Kastellet

Copenhagen

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DESTINATIONS denmark copenhagen Do & See Kastellet

Kastellet

The star-shaped fortress of Kastellet was originally commissioned by Frederik III in 1662. Today, it is one of the most historically evocative sites in the city, its grassy ramparts and moat surrounding some beautiful 18th-century barracks, as well as a chapel occasionally used for concerts. On the ramparts is a historic windmill, and you get some excellent views of the harbour and Marmorkirken's Vatican-like dome.

Do & See

Copenhagen is an old city with historic buildings, royal castles, beautiful parks and harbours, and plenty of attractions and activities to keep even the most eager tourist busy. The city centre is characterised by charming architecture and narrow curving streets. But within recent years Copenhagen has supplemented its architectural heritage with new, world-class architecture. It is easy to explore the city and get around, and many sights are within walking distance from one another. You can always catch a bus or take the metro to get around, or rent a bike and travel the Danish way.

Visit Carlsberg

Visit Carlsberg

The legendary landmark known for its world-famous Danish beer is closed for modernisation until 2020. Although the Visitor Centre will not be open to the public until then, the Jacobsen’s brewery will continue to brew Jacobsen beer (Jacobsen Restaurant and Bar will be closed). Carlsberg Brand Store are open Tuesday to Thursday between 11:00 and …

Nyhavn

This iconic postcard-ready sight is somewhat of a sudden splash of colour and a definite must-visit when in town. The canal was built to connect Kongens Nytorv to the harbour and was long a haunt for sailors and writers, including Hans Christian Andersen. He wrote The Tinderbox, Little Claus and Big Claus and The Princess …

Copenhagen Highlights Bike Tour

Copenhagen Highlights Bike Tour

Explore Copenhagen like a local and discover the city on two wheels on this 3-hour guided bike tour. Hop on a bike and discover the Danish capital's highlights, including The Little Mermaid statue, Rosenborg Castle, and Christiania–Copenhagen's most hippie neighborhood. Taste traditional cuisine in Torvehallerne, a modern food hall, and learn about Danish culture as you …

Amalienborg Slot

Amalienborg Slot

Home of the current queen, Margrethe II, Amalienborg Slot consists of four austere 18th-century palaces around a large cobbled square. The changing of the guard takes place here daily at noon, the new guard having marched through the city centre from the barracks on Gothersgade at …

Grand Tour from Nyhavn

Grand Tour from Nyhavn

A sightseeing cruise is one of the best ways to get to know a new city. And in a city surrounded by water like Copenhagen, this is the perfect introduction! Join this 1-hour cruise around Copenhagen's picturesque canals to discover the city's top attractions like the Amalienborg Palace–home to the Danish royal family–the Little Mermaid …

Freetown Christiania (Christiania)

Freetown Christiania (Christiania)

Escape the capitalist crunch and head to Freetown Christiania, a hash-scented commune straddling the eastern side of Christianshavn. Since its establishment by squatters in 1971, the area has drawn nonconformists from across the globe, attracted by the concept of collective business, workshops, and communal living. Explore beyond the settlement's infamous 'Pusher Street' – lined …

Rosenborg Slot

A 'once upon a time' combo of turrets, gables and moat, the early-17th-century Rosenborg Slot was built in Dutch Renaissance style between 1606 and 1633 by King Christian IV to serve as his summer home. Today the castle's 24 upper rooms are chronologically arranged, housing the furnishings and portraits of each monarch from Christian …

The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid

New York has its Lady Liberty and Sydney its Danish-designed Opera House. When the world thinks of Copenhagen, the chances are they're thinking of the Little Mermaid. Love her or loathe her (watch Copenhageners cringe at the very mention of her), this small, underwhelming statue is arguably the most photographed sight in the country, …

Tivoli Gardens

Dating from 1843, tasteful Tivoli wins fans with its dreamy whirl of amusement rides, twinkling pavilions, carnival games, and open-air stage shows. Visitors can ride the renovated, century-old roller coaster, enjoy the famous Saturday evening fireworks display or just soak up the story-book atmosphere. A good tip is to go on Friday during summer …

