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København / Copenhagen to Aarhus by train
How to travel by train from Copenhagen to Aarhus
There have been multiple changes on the Kobenhavn to Aarhus in recent years which have increased the volume of trains between the two largest cities in Denmark.
What had been a simple pattern of a faster hourly Lyn service and a slower hourly IC service has now been altered.
The IC trains are now direct to Aarhus only every other hour, with a connection required in Frederica in the alternate hours.
But in some of the pm hours when there isn't a direct IC, there is an additional Lyn service available.
And these extra Lyn services only make one intermediate station call, so they're the fastest ever trains from Kobenhavn/Copenhagen to Aarhus!
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Routes
Option 1: taking the Lyn services
Journey Summary
2hr 39min - 2hr 46min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Aalborg or Aarhus st
Most trains also call at: Frederica st
There are additional daily departures to the regular hourly pattern, which are typically scheduled to depart Kobenhavn at 12:26, 14:26 and 16:26, and these trains only make one station call in Odense, so they're the services with a journey time of 2hr 39min.
The Danish national rail operator DSB operates both these faster Lyn services and alternative slower, and now less frequent IC services on this route between Copenhagen/Kobenhavn and Aarhus.
These Lyn services depart from Kobenhavn H station only 8 mins before the IC trains, so if you will be buying tickets last minute at the station, or travelling with a rail pass, they're the logical choice on this route.
However, if you will be booking tickets in advance online, you may be able to save money by taking those IC trains.
1 or 2 x trains per hour
(1 x per hour is the norm)
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 2 months ahead of the travel date
The most heavily discounted/cheapest tickets sold by DSB are its 'Orange' tickets.
They can be more than 60% cheaper than the standard price, so are worth tracking down.
Discounted 'Orange' tickets will be available on certain departures only by these Lyn trains.
They're more likely to be available on the slower IC trains, particularly if you are booking less than a month ahead.
If you can be flexible with your travel times, it can be worthwhile searching through the departures to look for trains on which 'Orange' tickets are available.
Reservations are optional, but are highly recommended for this long journey - take note if you will be using a rail pass.
Though if you will be travelling with a rail pass, these faster Lyn services are the logical choice for a train journey between Kobenhavn and Aalborg, as you won't save money if you take the slower IC services
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DSB | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Good to Know
From Kobenhavn Lufthavn/Copenhagen Airport to Aarhus by train:
These Lyn services commence their journeys at the station in Kastrup Airport, which serves the Danish capital.
Therefore the only city centre station in Copenhagen/Kobenhavn that these trains depart from is the main station, Kobenhavn H.
It isn't a particularly scenic journey, but look out for the sea views from the two main bridges that the train will travel over.
Around 10 mins before the train will arrive in Odense it will cross the Great Belt Fixed Link, the train will travel in a tunnel and then ascend to cross the West Bridge.
Then around 10 mins before calling at Frederica, the train will cross the picturesque Little Belt Bridge.
There also some nice views over the bay either side of Vejle.
The route now also includes travelling over the new high-speed Ringsted Line, but as yet the maximum speed achieved is 110 km/h.
Option 2: taking the IC services
Journey Summary
3hr 6min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Aalborg st
All trains also call at: Frederica
The Danish national rail operator DSB operates both faster Lyn services and these slower IC services on the this route between Copenhagen/Kobenhavn and Aarhus.
Those Lyn services depart from Kobenhavn H station only 8 mins before these IC trains, so if you will be buying tickets last minute at the station, or travelling with a rail pass, those Lyn services become the obvious first choice on this route.
However, if you will be booking tickets in advance online, you may be able to save money by taking these IC trains.
1 x direct train every other
The IC trains which are direct to Aarhus are those which depart from Kobenhavn H in the odd hours only
When departing by IC train in the even hours a straightforward, same platform/track, connection will be required in Fredericia.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 2 months ahead of the travel date
When using the DSB website be sure to check the 'show me Orange' tickets box.
The most heavily discounted/cheapest tickets sold by DSB are its 'Orange' tickets.
They can be more than 60% cheaper than the standard price, so are worth tracking down.
If you can be flexible with your travel times, it can be worthwhile searching through the departures to look for trains on which 'Orange' tickets are available.
Discounted 'Orange' tickets are more likeley to be available for these slower IC services, than on the faster alternative Lyn services - particularly if you are booking less than a month ahead.
The cheapest 'Orange' tickets are the same price on the Lyn and IC trains - so if you see them available on a Lyn service, then that alternative is clearly the better option.
Reservations are optional, but are highly recommended for this long journey - take note if you will be using a rail pass.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DSB | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Good to Know
The IC trains which are still direct to Aarhus, the trains which depart the Danish capital in the odd hours, now don't commence their journeys at Osterport st and Norreport st; the two other stations in Kobenhavn/Copenhagen city centre which are served by express trains.
However, the alternate departures in even hours, the trains which now require a connection in Frederica, do still also depart from Osterport and Norreport in addition to Kobenhavn H.
These IC services also now don't depart from the station at Kastrup airport.
It isn't a particularly scenic journey, but look out for the sea views from the two main bridges that the train will travel over.
Around 10 mins before the train will arrive in Odense it will cross the Great Belt Fixed Link, the train will travel in a tunnel and then ascend to cross the West Bridge.
Then around 10 mins before calling at Frederica, the train will cross the picturesque Little Belt Bridge.
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