Copenhagen Opera Tickets: how to buy, prices and discounts

During your visit to the city, you have the opportunity to visit the most impressive theater in Europe: the Copenhagen Opera House. Find out how to get tickets, discounts, benefits and more in this article.

Lorena Morales

Lorena Morales

11 min read

Copenhagen Opera Tickets: how to buy, prices and discounts

Copenhagen National Opera House | ©Dras

The Copenhagen National Opera House is a true icon of the city and one of the best things to see and do in Copenhagen. Thanks to its modern architecture and careful construction, it has achieved the best sound quality, so the plays can be heard perfectly from any seat or balcony you choose. In addition, it has the best views of Copenhagen harbor.

In this article I will tell you how to get tickets, benefit cards and discounts that you can take advantage of during your visit to the Opera House. I will also tell you what other sites related to the theater you can't miss, such as the Old Stage House and the Royal Danish Playhouse, so you can get a more complete picture of this amazing theater.

How to buy Copenhagen Opera tickets

Book Online| ©Glenn Carstens-Peters
Book Online| ©Glenn Carstens-Peters

The easiest and quickest way to buy your ticket is on the National Opera House website, where you will find a diagram of the theater with its balconies and seats. By selecting a location, you can see how the stage looks from there, so you can choose your seat with the information you need.

This way, you will avoid queuing at the box office and you can choose a good place to see your favorite plays, because if you buy directly at the theater, you will have to settle for the seats and balconies that have been vacated. In addition, on the website you will find all the information about the plays that are currently playing. The charge for the service is minimal, approximately 2€.

The means of payment to buy your ticket are: - Cash- Credit and debit cards, using the website or the application: Mastercard, Visa, Visa Electron, Darkort, Supper Club, Eurocard, Maestro, Mobile Payment. No fees apply for using the cards on the website or app - Gift cards. In general, they are valid for 3 years and can only be used for performances sold by the Teatro Real.

How to buy tickets at the box office

If you prefer, you can buy tickets at the box office, but remember to go in advance so you can choose a good location.

The theater's box office hours are Monday to Friday from 9.30 am to 4 pm, while on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays it remains closed. The Royal Opera House, The Royal Playhouse and The Old Stage box offices are only open on performance days and from 2 hours prior to each performance.

  • Location of the Opera House box office: Ekvipagemestervej 10, 1438 København K.
  • Location of the other ticket offices: August Bournonvilles Passage 8, Postboks 2185, 1017 Koebenhavn.

How to buy tickets by phone

If it's easier for you, you can contact the Theatre Royal box office by phone to purchase your ticket, Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 4 pm. This can be a good option if you are visiting Copenhagen in winter, and it is not easy to buy tickets online.

On the other hand, if you have reduced mobility, you can book your ticket in advance by phone. This way you can buy your companion's ticket for free.

  • Phone: +45 33 69 69 69

How much do tickets for the Copenhagen Opera cost?

Money in euros| ©Ibrahim Boran
Money in euros| ©Ibrahim Boran

The Copenhagen Opera has a reputation for being the most expensive opera house in the world, but in reality you can enjoy its performances at affordable and discounted prices, and even see performances completely free of charge. Seat prices range from 19 to 135 €.

The performances have different prices, as their cost varies according to the popularity of the performance, the location of the seats, the production costs, the fame of the cast or the publicity. Every month you will find special free performances, bearing in mind that their season starts in mid-August in Copenhagen and ends in June.

On the other hand, the premiere performance is usually more expensive than the revival. When performances are re-released the tickets are much, much more affordable. You don't have to wait a long time, as they usually repeat the performance in about 4-6 months. For example, a ticket during the premiere can cost from 115 to 135 € and in the revival its value ranges from 23 to 135 €.

At the Copenhagen Opera, ballet performances are also presented, whose prices are between 22 and 110 €, and are cheaper than for the opera. You can also choose to see a concert, with tickets ranging from €27 to €40, which is less than the opera and ballet performances.

What types of tickets are there? Are there tickets to the Opera without queues?

