Fastest ~1h25 by train
| 🚆 Train | ~1h25 | DSB IC Lynette across Great Belt bridge-tunnel, no reservation needed |
| 🚆 Train | ~1h30–35 | Standard InterCity |
| 🚌 Bus | ~2h–2h30 | FlixBus, cheaper, uses Great Belt road bridge |
| 🚗 Car | ~1h40–2h | E20 via Great Belt bridge, costly toll |
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Odense, birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen and the main city of Funen (Fyn), lies about 165 kilometres west of Copenhagen across the Great Belt strait. The train crosses the Great Belt Fixed Link — one of the longest rail bridges in Europe — making the journey a minor engineering spectacle in its own right. You can be in Odense in under an hour and a half, giving you a generous day in Denmark's third-largest city.
The quickest way: DSB InterCity train
The DSB (Danish State Railways) InterCity and Intercity Lyng (IC Lynette) trains run between Copenhagen Central (København H) and Odense throughout the day, with departures typically every 30 minutes during peak hours and hourly at quieter times. The fastest services take around 1 hour 25 minutes; standard InterCity trains take about 1 hour 30–35 minutes.
The journey crosses the Storebælt (Great Belt) Fixed Link — a combined road and rail bridge-tunnel system spanning the strait between the islands of Funen and Zealand. The rail crossing is partly a tunnel under the western channel and partly an elevated bridge over the eastern channel, with striking views across the open water. It is one of those moments where staring out the window is actively encouraged.
Reservations are available but not compulsory on most DSB intercity services — you can buy a ticket on the day and board without a seat reservation. However, advance Orange tickets (DSB's cheapest tier) are heavily discounted and can save a significant amount — they can only be bought in advance and have no flexibility. Standard tickets are refundable but more expensive.
Odense station is centrally located, a short walk or tram ride from the old town, the Andersen museum quarter and the pedestrian shopping streets.
The cheapest way: bus
FlixBus runs coaches between Copenhagen and Odense, typically departing from the main bus terminal near Copenhagen Central. Journey time is around 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes, depending on traffic — the Great Belt crossing adds some time on the road via the bridge, and the motorway (E20) can slow at busy periods. Fares undercut the standard DSB ticket and are sometimes comparable to or cheaper than advance rail fares.
The bus is a reasonable option for budget travellers who don't mind the extra hour compared to the train, or who are starting their journey from a stop convenient to a coach pick-up point. For a day trip where hours matter, most people find the train's time advantage worth the difference in cost.
The fastest door-to-door: flying
No commercial flight connects Copenhagen and Odense. The rail crossing is simply too fast and too convenient for aviation to compete. Odense Airport (ODE) exists but handles very limited scheduled traffic, none from Copenhagen.
The scenic way: driving
The drive from central Copenhagen follows the E20 motorway west through the suburbs, onto the Amager causeway, across to Funen via the Great Belt bridge, and into Odense. Total distance is around 165 km, and driving time in normal traffic is roughly 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours. A toll is charged for crossing the Great Belt — one of the more expensive single crossings in Scandinavia, though it is split between the road and rail crossings.
The drive across the Great Belt bridge is impressive — the main suspension bridge spans the eastern channel with the open sea stretching in both directions. If you have a car, the real payoff comes in Funen itself: the island is gentle, rolling farmland full of small manors, half-timbered towns and coastal inlets that reward a slow drive. The towns of Kerteminde, Svendborg and the Ærø ferry are all natural extensions if you have wheels. Without a car, most of Funen's countryside is inaccessible.
What to see in Odense
Odense is a confident city that wears its most famous son lightly but well. The old quarter is compact and walkable, with a strong food and culture scene that has grown notably in recent years.
- H.C. Andersen Museum: the newly rebuilt museum around Andersen's childhood home is one of Scandinavia's most inventive museum designs — a subterranean journey through the fairy tales, with clever use of light, sound and narrative. Allow two to three hours.
- H.C. Andersen's childhood home: the actual small house on Munkemøllestræde where Andersen grew up, preserved and open to visitors.
- St Canute's Cathedral (Skt. Knuds Kirke): a Gothic cathedral with a remarkable collection of gold altar-pieces and the crypt of King Canute the Holy, assassinated in 1086. The carved wooden altar triptych is extraordinary.
- Odense Zoo: consistently ranked among Denmark's best, particularly strong on primates and large predators. A natural half-day for families.
- Funen Village (Den Fynske Landsby): an open-air folk museum of historic Funen farmhouses, a short bus or cycle ride from the centre. A fine companion to the Maihaugen-style museums found elsewhere in Scandinavia.
Odense's café culture along the Åen (the small urban river) is pleasant in good weather, and the pedestrian shopping district is among Denmark's best provincial shopping streets.
Which should you choose?
The DSB train is the obvious choice — fast, frequent, no booking needed, and the Great Belt crossing is a genuine highlight of the journey. Book an Orange advance ticket for the best price. The bus suits those on very tight budgets or with inconvenient starting points. Driving pays off only if you plan to explore Funen's countryside and smaller towns beyond Odense itself.
From Odense you can continue west by train to Fredericia and onto Jutland, or south to Svendborg for the ferry to Ærø — see the Odense to Svendborg guide for that leg. For a broader look at train travel across Denmark, the Denmark by train guide covers the DSB network, passes and booking.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Copenhagen to Odense?
Around 1 hour 25 minutes on the fastest IC Lynette services, or about 1 hour 30–35 minutes on standard InterCity trains. Services run approximately every 30 minutes during peak hours.
Do I need to reserve a seat on the Copenhagen–Odense train?
No — seat reservations are optional on DSB intercity trains. However, booking an advance Orange ticket saves money and effectively secures you a seat, as these are linked to specific trains.
Is the Great Belt crossing visible from the train?
Yes. The western part of the crossing is underground (a tunnel beneath the deeper western channel), but the eastern part is an elevated bridge with clear views over the strait in both directions. A window seat is worth seeking.
Can I day-trip to Odense from Copenhagen?
Easily. With a 90-minute journey each way and a full day available, you can visit the H.C. Andersen Museum, the cathedral and the town centre comfortably and still be back in Copenhagen for dinner.