An Oresundstag train crossing the Oresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden

The Oresund Bridge, which every Copenhagen-Stockholm service crosses on its way into Sweden.

Photo: Jorchr / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Copenhagen to Stockholm by Train

An international route between Denmark and Sweden.

Reviewed by Eurotraintrip on 2026-07-30

Duration: 4h 55m – 5h 35m
Price from: 19 EUR
Distance: 522 km
Operators: SJ (SJ X2000)Oresundstag
Frequency: Normally 5-7 direct SJ X2000 departures a day; as of mid-2026 the through service is suspended for fleet refurbishment, so practical frequency is the roughly hourly Oresundstag service to Malmo connecting into onward SJ departures

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What makes Copenhagen to Stockholm different

As of mid-2026 the direct X2000 service is suspended while SJ refurbishes and re-certifies its X2000 fleet for cross-border operation - not every X2000 trainset carries the signalling/safety equipment needed to legally run in Denmark, which is part of why a fleet-wide refit takes the whole direct route offline rather than a handful of departures; SJ and Danish/Swedish reporting point to a resumption in autumn 2026.
The crossing of the Oresund Fixed Link - the bridge-and-tunnel connection opened in 2000 - takes roughly 12-15 minutes from the train window, with the transition from bridge to the undersea Drogden Tunnel happening on the artificial island of Peberholm partway across.
At Malmo Central during the current change-over, the SJ train and the Oresundstag don't share a platform: SJ services use the surface-level tracks while Oresundstag trains run from the underground City Tunnel platforms, so budget time to walk between levels rather than expecting a same-platform switch.

Copenhagen station

Departs from Kobenhavn H (Copenhagen Central), whose main hall dates to 1911; it connects via an underground passage to the M3 Cityringen and M4 metro lines, and all Copenhagen S-tog suburban lines converge here too - check the departure board specifically for the Sweden-bound Oresundstag/SJ listing rather than the general S-tog boards.

Stockholm station

Arrives at Stockholm Centralstation, connected via a roughly 200m underground passage to T-Centralen, the only station where all three Stockholm Metro lines (red, green, blue) meet; the station is also where the Arlanda Express airport train departs, so despite arriving overland from Denmark you land in the same transit hub as most Stockholm flight arrivals.

Train vs. other options

Frequent SAS and Norwegian flights cover Copenhagen-Stockholm in about an hour in the air, and for time-pressed business travelers flying is typically still faster door-to-door than the roughly 5-hour train - this is one of the longer rail hops on this site, so unlike most short intra-country routes, the train's case here rests on center-to-center convenience, no baggage fees, watching the Oresund crossing, and a much lower carbon footprint than the short-haul flight, rather than on raw speed.

Booking tips

As of writing, there is no through train - book the Copenhagen-Malmo leg (Oresundstag) and the Malmo-Stockholm leg (SJ X2000) as a combined SJ booking rather than assuming you need two unrelated tickets; check SJ's site for the current status before you travel, since the direct service is due back in autumn 2026.
Book SJ's discounted advance fares as early as possible - the cheapest tickets sell out first, and prices step up considerably closer to departure.
SJ X2000 requires a seat reservation, included in most fares; Oresundstag regional trains for the Copenhagen-Malmo leg are unreserved - during the current change-at-Malmo routing, make sure you board the correct timed SJ departure onward, not just the next X2000 to arrive.

Good to know: Not all SJ X2000 trainsets are equipped/certified to operate in Denmark, so historically only a subset of the fleet has run the Copenhagen leg at all - the current fleet-wide refurbishment (the cause of today's suspension) is partly about re-certifying that cross-border-capable subset.

While you're in Stockholm

Colorful gabled buildings around Stortorget square in Gamla Stan, Stockholm's old town

Stortorget, the old town square at the heart of Gamla Stan, lined with Stockholm's famous row of colorful merchant houses.

Photo: Oyvind Holmstad / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Stockholm is built across 14 islands, and it shows: Gamla Stan's medieval alleys, the open-air history of Skansen, and the Vasa Museum's astonishingly intact 17th-century warship are all a short ferry or metro ride apart.

Full Stockholm travel guide →

Frequently asked questions

Is there currently a direct train from Copenhagen to Stockholm?

Not as of mid-2026 - SJ's direct X2000 is suspended for fleet refurbishment, so travelers change trains in Malmo. SJ has said the direct service should return in autumn 2026 - check current status before booking.

How long does the Copenhagen to Stockholm train take?

The direct X2000 normally takes about 4 hours 55 minutes to 5 hours 10 minutes. With the current Malmo change, budget closer to 5 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 35 minutes.

Does the train cross a bridge into Sweden?

Yes - it crosses the Oresund Bridge and Drogden Tunnel, the fixed link connecting Copenhagen and Malmo, with about 12-15 minutes of the crossing visible from the window.