Plane to train in Copenhagen

Question

I am traveling internationally for the first time ever. I am 63 and in good health and I have a question concerning the time I should allow between the time my plane (KLM) lands 18:20, and the train I need to catch to Malmö central station. Is this something a reasonably fit person should be able to accomplish in an hour’s time?

I am staying within a few blocks of Malmö central train station and I don’t want to be getting there too late at night. Also, is a short walk (3 blocks or so) in Malmö late evening safe?

Answer 1

I do this journey regularly. My mum's 85, arrived on the 18.20 from AMS, with luggage, and we easily caught the 18.59 train to Malmö. It might take you a bit longer if you don't know where you're going, but an hour should be plenty.

When you exit customs into the arrivals area, the exit to trains is to the left. If I remember rightly, you need platform 1, but check the signposts.

The Skånetrafiken app is best. You can buy your ticket in advance and not activate it straight away - you can activate it once you're through the airport and have found the platform. The trains run several times an hour. The platform announcement boards are not always very helpful, so the app is also the best source for when the next train is leaving. If in doubt, ask someone else on the platform.

I haven't been outside Malmö Central at night (I usually just travel through or else I'm there during daytime), but based on my general sense of the area I would be comfortable walking a few blocks from the station. If you're travelling soon, it may well still be light when you arrive.

Answer 2

You can't book a place on the train, it's similar to a subway/metro.

It's cheaper to buy a ticket in the Skånetrafiken app or ticket machine than online in advance.

If you purchase online the ticket is valid up to three hours before and three hours after the selected departure so the choice of departure is less important. https://www.oresundstag.se/en/travel-information/buy-ticket/ under "Ticket validity"

A ticket with departure station within zones F + L – e.g. Copenhagen Central Station or CPH Airport – is valid for any Öresundståg on the same line within three hours prior to and three hours after the specified departure.

Answer 3

Is this something a reasonably fit person should be able to accomplish in an hour’s time?

Hard to say and it depends a lot on your details. Do you have checked luggage, what class are you flying, do you have status, what passport do you have, will your flight be delayed, etc.

This being said, the trains from Copenhagen airport to Malmo go fairly frequently (20 minutes if I remember correctly, unless there is construction, urggh) so if you miss one, just take the next. You can buy tickets at the airport at the ticket machines, but they can have long lines. So pre-buying a ticket is a good idea.

Also, is a short walk (3 blocks or so) in Malmö late evening safe?

Yes. Sweden is very safe and this is not all that late. Also, most Scandinavians speak excellent English and are quite friendly, so you will not have any problems communicating.