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Aarhus is the second most popular city for tourists to visit in Denmark only behind Copenhagen. Tons of tourists travel from Copenhagen to Aarhus every year, and I’m here to tell you the easiest way to travel between the two cities!
The two main ways to travel from Copenhagen to Aarhus are by bus or train. Both have their pros and cons, and you need to decide what the best option is for you. The bus is less expensive than the train, but the train is quicker than the bus.
What method you choose to take to Aarhus from Copenhagen will depend on your budget, travel style, and how much time you have to spend in Denmark.
In a lot of instances, it is worth paying a little bit more to take the train and get to Aarhus quicker.
By the end of this post, you’ll have a better idea what option is best for you!
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Table of Contents
Before We Get Started
I write a lot of these transportation guides for various destinations around the world.
I personally hate figuring out how to travel from one city to another, so once I’ve got it figured out, I like to tell you!
That way you have all the information you need in one place and don’t have to waste your precious time searching the internet trying to figure out how to to travel between cities.
I haven’t written a ton of transportation guides for Denmark yet, but here are the ones I have written.
Hopefully they help you plan your trip quickly and easily!
Option One: Taking the Train from Copenhagen to Aarhus
Taking the train to Aarhus from Copenhagen is the quickest way to travel between the two cities, and it is my preferred way to travel between them.
I just love a good train ride!
There are tons of trains departing all throughout the day, so you’ll have no problem finding a train that fits your travel schedule.
How Long Does the Train from Copenhagen to Aarhus Take?
It takes approximately 2.5 hours to 3 hours to travel by train from Copenhagen to Aarhus.
The difference in travel time is due to the time of day you depart and how busy the train tracks are.
Your travel time will be shorter if you travel during off-peak times and avoid busy rush-hour times.
How Much Does a Train Tickets Cost?
Train tickets vary quite a bit depending on what time of day, week, and year you’re travelling.
You’ll pay more for travelling during peak times on a weekend than you will if you travel during off-peak times on a weekday.
On average, you can expect to pay between 300 Krone (approximately $45 USD) and 430 Krone (approximately $65 USD).
Again, that can fluctuate depending on when you travel, but, more likely than not, you’ll be paying somewhere around that range.
It is expensive, but you’re in Denmark where everything is more expensive than you’re used to.
All things considered, this is a decent price for a train journey basically across the country.
Where to Purchase Train Tickets
Since there are so many trains departing every day, you can show up at the train station in Copenhagen and purchase your ticket just a few minutes before you leave.
I’m a big fan of buying train and bus tickets in advance, but there isn’t a need to do that when travelling from Copenhagen to Aarhus.
The worst case scenario is you show up at the train station, and the next train is sold out (highly unlikely), and you have to wait 20-30 minutes for the next train.
If you do want to purchase tickets in advance, you can use a website like Trainline or Rail Europe.
I don’t really recommend using these sites for this trip because it is likely you’ll end up paying more for your ticket than if you purchased it directly from the train station.
If you want to purchase your ticket in advance, I suggest going to the train station a day or two before your departure and buying a ticket from a ticket machine.
That way you’ll have your ticket and know you paid a fair price for it.
Where Does the Train Depart from in Copenhagen?
The train from Copenhagen to Aarhus departs from Copenhagen Central Station.
It is right in the heart of the city near Tivoli.
No matter where you’re staying in Copenhagen, you’ll likely be able to easily walk to Copenhagen Central Station.
If you have a lot of luggage, you can take a bus, metro, or taxi to the train station.
Where Does the Train Arrive at in Aarhus?
The train to Aarhus from Copenhagen arrives at Aarhus Central Station.
The train station is close to the heart of Aarhus, and you can likely walk to your hotel without much issue.
If you’re staying outside the city centre, you may want to consider taking public transportation.
Even though Aarhus is a small(ish) city, they have a light rail system that will get you anywhere you want to go.
