A few thousand visitors land at Copenhagen airport every day, excited at the prospect of perhaps finally finding the keys to hygge happiness. However, the excitement of finally being able to pick up one’s suitcase is often followed by the anguish caused by a lack of preparation. How do I get from Copenhagen airport to Sweden now? Where to go once through the gates? Which public transport, be it train, metro, bus, or cab, will take you in the right direction? The confusion is all the greater when bewildered eyes land on a sign intriguing to anyone unfamiliar with the geography of the area: “Sweden, track 1”. But aren’t we in Denmark?

A trick question, some would say. All the more so as Copenhagen Airport is indeed the most direct access to Sweden for any visitor wishing to use public transport. If you are one of them, buckle up. This guide will take you through the 20 km or so that separates Copenhagen airport from the land of IKEA, mooses, and midsommar, in just a few simple steps.

Being a legitimate traveler, or how to buy a ticket

First of all, congratulations on having chosen Sweden as your next destination. You are happy to be there, yet your traveler’s good conscience is getting the better of you. Where to buy your ticket?

In the airport arrivals hall, there are numerous ticket terminals, no doubt with a long queue in front of them. The key to your salvation is to be found in the middle of the hall and goes by the sweet name of Skånetrafiken. Not DSB, the Danish national operator that seems to reign supreme over travelers, but Skånetrafiken, the regional operator for southern Sweden. Recognizing these terminals is child’s play. In addition to being in the middle of the hall, they are often decorated with a small Swedish flag. Easy, isn’t it?

And if you’re not into good old-fashioned ticket terminals, Skånetrafiken has its own mobile app that lets you buy your ticket digitally. It will appear as a QR code that you can show to controllers on the train. No more paper tickets to keep safely tucked in your wallet.

Whether you’ve chosen the app or the ticket machine, just type in “CPH Airport Kastrup” as your starting point and wherever you want to go in southern Sweden as your destination. You can go as far as Gothenburg, Sweden’s second largest city. Select the ticket category that fits you, but just a reminder: student prices are only for students studying in Sweden. That said, while ticket checks are automatic, student card checks are rare. Buy at your own risk…

Once you’ve purchased the precious sesame, all you have to do is activate it. If you have purchased a one-way ticket, it will be valid until 4 am the following day, and only in the Denmark-Sweden direction.

Being a well-oriented traveler, or how to find the train from Copenhagen Airport to Sweden

Great, you have a ticket! Now all you have to do is find the train.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to leave the airport hall – it’s probably raining anyway. Copenhagen Airport has its own train station and only two tracks, one going to Denmark, and one to Sweden. Just read the signs and tag along.

Once you’re on the track, just wait for your train to come. Be careful! All the trains to Sweden are stopping there, so the first one that comes might not be yours. You’ve been doing great so far, you don’t want to get it wrong so close to your goal, do you? Keep your eyes open and look at the screens that are displaying all you need to know. Your train will be a beautiful, shiny gray and will bear the melodious name Öresundstag, after the sea channel it crosses. And if you miss it, don’t panic. Your ticket is always valid for a certain duration, on all Öresundstag trains going to your destination.

Being a relaxed traveler, or how to enjoy what the Öresundstag has to offer

Your train has arrived! You will find normal wagons, some of them also having small first-class or silent zones, and special ones adapted for people with big pieces of luggage, bikes, or strollers. Just hop in any wagon you see fit! Tickets bought with Skånetrafiken don’t have an assigned seat. The only place you can’t go without having paid extra is first class. That said, just sit anywhere that’s free and enjoy the ride and its scenic view of the Öresund channel!

After you’ve enjoyed the sea view and about twenty minutes after leaving the airport, you’ll probably notice a change in the announcements made over the microphone. You’ve done it, you’re in Sweden! First stop, Malmö Hyllie, where customs officers may check your identity. And yes, the Swedish border isn’t all that open, despite European regulations… You can read more about Hyllie and borders in this article. In the meantime, enjoy your stay in Sweden.

Tack för att du läste (it means thanks for reading)!