With one of Europe’s best rail networks, the maritime nation of Denmark is easily viewed from the window of a train. It may not offer the dramatic and often hair-raising train trips of nearby Norway, but you’ll pass by sweet fishing villages, rustic hamlets with half timbered houses, Renaissance castles, Viking ruins, and gorgeous dune backed beaches along the North Sea.
Practical Train Information in Denmark:
Touring Denmark by rail has been made easier in the last decade, thanks to the tunnel and bridge crossing the Great Belt. Nowadays, high speed diesel trains link the major cities of Denmark such as Copenhagen and Arhus, at faster speeds than ever before.
Though Denmark is a very expensive destination for the rail traveler, its small size and extensive and efficient rail system mean you’ll only need 3 to 4 days to take in its scenic highlights.
Flat, low lying Denmark, with its hundreds of bridges and absence of mountains, has a large network of railway lines connecting virtually every hamlet with the largest city, Copenhagen.
A word you’re likely to see and hear frequently is Lyntog (Express Trains), which are the fastest trains presently operational in Denmark. Be warned in advance that the most crowded times on Danish trains are Friday, Sundays, and national holidays, so plan your reservations accordingly. Note: Aside from lyntog, Danish “train lingo” is hardly a consideration in a nation where English is so widely spoken.
The Danish government offers dozens of discounts on the country’s rail network, depending on the age of a traveler, days or hours traveled, and destination. On any train within Denmark, children between the ages of 12 and 15 are charged half price if they’re accompanied by an adult and up to two children under 12 can travel for free with any adult on any train in Denmark. Seniors (age 65 and older) receive a discount of between 25% for travel on Friday, Sundays and holiday and discount of 50% every other day of the week.
Reservations
The Danish State Railways (DSB) runs all train services except for a few private lines and the outfit is one of the best and most reliable in Europe. Reservations are strongly recommended on the new sleek InterCity (IC) trains unless you board after 8pm or are traveling on the line from Aalborg to Frederikshavn, where overnight ferries leave for Norway.
You can reserve both first class or second class cars on all IC trains. In Denmark, second class travel is generally quite comfortable, so you may not want to pay the extra money for a first class seat.
The other major type of train, the Regional (R), is upgrading its cars, and aims to replace all the older ones by the time you are reading this. The trains are a bit slower and there is no first class section. Seat reservations are optional on these trains, which don’t tend to be crowded except at major holidays or during peak travel periods, especially July, the single biggest travel month in Denmark. Note that reservation fees aren’t covered by railpasses, so you’ll have to pay extra for them.
Service & Amenities
Because Denmark is so small, long overnight hauls aren’t a factor. There are also no dining cars on trains though most trains do have carts selling snacks and drinks.
