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The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen. Unveiled in Churchill Park in 1913, now a symbol of Copenhagen. |
London to Denmark by train...
It's easy to travel from the UK to Denmark without flying. Take Eurostar and onward trains from London to either Brussels, Cologne or Hamburg, stay overnight, then travel from Brussels, Cologne or Hamburg to Copenhagen next morning. Or sail overnight to Holland and catch a train from Amsterdam to Copenhagen, A great alternative to an unnecessary flight, where the journey becomes part of the holiday. This page explains the routes, trains, fares & how to buy tickets.
London to
Odense & Copenhagen by Eurostar
London to Aarhus, Aalborg by Eurostar
London to Legoland by Eurostar
London &
Cambridge to Copenhagen
by ferry from Harwich
UK to Copenhagen by
ferry from Newcastle or Hull
International trains to & from Copenhagen
Trains from Copenhagen
to other European cities
Trains from other European
cities to Copenhagen
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Other useful information
Useful country information:
currency, dial code...
About the Hamburg-Copenhagen trains
How to book trains within Denmark using dsb.dk
General European train travel information
Luggage
Taking bikes
Taking your dog
Travel insurance, mobile data, VPN &
other tips
Interactive map: Click a route
Useful country information
London to Kolding, Odense & Copenhagen by train
You can travel from London to Copenhagen by Eurostar and comfortable air-conditioned trains, leaving day 1 and arriving day 2, with an overnight hotel stop in either Brussels, Cologne or Hamburg. By all means stop at one city on the outward and another on your way back. Incidentally, the Hamburg-Copenhagen trains no longer use the Puttgarden-Rødby train ferry, since December 2019 they've been routed the longer way round through Kolding & Odense and the Great Belt Fixed Link.
London ► Copenhagen with overnight stop in Brussels
This is the most time-effective option, leaving central London in the evening after a full working day, arriving in Copenhagen in the evening next day.
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Day 1, travel from London to Brussels on any evening Eurostar you like.
The last Eurostar usually leaves London St Pancras at 19:34 arriving Brussels Midi at 22:38, but by all means travel earlier for a pleasant evening in Brussels. Check times at www.eurostar.com.
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Stay overnight in Brussels. I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.
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Day 2, travel from Brussels to Copenhagen by train in a single day...
For most of the year, leave Brussels Midi at 08:23 weekdays or 08:25 weekends by ICE3, change at Cologne Hbf (arrive 10:15, depart 12:11) onto another ICE and at Hamburg Hbf (arrive 16:14, depart 16:54) onto a Danish intercity train arriving Kolding (for Legoland) 19:41, Odense 20:19 & Copenhagen 21:34.
This is a straightforward journey all on one ticket booked at int.bahn.de. The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. The Danish intercity train has free WiFi when in Denmark, although no catering car.
From 17 June to 20 August 2023 an increased Hamburg-Copenhagen timetable operates, giving a choice of two departures:
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change at Cologne Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Kolding 17:41, Odense 18:19 & Copenhagen 19:34.
Leave Brussels Midi 10:25, change at Cologne Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Kolding 21:41, Odense 22:19 & Copenhagen 23:34.
London ► Copenhagen with overnight stop in Cologne
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Day 1, travel from London to Cologne by Eurostar & ICE3. For example:
Leave London St Pancras at 13:01 daily by Eurostar, change at Brussels Midi onto an ICE3 train arriving Cologne Hbf 18:15.
Leave London St Pancras at 15:04 daily by Eurostar, change at Brussels Midi onto an ICE3 train arriving Cologne Hbf 20:15.
By all means travel earlier & spend some time in Cologne, see the London to Cologne timetable on the London to Germany page. For dinner, I recommend the Brauhaus Sion, 5 minutes walk from the station.
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Stay overnight in Cologne...
The good & inexpensive Ibis Hotel Köln-am-Dom is ideal as it's part of Cologne Hbf itself, with an entrance to the left of the main station entrance - many of its rooms have a cathedral view. Other hotels near the station with good reviews are the Breslauer Hof Am Dom, Hotel Domspitzen, CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.
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Day 2, travel from Cologne to Copenhagen by train, check train times at int.bahn.de.
For most of the year, you can leave Cologne Hbf at 08:11 by InterCity train arriving Hamburg Hbf at 12:14. Leave Hamburg Hbf by Danish intercity train at 12:53 arriving Kolding (for Legoland) at 15:41, Odense at 16:19 & Copenhagen 17:34.
Or have a leisurely breakfast & morning in Cologne, then leave Cologne Hbf at 12:11 by ICE, arriving Hamburg Hbf at 16:14. Leave Hamburg Hbf by Danish intercity train at 16:54 arriving Kolding (for Legoland) at 19:41, Odense at 20:18 & Copenhagen 21:34.
From 17 June to 20 August 2023 an increased Hamburg-Copenhagen timetable operates, giving different departures in this period:
Leave Cologne Hbf 08:11, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Kolding 15:41, Odense 16:18 & Copenhagen 17:34.
Leave Cologne Hbf 10:11, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Kolding 17:41, Odense 18:18 & Copenhagen 19:34.
London ► Copenhagen with overnight stop in Hamburg
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Day 1, travel from London to Hamburg by train...
Leave London St Pancras at 11:04 by Eurostar to Brussels Midi, ICE3 train to Cologne, & EuroCity to Hamburg Hbf arriving 21:14.
Or leave London St Pancras at 13:01 by Eurostar to Brussels Midi, ICE3 train to Cologne & InterCity train to Hamburg Hbf arriving 23:16.
By all means travel earlier for more of an evening in Hamburg, see the London-Hamburg timetable on the London to Germany page.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg...
The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com. Or try the innovative Cab20 capsule hotel, a 550m 6-minute walk from the station, see walking map.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish intercity train.