Outside the Opera House| ©Jorge Láscar
Outside the Opera House| ©Jorge Láscar

There are 4 categories of tickets at the Copenhagen Opera House to see the performances: parquet, first, second or third balcony. The parquet seats are the most expensive, due to their central location in the theater; and the balcony seats vary in price according to their proximity to the stage, with the first balcony being more expensive, and the third balcony cheaper.

After you choose a category, you will find that each category is divided into rows. The price of each seat varies according to the quality of its view of the stage, so a ticket with a view of the center will be more expensive than a seat on the sides.

As there are no special tickets to the Opera without queues, you should arrive at least 20 minutes before the performance starts, which is what the theater recommends.

Are tickets to the Opera included in any of the city's tourist passes?

Entrance to the theater| ©Luca Vegetti
Entrance to the theater| ©Luca Vegetti

Tickets to the Copenhagen Opera House are not included in any city sightseeing pass. But if you plan to attend regularly, you may be interested in purchasing a National Opera House card.

With this card you will get a 10% discount on all tickets to see performances at the theater, but not for performances by outside organizations. Its value is about 35€ and is valid for one year.

In addition, with the card you can access a 10% discount in bars, cafes and restaurants of the Teatro Real, 4 free drinks and a 50% discount on parking, the days of the performance of your choice. Remember to check the availability of this benefit and from which days of the week or weekends it is enabled.

On the website of the Opera, you can see the requirements to obtain your card and how to send it so you can start using it. You can also purchase it at the theater's box office.

Are there tickets that include a guided tour of the Opera and is it worth it?

Getting to know the opera house| ©Jens Schott Knudsen
Getting to know the opera house| ©Jens Schott Knudsen

The Royal Danish Opera House has a lot to offer in addition to the performances, so it offers different tours: The Opera House, which is focused on the modern architecture of the building; The Royal Danish Playhouse, where you can see the behind-the-scenes preparations; and The Old Stage, which is an old building where some ballet performances are held.

Tours must be scheduled in advance and are conducted in groups, with exclusive discounts for groups of 30 people. The tours are conducted with an expert guide who is part of the theater staff and last approximately 1 hour and a half for each building. Reservations can be made by writing to the following address: [email protected].

The Opera House

The Opera House is a tour of the theater itself, which is one of the finest buildings in Copenhagen. It was built thanks to a donation from billionaire Marsk Mc-Kinney Moller and is one of the most modern and expensive buildings in Europe.

The impressive golden roof is covered with 24-karat gold panels, the facade is made of metal and it has a large auditorium with an unbeatable sound quality. Marsk took care to design the balconies with spaces to enhance the sound. It is one of the best things to see if you are in Copenhagen for 2 days.

On the tour you will see the foyer of the Opera House which has an excellent panoramic view of the Amalienborg Palace, the port of Copenhagen and the Frederiksstaden district. You will also see Olafur Eliasson's famous light sculptures.

The Old Stage

This building used to be a theater, which was founded in 1748, and nowadays only ballet performances are held here. It contains old paintings on the ceiling: the famous swinging angels and the traditional chandelier of the theater hall.

During your visit, you will see the artists getting ready and all the staff (photographers, tailors, etc.) working on the preparations. Among the most interesting sites you will see the private salon of Queen Margrethe II

The Royal Danish Playhouse

It is an Italian Renaissance style architecture, where you can see the artists getting ready to go on stage, or see how they assemble the pieces for the staging and prepare the lighting. The Royal Danish Playhouse 's most striking stages are the black spaces of the Gate Stage and the Small Stagen.

Other guided tours

Some performances offer guided behind-the-scenes tours, which you must book in advance. These are generally for current performances, but it is best to check if the option is available for the performance you wish to see.

You can also purchase a combo of a guided tour plus admission to the performance, with 10% discounts on tickets for groups of up to 10 people. There are also packages where you can purchase a guided tour plus dinner before the performance.

Guided tours usually last about 45-60 minutes, and you can do them on their own, without seeing the performance afterwards. Please note that even if you have booked to see the behind-the-scenes, there is no guarantee that it will take place. The theater is in operation and may decide to cancel at the last minute.

Reservations for these backstage shows are made on the Opera's website, at the box office or by phone, just like tickets.

Are there discounted tickets for the opera?

