Offbeat Copenhagen Day Trips: 3 Days
Three days covers Malmo’s different-country novelty, the Louisiana Museum’s sleeper-hit sculpture garden, and Roskilde’s Viking ships and 800-year-old royal tombs, each a 25 to 40 minute train ride from Copenhagen Central. This builds on the 2-day itinerary with one more day; the 4-day version adds Kronborg Castle on top.
Book these before you go:
- Book a Malmo day trip tour , useful if two countries’ ticketing apps sounds like too much admin
- Browse a guided Roskilde tour if you want the Viking history filled in on the way
- Compare Copenhagen hotel rates , since all three days start from the same station
| Day | Focus | Train time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malmo, Sweden | 35-40 min |
| 2 | Louisiana Museum, Humlebaek | ~40 min |
| 3 | Roskilde | 25-27 min |
Day 1: Malmo, Sweden
The Oresundstag crosses the bridge and tunnel every 15-20 minutes, Copenhagen Central to Malmo Central in roughly 35-40 minutes, one-way fares from about 150 SEK (EUR 13-17). Malmo is Sweden: a different currency (Swedish kronor, not Danish kroner, despite the shared “kr” symbol), and random ID checks happen at the border even though both countries share Schengen. Skip the old town’s Stortorget square in favor of Vastra Hamnen, the Western Harbour, a former shipyard rebuilt around Santiago Calatrava’s twisted Turning Torso tower, the actual reason to make the trip. Half a day covers it properly. For the full Malmo rundown, including where to eat, see the Oresund Bridge guide .
Day 2: Louisiana Museum, Humlebaek
A coastal train from Copenhagen Central takes about 40 minutes to Humlebaek, running several times an hour, then a 10-15 minute walk to the museum. Entry runs 145 DKK adult, 130 DKK student, under-18 free. Louisiana is the sleeper hit of this whole region: a sprawling building and sculpture garden set right on the Oresund strait, with Sweden visible across the water, and the setting does as much work as the art inside it. Most short Copenhagen plans never mention it, which is the actual mistake, not a lack of time.
Day 3: Roskilde
A regional train from Copenhagen Central reaches Roskilde in 25-27 minutes, one-way from about 84 DKK, with well over 100 departures a day, so there’s no real reason to plan around a schedule. The Viking Ship Museum charges 160 DKK adult (under-18 free) to see five genuine 11th-century wrecks pulled from the fjord, and from roughly May to September adds a 50-minute sail on a reconstructed ship for another 120 DKK, weather permitting. Roskilde Cathedral, the UNESCO-listed church holding eight centuries of Danish monarchs, now charges 80 DKK, up from 70 before July 2026. The two sights sit about 1.5km apart, a 20-minute walk or a quick ride on bus 203.
Do You Need a Rental Car for Any of This?
No. All three destinations run on regular train tickets bought through the DOT/Rejsebillet app or a contactless card tap, and none require advance timed entry. Only the Viking Ship Museum’s seasonal sailing add-on rewards booking ahead, and only if you want a guaranteed seat on a specific date.
Can You Do Roskilde and Malmo on the Same Day?
Technically, but don’t. Roskilde runs west on the regional line while Malmo runs east across the Oresund; combining them means backtracking through Copenhagen Central twice in one day for two destinations that each deserve unhurried time. Keep them on separate days, as scheduled above, and neither feels rushed.
Roskilde’s train frequency means there’s no real penalty for a later start on Day 3; sleep in after two full days, and the Viking Ship Museum will still have a boat sailing when you get there.