Copenhagen Points of Interest and Places to Visit

Immortalized in print as the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the imposing fortress perched on the northeastern shores of Zealand, is often better known as its literary alter-ego, Elsinore, and is one of Denmark’s most visited attractions. With its dramatic seafront location and towering Renaissance façade, it’s easy to see why Shakespeare was inspired by Kronborg Castle (Kronborg Slot) and in 2000 the magnificent royal abode also became a UNESCO World Heritage site. Although its history dates back as early as the 1420s, the present day Kronborg Castle was built in 1585 by Danish King Frederick II and expanded by Christian IV in the early 17th century. Despite being looted by the Swedes in 1658, the later addition of defensive sea walls and a moat elevated Kronborg to one of Europe’s most impregnable strongholds.

A pristine Renaissance palace in the middle of a lake that has been repurposed as the National History Museum is a fairytale look into the past. Frederiksborg Slot was constructed for King Christian IV from 1602 - 1620 and was the site of Danish royal coronations through 1840. Today, it offers a look into the historical splendor of knights, royalty and national honor, along with royal furnishings and elegant gardens. This spectacular former fortress is spread out over three small islets on a lake. The lush Baroque interiors feature gilded ceilings, magnificent tapestries, paintings and antiques in more than 70 rooms available for public viewing. The Knights Hall and the Coronation Chapel are not to be missed attractions. Take a stroll outside along the lake for picturesque views of the castle and enjoy a longer walk through Slotshaven, the expansive beautiful gardens north of the castle, if you have more time.

Tivoli Gardens is a famous amusement park in Copenhagen. The park opened in 1843 and became one of the most popular theme parks in Europe. It offers a mix of attractions, gardens, and restaurants. Although always continually evolving, Tivoli maintains its traditional feel and quaint charm. Tivoli is part of early theme park history; Walt Disney modeled Disneyland after Tivoli once he'd experienced its magic. The park is known for its wooden rollercoaster Rutsjebanen. Another attraction, Himmelskibet, was unveiled in Tivoli in 2006 and is the world’s tallest carousel. Tivoli also plays host to a variety of concerts and performing arts and is an integral part of the cultural scene in Copenhagen.

Amalienborg Palace is the winter residence of the Danish royal family in Copenhagen. It consists of four identical palace exteriors with rococo interiors that create an octagonal courtyard. A majestic equestrian statue of Amalienborg's founder, King Frederick V, lies in the center of the courtyard, created by French sculptor Jacques-Francos-Josephy Saly. Amalienborg was originally built as manor houses for four noble families; however, when Christiansborg Palace suffered fire damage in 1794, the royal family bought the palaces and moved in. Over the years various royal families have resided in the four different palaces. Although it is still the residence of the royal couple, you can experience some of the rooms that are not in regular use filled with royal furnishings, tapestries, photographs, portraits, and heirlooms.

The Little Mermaid statue rests on a rock in the harbor of Copenhagen. Based on the fairytale by acclaimed Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, the modest but beautiful statue is a Copenhagen icon and a major tourist attraction. Carl Jacobsen, heir to the Carlsberg beer fortune, commissioned the statue in the early 20th century after watching the ballet about the fairytale in Copenhagen's Royal Theatre. Jacobsen asked sculptor Edvard Eriksen to create the statue, which was unveiled in August of 1913. The statue's head was modeled after the ballet's prima ballerina but the body was modeled after Eriksen's wife.

With its jumble of 17th- and 18th-century townhouses, painted in a rainbow of bold colors and its cobblestoned waterfront lined with shops and restaurants, Nyhavn is one of Copenhagen’s most photogenic thoroughfares. The scenic road and canal runs from the grand Kongens Nytorv (King’s Square) to the banks of the main Inderhavnen canal and makes a strategic starting point for sightseeing cruises, with tours taking in nearby attractions like Amalienborg Castle, Copenhagen Opera House and the Little Mermaid statue. Nyhavn also makes a popular choice for a lunch date or evening drinks, and the many bars and restaurants spill over onto the waterfront during the summer months, from where you can watch the traditional wooden fishing boats moving along the canal below. Additional sights of interest along Nyhavn include the Memorial Anchor commemorating the Danish Navy fleets of WWII and a number of houses formerly lived in by fairytale writer H. C. Andersen – no.18, 20 and 67.

