6 Best Palaces in Copenhagen

Copenhagen has some of the most beautiful palaces in all of Denmark. Get to know and explore them all with the help of this article.

Nicolas Reffray

Nicolas Reffray

6 min read

6 Best Palaces in Copenhagen

Copenhagen Palace | ©Daniel Grendon

One of the best ways to appreciate all the beauty of Copenhagen is through its impressive palaces, which represent centuries of architecture and design. You can also admire the Nordic past through these incredible buildings.

There are many things to see and do in Copenhagen, there is no doubt about that, but if you are interested in getting in touch with the past and present of the city, one of the most interesting ways to do it is to visit its palaces. Therefore, in this article I have selected my favorites and the ones you can not miss.

1. Christiansborg Palace

Christiansborg Palace| ©Bernard Blanc
Christiansborg Palace| ©Bernard Blanc

Of all, the one that you can not for any reason not to visit is the Christiansborg Palace. It is the seat of the Danish parliament (Folketing), one of the largest buildings in the city and therefore one of the top 10 buildings in Copenhagen.

The palace has been built and rebuilt several times over the centuries, and its current design is a mixture of baroque and neoclassical styles.

You can explore the palace's impressive reception rooms and historic corridors when you book tickets for Christiansborg Palace.

2. Kronborg Palace

Kronborg Castle| ©Frank
Kronborg Castle| ©Frank

Located on the outskirts of Copenhagen, Kronborg Palace is located in Helsingør, about 45 km north of the Danish capital, and you can visit it by booking a tour to Kronborg.

It is a Renaissance palace built in the 15th century and is famous for being the location of William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet", perhaps the English playwright's most famous and most analyzed work. The palace has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2002.

I recommend visiting the Banqueting Hall (one of the largest rooms in the palace) and the royal chapel.

Book a tour to Kronborg

3. Frederiksberg Palace

Frederiksberg Palace| ©Michael
Frederiksberg Palace| ©Michael

Frederiksberg Palace is absolutely breathtaking. Built in the 18th century as a summer residence for King Frederick IV of Denmark, it is an example of Rococo architecture and one of the city's main tourist attractions.

During your visit you can walk through its beautiful gardens and parks that offer stunning views of the palace and the city of Copenhagen. Inside, it has numerous rooms and halls, as well as art of the time. Among the most outstanding spaces is the Audience Hall.

The palace is now part of the Copenhagen Museum of Modern Art, so you can enjoy the building in all its splendor and see its art collections at the same time. This is considered one of the top 10 museums in Copenhagen, don't miss it!

4. Amalienborg Palace

Amalienborg Palace| ©Henk Bekker
Amalienborg Palace| ©Henk Bekker

Amalienborg Palace is one of the most iconic palaces in the city. This rococo style palace is located in the center of Copenhagen and is the winter residence of the Danish royal family.

It consists of four identical buildings surrounding an octagonal square, known as Amalienborg Slotsplads. The building facing the square houses a portrait gallery of the Danish royal family and an audience hall. The other three buildings are the Palace of Christian VII, the Palace of Frederick VIII and the Palace of Christian IX.

Here you can learn all about the royalty of Denmark, especially in the Amalienborg Museum, where you will learn about life in the palace. The museum also has a collection of royal jewelry and art objects.

Changing of the Guard at Amalienborg Palace

One of the most popular tourist attractions at Amalienborg Palace is the Changing of the Guard Ceremony, which takes place daily at 12:00 noon on the palace square.

The ceremony is a procession of Danish royal guards dressed in ceremonial uniforms marching from Rosenborg Barracks to the palace square. If you are interested in seeing it, you should know that a visit to the Amalienborg Palace is included in one of the best city tours of Copenhagen.

5. Rosenborg Palace

Rosenborg Castle| ©Mike LaMonaca
Rosenborg Castle| ©Mike LaMonaca

Rosenborg Palace is one of my favorites. Its Renaissance style stands out from the rest and was the summer residence of the Danish royal family until the 19th century.