For most of the year you can leave Hamburg Hbf at 08:56 every day, arriving Kolding (for Legoland) at 11:41, Odense at 12:18 & Copenhagen 13:34. Or there are later trains at 12:53 and 16:54, see the timetable here. Check times at int.bahn.de.
An altered, increased timetable applies from 17 June to 20 August 2023, see the timetable here.
Copenhagen ► London with overnight stop in Brussels
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Day 1, travel from Copenhagen to Brussels by train...
For most of the year you leave Copenhagen by Danish intercity train at 07:26, Odense 08:39 or Kolding (for Legoland) 09:18, arriving Hamburg Hbf at 12:04. Leave Hamburg Hbf by ICE at 12:45 arriving Cologne Hbf at 16:49. Change onto an ICE3 train leaving Cologne Hbf at 17:41 arriving Brussels Midi at 19:35.
This can all be done all on one ticket. The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You've time for an early dinner in Cologne between trains, I recommend the excellent Brauhaus Sion, 5 minutes walk from the station.
From 17 June to 20 August 2023 an increased Copenhagen-Hamburg timetable operates, giving a choice of two departures:
Leave Copenhagen at 05:26, Odense 06:39, Kolding 07:18, change at Hamburg Hbf & Cologne Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 17:35.
Leave Copenhagen at 09:26, Odense 10:39, Kolding 11:18, change at Hamburg Hbf & Cologne Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 21:35.
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Stay overnight in Brussels. I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.
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Day 2, travel from, Brussels to London on any morning Eurostar you like...
The first train leaves Brussels Midi at 08:52 arriving London St Pancras 09:57, check times at www.eurostar.com.
Copenhagen ► London with overnight stop in Cologne
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Day 1, travel from Copenhagen to Cologne by train...
Leave Copenhagen by Danish intercity train at 11:26, Odense 12:39 or Kolding (for Legoland) 13:18, arriving Hamburg Hbf at 16:01. Then take the InterCity train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 16:45 and arriving Cologne Hbf at 20:47.
If you'd like an evening in Cologne, leave Copenhagen on the earlier 07:26 intercity train, change at Hamburg Hbf onto an InterCity train arriving Cologne Hbf at 16:49. For dinner, I recommend the Brauhaus Sion, 5 minutes walk from the station.
From 17 June to 20 August 2023 an increased Copenhagen-Hamburg timetable operates, giving a wider choice of departures in this period:
Leave Copenhagen at 09:26, Odense 10:39, Kolding 11:18, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Cologne Hbf 18:50.
Leave Copenhagen at 11:26, Odense 12:39, Kolding 13:18, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Cologne Hbf 20:47.
Leave Copenhagen at 13:26, Odense 12:39, Kolding 15:18, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Cologne Hbf 22:50.
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Stay overnight in Cologne...
The good & inexpensive Ibis Hotel Köln-am-Dom is ideal as it's part of Cologne Hbf itself, with an entrance to the left of the main station entrance - many of its rooms have a cathedral view. Also near the station with good reviews are the Breslauer Hof Am Dom, Hotel Domspitzen, CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.
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Day 2, travel from Cologne to London by ICE & Eurostar. For example...
Leave Cologne Hbf by ICE train at 09:42, change at Brussels Midi onto Eurostar arriving London St Pancras 14:05.
Other departures area available, see the Cologne to London timetable on the London to Germany page.
Copenhagen ► London with overnight stop in Hamburg
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Day 1, travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg by train...
For most of the year you can leave Copenhagen by Danish intercity train at 15:26, Odense at 16:39 or Kolding (for Legoland) at 17:18 arriving Hamburg Hbf at 20:02. By all means book the earlier 11:26 departure & spend some time in Hamburg.
An altered & increased timetable applies from 17 June to 20 August 2023, see the timetable here. Check times at int.bahn.de.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg...
The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com. Or try the innovative Cab20 capsule hotel, a 550m 6-minute walk from the station, see walking map.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to London by train...
For example, the first departure leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:45, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi to arrive London St Pancras at 16:57.
Or you can leave Hamburg at 08:45 arriving London at 19:10. Or leave Hamburg at 12:50 arriving London at 21:57 (21:27 on Saturdays), see the Hamburg to London timetable on the London to Germany page.
How much does it cost?
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London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).
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Brussels to Copenhagen starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class, each way.
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Fares work like air fares, rising as departure date approaches. So book as early as the booking horizon allows and shop around for the cheapest date & departure.
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If making a round trip at short notice when regular fares exceed €170 each way, consider using an Interrail pass as explained here.
How to buy tickets
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Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com.
This allows you to book all your tickets together in one place. Anyone from any country can use www.raileurope.com, in plain English, international credit cards accepted and fares shown in multiple currencies. There's a small booking fee.
First book your ticket from London to wherever you plan to stay overnight (Brussels, Cologne or Hamburg). Book this as a round trip if you're returning, because Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways. Add this to your basket.
Then book your trains from the overnight stopping point to Copenhagen one-way for the following day, add to basket, and (if returning) book from Copenhagen to the overnight stopping point one-way, add this to your basket and check out.
You print your own tickets, or after booking you can load the Eurostar ticket into the Eurostar app, and show the DB ticket on your laptop or phone.
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When does booking open?
Booking for Eurostar opens up to 6 months ahead, sometimes more. Onward trains from Brussels to Germany & Denmark opens up to 6 months ahead, but significantly less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes. I recommend waiting until all your trains are open for booking before committing to a non-refundable Eurostar ticket. More about when booking opens.
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Booking tips
Fares are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest prices and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.
After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.
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Is it a through ticket?
No, as there are no through tickets from London to Germany any more, DB's Sparpreis London fares were discontinued in March 2020. But www.raileurope.com will seamlessly sell you a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels plus an onward German Railways ticket from Brussels to Germany, then it'll sell you a separate ticket from Germany to Copenhagen for the following day.
