange |
Key stations on the network include Nørreport, Kongens Nytorv, Christianshavn, Frederiksberg, Vanløse, Vestamager, and Lufthavnen. Newer stops such as Rådhuspladsen, Gammel Strand, Marmorkirken, Nørrebro, Nordhavn, Orientkaj, Enghave Brygge, and København S have strengthened the stations map and widened the stations list for both locals and visitors.
The metro is owned by Metroselskabet and operated by Metro Service. In practical terms, it is a modern 24-hour system built for fast, frequent travel.
Fares and tickets
You need a valid ticket before using the Copenhagen Metro or other public transport in the city. The fare depends on the zones you travel through and how often you expect to use the system.
If you only need a few rides, a single ticket is usually the simplest option. For more frequent travel, a City Pass, day pass, Copenhagen Card, or Rejsekort can be better value depending on your route plan. Copenhagen uses a zone-based fare system, but on metro-only trips you pay for a maximum of three zones, even if the journey crosses more.
You can buy a ticket in several ways:
- On your mobile through the Rejsebillet app. The Rejsekort app and DSB app may also be used depending on the service.
- At ticket machines in metro stations, train stations, and at Copenhagen Airport.
- At 7/11 kiosks near stations, where single tickets and some pass options are sold.
Tickets bought in the app or from machines are valid on the metro, bus services, harbour buses, and trains in Copenhagen and other parts of Zealand. That makes it easy to combine different types of public transport on one trip.
Children have separate fare rules. Two children under 12 can travel free when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. Children traveling alone pay a child fare until age 16, usually half the adult ticket price, except for bicycle tickets.
Typical ticket options mentioned for the metro include single tickets, City Pass tickets for 24, 48, 72, or 120 hours, the Copenhagen Card, the Rejsekort app for pay-as-you-go travel, and a 1-day ticket for unlimited metro travel for one day.
No exact ticket price, cost, or fare calculator figures are given in the source material, so for the latest fare, price, and ticket validity it is best to check the official public transport website or the Rejsebillet app before you travel.
Timetable & Operating Hours
The Copenhagen Metro runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So if you are checking operating hours, opening hours, opening times, working hours, or timings today, the short answer is simple: the system does not close in normal daily operation.
Frequency is usually high on all four lines. During rush hour, trains generally run every 2-4 minutes. Outside peak periods and on weekends, the timetable is typically every 3-6 minutes.
Night service runs less often. From Sunday to Thursday, trains arrive every 20 minutes after midnight. On Friday and Saturday nights after 01:00, service usually runs every 7-15 minutes.
Night maintenance can affect the train schedule and slightly extend journey times, especially between 00:45-01:25 and 04:15-04:45. Because the metro operates all night, there is no regular last train or fixed closing time, though some routes may run less frequently during maintenance windows.
Line Timetables
| Service detail | Timings |
|---|---|
| M1 route timetable | Vanløse – Vestamager; 24/7 service |
| M2 route timetable | Vanløse – Københavns Lufthavn; 24/7 service |
| M3 route timetable | Cityringen; 24/7 service |
| M4 route timetable | Orientkaj – København Syd; 24/7 service |
| Rush hour frequency | Every 2-4 minutes |
| Off-peak and weekend frequency | Every 3-6 minutes |
| Night schedule today, Sunday-Thursday | Every 20 minutes after midnight |
| Night schedule today, Friday-Saturday after 01:00 | Every 7-15 minutes |
| Maintenance window | Possible longer journeys between 00:45-01:25 and 04:15-04:45 |
For route planning and live schedule information, passengers can use the Journey Planner. The metro is also a fast airport link: from Kongens Nytorv, the trip to the airport takes about 12 minutes.
Interconnections with Other Systems
The Copenhagen Metro is part of a wider transport system rather than a standalone railway. From the beginning, it was designed to connect with local DSB services, regional Øresundståg trains, and Movia bus routes, giving passengers flexible options across the city and beyond.
