Harbour Bus or Canal Tour?

Ride the harbour bus if you want a cheap trip along the main harbour and do not need commentary: a 2-zone ticket costs DKK 24 (about $3.60) and the boats call at Nyhavn, the Opera and the Royal Library. Book a guided canal tour if you want the narrow canals and the stories behind what you pass, because the harbour bus does not enter them and has no commentary. In between sits the Walk & Canal Tour: a guided walk of about 5 km over 3 hours, a ride on the public harbour ferry and the Changing of the Guard at Amalienborg, from $75 per person on the dates we checked in October 2026.

What is the Copenhagen harbour bus?

It is ordinary public transport on the water. Route 991 runs south towards Teglholmen, 992 runs north towards Orientkaj, and 993 is an extra Nyhavn to Opera shuttle around performances. Stops include Orientkaj, Refshaleøen, Nordre Toldbod, the Opera, Nyhavn, the Royal Library, Islands Brygge and Teglholmen, about 11 in all. The boats have been electric since 2020.

Tickets are the same as on buses and the metro. A 2-zone single costs DKK 24 for adults in 2026, and children pay half. A City Pass Small, DKK 100 for 24 hours, covers the harbour buses, and so does the Copenhagen Card Discover; see our Copenhagen Card guide. Summer and winter timetables differ, so check departures on the day.

Harbour bus or canal tour: what is the difference?

The harbour bus is transport; a canal tour is sightseeing. The table sets them against Stromma’s classic tour.

On the dates we checked, Stromma’s own dock price was DKK 199 at Ved Stranden and DKK 169 at Nyhavn, so the $24 GetYourGuide ticket costs about the same. The budget guided option is Netto-Bådene: DKK 80 for about 50 minutes from Nyhavn with a live guide, sold at the quay and not on GetYourGuide. Our canal tour prices guide compares every fare.

Is there a middle way between the two?

Yes: a walking tour that uses the harbour ferry as its boat ride. The Walk & Canal Tour: highlights + harbour ferry + Changing of the Guard by Go Like a Local meets under the clock in Copenhagen Central Station. You walk past Tivoli Gardens, Christiansborg and the Royal Library, cross the harbour on the public electric ferry with views of Børsen, the Playhouse, Paper Island and the Opera House, then walk on past the Gefion Fountain, the Little Mermaid and Kastellet. It ends at Amalienborg Palace for the Changing of the Guard.

It costs $75 per person, rated 4.7 from 179 reviews, and is guided in English and German. Expect about 5 km on foot over 3 hours. If the ferry is full, which the operator says is mainly a risk on busy weekends and sunny afternoons, the group walks the same route instead, adding about 2 km. It is not suitable for wheelchair users. Our walk and canal tour breakdown has the full itinerary.

Can you get on the water for free or cheaply?

Yes, with a GreenKayak in summer. GreenKayak lends kayaks free of charge if you collect litter from the water in the bucket provided, then weigh it on return and post it with #GreenKayak. You book through its app; the 2026 season has ended, and the next one opens on 1 May.

For a guided paddle, the Kayak Tour in Copenhagen Harbor costs $68 per person from Kalvebod Bølge, past Gammel Strand, Christiansborg and Børsen and through Christianshavns Kanal. It is a summer tour: the base is closed from 1 October to 31 March, and the next date on GetYourGuide is 1 April 2027. It is not for children under 12, non-swimmers or anyone over 130 kg.

A self-drive GoBoat costs $90 per boat for an hour for up to 8 people, so a full boat works out cheaper per head than most tours. Our GoBoat guide has the rules.

So which should you choose?

• Ride the harbour bus if you already hold a City Pass or Copenhagen Card, want to get from Nyhavn to the Opera or Islands Brygge, or simply want a cheap look at the main harbour.
• Book a guided canal tour if it is your first visit and you want the stories, and the narrow canals of Christianshavn and Slotsholmen. The Canal Cruise with Guide from $24 is the obvious start; our what to expect guide covers the details.
• Book the Walk & Canal Tour if you want a guide for half a day, enjoy walking, and want the Little Mermaid and the Changing of the Guard in one go.
• Take a GreenKayak or the kayak tour in summer if you would rather paddle than sit.

For the route a canal tour follows, see our route guide. Compare the top picks on the homepage comparison, or browse all Copenhagen boat tours.