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Seat reservations
A seat reservation is automatically included with every ticket on Eurostar. However, seat reservations on German trains are usually optional, if you want a reserved seat it can be added during the booking process for fee of around €4.50 each way. A reserved seat is a good idea, especially at busy periods, so I'd add one when prompted.
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About those tight 20-minute connections at Brussels Midi
The slick 20-minute connection in Brussels between Eurostar and an onward ICE, sometimes less than this, is usually a recognised connection which lots of people make. It's not usually a problem, especially if you use the Brussels Midi short cut between platforms.
Even though the system sells you separate tickets either side of Brussels, you are protected by the Railteam Promise/HOTNAT so if there's a delay and you miss the connection you will be allowed to travel on later onwards trains at no extra charge.
Alternatively, nothing stops you booking an earlier Eurostar than the one which directly connects with your chosen onward ICE, if it has cheaper fares or if you want a more robust connection. To do this using www.raileurope.com, click More options, then enter Brussels (any station) as a via station with a stopover duration of (say) 1 or 2 hours. There are plenty of places for a meal, coffee or beer between trains in Brussels!
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Connecting tickets from other UK towns & cities: See the advice on special add-on tickets here.
Another way to buy tickets
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This is more work as it involves two websites, but it can be slightly cheaper for two reasons: First, you don't pay any booking fee. Second, you can use the Stopover feature at int.bahn.de to book a Brussels to Copenhagen through ticket, either done all in one day or with an overnight stop in Cologne or Hamburg programmed in. This is cheaper than buying separate Brussels to Germany & Germany to Copenhagen tickets from Raileurope.
Obviously, do a dry run on both sites first to check availability & prices. I'd also check that your outward Eurostar and ICE are indeed a recognised connection by checking that they appear together when you run a London to Cologne enquiry at int.bahn.de - read the paragraph in the previous section about the 20-minute connection in Brussels .
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Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels (and back, if returning) at www.eurostar.com and print your own ticket, or load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone. Eurostar return fares are significantly less than two one-ways, so if you're coming back, make sure you book this as a round trip. After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.
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Step 2, book from Brussels to Copenhagen at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. If you're overnighting in Brussels, Brussels-Copenhagen can be done in a day, but if you plan to overnight in Cologne or Hamburg, click Stopovers, enter either Cologne Hbf or Hamburg Hbf and a length of stay of (say) 12 hours. You'll need to fiddle with the departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Cologne/Hamburg, it takes a bit of trial and error, which is why it's easier booking one way first, then if you're returning, book the return journey separately as another one-way. On German trains that makes no difference to the price.
This will get you a Brussels to Copenhagen through ticket with an overnight stop in Cologne or Hamburg included, which is what you want. If you have problems, by all means just book Brussels-Germany and Germany-Copenhagen separately.
Tip: A current glitch may mean you see Price is calculated in the next step instead of seeing cheap fares up front in the search results. If so, abort! Split the booking into Brussels-Cologne (or Brussels-Hamburg) & Cologne-Copenhagen (or Hamburg-Copenhagen) and you should then see cheap Sparpreis fares for each sector.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time. An advantage of booking direct with int.bahn.de is that you can select an exact seat on many German trains from a seating plan.
Using an Interrail pass
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Pass or point to point?
Let's be clear, a pass will not save money over the cheapest point-to-point advance-purchase fares you might see if you book a few months ahead. But when point-to-point fares are expensive (for example, at short notice) OR you want flexibility, for example the ability to change your mind, re-route or reschedule as necessary, a pass might be what you need.
If flexibility is what you want, buy the pass. If it's about saving money, you'll have to check point-to-point prices and do the maths.
It's worth doing the maths if you are under 28, if you have kids (kids get a free pass when accompanying an adult but still need to pay reservation fees) or if you live a long way from London (as a pass covers you from your home station to London). Passes are available in 1st & 2nd class.
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How to use a pass for a trip to Denmark
Step 1, buy a 4-days in 1-month Interrail pass from www.myinterrail.co.uk (if you live in the UK) or www.interrail.eu (any country) for €258 adult, €194 youth or €232 senior. You load the pass into the Railplanner app on your phone. See pass prices on the Interrail page.
A 4-day pass is enough to get from most places in mainland Britain to almost anywhere in Denmark & back again.
A 4-day pass gives you unlimited train travel on any 4 dates you choose in an overall 1 month period. The first travel day can be any date you select in the 11 months after buying the pass, the overall 1 month period starts from that date. Learn about how Interrail passes work here.
Step 2, make a Eurostar passholder reservation from London to Brussels & back for €30 each way. See prices & how to make Eurostar passholder reservations online. Tip: Eurostar passholder availability is limited, so check availability before buying a pass.
Step 3, reservations between Brussels and Hamburg are optional, you can sit in any empty unreserved seat and show your pass when asked. But it's a good idea to reserve seats, do this for around €5 each way at int.bahn.de by entering Brussels to Hamburg and clicking the Book seat only link under the red search button.
Step 4, seat reservation between Hamburg & Copenhagen is optional most of the time but compulsory in summer (June-September). You can make Hamburg to Copenhagen reservations using the Danish Railways website as shown here.
Have your trip arranged as a package
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Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour or short break for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers. On their website you'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays by rail which can be customised to your own requirements. And as you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.
UK 0207 864 4600,
www.railbookers.co.uk
US free 1-888-829-4775,
see website
Canada 1-855-882-2910,
see website
Australia 1300 971 526,
see website
New Zealand 0800 000 554 or
see website
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Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating. If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a one-way or return UK-Denmark trip through Byway as a package, including hotels and starting from any British station you like. Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away. They can build a trip to your requirements if you email them or use this contact form. When you book, please say you heard about them from Seat 61.
How to buy tickets by phone
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It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey. Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7. However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.
What's the journey like?
1. London to Brussels by Eurostar
Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Brussels Midi station guide & short cut for changing trains in Brussels.
