The option you're looking for is -R.
cp -R path_to_source path_to_destination/
- If
destinationdoesn't exist, it will be created. -Rmeanscopy directories recursively. You can also use-rsince it's case-insensitive.- To copy everything inside the source folder (symlinks, hidden files) without copying the source folder itself use
-aflag along with trailing/.in the source (as per@muni764's /@Anton Krug's comment):
cp -a path_to_source/. path_to_destination/