Copenhagen and southern Sweden

A loop across the Øresund: out by ferry, back over the bridge

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🌉 Copenhagen and southern Sweden

A lovely route for a long weekend or to round off a holiday in Denmark: by ferry from Helsingør to Helsingborg, through southern Sweden and back over the Øresund Bridge to Copenhagen.

Researched by Arjan from Zuidlaren, so you don’t have to · Sources: Øresundsbron, ForSea / Øresundslinjen Helsingør–Helsingborg, OSRM (driving distance and time based on OpenStreetMap) · updated 24 October 2026 · About this page

± 272 km in 5 stages
± 3–5 days (our suggestion)
Driving times per stage (OSRM)

Overview

📌 The route at a glance

Duration	± 3–5 days (our suggestion)
Distance	± 272 km of driving (OSRM)
Driving time	± 4:57 h without breaks (OSRM)
Best time	All year (see best time to travel)
Ferry	Helsingør–Helsingborg, the crossing time is estimated (source: ForSea / Øresundslinjen Helsingør–Helsingborg)
Tolls	The Øresund Bridge between Malmö and Copenhagen (source: Øresundsbron)
Costs	Price: see the official websites for tolls, ferry and accommodation

Day by day

🗺️ Stages and driving times

Stage	Distance	Driving time	On the road
1. Copenhagen → Helsingør	± 46 km	0:42 u	Kronborg Castle
2. Helsingør → Helsingborg	± 9 km	1:10 u	On the other side of the Øresund
3. Helsingborg → Ystad	± 119 km	1:30 u	On the south coast of Skåne
4. Ystad → Malmö	± 59 km	0:53 u	Last stop before the bridge
5. Malmö → Copenhagen	± 39 km	0:42 u
Total	± 272 km	4:57 u

Distance and driving time per stage: OSRM (OpenStreetMap), retrieved on 24 Oct 2026. That’s driving time without breaks, traffic or waiting; ferry crossings are estimated. Allow more time in practice. (OSRM (driving distance and time based on OpenStreetMap))

Days out

🎟️ Worth a stop on the way

The Øresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden — Photo: Arild Vågen · CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped) · Photo credits

Days out and places to stay we’ve already looked into; prices and times are always at the source.

A fountain in Tivoli in Copenhagen — Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped) · Photo credits

🎯 Tivoli (Copenhagen)

Location: Copenhagen Type: Theme park

💶 Cost: adult entry (8+), from: DKK 200 (± € 27) · child entry 3–7, from: DKK 100 (± € 13) (source)

Tivoli sits in the middle of Copenhagen, next to the central station, and is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. You pay for entry and rides separately, or together as a package. The park opens in seasons: summer, Halloween and Christmas.

More info

All prices: adult entry (8+), from: DKK 200 (± € 27); child entry 3–7, from: DKK 100 (± € 13); Ride Pass, from: DKK 199 (± € 27); adult entry + Ride Pass package, from: DKK 389 (± € 52); child package 3–7, from: DKK 194 (± € 26)

Distance: ± 901 km from Utrecht (± 9.5 hrs drive, one way, no breaks) (OSRM, 21 Oct 2026)

Season: seasonal (summer, Halloween and Christmas); current dates on tivoli.dk

Suitable for: families, couples; note: from age 8 you pay the adult rate

Prices vary by day and sometimes by arrival time; weekdays are usually cheaper. (tivoli.dk)

Entrances: Vesterbrogade 3 and by the central station (Bernstorffsgade). (tivoli.dk)

Prices according to tivoli.dk, checked on 21 Oct 2026 · euro amounts ± converted at the Norges Bank rate on that day.

👉 See current prices & availability

Also via Tiqets · official website · location on the map

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A canal boat in Nyhavn, Copenhagen — Photo: Leif Jørgensen · CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped) · Photo credits

🎯 Canal tour from Nyhavn (Copenhagen)

Location: Copenhagen (Nyhavn) Type: Boat trip

💶 Cost: Netto-Bådene adult 15+: DKK 80 (± € 11) · Netto-Bådene child 3–14: DKK 40 (± € 5.35) (source)

Canal boats leave from the colourful houses of Nyhavn and cruise through Copenhagen’s harbours and canals. Netto-Bådene runs all year, with 2 to 3 boats a day in winter. A trip takes about an hour.

More info

All prices: Netto-Bådene adult 15+: DKK 80 (± € 11); Netto-Bådene child 3–14: DKK 40 (± € 5.35); 0–2: free (on a lap); Stromma Classic Canal Tour from Nyhavn, adult 16+, from: DKK 149 (± € 20); Stromma child 6–15: 50% of the adult fare; 1 child 0–5 free per paying adult

Distance: ± 903 km from Utrecht (± 9.6 hrs drive, one way, no breaks) (OSRM, 21 Oct 2026)

Season: all year

Suitable for: families, couples; not with a wheelchair or pushchair (Netto-Bådene)

No toilet on board; no pushchairs, bikes or wheelchairs on board with Netto-Bådene. (havnerundfart.dk)

Prices according to havnerundfart.dk, stromma.com, stromma.com, checked on 21 Oct 2026 · euro amounts ± converted at the Norges Bank rate on that day.

👉 See current prices & availability

Also via Tiqets · official website · location on the map

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🎯 Den Blå Planet

Location: Kastrup (Copenhagen) Type: Indoors · Aquarium

💶 Cost: online: adult DKK 219 · child (3–11) DKK 116 · 0–2 free (2026; peak season and weekends DKK 229 / DKK 123) (source)

4.4 (Google, 21,743 reviews, via Wanderlog, 21 Oct 2026)

Denmark’s national aquarium sits on the coast at Kastrup, close to the airport. The building is shaped like a whirlpool. Inside you’ll see sharks, rays, sea otters and a tropical rainforest.

More info

Easy to combine with a little beach on the Øresund.

👉 See the official website & info

🎯 Experimentarium

Location: Hellerup (Copenhagen) Type: Indoors · Science

💶 Cost: Price: see the official website (source)

4.4 (Google, 2,167 reviews, via Wanderlog, 21 Oct 2026)

Experimentarium in Hellerup is a science centre with lots of interactive exhibitions. Children build dams, test their reaction speed and discover how the body works. There are also outdoor experiments on the roof.

More info

Good for a whole afternoon indoors.

The button goes to Copenhagen: Experimentarium Science Center Entry Ticket on GetYourGuide.

👉 See current prices & availability

Also via the official website

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Good to know

💡 Good to know

The Helsingør–Helsingborg ferry is only a short crossing; the timetable and prices are on the operator’s site. (source: ForSea / Øresundslinjen Helsingør–Helsingborg)
The Øresund Bridge is tolled; the rates are on the official site. (source: Øresundsbron)

Quick to sort

✅ Sorted

Read more about hiring under car hire in Scandinavia; about tolls and rules under traffic rules.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay a toll for the Øresund Bridge?

Yes, the Øresund Bridge is a toll bridge. Current prices are on oresundsbron.com.

How long does the Helsingør–Helsingborg ferry take?

Check the current timetable on the operator’s website.

Read on

🧭 Also useful

Accountability

📚 Sources

Every number and every rule on this page comes from a source. Here they all are in one place, checked on 24 October 2026. We only mention prices if the provider publishes them itself; otherwise we refer you to the official website.

View 3 sources

oresundsbron.com: Øresundsbron: prices
oresundslinjen.com: ForSea / Øresundslinjen Helsingør–Helsingborg
project-osrm.org: OSRM (driving distance and time based on OpenStreetMap)

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