2. Brussels to Cologne by ICE3
Germany's superb ICEs have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, bistro orders are taken at your seat. 50 minutes after leaving Brussels the ICE calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava. As you approach Cologne Hbf you'll see the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral on the right, next to the station. More information about ICE3. Brussels Midi station guide. Cologne Hbf station guide.
3. Cologne to Hamburg by Intercity train
Germany Intercity trains travel at up to 200km/h (120mph), with power sockets at all seats and a bistro car serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, snacks and hot dishes. On the Cologne to Hamburg route you'll find some departures are operated by high-speed ICEs (usually ICE1) rather than Intercity trains, although the ICEs are no faster than ICs on this section of line. Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, the train crosses the Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine, then passes through the industrial Ruhr. More information about Intercity trains. Hamburg Hbf station guide.
4. Hamburg to Copenhagen by Intercity train
As from June 2023, Hamburg-Copenhagen trains are operated by former German Railways intercity cars like this, shown in the timetable as IC for Intercity. This is only temporary, as brand-new trains being built for DSB will be delivered in 2024. These ex-DB intercity cars have power sockets at all seats (although no WiFi). There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink. See more photos, tips & information about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.
On 17 June 2023, the first Copenhagen to Hamburg train to use the 'new' German intercity cars is boarding at Copenhagen. Photo courtesy of Peter Kincey.
2nd class seats in are almost all open-plan like this. There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches.
The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo. Larger photo.
Crossing the Little Belt (Lillebælt in Danish) from Jutland (mainland Denmark) to Funen, the island on which Odense is located.
London to Aarhus & Aalborg
London ► Aarhus, Aalborg with overnight stop in Brussels
This is the most time-effective option, leaving central London in the evening after a full working day, arriving in Denmark in the evening next day.
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Day 1, travel from London to Brussels on any evening Eurostar you like.
The last Eurostar usually leaves London St Pancras at 19:34 arriving Brussels Midi at 22:38, but by all means travel earlier for a pleasant evening in Brussels. Check times at www.eurostar.com.
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Stay overnight in Brussels. I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.
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Day 2, travel from Brussels to Aarhus or Aalborg...
For most of the year you can leave Brussels Midi at 06:23 by ICE3, changing onto an ICE train at Cologne Hbf (arrive 08:16, depart 09:10) and onto a Danish intercity train at Hamburg Hbf (arrive 13:14, depart 14:53), arriving Kolding (for Legoland) at 18:00, Aarhus at 19:20. Change in Aarhus for Aalborg.
This is a straightforward journey which can all be done on one ticket booked at int.bahn.de. An altered timetable applies from 17 June to 20 August 2023, check times at int.bahn.de and look for options with just 2 changes.
London ► Aarhus, Aalborg with overnight stop in Cologne
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Day 1, travel from London to Cologne by Eurostar & ICE3. For example:
Leave London St Pancras at 13:01 daily by Eurostar, change at Brussels Midi onto an ICE3 train arriving Cologne Hbf 18:15.
Leave London St Pancras at 15:04 daily by Eurostar, change at Brussels Midi onto an ICE3 train arriving Cologne Hbf 20:15.
By all means travel earlier & spend some time in Cologne, see the London to Cologne timetable on the London to Germany page. For dinner, I recommend the Brauhaus Sion, 5 minutes walk from the station.
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Stay overnight in Cologne...
The good & inexpensive Ibis Hotel Köln-am-Dom is ideal as it's part of Cologne Hbf itself, with an entrance to the left of the main station entrance - many of its rooms have a cathedral view. Other hotels near the station with good reviews are the Breslauer Hof Am Dom, Hotel Domspitzen, CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.
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Day 2, travel from Cologne to Denmark by train, check train times at int.bahn.de.
For most of the year you can leave Cologne Hbf at 10:11 by ICE, change at Hamburg onto a direct EuroCity train to Denmark arriving Aarhus 19:20. Change in Aarhus for Aalborg.
There are other options, and an altered timetable applies from 17 June to 20 August 2023, so check times at int.bahn.de. Ideally, look for journeys with just 1 change.
London ► Aarhus, Aalborg with overnight stop in Hamburg
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Day 1, travel from London to Hamburg by train, for example...
Leave London St Pancras at 11:04 by Eurostar to Brussels Midi, ICE3 train to Cologne, & EuroCity to Hamburg Hbf arriving 21:14.
Leave London St Pancras at 13:01 by Eurostar to Brussels Midi, ICE3 train to Cologne & InterCity train to Hamburg Hbf arriving 23:16.
By all means travel earlier for more of an evening in Hamburg, see the London-Hamburg timetable on the London to Germany page.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg...
The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Denmark by train...
For most of the year a direct EuroCity train leaves Hamburg at 10:53 arriving Aarhus at 15:20. Change in Aarhus for Aalborg.
From 17 June to 20 August 2023 the morning train leaves earlier, at 08:56. But there are other options too, check train times at int.bahn.de.
Aalborg, Aarhus ► London with overnight stop in Brussels
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Day 1, travel from Denmark to Brussels...
For most of the year you can leave Aarhus at 09:39 arriving Hamburg Hbf at 14:02. Change onto the 14:44 InterCity train to Cologne Hbf, arriving 18:50. Change onto the 19:40 ICE3 to Brussels Midi arriving 21:35.
An altered timetable applies from 17 June to 20 August 2023, check times at int.bahn.de. Look for journeys with just 2 changes.
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Stay overnight in Brussels.
For an inexpensive hotel close to Brussels Midi station I recommend the Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road, or the more upmarket Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of the station.
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Day 2, travel from, Brussels to London on any morning Eurostar you like...
The first train currently leaves Brussels Midi at 08:52 arriving London St Pancras 09:57, check times at www.eurostar.com.
Aalborg, Aarhus ► London with overnight stop in Cologne
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Day 1, travel from Denmark to Cologne...
