Denmark has no shortage of beautiful places to see. From bustling cities, to historical villages, and idyllic islands, it truly is quite a fascinating country. I must admit, I have loved castles since I was a child, so I was ecstatic about exploring them here. Terra was wondering if she’d find a princess there. Copenhagen has several of their own castles and palaces, but there’s also a plethora to see throughout the country. Here’s a list of 5 castles in Denmark that will leave you in awe. We were able to explore these during our 5 day Copenhagen getaway.
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5 Must-See Castles in Denmark
Inside one of the reception rooms at Christiansborg Palace
1. Christiansborg Palace
One of our first stops after arriving in Copenhagen was Christiansborg Palace. It was tricky finding the entrance as we noticed some construction going on, but totally worth the effort. With limited time, we purchased tickets only for the Royal Reception rooms, but there’s still more to see here. Before taking a tour, you’ll be asked to put on some blue foot coverings in an effort to keep the floors clean.
The Queen’s Library at Christiansborg Palace
Part of the palace is still being used by the Royal Family for events, so it was quite interesting to imagine how that must be. Every room we explored was stunning and exquisite. The furniture, patterns, and ornamental details were just incredible to see up close. We loved the Great Hall, the floors and rich tapestries were quite a sight to see. The Queen’s Library also stood out with all the books on display and gold adornments shining through.
One of the Christmas table displays at Christiansborg Palace
On temporary display were the Christmas tables, inspired by Danish royal history through the years. They were presented in a way that brought you back to how it must have looked in the various eras. A nice bonus for being here around the holidays!
It’s definitely worth exploring for a few hours. You can easily spend a day checking out the full combined tour. If you want to plan ahead you can book a private walking tour here which includes other sites around the city as well. They are closed on Monday so please plan accordingly. You will love seeing a slice of Danish history!
Website
Hours
Cost: 90DKK for Royal Reception Rooms
150DKK for Combined ticket (Royal Reception Rooms, Royal Kitchen, Ruins and Royal Stables)
Address: Prins Jørgens Gård 1, 1468 København, Denmark
The stunning Amalienborg Palace
2. Amalienborg Palace
The Royal Family currently resides at Amalienborg Palace, so it’s not open to the public. However there’s a museum open during certain days in which you can see certain interiors and rooms from throughout history. We did not visit that part, but we did experience the beautiful view of the outside.
Changing of the guards at Amalienborg, cool experience!
The changing of the guards happens around 12pm everyday. It’s quite an affair to see and we were lucky to be in the area to stumble upon it. During parts of the event, you can get some cool closeup photos. It was amusing watching the crowds following the flow of the guards to get an opportune shot. When the royal family is in residence there’s music to see as well. The palace itself is stunning and definitely worth a look.
Website
Museum Cost: 105DKK
Address: 1257 Copenhagen K
Beautiful view of Rosenborg Castle from the gardens
3. Rosenborg Castle
A treasure of history, Rosenborg Castle is another stunning castle in Copenhagen. Unfortunately we did not tour the inside, but you can see some of the interiors like the Knights’ Hall, and check out the crown jewels of the Danish royal family. You can truly experience the space as the king lived it, with well-preserved artifacts.
Imagine how beautiful this garden must look in the spring!
Around the castle is the Kings Garden, a beautifully landscaped park that is open to the public. With stunning views of the castle, it’s a great place to unwind and relax a bit. It’s best viewed when everything is in bloom, but we loved the unique towering trees along the paths.
Website + Info
Cost: 110DKK
Address: Øster Voldgade 4A 1350 København K
Magical sunset view of the castle
4. Frederiksborg Castle
Located in the quaint town of Hillerød, Frederiksborg Castle is easily one of the most stunning to see in Denmark. If you must choose only one place to go on a day trip, do not miss this one. The Renaissance details are classically beautiful and we highly recommend taking the time to explore the inside. Even the quiet walk to the castle is lovely, and the picturesque lake with ducks swimming around makes it feel even more like a fairytale.
The gold adorned chapel inside the castle
The ornate hallway to the Audience Chamber
Some of the main highlights of the castle included the Chapel, adorned with golds, and the Audience Chamber which was quite the artful masterpiece. We also enjoyed the Great Hall with a special exhibit showcasing the history of Crown Prince Frederik. Going from room to room will take you on a journey through royal Danish history, and the experience is surreal. You truly need a whole day here to get a full glimpse of the details.
The beautifully manicured gardens during winter
After a tour of the inside you can check out the gardens behind the castle. I imagine in the spring and summer it’s quite beautiful with everything in bloom. We noticed a path of tall trees similar to the Kings Garden at Rosenborg. Overall the garden felt very romantic and whimsical with perfectly manicured bushes.
Although we paced ourselves and spent most of our time here, we would have loved to see more! You can do a full day combo tour of Frederiksborg, Kronborg, and Roskilde, a perfect option for history and architecture lovers!
Website
Hours
Cost: 75DKK
Address: Frederiksborg Slot 10, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark
How to Get Here: S-train line E to Hillerød, walk 20 minutes to the castle. The path is well marked and easy to follow.
An aerial shot of the entire castle ruins
5. Hammershus Castle Ruins
Nestled on a cliff on the northern tip of Bornholm is Hammershus, a medieval castle left in ruins. It used to be a form of protection for the island by the Archbishop of Lund during the middle ages, until it was abandoned in the 1700’s.
View of the Baltic Sea from the castle cliff
Exploring within the castle ruins
Surrounding the castle are beautiful lakes, forests and views of the Baltic Sea. It felt quite magnificent standing within the crumbling, fortified walls looking over the seaside cliffs. There was a surreal eerie feeling while exploring here, with ghostly trees and mossy grass all around. If you go during off-season you may find yourself to be the only one here.
A panoramic view of the castle ruins as you enter the vicinity
There’s a nice visitor center nearby with panoramic views of the ruins. We didn’t have time to explore inside here, but there’s a cafe and info about the history of the castle.
Explore more: Weekend Guide to Bornholm Island
Website + Info
Cost: Free, other than parking fees from Spring-Fall
Address: Langebjergvej 26, Hammershus 3770 Allinge
These are just five of many castles in Denmark to explore. A few others that we missed during this trip are Kronborg Castle, Egeskov Castle, and Rosenholm Castle. See a full list of castles to see there.
Have you ever been to any castles in Denmark? If so, we’d love to hear more!
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2 comments
Fredriksborg castle looks like a fairytale! Reminds me a little of the palaces in Vienna than Denmark. I’ve been to Amalienborg palace, Rosenberg castle, and Kronborg castle in Denmark which are all stunning and understated.
Hi Alaine! Yes it was a stunning place. We loved all the castles there. Still need to make a trip to Vienna though 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!