Important interchange stations include Vanløse, Flintholm, and Nørreport for S-trains. The metro also connects with DSB local trains at Nørreport, Ørestad, and Lufthavnen, while Lufthavnen provides direct access to Copenhagen Airport.
M3 strengthened these links by connecting with M1 and M2 at Frederiksberg and Kongens Nytorv, and with suburban rail at København H, Østerport, and Nørrebro. M4 adds another major interchange at Copenhagen South Station, where passengers can switch to S-trains, regional trains, and long-distance services, including the Copenhagen-Ringsted railway.
Planned expansion continues this logic. The proposed M5 is expected to connect with the existing system at Flintholm, Nørrebro, and Ny Ellebjerg, linking future development areas with the current metro network.
The metro’s 24/7 service pattern helps it complement the S-train and regional rail network, especially on busy routes and at major hubs such as Copenhagen Central Station and Copenhagen Airport.
Connection to the Airport
Copenhagen Airport is directly connected to the metro through Lufthavnen station, located in the extension of Terminal 3. From the city centre, the route is quick and straightforward: the trip takes about 15 minutes from Nørreport and about 12 minutes from Kongens Nytorv.
The airport service runs frequently throughout the day and evening, usually every 4-6 minutes. At night, trains generally run every 15-20 minutes. Since the metro operates 24/7, there is no usual last train to the airport and no normal closing time for metro access.
Tickets can be bought at the station and at DSB’s ticket office in Terminal 3. The ticket machines do not accept notes, only coins and credit cards such as Dankort and VISA.
If you are traveling with hand luggage only, you can go directly from the metro to the security checkpoint, Terminal 2, and SAS Fast Track via a 100 m (0.1 km / 0.06 mile) footbridge.
At the metro station near the end of Terminal 3, the airport also provides two self-service machines where passengers can print boarding cards and luggage labels. All major airlines are connected to these machines.
Tips
The Copenhagen Metro is one of the easiest ways to get around the city. It is driverless, clean, safe, and available around the clock, which makes it especially convenient for visitors.
For tickets, you can use station machines or mobile apps such as DOT Tickets and Rejseplanen. These tools help with ticket buying, route planning, and checking the right zones before you travel.
If you use the metro often, the Rejsekort card can be practical, but remember to check in and out. If you want something simpler, a single ticket or City Pass may be easier depending on how much public transport you plan to use.
Inside the trains, the design feels modern and open, and stations are generally simple to navigate. Signage is clear, and digital displays make it easy to follow the route.
If you are arriving by plane, the direct airport connection is hard to beat. You can reach central Copenhagen quickly without needing a taxi or extra transfers.
A few extra tips can make the trip smoother:
- Try to avoid rush hour if you want a less crowded ride.
- If you bring a bicycle, make sure you have the correct bike ticket.
- Bikes are not allowed during rush hours.
- At busy stations, let passengers get off before boarding.
History
Background
Planning for the Copenhagen Metro began with the development of the Ørestad area. On 24 June 1992, the Danish Parliament passed the Ørestad Act, assigning responsibility for both urban development and the metro project to the Ørestad Development Corporation, a joint venture between Copenhagen Municipality and the Ministry of Finance.
Early studies considered three options: a tramway, a light rail system, and a rapid transit system. In October 1994, the corporation chose a light rapid transit solution. It offered higher average speeds, greater capacity, lower visual and noise impact, and fewer accidents, though it also required the largest investment.
In December 1994, Parliament approved stage 2 from Nørreport to Vanløse and stage 3 to the airport. In 1995, separate companies were established for these stages, and in October 1996 contracts were signed with the Copenhagen Metro Construction Group for civil works and with Ansaldo STS for technology, trains, and the first five years of operation.
Construction of lines M1 and M2
Construction started in November 1996 with the relocation of underground pipes and cables around future station sites. Work at the depot began in August 1997, and the first mainline construction followed in September. Tunnel boring machines Liva and Betty arrived later that year.