Kronborg Castle & Sweden Tour

Kronborg Castle & Sweden Tour

Explore two Scandinavian countries in one day on this enjoyable tour from Copenhagen. Travel by minibus to Helsingør, where you can visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kronborg Castle, immortalized in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'. Then, hop on a ferry to Sweden to discover the highlights of the historical university city of Lund and the vibrant city of …

Christiansborg Palace

Christiansborg Palace

Christiansborg Palace is home to Folketinget (the Danish parliament), the Prime Minister's office, and the Supreme Court. Visitor highlights include the glorious royal reception rooms, 11th-century ruins and royal kitchen, all of which can be visited separately or by joint ticket. Admission to the palace grounds, public galleries (during parliamentary debates only), and the …

Kastellet

The star-shaped fortress of Kastellet was originally commissioned by Frederik III in 1662. Today, it is one of the most historically evocative sites in the city, its grassy ramparts and moat surrounding some beautiful 18th-century barracks, as well as a chapel occasionally used for concerts. On the ramparts is a historic windmill, and you …

The Round Tower (Rundetårn)

The Round Tower (Rundetårn)

Haul yourself to the top of the 34.8m-high red-brick 'Round Tower' and you will be following in the footsteps of such luminaries as King Christian IV, who built it in 1642 as an astronomical observatory as well as a tower for the new university church, Trinitatis. You'll also be following in the hoofsteps of …

Operaen

Designed by the late Henning Larsen, Copenhagen's state-of-the-art opera house has two stages: the Main Stage and the smaller, more experimental Takkeløftet. The repertoire runs the gamut from blockbuster classics to contemporary opera. While the occasional opera is sung in English, all supertitles are in Danish only. Tickets can be booked directly via the …

Louisiana Museum Of Modern Art

Louisiana Museum Of Modern Art

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is located 35 km north of Copenhagen with a panoramic view across the Øresund. The interaction between world class art, nature and architecture is unique, and Louisiana is often hailed as “probably the most beautiful museum in the world”. The collection includes significant chapters in XXth century art, and …

Børsen

Not many stock exchanges are topped by a 56m-tall spire formed from the entwined tails of four dragons. Børsen is one. Constructed in the bustling early-17th-century reign of Christian IV, the building is considered one of the finest examples of Dutch Renaissance architecture in Denmark, with richly embellished gables. Its still-functioning chamber of commerce …

The Blue Planet

The Blue Planet

One of the most iconic architectural masterpieces in Copenhagen is 'The Blue Planet', Northern Europe’s largest aquarium, home to thousands of animals and 7 million litres of water. It offers a unique experience, combining entertainment, fascination and knowledge in a spectacular setting. Surely worth to pay a …

Tycho Brahe Planetarium

Tycho Brahe Planetarium

Explore the heavens at Copenhagen's planetarium, with its state-of-the-art equipment capable of projecting more than 7500 stars, planets and galaxies in its domed Space Theatre. The centre also screens IMAX and 3D films on subjects ranging from dinosaurs to the Galápagos Islands. While the films are narrated in Danish, English-language headphones are available at …

Gefion Fountain

Gefion Fountain

At the southeastern edge of Kastellet is Anders Bundgaard's monumental Gefion Fountain, depicting the Norse goddess Gefion steering some rather stoic oxen. The fountain was donated to the city by the Carlsberg Foundation to celebrate the brewery's 50th anniversary in …

Det Kongelige Bibliotek

Det Kongelige Bibliotek

Scandinavia's largest library consists of two very distinct parts: the original 19th-century red-brick building and the head-turning 'Black Diamond' extension, the latter a leaning parallelogram of sleek black granite and smoke-coloured glass. From the soaring, harbour-fronting atrium, an escalator leads up to a 210 sq metre ceiling mural by celebrated Danish artist Per Kirkeby. …

Folketinget

Folketinget is where the 179 members of the Danish parliament debate national legislation. Guided tours also take in Wanderer's Hall, which contains the original copy of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Denmark, enacted in 1849. Outside the summer high season, the guided tours generally take place at 1pm on selected Sundays and public …