For most of the year you can leave Aalborg at 11:46 arriving Aarhus at 13:08. Then travel from Aarhus to Hamburg leaving Aarhus at 13:39 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 18:03. Change onto the 18:45 InterCity train to Cologne Hbf, arriving 22:50. There are earlier services, simply check times using int.bahn.de.
An altered timetable applies from 17 June to 20 August 2023, so check times at int.bahn.de and look for journeys with fewest changes.
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Stay overnight in Cologne...
The good & inexpensive Ibis Hotel Köln-am-Dom is ideal as it's part of Cologne Hbf itself, with an entrance to the left of the main station entrance - many of its rooms have a cathedral view. Also near the station with good reviews are the Breslauer Hof Am Dom, Hotel Domspitzen, CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.
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Day 2, travel from Cologne to London by ICE & Eurostar. For example...
Leave Cologne Hbf by ICE train at 07:42, change at Brussels Midi onto Eurostar, arriving London St Pancras at 11:57 Monday-Friday, 14:05 Saturdays or 12:58 Sundays.
Leave Cologne Hbf by ICE train at 09:42, change at Brussels Midi onto Eurostar arriving London St Pancras 14:05 on Mondays-Saturdays or 16:05 Sundays.
Other departures area available, see the Cologne to London timetable on the London to Germany page.
Aalborg, Aarhus ► London with overnight stop in Hamburg
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Day 1, travel from Denmark to Hamburg...
For most of the year you can leave Aalborg at 11:46 arriving Aarhus at 13:08. Then travel from Aarhus to Hamburg by direct Danish Intercity train leaving Aarhus at 13:39 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 18:03. Later departures are possible if you don't mind changing train, check train times at int.bahn.de.
An altered timetable applies from 17 June to 20 August 2023, so check times at int.bahn.de. Look for options with fewest or no changes.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg...
The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to London by train...
For example, the first departure leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:45, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi to arrive London St Pancras at 16:57.
Or you can leave Hamburg at 08:45 arriving London at 19:10. Or leave Hamburg at 12:50 arriving London at 21:57 (21:27 on Saturdays), see the Hamburg to London timetable on the London to Germany page.
How much does it cost?
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London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).
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Brussels to Aarhus or Aalborg starts at €39.90 each way in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class.
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Fares work like air fares, rising as departure date approaches. So book as early as the 92-day booking period allows and shop around for the cheapest date & departure.
How to buy tickets
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Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com.
Using www.raileurope.com means you can book all your trains together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, international credit cards accepted. There's a small booking fee. Who are Raileurope.com?
First book your ticket from London to where you plan to stay the night, Brussels, Cologne or Hamburg. Book this as a round trip if you're returning, because Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways. Add this to your basket.
Then book your trains from the overnight stopping point to Denmark one-way for the following day, add to basket, and (if returning) book from Denmark to the overnight stopping point one-way, add this to your basket and check out.
You print your own tickets, or after booking you can load the Eurostar ticket into the Eurostar app, and show the DB ticket on your laptop or phone.
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When does booking open?
Booking for Eurostar opens up to 6 months ahead, sometimes more. Onward trains from Brussels to Germany & Denmark opens up to 6 months ahead, but significantly less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes. I recommend waiting until all your trains are open for booking before committing to a non-refundable Eurostar ticket. More about when booking opens.
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Booking tips
Fares are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest prices and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.
After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.
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Is it a through ticket?
No, as there are no through tickets from London to Germany any more, DB's Sparpreis London fares were discontinued in March 2020. But www.raileurope.com will seamlessly sell you a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels plus an onward German Railways ticket from Brussels to Cologne or Hamburg, then it'll sell you a separate ticket from Germany to Denmark for the following day.
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Seat reservations...
A seat reservation is automatically included with every ticket on Eurostar. However, seat reservations on German trains are usually optional, if you want a reserved seat it can be added during the booking process for fee of around €4.50 each way. A reserved seat is a good idea, especially at busy periods, so I'd add one when prompted.
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About those 20-minute connections at Brussels Midi...
The slick 20-minute connection in Brussels between Eurostar and an onward ICE, sometimes less than this, is usually a recognised connection which lots of people make. It's not usually a problem, especially if you use the Brussels Midi short cut between platforms.
Even though the system sells you separate tickets either side of Brussels, you are protected by the Railteam Promise/HOTNAT so if there's a delay and you miss the connection you will be allowed to travel on later onwards trains at no extra charge.
Alternatively, nothing stops you booking an earlier Eurostar than the one which directly connects with your chosen onward ICE, if it has cheaper fares or if you want a more robust connection. To do this using www.raileurope.com, click More options, then enter Brussels (any station) as a via station with a stopover duration of (say) 1 or 2 hours. There are plenty of places for a meal, coffee or beer between trains in Brussels!
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How to buy a connecting ticket from other UK towns & cities: See the advice on special add-on tickets here.
A cheaper way to buy tickets
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This is more work as it involves two websites, but it can be slightly cheaper for two reasons: First, you don't pay any booking fee. Second, you can use the Stopover feature at int.bahn.de to book a Brussels to Denmark through ticket, either all in one day or with an overnight stop in Cologne or Hamburg built in. This is cheaper than buying separate Brussels to Germany & Germany to Copenhagen tickets.
Obviously, do a dry run on both sites first to check availability & prices. I'd also check that your outward Eurostar and ICE are indeed a recognised connection by checking that they appear together when you run a London to Cologne enquiry at int.bahn.de - read the paragraph in the previous section about the 20-minute connection in Brussels .
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Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels (and back, if returning) at www.eurostar.com and print your own ticket, or load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone. Eurostar return fares are significantly less than two one-ways, so if you're coming back, make sure you book this as a round trip. After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.
