Canal Tours & Hop-On Hop-Off with the Copenhagen Card

A copenhagen card canal tour is included free with every version of the card, a roughly one hour Classic Canal Tour departing near the city center. That single benefit alone rivals a standalone boat ticket in value, and readers searching for it often land on a separate, unrelated budget operator by mistake. This guide clarifies exactly who runs the included cruise, what the Hop version’s bus swap actually changes, and which option suits a rainy Copenhagen afternoon best.

Does the Copenhagen Card Include a Canal Tour?

Yes. A copenhagen canal tour copenhagen card benefit appears as a standard attraction on both the Discover and Hop inclusion lists: a full, guided cruise along the historic waterways, not a shortened preview version. Standalone tickets for the identical route normally start from around EUR 21, so this single inclusion is one of the better value proofs on the whole card.

Which Boat Operator Runs the Included Cruise?

Stromma operates the included copenhagen card boat tour, the same network behind the Copenhagen Bus and Boat Ticket and the standalone Copenhagen Canal Cruise. Departures run from Ved Stranden 26, close to Christiansborg Palace, with the return typically landing back at Ved Stranden or at Nyhavn depending on the day’s schedule.

Is Netto Boats Included in the Copenhagen Card?

No, and this is the single most common mix-up in this whole category. Netto boats copenhagen card searches usually come from travelers who have heard of Netto-Baadene, a separate, independently run budget canal operator popular for its low walk-up price. Netto-Baadene is not affiliated with the Copenhagen Card and is not covered by either version. The included copenhagen card boat benefit is exclusively the Stromma cruise described above, so budget separately if you specifically want to try Netto-Baadene’s boats.

Where Does the Included Canal Cruise Depart From?

Ved Stranden 26 is the primary departure point, a short walk from Christiansborg Palace and about ten minutes from Norreport Station on foot. Boarding typically opens fifteen minutes before departure, and seats along the open rail tend to fill first, so arriving a few minutes early is worth it if photography is a priority.

What Does the Cruise Route Cover?

The route threads past Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish Parliament, then the ornate former Stock Exchange building, Borsen, before reaching Amalienborg Palace and sailing out to Langelinie to pass the Little Mermaid statue. A poncho is provided in case of rain, and the boats offer onboard WiFi, making this a genuinely comfortable option even on a gray afternoon.

Does the Copenhagen Card Include a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus?

Only on the Hop version. The copenhagen card hop on hop off bus benefit swaps Discover’s metro, train, and harbor bus access for unlimited rides across three Stromma bus routes instead: Classic Copenhagen, Colorful Copenhagen, and Home of Carlsberg. Each includes a recorded audio guide in six languages. The Discover version does not include this bus at all, since it relies on public transport instead.

How Does the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Differ From the Canal Cruise?

The canal cruise is a single, roughly one hour loop by water with no stops to get off along the way, while the hop on hop off copenhagen card bus benefit runs continuously across multiple routes for the full length of your card, with unlimited boarding and alighting at any marked stop. Think of the cruise as one scenic hour and the bus as an ongoing transport option that also happens to sightsee. Both share overlapping stops near Nyhavn and Amalienborg Palace, so pairing them on the same day covers a lot of ground.

Is the Canal Tour a Good Rainy Day Option?

Yes, arguably the best on the whole inclusion list. The included poncho and covered seating sections mean the cruise runs in most weather, and watching the city from the water avoids the open air waiting that a bus stop requires between rides. Pair a rainy morning canal cruise with an afternoon at a covered museum like Rosenborg Castle for a full wet weather day that still feels productive.

Can You Do Both the Canal Cruise and the Bus Route in One Day?

Yes, on the Hop version, since both benefits activate on the same card. Ride an early bus loop for orientation, then time the canal cruise for later in the afternoon once the water traffic has thinned. Discover cardholders can still take the standalone canal cruise, since it is included on both versions, they simply do not have the hop-on hop-off bus as an additional option.

Which Version Should You Buy If Water Sightseeing Matters Most?

Both versions include the identical canal cruise, so the choice does not hinge on the boat at all. It comes down to whether you also want metro and train coverage, Discover, or a guided bus loop with commentary, Hop. Our Discover versus Hop comparison breaks down that decision in full, and our transport tickets guide covers how Copenhagen’s wider transit system works if neither card version fits your trip.

How Much Does the Standalone Canal Cruise Cost Without the Card?

The identical Stromma cruise sells on its own from around EUR 21 per person, which only makes sense to book separately if a Copenhagen Card is not part of your plan at all, since both card versions include this exact route for free. Anyone who already owns a card from a previous trip and wants to repeat the cruise is one of the few cases where the standalone ticket genuinely earns its price, since the card only allows one visit per included attraction.

What Should You Bring on the Canal Cruise?

A light layer works well regardless of season, since the water adds a noticeable chill even on a warm Copenhagen afternoon, and the poncho provided in case of rain covers most weather without needing your own umbrella. Arrive a few minutes before boarding opens if a spot along the open rail matters for photos, since covered center seating fills in behind it once the boat starts to move. Sunglasses are worth packing too on a bright day, since the glare off the open water is stronger than it looks from the quay, and a phone with a full battery covers most photography needs without extra gear.

For the current departure schedule and any route changes, Nyhavn, the historic harbor most cruises pass or depart near, remains one of the best known landmarks along the route and a reliable meeting point if your group splits up before boarding. Compare this benefit against the full Copenhagen Card lineup once you know which transport style suits your trip, check the full price breakdown to see how it stacks up against paying separately, and check our inclusion checklist for everything else both versions cover.

How Do You Choose Between the Canal Cruise and the Bus If You Are Not Buying a Card?

Without a Copenhagen Card, the standalone Copenhagen Canal Cruise and the Copenhagen Bus and Boat Ticket both start from a similar price range, so the decision comes down to how much time you have. The cruise alone covers the water view in about an hour, while the bundled bus and boat ticket adds two days of unlimited hop-on hop-off riding for a modest premium over the boat alone. Anyone with just a single afternoon in the city tends to prefer the cruise by itself, while a multi day visitor gets more out of the combined ticket.

Does Weather Affect the Bus Routes the Same Way It Affects the Cruise?

Less directly, since the buses run enclosed and covered against rain, but waiting at an open air stop between rides still means standing in the weather for a few minutes at a time. The canal cruise’s provided poncho covers the one exposed leg of that experience, the boat ride itself, while bus stops offer no equivalent shelter beyond whatever the specific stop happens to provide. Neither option is a bad choice on a rainy day, but the cruise edges ahead slightly for staying dry from door to door.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a canal tour included in the Copenhagen Card? Yes, both versions include a roughly one hour Classic Canal Tour operated by Stromma, departing from Ved Stranden 26.

Are Netto Boats included in the Copenhagen Card? No, Netto-Baadene is a separate, independent operator not affiliated with the Copenhagen Card. The included cruise runs on Stromma’s boats only.

Does the Copenhagen Card Discover include a hop-on hop-off bus? No, only the Hop version includes the hop-on hop-off bus. Discover includes metro, train, bus, and harbor bus access instead.

Where does the included canal cruise depart from? Ved Stranden 26, close to Christiansborg Palace, with the return typically at Ved Stranden or Nyhavn depending on the day.

Can you use both the canal cruise and the bus route on the Hop card? Yes, both benefits are included on the same Hop card, so you can ride the bus routes and take the canal cruise on the same trip.