Tivoli lights, Andersen's town, old-town Yule
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Copenhagen, Odense & Aarhus
Copenhagen to Odense
Copenhagen and Odense sit about 141 km (87 mi) apart in a straight line, with Odense to the west. It is leg 1 of 2 on our Copenhagen, Odense & Aarhus itinerary, a 6-day trip. Here is how long it takes by train, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 141 km · 87 mi
- Est. road distance
- 169–197 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h 45 min – 3 h
- Direction
- Heading west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By train
Our Copenhagen, Odense & Aarhus itinerary is planned around rail, so a train is the likely way to cover this leg. Timetables and direct connections vary — check the operator before you book.
By car
Driving is an estimated 169–197 km (105–122 mi) and 1 h 45 min – 3 h at typical average speeds, not a routed time.
No car needed. Fly into Copenhagen Airport (13 minutes by metro or train to the centre). DSB InterCity trains run Copenhagen – Odense in about 1 h 15 min and Odense – Aarhus in about 1 h 35 min, several times an hour; seat reservations are cheap and worth it on December Fridays. All three city centres are walkable; Den Fynske Landsby is a short bus ride or a 40-minute walk along the river from central Odense.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Odense
Andersen's hometown; one or two nights for the old-town market and the Funen Village.
H.C. Andersens Hus
The museum built around Andersen's birthplace, with a Kengo Kuma-designed pavilion and garden telling his life and tales.
Den Fynske Landsby
Open-air museum of Funen farms, mills and a village school; on the first two December weekends it celebrates an old-style Christmas.
Den Gamle Kro
Restaurant in a half-timbered 1683 merchant house on Overgade, serving Danish classics in candlelit rooms.
Sortebrødre Torv Christmas Market
Weekend market in the cobbled Andersen quarter with stalls set up in a 19th-century style, crafts, gløgg and æbleskiver.
Hotel Odeon
Design hotel beside the Odeon concert hall, a few minutes' walk from the Andersen quarter and the station.
H.C. Andersen's Childhood Home
The small house on Munkemøllestræde where Andersen lived from age two to fourteen.
Before you leave Copenhagen
Three nights for Jul i Tivoli, Nyhavn and the Kongens Nytorv lights.
On this curated route
Where Copenhagen → Odense sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Odense to Copenhagen is the same 141 km in a straight line, heading east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
Average daytime highs at both ends stay within 1°C of each other all year, so you can pack the same way for both.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copenhagen high | 3° | 3° | 5° | 10° | 15° | 18° | 21° | 21° | 17° | 12° | 8° | 4° |
| Odense high | 3° | 3° | 5° | 10° | 15° | 18° | 21° | 20° | 17° | 12° | 8° | 4° |
| Copenhagen rain | 61 | 48 | 42 | 34 | 47 | 64 | 69 | 83 | 54 | 70 | 62 | 63 |
| Odense rain | 58 | 47 | 42 | 36 | 49 | 68 | 74 | 78 | 58 | 69 | 61 | 61 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Odense month guides.
Copenhagen to Odense: questions travelers ask
How far is Copenhagen from Odense?
Copenhagen is about 141 km (87 mi) from Odense in a straight line, with Odense to the west. By road, we estimate 169–197 km (105–122 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Copenhagen to Odense?
An estimated 1 h 45 min – 3 h, assuming 169–197 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day. Our itinerary leans on rail, so check train times too.
Which itineraries include the trip from Copenhagen to Odense?
Our Copenhagen, Odense & Aarhus itinerary includes this leg. Copenhagen, Odense & Aarhus runs about 6 days across 3 stops, best in Mid-Nov – Dec.
Onward from Odense
- Odense to Aarhus 85 km
Getting to Copenhagen
- Copenhagen to Stockholm 522 km
Guides for both ends
- Copenhagen travel guide
- Copenhagen weather best time to visit
- Odense travel guide
- Odense weather best time to visit
Odense by month
More to explore
Plan Copenhagen → Odense with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.