Holmens Kirke

Queen Margrethe II took her marriage vows here in 1967, and while much of the present Dutch Renaissance–style structure dates from 1641, the church's nave was originally built in 1562 to be used as an anchor forge. Converted into a church for the Royal Navy in 1619, the building's burial chapel contains the remains …

Danish Architecture Centre

Danish Architecture Centre

The Danish Architecture Centre (DAC) is Denmark’s leading exhibition venue for new architecture and urban development located in an old warehouse by the waterfront. DAC offers changing exhibitions, discussions, debates and cultural events. Enjoy lunch in the cafe and visit the bookshop with the finest selection of books on architecture and …

Kunstforeningen GL STRAND

Kunstforeningen GL STRAND

Located by the canals, GL STRAND is a unique venue of modern and contemporary art. Annually they present 6-8 exhibitions which feature the newest tendencies and modern art with a contemporary twist along with artist talks, performances, and other events. Enjoy a cup of coffee in the café with an outdoor terrace and browse …

National Gallery of Denmark

National Gallery of Denmark

Statens Museum for Kunst, the Danish national gallery, is the only place in Denmark that features 700 years of Western art and cultural history under one roof. Consequently, a visit to the museum means an artistic encounter between classical, modern and contemporary art, just as the museum building itself that represents a fusion of …

Kids Copenhagen - Experimentarium

Kids Copenhagen - Experimentarium

Copenhagen is a very kid-friendly city. Buses and trains have areas reserved for prams and pushchairs, there are children’s menus in restaurants, and of course reductions at all museums and galleries. The famous Experimentarium is a science centre filled with exciting experiments and activities that will make your kids interested in science right away. …

The Danish Jewish Museum

The Danish Jewish Museum

The Danish Jewish Museum displays 400 years of Danish Jewish history. It tells a story about integration and difference, about peaceful coexistence and humanity. The spectacular exhibition space was designed by world renowned architect Daniel …

National Museum of Denmark

National Museum of Denmark

Where can you learn about the history of the Danes from the first hunters of the Ice Age to the last hash stall from the ‘free state’ of Christiania? And where can you see one of the world’s biggest collections of exhibits from cultures all over the planet? The National Museum of Denmark is …

Guinness World Record Museum

Guinness World Record Museum

Visit Ripley's attractions in the heart of Copenhagen at the Guinness World Record Museum. The 1,000 m2 attraction is filled with exciting records in sport, art, nature, science, fashion and music. Meet the world’s tallest man who measured 272 cm or the heaviest, see the sight of 1.382.101 dominoes topping over. The world of …

Kunsthal Charlottenborg

Kunsthal Charlottenborg

Kunsthal Charlottenborg is the largest contemporary art venue in Copenhagen, presenting exhibitions by the most exciting artists from Denmark and around the world. You can also visit the great café with outdoor serving during summer and the bookshop – Motto Charlottenborg. Kunsthal Charlottenborg is situated on Nyhavn, next to the canal, just behind Kongens …

Hirschsprung Collection

Hirschsprung Collection

The Hirschsprung Collection displays a unique selection of Danish art from the 19th century. The collection gives an almost overwhelming view of the period’s pictorial art, which is one of the most exciting and dynamic in the Danish art. Here are works by masters such as Hammershøi, Eckersberg, Købke, Ancher and Krøyer. The museum …

The Karen Blixen Museum

The Karen Blixen Museum

The Karen Blixen Museum is located in the charming old estate of Rungstedlund where the world famous author was born and lived most of her life. Experience the unique atmosphere of the very rooms where books such as Out of Africa and Seven Gothic Tales were written. The museum has a park and many …

The David Collection

The David Collection

Experience an atmospheric museum with elegant 19th-century interiors, fine collections of furniture, porcelain and silver, and works by many renowned Danish painters, from Jens Juel and Christen Købke to the internationally acclaimed, Vilhelm Hammershøi. Then, enter a completely different cultural sphere through one of the world’s largest collections of Islamic …