Tunneling from Islands Brygge began in February 1998. That same month, the Public Transport Authority granted the permits needed to operate a driverless metro. The former S-train section between Fasanvej and Frederiksberg ran for the last time on 20 June 1998, and by the end of the year work on the first nine stations was underway.
Plans for M2 were presented in April 1999. The first trains arrived in May, and trial runs began at the depot. Tunnels were completed to Strandlodsvej in December 1999, and further tunneling continued toward Frederiksberg. On 1 January 2000, S-train service from Solbjerg to Vanløse ended so the route could be rebuilt for metro use. The final tunnel section was completed in February 2001.
In March 2001, Copenhagen County Council decided to begin construction of stage 3. The first train ran through a tunnel section on 6 November 2001, and track laying for stage 1 and stage 2A from Nørreport to Frederiksberg was completed on 28 November. By 22 May 2002, the 18 delivered trains had test-run 100,000 km (62,137 miles).
The section from Nørreport to Lergravsparken and Vestamager opened on 19 October 2002. Service began with a 12-minute frequency on each line, improved to 9 minutes on 3 December and 6 minutes on 19 December. Operations were subcontracted to Metro Service, a subsidiary of Serco, through Ansaldo.
Opening of lines M1 and M2
Trial runs on stage 2A began on 24 February 2003, and that section opened on 29 May. Stage 2B, from Frederiksberg to Vanløse, opened on 12 October 2003.
In 2005, Forum Station was nominated for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture. On 2 December 2005, the final agreement to build the City Circle Line was reached between local and national authorities. In 2006, the operating contract was extended, but the subcontract between Ansaldo and Serco ended, and operations passed to Azienda Trasporti Milanesi in joint venture with Ansaldo from October 2007.
The Ørestad Development Corporation was dissolved in 2007, and ownership was transferred to Metroselskabet I/S. The M2 extension from Lergravsparken to Copenhagen Airport opened on 28 September 2007. This 4.5 km (2.8 miles) section largely followed the former Amager Line. In April 2008, the Copenhagen Metro won the MetroRail award for the world’s best metro, and passenger numbers that year rose by 16% to 44 million.
Night service, first available only from Thursday to Saturday, was extended to the rest of the week on 19 March 2009. That created extra maintenance challenges, so operations were arranged to allow service on one track while the other remained available for work.
Construction of lines M3 and M4
The City Circle Line opened on 29 September 2019. It is a fully underground 15.5 km (9.6 miles) loop through central Copenhagen and Frederiksberg with 17 stations. It does not share tracks with M1 and M2, but it intersects them at Kongens Nytorv and Frederiksberg. Preparatory work had started earlier, with archaeological and geological surveys from 2007, preferred bidders announced in 2010, contracts signed in 2011, and tunnel drilling beginning in 2013.
On 7 January 2011, Metroselskabet signed new contracts for the City Circle Line with Ansaldo Breda and Ansaldo STS for trains and control systems, and with an Italian joint venture led by Salin Construttori and Tecnimont for construction. In July 2013, an environmental appeals board ruled that work at Marmorkirken could not continue around the clock at previously approved noise levels, delaying completion.
M4 opened first on 28 March 2020 with the Nordhavn extension, adding two stations and linking the line to the City Circle Line at Østerport. On 22 June 2024, M4 was extended to Sydhavn, shifting its southern terminus from Copenhagen Central Station to København Syd.
Evolution of plans
Earlier route plans included a northwestern extension of the City Circle Line, with M4 turning at Nørrebro toward Brønshøj and Gladsaxe. That proposal was dropped when the interchange chamber was removed from Copenhagen’s 2009 budget. Instead, the northern extension shifted to Nordhavn, while the southern extension was planned from Copenhagen Central Station through Sydhavn to Ny Ellebjerg, connecting with the S-train and regional rail network.
The Danish Transport Authority also suggested converting the F-line of the S-train system to metro standard as a future M5 line. Another M5 project, from Copenhagen Central Station via Amagerbrogade to Refshaleøen and Lynetteholm, has also been approved following its environmental impact assessment.