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Step 2, book from Brussels to Denmark at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. If you're overnighting in Brussels, Brussels-Denmark can be done in a day, but if you plan to overnight in Cologne or Hamburg, click Stopovers, enter either Cologne Hbf or Hamburg Hbf and a length of stay of (say) 12 hours. You'll need to fiddle with the departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Cologne/Hamburg, it takes a bit of trial and error, which is why it's easier booking one way first, then if you're returning, book the return journey separately as another one-way. On German trains that makes no difference to the price.
This will get you a Brussels to Denmark through ticket with an overnight stop in Cologne or Hamburg included, which is what you want. If you have problems, by all means just book Brussels-Germany and Germany-Denmark separately.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time. An advantage of booking direct with int.bahn.de is that you can select an exact seat on many German trains from a seating plan.
What are the Hamburg to Aarhus trains like?
Hamburg to Aarhus trains remain operated by Danish IC3 diesel trains like this, even though the Hamburg-Copenhagen trains are now operated by ex-German Railways intercity cars and an electric locomotive.
London to Legoland (www.legoland.dk)
The famous Legoland theme park, opened in 1968, is at Billund. There is no railway station at Billund, but there are buses from Vejle, Kolding & Fredericia.
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Coming from the UK, travel to Kolding as shown above. Bus 166 runs from Kolding bus station (just outside the station to the right) to Legoland in Billund every two hours through the day, taking 61 minutes, fare about 55 Kr (€7). You can check bus times & fares at www.rejseplanen.dk.
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Coming from Copenhagen, take an hourly fast Lyntog ('Lightning train') to Vejle for a bus to Legoland. Use the journey planner at int.bahn.de to find train times to Vejle. Then use www.rejseplanen.dk to find bus times from Vejle to Legoland. Buses run twice an hour throughout the day, journey time about 45 minutes, fare about 65Kr (£8) each way. In fact, www.rejseplanen.dk is a multi-modal journey planner and you can ask it for combined train & bus times all the way from Copenhagen to Legoland.
First up, there are no longer any direct ferries from the UK to Denmark. DFDS axed its Harwich-Esbjerg ferry in September 2014 after 140 years of operation, a victim of new low-sulphur fuel regulations for ferries. However, Stena Line's Harwich-Hoek route provides a useful alternative to Eurostar as shown here, and you can also take a ferry from Newcastle or Hull to Holland then a train to Denmark as shown in the next section.
Stena Line's ferry to Hoek van Holland, a useful alternative
With daily departures, inexpensive fares, quality private cabins with shower, toilet & satellite TV, the integrated train-ferry-train service between London and the Netherlands makes a useful alternative to Eurostar, shown in orange on the route map above. It's a good option if you need to travel at short notice when Eurostar is expensive, or if you live in East Anglia, or if you want to avoid the Channel Tunnel due to an incident or because you are claustrophobic. Indeed, you may prefer this relaxing journey to the faster Eurostar options, cruising overnight to Holland on the Stena Line superferry in a luxury en suite cabin with shower, toilet & satellite TV (see the video), then travelling by daytime train to Copenhagen next day. Why not stop off in Amsterdam on the way?
London, Cambridge & Harwich ► Copenhagen
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Day 1, travel from London to Amsterdam overnight by Stena Line Rail & Sail...
You leave London Liverpool Street at 18:45 Mondays-Fridays, 19:36 Saturdays or 20:00 Sundays by direct train to Harwich International.
You leave Cambridge at 19:47 Mondays-Saturdays or 19:45 on Sundays by direct train to Harwich International.
At Harwich, the station is right next to the ferry terminal, you simply walk off the train into the terminal, through a simple security & passport check, check in at the Stena Line desk to get your boarding card & cabin key, then straight onto the Stena Line ferry to Hoek van Holland.
The ferry sails at 23:00 and arrives at Hoek van Holland at 08:00 Dutch time next morning.
All passengers travel in cosy private cabins with en suite toilet & shower, satellite TV & free WiFi. Deluxe Comfort class & Captains class cabins are also available. You can have a late dinner in the restaurant and settle into your cabin.
Day 2, take the frequent metro train from Hoek van Holland Haven to Schiedam Centrum and change onto a Dutch intercity train arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 10:25, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details.
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Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to Copenhagen by train...
You leave Amsterdam Centraal at 11:00, changing trains at Osnabrück and Hamburg Hbf, arriving Kolding (for Legoland) at 19:41, Odense at 20:19 & Copenhagen at 21:34.
From 17 June to 20 August 2023 an altered Hamburg-Copenhagen timetable operates, so you leave Amsterdam Centraal at 11:00, changing trains at Osnabrück and Hamburg Hbf, arriving Kolding (for Legoland) at 21:41, Odense at 22:19 & Copenhagen at 23:34.
To find train times, run an Amsterdam to Copenhagen enquiry at int.bahn.de - it will also show fares & sell you a ticket. See photos, tips & information about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.
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Alternatively, you can travel from Schiedam Centrum to Hamburg Hbf, stay overnight and continue from Hamburg to Copenhagen next day, both journeys bought at int.bahn.de. Suggested hotels next to Hamburg Hbf with good reviews include the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof (my own recommendation, with art deco features), Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. Or you could head from Schiedam Centrum to Amsterdam, stop off for a while, then head from Amsterdam to Hamburg & Copenhagen.
Copenhagen ► Harwich, Cambridge & London
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Day 1, travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg by train...
For most of the year you leave Copenhagen at 15:26, Odense 16:39 or Kolding (for Legoland) 17:18 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 20:02. See photos, tips & information about the Copenhagen to Hamburg journey. Departure from Copenhagen is 9 minutes earlier, at 15:17 on certain dates so check your date int.bahn.de.
From 17 June to 20 August 2023 an increased Copenhagen-Hamburg timetable operates, giving a choice of 13:26 or 17:26 departures from Copenhagen, also calling at Odense & Kolding, arriving Hamburg Hbf 4h36 later, see the timetable here.