Advantages of Taking the Train from Copenhagen to Aarhus
- It is the quickest way to travel between the two cities
- There are many trains departing each day
- Convenient departure and arrival locations
Disadvantages of Taking the Train from Copenhagen to Aarhus
- It is the most expensive way to travel between the two cities
- There isn’t always a lot of room to store your luggage
- You may have to take public transportation to get to your hotel in Aarhus
Option Two: Taking the Bus from Copenhagen to Aarhus
If the train isn’t for you, your next best option is to take the bus from Copenhagen to Aarhus.
It takes longer than the train, but it is less expensive, so it is the perfect option for budget travellers.
How Long Does the Bus from Copenhagen to Aarhus Take?
The bus to Aarhus from Copenhagen takes just under 4 hours.
So, it essentially takes an extra hour to take the bus compared to the train.
For some people, it is worth spending an extra hour in transit and saving a bit of money. For others, it isn’t.
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How Much Does a Bus Ticket Cost?
The bus is quite a bit less expensive than the train, but prices still fluctuate depending on when you travel.
On average, you can expect to pay between 160 Krone (approximately $25 USD) and 200 Krone (approximately $30 USD).
Even the most expensive bus ticket is likely cheaper than the cheapest train ticket.
Where to Purchase Bus Tickets
You have can either purchase your bus ticket in advance through a website or in person at the time of departure.
Just like the train, there are multiples buses every day that travel to Aarhus from Copenhagen, so you don’t need to purchase your bus ticket in advance.
I would personally just purchase it at the bus station the day of departure.
If you want to purchase your bus ticket in advance, you can use one of these three sites:
All three providers allow you to purchase your bus ticket online in advance.
Be sure to still get to the station a few minutes early just in case you have any issue finding the bus!
Where Does the Bus Depart from in Copenhagen?
Just like the train, the bus departs from Copenhagen Central Station.
It is the most convenient place to depart from in the city, and you shouldn’t have any trouble finding it!
Where Does the Bus Arrive at in Aarhus?
The bus from Copenhagen to Aarhus arrives at Aarhus Bus Station.
It is a short 3 minute walk from the train station and very near the heart of the city.
Advantages of Taking the Bus from Copenhagen to Aarhus
- It is the least expensive way to travel from Copenhagen to Aarhus
- Dedicated luggage storage under the bus
- Convenient departure and arrival locations
Disadvantages of Taking the Bus from Copenhagen to Aarhus
- It takes quite a bit longer than the train
- There are fewer buses departing every day compared to the train
- You can’t get up, walk around, and stretch your legs
Option Three: Driving from Copenhagen to Aarhus
Another option for travelling from Copenhagen to Aarhus is driving from one city to the other.
I don’t recommend this form of transportation unless it is part of a larger road trip around the country.
By the time you factor in the price of renting a car and gas (not to mention the stress of driving in another country), it ends up being more expensive than the train or bus.
If you do choose to drive from Copenhagen to Aarhus, expect for the journey to take 3 hours of driving time.
It could take longer depending on the traffic and whether or not you stop at various attraction along the way.
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Option Four: Flying from Copenhagen to Aarhus
Your final option is flying to Aarhus from Copenhagen.
Both cities have an airport, so it is totally possible to fly between them.
But, just because it is possible doesn’t mean you should do it!
I don’t see any reason to fly between Copenhagen and Aarhus unless you’re landing in Copenhagen and flying directly to Aarhus without actually going into the city.
Otherwise, taking the train or bus is not only less expensive but significantly faster when you factor in getting to the airport early, flying, deplaning, and waiting for your luggage.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many different ways you can travel from Copenhagen to Aarhus.
Each form of transportation has it’s pros and cons, and you need to decide what is best for you.
Ultimately, there are really only two choices when it comes to travelling between the two cities:
- Taking the bus or
- Taking the train
I personally prefer the train, but you may not be as much of a train nerd as I am and prefer to save some money taking the bus.
You can’t go wrong with either option, and you need to choose what is best for you and your travel needs.
No matter how you choose to travel from Copenhagen to Aarhus, you won’t regret making the trip! Aarhus is definitely an underrated city.
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