The palace consists of several buildings surrounded by a beautiful garden, and its architectural design is a combination of Dutch and Italian styles. Strolling through the gardens is a real pleasure while watching the ponds, making it an ideal place to visit with children in Copenhagen.

In the basement there is a museum with a variety of historical artifacts such as armor, antique weapons, musical instruments, tapestries and porcelain. But one of the highlights is the Chamber of Royal Treasures, which houses an impressive collection of jewelry and art objects dating back to the 17th century.

6. Charlottenborg Palace

Charlottenborg Palace| ©Suhardiyoto Haryadi
Charlottenborg Palace| ©Suhardiyoto Haryadi

Charlottenborg Palace is a historic building located in the center of the city. It was the residence of the Danish governor general and today houses the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, one of the oldest in Europe with a large collection of Danish and European art.

The palace was designed in baroque style, has an impressive facade with ornate stone details and a tower in the center. The interior is equally beautiful, with large halls decorated with works of art and period furniture.

Visiting this palace will bring you closer to Danish history, and you will see one of the oldest buildings in the city and the whole country. This is definitely one of the places you must visit if you are passing through or staying 7 days in Copenhagen.

Are these palaces included in the Copenhagen Card?

Fredensborg Palace| ©KLMircea
Fredensborg Palace| ©KLMircea

Yes, many of these palaces are included as attractions when booking the Copenhagen Card, so it can be a very good idea to hire it, especially if you plan to visit several of them.

Book the Copenhagen Card

What should I take into account in the palace tours?

Comfortable shoes| ©Alexandra Tran
Comfortable shoes| ©Alexandra Tran

Whenever you visit a place with great historical importance it is recommended that you take a moment to read about each of them, this will enrich your visit and allow you to better situate historical places and scenarios.

If you are traveling with young children, you can tell them stories about some of the adventures that took place in each place, this will allow you to keep their attention and interest for longer.

How to get tickets for the best palaces in Copenhagen?

Book Online| ©Glenn Carstens-Peters
Book Online| ©Glenn Carstens-Peters

Tickets and tours are best booked online. It is a much safer way than doing it directly on the street, as you may find yourself without tickets.

In addition, you can read the opinions of other travelers who have already visited the place and know what they thought, or what they recommend.

Is it possible to visit the palaces in Copenhagen with children?

Visiting Kronborg Castle| ©Pedro Cambra
Visiting Kronborg Castle| ©Pedro Cambra

Of course it is! It is a great experience for the youngest members of the family, since they will be able to see authentic medieval castles, armor, swords and much more.

You may also be interested in

The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen harbor| ©Morgan Moinet
The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen harbor| ©Morgan Moinet

If you like the best palaces in Copnehague, you will also like some of the options I discuss below.

Take a sightseeing bus tour of the city of Copenhagen

This is a perfect idea to start getting to know the city. Booking a Hop on-Hop off bus ticket will allow you to tour Copenhagen's main attractions at your own pace, without having to think about transportation.

With the large number of stops located near emblematic sites such as the Little Mermaid statue, Rosenborg Palace, Gefion Fountain, Amalienborg Palace, City Hall Square, Fisketorvet Copenhagen Mall or Black Diamond, you can easily get to know the main attractions.

This type of tour lasts between 45 and 90 minutes, if you decide not to get off the bus. It also has an audio guide in several languages, including Spanish, so you can learn about each of these places as you visit them.

Book the Copenhagen sightseeing bus

Take a gastronomic tour in Copenhagen

Another of the best ways to learn about a new culture is through its gastronomy. Denmark has a long culinary tradition, being famous for its cheeses, its pastries, its hot dogs, its fish dishes.

That is why, if you plan to visit Copenhagen, you can not miss a gastronomic tour of the city center, where you will visit the main bars, taste the best dishes and stroll through traditional markets. You simply can't miss this experience.

Book a gastronomic tour in Copenhagen