In fact, from 17 June to 20 August 2023 it's possible to travel from Copenhagen to Amsterdam in one day with an arrival sufficiently early to make the night boat to Harwich and no need for an extra overnight stop in Hamburg. You leave Copenhagen at 05:26, change at Hamburg Hbf & Osnabrück and arrive Amsterdam Centraal at 16:49. But at other times of year you'll need a Hamburg stop in this direction as shown below.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg...
The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Amsterdam on any suitable train, for example leaving Hamburg Hbf at 09:45, change at Osnabrück and arrive Amsterdam Centraal at 15:00. Times may vary, check times at int.bahn.de.
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Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to London overnight by Stena Line Rail & Sail...
Take the 18:35 Intercity train from Amsterdam Centraal to Schiedam Centrum and change onto the metro to Hoek van Holland Haven. Travel from Hoek van Holland to London overnight on the Stena Line Rail & Sail service, sleeping in a private cabin with shower, toilet & satellite TV on board the Stena Line superferry 21:00-06:30. Day 3, take a morning train from Harwich to London Liverpool Street, arriving around 08:54, or the direct train from Harwich to Cambridge arriving 09:41 (10:39 on Sundays). See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details.
How much does it cost?
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London or any Greater Anglia station to Hoek van Holland starts at £62 per person each way, plus cabin.
Cabins start at £34 for a single berth cabin or £45 per cabin for a 2-berth, and are compulsory on the night sailing. For full details of fares and cabin types and costs, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.
Hoek to Schiedam by metro costs around €4. Schiedam to Amsterdam by train costs €17.20.
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Amsterdam to Copenhagen starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, buy a Stena Line Rail & Sail ticket from London to Hoek van Holland online as shown on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.
Buy the onward metro & train ticket to Amsterdam as shown on that page.
Step 2, now go to the German Railways website int.bahn.de and book from Amsterdam to Copenhagen one way. Look in the search results for journeys only 2 changes. If you are returning, now book from Copenhagen to Amsterdam as a separate one-way journey, but as you want an overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg with length of stay 12 hours. Again, look for a journey with just 2 changes which matches the times above.
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Remember that with a through ticket you're covered if there's a delay and you miss a connection, as explained here - you are entitled to onward travel by later trains at no extra charge, and if necessary, an overnight hotel.
How to buy tickets by phone
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To buy tickets for the train & ferry service from London to Hoek van Holland, call Stena Line on 08445 762 (UK only).
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You can book trains from the Netherlands to Copenhagen by phone with DB's (German Railways') English-speaking phone line on 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04, lines open 08:30-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 weekends UK time, 1.5% fee for phone bookings.
What's the journey like?
Step 1, London to Amsterdam by train & ferry
A train takes you from London's Liverpool Street station directly to the ferry terminal at Harwich. You walk off the train, into the terminal, get your boarding card & cabin key at the Stena Line check-in desk and walk straight onto the overnight ferry to Hoek van Holland. The superferry Stena Britannica is the largest ferry of its kind in the world. Have a late dinner in the restaurant, retire to bed in a private cabin with en suite toilet & shower and satellite TV. At Hoek van Holland, you walk off the ship, through passport control and straight onto the station for the frequent metro train to Schiedam & Rotterdam. Change at Schiedam Centrum for a Dutch Railways (NS) train to Amsterdam Centraal. The journey from London to Holland is explained in detail on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page. See the video...
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Captain's Class cabin on the Harwich-Hoek ferry with double bed, complimentary minibar with sparkling wine, tea & coffee making facilities, hairdryer. Larger photo. |
Boarding the Stena Britannica at Harwich. She's a floating hotel to Hoek van Holland, with easy rail connections on either side of the Channel. Restaurants, bars, shop, kennels, cinema. |
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Dinner before bed? Metropolitan à la carte restaurant. |
Standard outside cabin. Larger photo. 360º photo. |
Step 2, Amsterdam to Osnabruck & Osnabruck to Hamburg by German Intercity train
You then take a comfortable Intercity train from Amsterdam Centraal to Osnabrück & another InterCity or ICE from Osnabrück to Hamburg Hbf.
4. Hamburg to Copenhagen by Intercity train
As from June 2023, Hamburg-Copenhagen trains are operated by former German Railways intercity cars like this, shown in the timetable as IC for Intercity. This is only temporary, as brand-new trains being built for DSB will be delivered in 2024. These ex-DB intercity cars have power sockets at all seats (although no WiFi). There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink. See more photos, tips & information about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.
On 17 June 2023, the first Copenhagen to Hamburg train to use the 'new' German intercity cars is boarding at Copenhagen. Photo courtesy of Peter Kincey.
2nd class seats in are almost all open-plan like this. There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches.
The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo. Larger photo.
Naturally, you can take a train up to London then travel to Denmark as described above. You can buy special connecting train tickets from most British stations to London International, see my advice on buying connecting train tickets to London. But DFDS Seaways (www.dfds.co.uk) run an excellent overnight ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam, and P&O Ferries (www.poferries.com) have an overnight ferry from Hull to Rotterdam, both with comfortable private en suite cabins. Take a train to Hamburg, stay overnight, then take a train to Copenhagen.
Scotland & the North ► Copenhagen
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Day 1, take a train to either Hull or Newcastle, whichever is most convenient for where you live.
In Hull, transfer to P&O ferry terminal and sail overnight from Hull to Rotterdam by P&O cruise ferry, with bus/train connection to Amsterdam Centraal. The ferry has bars, restaurants & cosy en suite cabins. For details of schedule, fares & tickets, see the Hull-Rotterdam page.
In Newcastle, transfer to the DFDS ferry terminal at North Shields and sail overnight from Newcastle to Amsterdam by DFDS Seaways cruise ferry. The ferry has bars, restaurants & cosy en suite cabins. For details of schedule, fares & tickets see the Newcastle-Amsterdam page.
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Day 2, travel from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to Hamburg by train...