The Danish castle, Rosenborg Slot, was built between 1606 and 1633 in the Dutch Renaissance style, typical of Danish buildings of the time, by architetual innovator King Christian IV. Now the castle contains a museum exhibiting the Royal Collections, heirlooms representing the span of royal Danish culture from the late 16th to 19th century. Some of these artifacts belonged to the nobility and the aristocracy in the past. The castle became state property and was opened to the public in the1830s and to serve the dual function as a royal treasury and a museum. The particularly interesting attractions include the glittery crown jewels, the Danish Crown Regalia, coronation furnishings, and impressive family portraits. The castle is surrounded by the city’s oldest public park, Kongens Have, featuring lovely botanical gardens.

Since opening its doors in 2005, the Copenhagen Opera House has quickly secured its place as one of the capital’s most iconic buildings, with its futuristic roof canopy looming over the waterfront of Copenhagen harbor. The award-winning design, which spans 41,000 square meters and 14 stories, was created by local architect Henning Larsen and features equally captivating interiors, including a striking marble foyer and a gold-plated auditorium roof, shimmering with 24-carat gold leaf. The opulent surroundings are the home stage of the Royal Danish Opera but the Opera House’s varied schedule includes everything from classical, ballet and opera performances to jazz concerts, held on the 1,500 seat main stage, alongside a roster of experimental works held on the smaller Takkelloftet stage. The principal opera season runs from mid-August until June, when guided tours of the impressive building are also available.

With a history dating back over 800 years, the Baroque Christiansborg Palace is one of the capital’s most iconic landmarks, set on the island of Slotsholmen in Copenhagen harbor. For a long time, Christiansborg Palace was the principal residence of the Royal Family but despite their relocation to Amalienborg Palace in 1794, the palace remains at the center of Danish rule, housing the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Danish Supreme Court, alongside a number of Royal Reception Rooms. Today, the palace welcomes visitors by guided tour, offering guests the chance to view the ornate Throne Room, where Danish monarchs are crowned; the richly decorated Queen's Library; the grand Royal Banqueting Hall and the Great Hall, where a series of spectacular tapestries depicting 1000 years of Danish history are displayed – a gift to Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II on her 50th birthday in 1990. Visitors can also opt to tour the Royal Stables.

The National Museum of Denmark is the country's largest cultural and historical museum, providing visitors with a broad variety of displays, from national treasures such as the prehistoric Sun Chariot to Egyptian mummies and an original hash stall from nearby Christiania. Exhibits cover over 14,000 years of Danish history, showcasing Danish culture and heritage with a large collection of objects. It is possible to learn about the reindeer hunters of the Ice Age, the importance of religion in medieval Denmark and the Viking, who have a major exhibition dedicated to them thanks to Queen Margrethe. Other notable items include copies of the Golden Horns of Gallehus, the Gundestrup cauldron, the Egtved Girl coffin and the Kingittorsuaq Runestone. Visitors can also see a large collection of coinage and currencies from the Vikings, Rome and many other cultures.

Since being taken over by squatters in 1971, Copenhagen’s Christiania neighborhood has become the city’s most infamous district, a self-proclaimed independent state, home to around 1000 permanent residents and notorious for its legal cannabis trade. The unique community was founded by a group of freethinkers, who have run the tax-free, self-governed commune for over 40 years. Located in an abandoned military barracks, many of the free city’s houses were built by the residents and decorated with colorful murals and sculptures, making the district a vibrant cultural hub and a popular attraction for tourists. Visitors are welcome to stroll the streets of Christiania, take a guided tour led by local residents or relax at the area’s cafés, bars and live music venues, but be careful to follow the self-dictated rules of the area, which include not taking photographs or videos, refraining from using mobile phones, and strict enforcements of anti-violence and hard drug policies.

With a history dating back to 1859, Copenhagen Zoo is one of the oldest zoological gardens in Europe and one of the country’s top tourist attractions. The animal inhabitants of the 11-hectare park span all corners of the globe, including rhinoceros, giraffe, zebra and lions, alongside a number of rare and endangered species like red pandas, polar bears and amur leopard. Visitors can marvel at local wildlife in the dedicated Nordic area, where reindeer, muskox, brown bears and grey wolves can be found; watch hippos swimming from an underwater lookout in the Hippopotamus House; interact with farm animals, reptiles and snakes at the petting zoo; or climb the 43.5 meter high observation tower, for expansive views over the surrounding city and parklands. Additional highlights include the Elephant House, designed by legendary British architect Sir Norman Foster to house the zoo’s Asian Elephant breeding program.

