# Copenhagen to Stockholm by Train Travelling from Copenhagen to Stockholm by train means crossing the Øresund strait — bridge, artificial island, and tunnel — followed by a run through southern and central Sweden. SJ's own direct X2000 service is currently suspended (expected back autumn 2026); today the route is covered either by a connection in Malmö or by Snälltåget's direct day train. ## Quick facts - **Duration:** around 5 to 5.5 hours - **Departure station:** Copenhagen Central (København H) - **Arrival station:** Stockholm Central Station - **Direct vs. connecting:** SJ's own direct X2000 is suspended until an expected autumn 2026 return; the standard route currently connects via Malmö, and Snälltåget runs a genuine no-change day train - **Fares:** roughly $35–45 one-way in advance on SJ or Snälltåget, often $80–120 or more closer to travel - **Main operators:** SJ (X2000, Malmö–Stockholm leg), Snälltåget (direct day train + seasonal overnight), Öresundståg (Copenhagen–Malmö regional leg) - **Approximate route:** Copenhagen → Øresund Bridge → Malmö → southern/central Sweden → Stockholm ## Schedule Regional Öresundståg services run frequently (several times an hour) between Copenhagen and Malmö. From Malmö, SJ's long-distance departures to Stockholm run at regular intervals. Snälltåget adds one daily day-train departure each way, plus a seasonal overnight service roughly May–October. Timetables shift by season and operator, and SJ's own direct service is expected to return to the timetable in autumn 2026 — always check sj.se or snalltaget.se directly before travelling. ## How long is the journey? Around 5 to 5.5 hours currently, whether connecting via Malmö or taking Snälltåget's direct day train. Once SJ's own direct X2000 resumes, journey time is expected to be closer to 5 hours 15 minutes. ## Is there a direct train? Not from SJ right now — its direct X2000 service has been suspended since 2024 (a shortage of available trainsets during refurbishment) and is expected back in autumn 2026, unconfirmed at time of writing. Snälltåget runs a daily day train that covers the whole route without a change, making it the one genuinely direct option currently operating. The standard SJ-ticketed itinerary involves changing trains in Malmö. ## Route Copenhagen → Øresund → Malmö → southern Sweden → Stockholm. The line passes Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup), crosses the Øresund fixed link, then runs north through Skåne farmland and central Swedish forest/lake country to Stockholm. ## Via Malmö Malmö is where the regional Copenhagen network meets Sweden's long-distance network. A regional Öresundståg service covers Copenhagen–Malmö in around 35–40 minutes; an SJ long-distance train covers Malmö–Stockholm in roughly 4h30–4h45. Both legs currently use Malmö Central, usually sold as one combined ticket with a workable connection buffer. ## Operators - **SJ / X2000** — Sweden's tilting high-speed train, currently covers the Malmö–Stockholm leg; its own through Copenhagen–Stockholm service is expected back in autumn 2026. - **Snälltåget** — a daily, year-round direct day train (Hamburg–Copenhagen–Malmö–Stockholm), plus a seasonal overnight service (roughly May–October). Currently the only genuinely no-change option. - **Öresundståg** — a separate cross-border regional network covering the Copenhagen–Malmö leg; doesn't run to Stockholm. ## Stations **Copenhagen Central (København H)** — central Copenhagen, beside Tivoli Gardens, connected to S-train and Metro. **Stockholm Central** — central Stockholm, connected to T-Centralen metro and Stockholm City commuter rail. ## The Øresund Bridge Opened July 2000. Roughly 16 km total: a 7.8 km cable-stayed bridge, the artificial island Peberholm, and the 4 km immersed Drogden Tunnel. This fixed link is what makes a ferry-free direct rail journey between Denmark and Sweden possible. ## Luggage and baggage No universal allowance — each operator sets its own rules for luggage, bikes and pets (SJ, Snälltåget). Check the specific operator's current policy before travelling. ## Train vs. plane The train offers city-centre stations, no security lines, and Øresund/Swedish scenery, but takes longer overall (~5h vs ~1h flying). Flying wins on raw speed; the train wins on comfort, luggage space and a single uninterrupted ride. Neither is a universal winner — it depends on traveller priorities. ## Day trip feasibility A same-day round trip is possible but long: roughly 10 hours on trains alone. Whether it's worthwhile depends on the earliest/latest available direct departures and how much time in Stockholm matters to you. ## FAQ highlights - **How long is the train?** ~5 to 5.5 hours currently. - **Direct train?** Not from SJ right now (suspended since 2024, expected back autumn 2026) — Snälltåget's daily day train is the current no-change option. - **Distance?** ~522 km (325 miles). - **Operators?** SJ (Malmö–Stockholm leg), Snälltåget (direct day train + seasonal overnight), Öresundståg (Copenhagen–Malmö regional leg). - **Copenhagen Airport to Stockholm?** Yes, Kastrup station sits on the same line. - **Crosses the Øresund Bridge?** Yes. --- Book tickets: https://highspeedtrains.com