It's too tight to get all the way to Copenhagen after the morning arrival of the ferries, so an overnight in Hamburg is needed. Check times at German Railways website int.bahn.de. For example, leave Amsterdam Centraal 13:00, change at Osnabrück and arrive Hamburg Hbf 18:14.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg...
The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 3, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by train...
For most of the year, a Danish intercity train leaves Hamburg Hbf at 08:56 every day, arriving Kolding (for Legoland) 11:41, Odense 12:19 & Copenhagen 13:34. If you prefer, there are later trains at 12:53 and 16:54, see the timetable here.
From 17 June to 20 August 2023 an increased Copenhagen-Hamburg timetable operates, see the timetable here.
Copenhagen ► Scotland & the North
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Day 1, travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg by train...
For most of the year you can leave Copenhagen by Danish intercity train at 15:26, Odense at 16:39 or Kolding (for Legoland) at 17:18 arriving Hamburg Hbf at 20:02. Or take the earlier 07:26 or 11:26 departures from Copenhagen and spend some time in Hamburg if you like.
An increased timetable applies from 17 June to 20 August 2023, see the timetable here. Check times at int.bahn.de.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg...
The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Amsterdam by train...
Take any suitable train, for example you can leave Hamburg Hbf at 09:45, change at Osnabrück and arrive Amsterdam Centraal at 15:00. Times may vary, check times for your date of travel at int.bahn.de
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Day 2, transfer to the ferry port & sail overnight to Hull or Newcastle...
Travel overnight by cruise ferry from Rotterdam Europoort to Hull with P&O Ferries or IJmuiden (near Amsterdam) to Newcastle with DFDS, whichever is most convenient for where you live, arriving next morning (day 3). Transfer to the station and take a train home.
For details of timetables, fares & how to buy tickets from Amsterdam to the UK via these ferry routes, see the Hull-Rotterdam page or the Newcastle-Amsterdam page.
Fares & how to buy tickets
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Step 1, check ferry fares & book the ferry at www.dfds.co.uk for Newcastle-Amsterdam or www.poferries.com for Hull-Rotterdam.
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Step 2, buy train tickets from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to Copenhagen at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Amsterdam to Copenhagen starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 14 hours. You print your own ticket, or show it on your phone.
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Step 3, buy a train ticket from your local station to Newcastle or Hull any train operator website such as www.tfwrail.wales. Make sure you allow plenty of time for the transfer from station to ferry terminal and for the ferry check-in.
What's the journey like?
Step 1, Newcastle to Amsterdam (DFDS) or Hull to Rotterdam (P&O) by overnight ferry, with private en suite cabins, restaurants, bars, cinema, a floating hotel. If travelling with DFDS from Newcastle, a transfer bus takes you from IJmuiden ferry terminal to Amsterdam Centraal station next morning. If travelling with P&O from Hull, a transfer bus takes you from Rotterdam Europoort ferry terminal to Rotterdam Centraal, from where frequent Dutch trains run to Utrecht or Amsterdam.
Step 2, Amsterdam to Osnabruck & Osnabruck to Hamburg by German Intercity train
You then take a comfortable Intercity train from Amsterdam Centraal to Osnabrück & another InterCity or ICE from Osnabrück to Hamburg Hbf.
4. Hamburg to Copenhagen by Intercity train
As from June 2023, Hamburg-Copenhagen trains are operated by former German Railways intercity cars like this, shown in the timetable as IC for Intercity. This is only temporary, as brand-new trains being built for DSB will be delivered in 2024. These ex-DB intercity cars have power sockets at all seats (although no WiFi). There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink. See more photos, tips & information about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.
On 17 June 2023, the first Copenhagen to Hamburg train to use the 'new' German intercity cars is boarding at Copenhagen. Photo courtesy of Peter Kincey.
2nd class seats in are almost all open-plan like this. There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches.
The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo. Larger photo.
European Rail Timetable & maps
The
European Rail Timetable
(formerly the Thomas Cook European Timetable)
has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus
currency & climate information. It is essential
for regular European train travellers and an inspiration for armchair
travellers. Published since 1873, it had just celebrated 140 years of
publication when Thomas Cook decided to pull the plug on their entire publishing
department, but the dedicated ex-Thomas Cook team set up a private venture and
resumed publication of the famous European Rail Timetable in March 2014.
You can buy it online at
www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses) or
www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide).
More information
on what the European Rail Timetable contains.
Rail Map Europe is the map I recommend, covering all of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south. Scenic routes & high-speed lines are highlighted. See an extract from the map. Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide) or at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).
Hotels in Denmark
Suggested Copenhagen hotel: Axel Guldsmeden Hotel
The Axel Guldsmeden Hotel is a stone's throw from Copenhagen main station, so handy for arrivals and departures, and has been descibed as 'cool but not pretentions' by travellers - worth taking a look!
Backpacker hostels:
www.hostelworld.com
www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.
Travel insurance & other tips
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Always take out travel insurance
You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer. It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit. These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself. Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here. Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.
www.staysure.co.uk
offers enhanced Covid-19 protection and gets 4.7 out of 5 on
Trustpilot.
www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
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Get an eSIM with mobile data package
Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a European mobile data package and stay connected. Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list. There's no need to buy a physical SIM card! Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.
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Get a Curve card for foreign travel
Most banks give you a poor exchange rate then add a foreign transaction fee on top. A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this. The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards. And you can get a Curve card for free.
How it works: 1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app. You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.
I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader. The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out). I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.
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Get a VPN for safe browsing. Why you need a VPN
When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure. A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi. It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply. See VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription. I also get some commission to help support this site.
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Carry an Anker powerbank
Tickets, reservations, hotel bookings and Interrail or Eurail passes are often now held on your mobile phone. You daren't let it run out of power, and you can't always rely on the phone's internal battery or on being near a power outlet. I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over. Buy from Amazon.co.uk or Buy from Amazon.com.
Touring cities? Use hill walking shoes!
One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa. They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities. My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!