Inside the opera house| ©Jón Atli Eðvarðsson
Inside the opera house| ©Jón Atli Eðvarðsson

A good initiative offered by the National Opera House to attract all audiences, especially younger audiences and children, is to reduce the ticket amount by 50% for children under 12 and approximately 40% less for young people under 25.

This discount is available for all performances, whether ballet, concerts or opera, and you can use it during premieres and revivals. It is also available for all seats, both parquet and balcony. To activate the discount, it is important that you bring your passport to prove your age.

In addition, there are often performances for children under 30, known as Young Opera, at a promotional cost. There is also a 10% discount for groups of more than 10 people, if you buy your tickets at the same time.

Are there special tickets for children?

Opera House at Night| ©Jannik Schäffer
Opera House at Night| ©Jannik Schäffer

If you are going to Copenhagen with children, it is good to know that children from 0 to 2 years old get in for free, and children under 12 years old get a 50% discount on tickets to the Opera House. Children must reserve their seat just like adults.

Please note that one of the rules of the theater is that children attending are mature enough to stay in their seat quietly and quietly so as not to disturb the audience.

On the other hand, the theater offers special tickets and performances for young people aged 15 to 30 years. They can see the Opera Joven for an exclusive and more economical price. In addition, they can purchase drinks, wine and different foods at much cheaper prices. For the rest of the theater performances, young people from 13 to 25 years old have a 40% discount on tickets.

Why is it worth buying tickets online instead of at the box office?

Opera performance| ©Mariana Maia
Opera performance| ©Mariana Maia

If you want to get to know the theater and see the opera performances, it is better to get tickets in advance, as some performances sell out quickly. In this sense, buying tickets online will be more convenient and faster than buying them at the box office, especially if you are staying far from the theater.

You should also keep in mind that it is best to choose your seat, balcony or parquet as far in advance as possible, so you can enjoy the performance from the best location. Anyway, as the Opera House is one of the most emblematic buildings in Copenhagen, both for its architecture and sound quality, you will enjoy an excellent show from any location you choose.

How to get to the Copenhagen National Opera House

Copenhagen Metro| ©Peter Anderson
Copenhagen Metro| ©Peter Anderson

The Copenhagen Opera House is located in the city of Copenhagen, and has three houses, whose locations are as follows:

  • The Royal Opera House, located in the famous building built in 2005. Its location is Ekvipagemestervej 10, 1438 København K.
  • The Old Stage: this is an old theater where performances are also held. It is located in the central Kongens Nytorv square.
  • The Royal Playhouse, located on Sankt Annae Plads 36, 1250, Kobenhavn K. It is where you can see the behind the scenes of the plays.

Public transportation

In Copenhagen you can use the following means of public transport:

  • Metro: it is a modern and fast transport, which has two lines, M1 and M2. To get from the airport to the Opera House you should take the M2 because it is more direct. It takes about 15 minutes and leaves you at Christianshavns station, 5 minutes from the theater. From there you can take bus 9A, walk or take a cab.
  • Cab: it is the most expensive means of transportation, but it is the easiest and fastest. From the airport to the theater you have approximately 20 minutes.
  • Bus: it is the slowest option, since from the airport to the Opera it takes 45 minutes or an hour, and you may have to wait about 15 minutes at the bus stop.

An interesting fact is that in all means of public transportation, whether in the metro, train or bus, the same method of payment is used , that of tickets. To visit the Opera House, you must buy a ticket for zone 1, which corresponds to the city center.

How to get to the Opera House by car

From the airport, you can reach the Opera House in approximately 20 minutes, the shortest route being via Amager Strandvej. You have the option of renting a car, taking a cab, or hiring a private transfer.

Another good option is the City Pass for the airport and downtown areas, which can be purchased from 24 to 72 hours. This is very practical if you want to visit Copenhagen in 3 days or two, and plan to use public transportation. There are also tourist cards in Copenhagen that include free public transport for 3 to 7 days.

If you are going to walk around the center of Copenhagen, you can buy a 24-hour ticket, which gives you unlimited travel on all means of public transport, whether by metro, bus or water buses. And if you want to go to the main tourist destinations without delay, you can hire a Hop on Hop off Bus in Copenhagen, which also takes you to the Opera House.

Book the Copenhagen sightseeing bus