6 Best Palaces in Copenhagen

Copenhagen has some of the most beautiful palaces in all of Denmark. 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'll also get a glimpse of the Nordic past through these incredible buildings.

There are many things to see and do in Copenhagen, that's for sure, but if you're interested in getting in touch with the city's past and present, one of the most interesting ways to do so is to visit its palaces. That's why, in this article, I've selected my favourites and the ones you can't miss.

1. Christiansborg Palace

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

Of all the palaces, the one you can't miss is 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 in Helsingør, about 45 km north of the Danish capital, and can be visited 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 analysed work. The palace was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.

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

Book an excursion to Kronborg

3. Frederiksberg Palace

Frederiksberg Palace| ©Michael
Frederiksberg Palace| ©Michael

Frederiksberg Palace is absolutely stunning. 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.

On your visit you can wander through its beautiful gardens and parks that offer breathtaking views of the palace and the city of Copenhagen. Inside, there are numerous rooms and salons, as well as period art. Among the highlights 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 splendour and see its art collections at the same time. This is considered one of the top 10 museums in Copenhagen, so 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 centre 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 Danish royalty, especially in the Amalienborg Museum, where you can learn about life in the palace. The museum also has a collection of royal jewellery and art objects.

The 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, a visit to 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 favourites. Its Renaissance style stands out from the rest and it 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 Italianate styles. Strolling through the gardens is a real pleasure while viewing 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 artefacts such as armour, antique weapons, musical instruments, tapestries and porcelain. But one of the highlights is the Royal Treasure Chamber, which houses an impressive collection of jewellery 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 centre 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 the Baroque style, has an impressive façade with ornate stone detailing and a tower in the centre. The interior is equally beautiful, with large halls decorated with artwork and period furniture.

Visiting this palace will bring you closer to Danish history, and you'll get to 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 for 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 you book the Copenhagen Card, so it can be a very good idea to book it, especially if you plan to visit several of them.

Book the Copenhagen Card

What should I look out for on the palace tours?

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

Whenever you visit a place of 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 the historical sites and scenery.

If you are travelling 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 to 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 booking directly on the street, as you may find yourself without tickets.

You can also read the opinions of other travellers who have already visited the place and find out what they thought of it, or what they recommend.

Is it possible to visit Copenhagen's palaces with children?

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

Of course it is! It's a great experience for the youngest members of the family, as they can see real medieval castles, armour, swords and much more.

You may also be interested in

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

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

Take a Copenhagen City Sightseeing Bus Tour

This is a great way 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 transport.

With the large number of stops located near iconic 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 English, so you can learn about each of these places as you visit them.

Book the Copenhagen sightseeing bus

Take a food tour of Copenhagen

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

That's why, if you're planning to visit Copenhagen, you can't miss a gastronomic tour of the city centre, where you'll visit its main bars, taste its best dishes and stroll through traditional markets. You simply can't miss out on this experience.

Book a Copenhagen food tour