By the completion of the M4 extensions, the system was expected to have four lines and 44 stations.
Future expansions
The main future expansion project is the planned M5 line. It is intended as a standalone metro route with nine stations and is scheduled to open in two phases, in 2036 and 2045. The project is meant to improve public transport in parts of Amager that do not currently have metro service, as well as in new development areas in the East Harbour, including Kløverparken, Refshaleøen, and Lynetteholm.
M5 is also expected to increase capacity across the wider system, especially on the harbour crossing, where demand is already high during rush hour. Planning is underway, and the route has already been environmentally assessed.
The project has passed through several planning stages. After an agreement in principle on Lynetteholm in 2018, a feasibility study for East Harbour metro service followed in 2020. In 2022, the city launched an Environmental Impact Assessment process for M5 based on two possible alignments. In February 2023, work focused on the M5 Purple alignment, and on 20 June 2024 it was sent for public consultation together with a broader analysis of possible additional stations between Copenhagen Central Station and Østerport.
A supplementary environmental assessment is being prepared and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025, after which it will move to consultation and political processing. According to the available planning material, phase 1 should become operational in 2036, with phase 2 following in 2045.
Other ideas for expansion have been discussed too, but without final political approval. For now, M5 is the main confirmed project under active development.
Notable facts
The Copenhagen Metro is a driverless rapid transit system serving Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, and Tårnby. It opened in October 2002 and is integrated with regional trains, local rail, and bus services.
The network currently has four lines, M1 to M4, and 44 stations, 30 of them underground. M1 and M2 share a central section between Vanløse and Christianshavn, while M3 is a fully underground circular line through central Copenhagen and Frederiksberg.
M4 extends the system toward Nordhavn and Sydhavn and adds an important connection to Copenhagen South Station. A fifth line, M5, is in planning and is expected to serve Refshaleøen and Lynetteholmen.
In 2025, the metro carried 135 million passengers. It is one of only three rapid transit systems in the world, alongside the New York City Subway and Chicago “L”, to operate 24/7 throughout city limits.
The system is owned by Metroselskabet, jointly held by Copenhagen Municipality, Frederiksberg Municipality, and the Ministry of Transport. M1 and M2 use 34 driverless trains supplied by Hitachi Rail Italy.
Planning started in 1992, construction began in 1996, and service opened in stages from 2002 onward. The City Circle Line, M3, opened in 2019 after approval by the Danish Parliament in 2007.
Stations were designed to bring in daylight, all have island platforms, and all are accessible for passengers with disabilities. The metro uses a proof-of-payment system, so a valid ticket is required before entering the platforms.
- First opened: October 2002
- Current lines: M1, M2, M3, M4
- Planned line: M5
- Total stations: 44
- Underground stations: 30
- 24/7 operation: Yes
Nearby attractions
The Copenhagen Metro makes it easy to reach many of the city’s best-known sights. From central stations, you can quickly get to Tivoli, Nyhavn, Christiansborg Palace, the Round Tower, and Kongens Have. Several stops are also within walking distance of museums, parks, and waterfront areas.
Top places to visit by Metro
- Christianshavn is a convenient station for the canals and for visiting Christiania.
- Kongens Nytorv is a good stop for Nyhavn and the surrounding central streets.
- Nørreport gives access to the Round Tower, Kongens Have, the Botanical Garden, and Strøget.
- Gammel Strand is close to Christiansborg Palace and Slotsholmen.
- København H is the easiest stop for Tivoli.
- Amager Strand takes you to the beach and the artificial beach island area.
Some attractions are still easy to reach by public transport even if they are not right next to a metro station. The Botanical Garden, for example, is close to Nørreport, while the Museum of Copenhagen is near City Hall. Often, a short walk after the train ride is all it takes.
Worth knowing
Attractions near the metro can get busy, especially in summer and around central stations. If you want a quieter visit, go earlier in the day. Some places, such as the Round Tower, may also have queues at the ticket office.