There are more than 600 palaces and castle ensembles in Denmark. I will show you three of the most interesting castles in the vicinity of Copenhagen. All of them belong to different eras and give a general idea of other palace buildings of the kingdom: a prison castle, a castle masterpiece of the Scandinavian Renaissance and a working residence of the royal family.
The city is divided into Little Copenhagen, the capital itself, and Big Copenhagen, which includes the surrounding suburbs. Some of the most famous castle ensembles are scattered throughout both parts.
- Denmark’s official website.
- Copenhagen Tourism Website.
- Danish krone to euro exchange rate: 1 € = 7.46 DKK.
Rosenborg Castle (Rosenborg)
Rosenborg is located in the very center of Copenhagen. It is a working royal residence and houses art treasures with 400 years of history, royal jewels and regalia.
Rosenborg Castle was built in the early 17th century by one of the most famous Scandinavian kings, Christian IV. Among the main attractions is the Great Hall with coronation thrones and three life-sized silver lions. The king’s throne is made of tusk and decorated with gilded figures, while the queen’s throne is made of silver. The tapestries on the walls depict battle scenes between Denmark and Sweden.
The interiors are well-preserved, so you’ll take a real journey through time: you’ll see the king’s private study, his bathroom, wax figures of former castle residents and one of the world’s finest collections of Venetian glass.
The tour ends in the cellars of Rosenborg. There, in the treasury, the crowns of Danish monarchs are kept, decorated with precious stones, enamel and gold. They were last used for coronations in 1840.
The Royal Palace is surrounded by gardens. It is the oldest park in Denmark and was laid out by Christian IV before the main palace building was built. Today it is one of the most popular places for recreation among locals.
Entrance tickets can be purchased at the castle ticket office or online.
- Mode of operation: depends on the season. Up-to-date information here.
- Admission: adults — 120 DKK, children under 17 — free of charge, students — 85 DKK.
- Rosenborg’s official website.
- How to get there: the nearest metro station is Nørreport St. on line B. Walk 622 m from the station.
Hamlet’s Castle — Kronborg (Kronborg)
Kronborg is located in Elsinore (Helsingør), within the greater Copenhagen area, on the sea front overlooking Kronborg. It is considered one of the finest Renaissance castles in Northern Europe. It is both an elegant structure and a monumental military fortress, and was begun in 1574.
Kronborg is probably the most famous Danish castle around the world for Shakespeare’s Hamlet. For the past 200 years, the play of the same name about the Prince of Denmark has been staged here every summer in the open-air courtyard.
In 1629 the castle burned down completely and was rebuilt only by 1639, and already in 1658 it was captured by Swedish troops. Soon Denmark regained its possessions back, but the royal family stopped visiting the castle and later turned it into a prison. The underground casemates are open to tourists today.
The castle houses a collection of Renaissance and Baroque interiors, and the main attractions include a 62-meter-high ballroom, a very well-preserved chapel and a mythological statue of Holger Danske. According to legend, this Danish prince slumbers somewhere in the depths of the palace and is ready to wake up if his kingdom is threatened.
- The mode of operation depends on the season. Up-to-date information here.
- Admission: ticket prices, depending on the season, start at 95 DKK for adults, free for children under 18, and from 85 DKK for students. Up-to-date information here.
- Kronborg’s official website.
- How to get there: at København H metro station, take the Öresundståg train to Helsingør stop. From there it is a 1.2 km walk.
Frederiksborg Castle (Frederiksborg Castle)
Frederiksborg is the largest renaissance castle in Scandinavia. It is located in Hillerød, north of Little Copenhagen, and was built in the first decades of the 17th century by King Christian IV.
Frederiksborg has been home to the National History Museum since 1878. It was created by brewer J. C. Jacobsen, founder of the Carlsberg brewery. Halls of portraits and historical paintings, furniture and decorative arts take you on a journey through Danish history and culture from the late Middle Ages to the present day. This collection of portraits is the largest and most important in Denmark and is constantly being added to.
The park area of the castle was laid out as a romantic landscaped garden. The small house of King Frederick II (Badstueslot), which was used by the royal family for hunting dinners, has been preserved here. In 1996, a baroque garden was recreated in the park based on original sketches from 1725. It is decorated with royal boxwood monograms, flower beds and festive cascades.
It’s worth taking a day to visit Frederiksborg. The park area and the castle itself are impressive in size, and the details and decorations can be admired for a long time. The journey from Copenhagen Central Station takes about an hour one way.
- Mode of operation: April through October 10:00—17:00; November through March 11:00—15:00, no weekends.
- Admission: for adults — 75 DKK, for children under 5 years old — free, for children 6—15 years old — 20 DKK, for students and pensioners from 65 years old — 60 DKK.
- Frederiksborg’s official website.
- How to get there: at the metro station Vesterport St. (Copenhagen) you need to take the A train to the stop Hillerød St. From the stop, walk 1591 meters.
What you need to know about Copenhagen’s castles
In Copenhagen, ancient architecture is closely intertwined with Scandinavian history and natural beauty. It is here that you can experience the palatial life of the Danish nobility at its best.
Which lock to choose?
- If you have time to visit all three castles, I recommend seeing them all and leaving the magnificent Frederiksborg for «dessert».
- If you don’t have time for all three castles, check out Rosenborg. Located in the center of Copenhagen, it’s a short drive away and can be combined with a walk around the city.
- If you want to see the best, the brightest, the «king of castles» — go to Frederiksborg. It is not called the pearl of Denmark for nothing.
To save money on tickets, I recommend buying the Copenhagen Tourist Map. You can use it to visit all the main attractions in small and big Copenhagen, including castles, and it also includes travel tickets.