Denmark’s Old Stock Exchange, which was built in 1625, is one of the oldest building in Copenhagen and home to some of the city’s richest history. The original structure housed some 40 stalls for trading and was flanked by water on three of its four sides. Between 1658 and 1659 the lead roof was removed in piecemeal and used to fashion cannonballs to combat the Swedish occupation of the nation. It wasn’t until a few centuries later that roof was full restored. Although the Old Stock Exchange is iconic in the city’s history, it’s not open to the public. Travelers can explore the land around the building, but it’s difficult to actually get inside. Only those with invites to dinners, conferences or galas are typically lucky enough to pass through the doors. Visitors should still keep their eyes out for the swirling dragons’ tail spire that sits atop the red brick building, which represents the original kingdoms of Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

The Carlsberg Brewery was established in 1847 by J.C. Jacobsen. The visitor's center showcases the history of Danish beer and has dioramas to illustrate various processes involved with brewing. After a self-guided tour in the museum you walk through a garden and stables with Jutland dray horses. In the courtyard there is a smaller replica of the Little Mermaid Statue that Carl Jacobsen commissioned for Copenhagen. You can enjoy an authentic glass of beer in the brewery, as well as some traditional Danish food. There's also a giftshop for souvenirs with Carlsberg insignia for beer connoisseurs.

Copenhagen’s once-notorious red-light district received a thorough makeover in the new millennium and today, Vesterbro is better known for its fashion-forward art scene, huge variety of restaurants and vibrant nightlife. Located just west of the main center, this is Copenhagen’s hippest quarter and the main streets of Vesterbrogade and Istedgade are now teeming with bars, restaurants, cafés and shopping boutiques. Most notable is the growing collection of brewpubs and Danish craft beer bars, perhaps inspired by the huge Carlsberg Museum located nearby. Vesterbro’s liveliest quarter is Kødbyen, the former meatpacking district, where the former factory buildings and market halls have been transformed into some of the city’s coolest and most unique nightclubs, art galleries and music venues.

Originally built as a hunting retreat for Frederick IV in 1719, the grand Fredensborg Palace now serves as the summer residence of the Danish Royal family, as well as a popular location for Royal weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and state visits. Less than an hour from Copenhagen, the palace makes an easy day trip from the capital, often coupled with a tour of North Zealand’s many castles, but the palace interiors are only open to the public by guided tours in July. For the rest of the year, visitors will have to make do with exploring the grounds – an over 300-acre plot set around Lake Esrum and offering prize views of the palace’s dramatic Baroque façade. The palace gardens are among the largest and finest Baroque gardens in the country and include the Valley of the Norsemen sculpture park, designed by J.G. Grund, and a vegetable garden and orangery, connected by tree-lined avenues and dotted with Johannes Wiedewelt sculptures.

Few fortresses hold the power to amaze and impress quite like Copenhagen’s Kastellet. This stunning five-pointed structure was built in 1662 and houses one of the most incredible examples of this style of architecture in the country. Travelers who venture into the emerald grounds will find well-preserved barracks, a small chapel and even a moat. And while the grounds are lovely to explore, visitors say views of the iconic Little Mermaid, Marmorkirken and the cobalt-colored harbor add another level of beauty to this landmark that’s worthy of the journey. Travelers will likely find tourists and locals biking, walking and picnicking at this scenic destination.

The Rundetårn (or 'Round Tower' in English) is perhaps the best place in Copenhagen to enjoy panoramic views of the city’s skyline with its fairytale old town and many spires. The observation deck is located 35 meters (115 feet) above street level, offering an expansive view of inner Copenhagen. The tower was built by King Christian IV, the famous architectural innovator of Denmark, to be an astronomical observatory. A wrought iron lattice runs along the edge of the platform, featuring Christian IV’s monogram. The Rundetårn was mentioned in two Hans Christian Andersen fairytales and is commonly used as a metric to compare heights of buildings in Denmark.

Contemporary art enthusiasts will find plenty to challenge their perceptions at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark’s leading museum of modern art, where innovation and creativity meet head on. A short journey from Copenhagen, the museum occupies a dramatic setting on the shore of the Oresund Sound, with its modernist façade surrounded by an idyllic seafront sculpture park – both the work of Danish visionary Knud W. Jensen. Behind the glass-fronted exteriors, the museum harbors a vast permanent collection of over 3,000 modern and contemporary works, dating from the post-WWII era to the present day. This is one of the largest modern art collections in Scandinavia, featuring significant pieces by Picasso, Warhol, Rauschenberg and Giacometti, alongside works by Henry Moore, Francis Bacon, Louise Bourgeois, Jean Arp and Max Ernst.