Airport Hub · CPH · Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen Kastrup (CPH): The Complete Layover Guide
How good is it? Quietly excellent. One connected airside concourse, tolerant staff, padded benches that actually work for sleeping, and a metro to the city that never stops running.
Best lounge option: the refurbished Aspire Lounge near the A gates, on Priority Pass, with showers and a calmer paid Suites section.
The one thing to know: security averages about 37 minutes and peaks past 56. The terminal is relaxed; the checkpoint is not. Time your arrival around it.
Quick facts
Kastrup at a glance
| Terminals | T2 and T3, integrated under one roof with a single shared airside concourse, piers A to F |
|---|---|
| Airside transit between terminals | Yes. One airside zone; allow up to 20 minutes on foot to the far F gates |
| Free wifi | Yes, CPH Airport Free Wi-Fi, no login, no reported time limit |
| Sleep friendliness | Good. Open 24 hours, padded benches airside, tolerant staff |
| Lounges | 6: three near the A and B piers in T2, three in T3 including the SAS complex |
| In terminal hotel | Clarion Hotel Copenhagen Airport, connected to T3 by covered walkway |
Orientation
How Kastrup works
CPH is one big room wearing two terminal numbers. Once through security, everything from pier A to pier F is yours without another checkpoint, unless you are leaving Schengen.
Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 sit under one roof and feed the same airside concourse. Piers A, B, and D handle mostly Schengen flights, pier C takes most departures leaving the Schengen area behind passport control, and pier F at the far end belongs to Ryanair and easyJet. The distances are honest Scandinavian: a few minutes between neighboring piers, up to 20 minutes from security to the far F gates. SAS is the home carrier and moved from Star Alliance to SkyTeam in 2024, which reshuffled who gets into which lounge; Star Alliance Gold members are now pointed at the Aviator lounges instead of the SAS Lounge.
The checkpoint is the bottleneck. Average waits run about 37 minutes, peak waits past 56 minutes between 5am and 8am and again from 4pm to 7pm, and quiet middays drop near 22. The airport publishes live waits at cphsecuritywait.dk, which is worth a look before you decide how long to linger in the city. Since October 2025, travelers from outside the EU also register at digital entry kiosks on arrival under the new Schengen entry rules, which adds a step; verify current requirements before travel.
Food after midnight is thin but real: Burger King landside in T3, plus convenience stores and a coffee bar airside. The quiet zone upstairs near the C gates is the spot the regulars do not advertise.
Plan your hours
Your CPH layover, by goal
CPH layover guide, hour by hour
Plans for 3, 5, and 8 hours and overnight at Kastrup, including when the 13 minute metro ride turns a layover into an evening in Nyhavn.
Every lounge at Copenhagen
All six CPH lounges with piers, hours, and access rules, from the two level SAS complex to the Carlsberg Aviator with its own bar.
Sleeping at Copenhagen Airport
The padded benches between A18 and A34, the couches near C2, the quiet zone upstairs, and the Clarion next door when you want a real bed.
Priority Pass at CPH
Aspire and Carlsberg Aviator take the card, Eventyr is mid renovation. The current state of play and the busy hour reality.
CPH connections and transit
Connection times, the walk to pier F, and what the new Schengen entry registration means for transfers from outside the EU.
Leaving the airport
Copenhagen in a few hours
Few capitals are this easy. The M2 metro leaves from inside Terminal 3 and runs 24 hours a day, every 4 to 6 minutes in the daytime, reaching Kongens Nytorv in about 13 minutes for roughly 30 kroner. Mainline trains under T3 reach Copenhagen Central in 13 to 15 minutes for a similar fare and continue to Malmö across the bridge. A 3 zone ticket covers metro, train, and bus for the trip.
With 5 to 6 hours of layover, the city is comfortably reachable: Nyhavn and the old town sit minutes from Kongens Nytorv station. Just respect the security average on the way back. Non Schengen travelers should confirm whether their passport needs a visa to exit the airport rather than transit airside; verify before travel.
Comfort
Lounges and rest, the short version
Six lounges, clearly divided. Near the A and B piers in Terminal 2: the Aspire Lounge, reopened in late 2025 after a full refit, runs 06:00 to 20:00 with showers, takes Priority Pass, sells entry from about 270 kroner, and hides a calmer adults only Suites section upstairs for a premium. The Carlsberg Aviator Lounge next door runs from 05:00 with door entry around 229 kroner and Priority Pass access, and shares its entrance with the Danske Bank Aviator Business Lounge, which serves that bank's top cardholders plus premium passengers of a long list of carriers including Finnair, KLM, and TAP. In Terminal 3, the SAS complex near gate C10 spreads 2,840 square meters over two levels, merged into one large lounge since October 2025; SAS economy passengers can buy entry for 199 to 299 kroner. The Eventyr Lounge in the non Schengen zone near gates C26 to C28 normally takes Priority Pass but closed for renovation on January 31, 2026 with an April reopening planned, current status to be confirmed.
Sleeping free at CPH is a real option, not a war story. The padded three seat benches between gates A18 and A34 are the prize, with couches near C2 and C3 and the silent area upstairs near A4 as backups. Claim a spot before 11pm and bring a layer. When a bed matters, the Clarion connects to T3 by covered walkway with day rooms subject to availability, and the Zleep, Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers, and Best Western Plus sit nearby, shuttle arrangements to be confirmed. More in our guide to sleeping at Copenhagen Airport (CPH).
FAQ
Copenhagen layover questions
Can I sleep overnight at Copenhagen Airport?
Yes. The airport stays open 24 hours, staff tolerate sleepers, and there are padded bench areas airside, with the stretch between gates A18 and A34 a known favorite. Claim a spot before 11pm and bring a layer, since it cools down overnight.
Which CPH lounges take Priority Pass?
The Aspire Lounge and the Carlsberg Aviator Lounge, both near the A and B piers. The Eventyr Lounge in the non Schengen area normally takes it too but closed for renovation in January 2026; verify it has reopened before counting on it.
How do I get from CPH to central Copenhagen?
The M2 metro runs from Terminal 3 around the clock, reaching Kongens Nytorv in about 13 minutes for roughly 30 kroner. Mainline trains from under Terminal 3 reach Copenhagen Central in about 13 to 15 minutes for a similar fare.
How early should I arrive for a flight from Copenhagen?
Security averages about 37 minutes and can pass 56 minutes in the early morning and late afternoon peaks. For flights leaving the Schengen area, arrive 3 hours ahead to cover passport control and the walk to the C gates.
Is there a hotel connected to Copenhagen Airport?
Yes. The Clarion Hotel Copenhagen Airport links directly to Terminal 3 by a covered walkway and offers day rooms subject to availability. It is the only hotel physically attached to the terminal.
Check lounge access at CPH
Compare entry options for Kastrup's six lounges, from Priority Pass to pay at the door, before settling for a bench by the gate.
Affiliate disclosure: some links may earn us a commission at no cost to you.
Join Gate Notes
Lounge offers and the layover intel you need at 2am, in your inbox before you fly. Free.
No spam. Unsubscribe any time.