Summer unlocks two attractions that don’t exist any other time of year, extends your daily sightseeing window by two hours, and puts Tivoli, the harbour, and Copenhagen’s best day trips all in reach on a single card.
Four reasons the Copenhagen Card returns more value per day in summer than any other time of year.
These don’t appear on the card any other time of year. Both are included with the Discover card only, running May through September.
A small ferry that crosses the lake directly to Frederiksborg Castle — the most scenic way to arrive. Runs May to September and is not available on the card at any other time of year.
Scenic lake boat tours running May to September — a slower, quieter alternative to the Copenhagen harbour tours. Not available outside summer. Included with the Discover card.
Summer evenings on the water are some of the best hours you’ll spend in Copenhagen. All three are included with the card.
The classic guided canal tour through Copenhagen’s historic waterways. Runs every 30 minutes in season — no pre-booking needed.
Self-drive solar-powered boats on Copenhagen harbour. The card covers entry — you book your timeslot same-day at the dock.
Copenhagen’s harbour buses are part of the public transport network — included with the Discover card and one of the most scenic ways to cross the city.
Tivoli’s main season runs April to late September. The card gets you through the gates — here’s what that means in practice.
One of the world’s oldest amusement parks sits at the centre of Copenhagen — gardens, fountains, live music, and restaurants all within a few minutes’ walk of Central Station. In summer, the park runs evening concerts and the atmosphere after dark is unlike anywhere else in the city.
The Discover card covers trains across the Capital Region. In summer, castle gardens are open, sculpture parks are at their best, and seasonal boats add a second layer to each trip.
World-class modern art set in clifftop gardens above the Øresund. The sculpture garden in summer light — with views across to Sweden — is one of the finest experiences in Denmark.
Hamlet’s castle on the Øresund strait — a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most dramatic fortresses in northern Europe. Coach tours peak in July and August.
A Renaissance palace set on three islands in a lake — the largest royal castle in Scandinavia. Castle gardens are free to enter. In summer, the Frederiksborg Ferry crosses the lake.
The card covers entry to all four — but entry alone does not guarantee a slot. In peak summer, these fill up fast.
For all four venues above, you need to book a timed entry slot independently before you visit. The card covers the admission cost — it does not reserve your place in the queue. Turning up without a slot in peak summer means you may not get in.
2-Day Itinerary
Morning: board Canal Tours Copenhagen from Gammel Strand or Nyhavn — no booking needed, runs every 30 minutes. Afternoon: walk to Tivoli Gardens for the gardens and entertainment. Evening: head to Islands Brygge 10 for GoBoat Harbor Tours — book your slot in person when you arrive. Summer evenings on the harbour are hard to beat.
Take the train from Copenhagen Central to Humlebæk (40 minutes, covered by Discover card). Spend the morning and afternoon at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art — sculpture gardens, permanent collection, and the terrace café with sea views. Back in Copenhagen by early evening for dinner in Nyhavn.
3-Day Itinerary
Canal Tours in the morning from Nyhavn. Tivoli Gardens in the afternoon. GoBoat Harbor Tours in the evening at Islands Brygge 10 — book your slot on arrival. Three water-adjacent experiences on day one.
Leave Copenhagen Central before 9am for Kronborg Castle in Helsingør — 40 minutes by train, covered by the Discover card. Arrive before the coach groups hit at 10am. Return to Copenhagen by early afternoon and use the remaining daylight for Rosenborg Castle or the National Museum.
Train to Hillerød (45 minutes, Discover card). Visit Frederiksborg Castle and the gardens. If it’s May through September, take the Frederiksborg Ferry across the lake — or pair with Baadfarten Boat Tours for the full seasonal experience. Back to Copenhagen by evening.
Longer days mean you can fit more in — which changes the maths on duration. Here’s how to think about it.
Yes. Tivoli’s main season runs from April to late September and gardens entry is included with both the Discover and Hop cards. Ride tickets are not included — budget an extra €20–30 per person if you want to use the rides. No pre-booking needed — just show your app QR code at the entrance. Full Tivoli details →
Two attractions are exclusive to the summer season on the Copenhagen Card: the Frederiksborg Ferry (May–September), which crosses the lake to Frederiksborg Castle, and Baadfarten Boat Tours (May–September), which offer scenic lake tours. Both are included with the Discover card only — they do not appear on the card in any other season.
Yes — four venues require timed entry slots even with the card: Palm House Botanical Garden (free online slot), Museum of Illusions (book the day before in July and August), IKONO Copenhagen (sells out on weekends), and the Planetarium (book your IMAX screening online). The card covers admission — it does not secure your timed slot. Book these independently before you visit.
For most summer visitors, the Discover card returns more value. It covers all public transport including the airport metro, unlocks both summer-only attractions (Frederiksborg Ferry and Baadfarten), and makes day trips to Louisiana, Kronborg, and Frederiksborg possible without extra fares. The Hop card gains all three Stromma bus routes in summer but misses the seasonal boats and day trips. Full comparison →
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before use. Activate in the app when you are ready — not when you buy. Codes valid for 24 months from purchase.