History · Copenhagen · Denmark
8 historic sites to see in Copenhagen
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Franklin Heijnen, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Rosenborg Castle, Amalienborg and Christiansborg Palace. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 11–14 hours across 5 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 11–14 hours
- Areas
- Indre By, Frederiksstaden and Slotsholmen
Historic sites in Copenhagen
Castle · Indre By
1.Rosenborg Castle
The King's Garden around it is the city's oldest royal park.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Rainy day
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Palace · Frederiksstaden
2.Amalienborg
The Royal Life Guard changes at noon every day, and the green dome of Frederik's Church rises directly behind the square.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
Palace · Slotsholmen
3.Christiansborg Palace
Its tower, the tallest in the city, has a free viewing platform.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Views
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · Indre By
4.National Museum of Denmark
Denmark's largest museum of cultural history, in a former royal palace near Slotsholmen, runs from prehistory to the present: the Bronze Age Sun Chariot, the 3,400-year-old grave of the Egtved Girl, Viking weapons and silver hoards, and a hands-on Children's Museum.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · Vesterbro
5.Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
The rooftop terrace looks over Tivoli.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Neighbourhood · Christianshavn
6.Freetown Christiania
Residents ask visitors to respect their homes and the signs about photography.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Outdoors
- History
Religious site · Christianshavn
7.Church of Our Saviour
Inside is an elaborately carved organ supported by stucco elephants.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Architecture
- History
- Active
Landmark · Indre By
8.Rundetårn (Round Tower)
The platform at the top looks over the old city's rooftops.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Kids
- Architecture
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Indre By | Rosenborg Castle, National Museum of Denmark and Rundetårn (Round Tower) | 1.5 hours + 2–3 hours + 45 minutes |
| Frederiksstaden | Amalienborg | 1 hour |
| Slotsholmen | Christiansborg Palace | 2–3 hours |
| Vesterbro | Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek | 2 hours |
| Christianshavn | Freetown Christiania and Church of Our Saviour | 1–2 hours + 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 2 free, 2 low cost, 4 mid-priced. Book ahead for Rosenborg Castle. The longest visit is Christiansborg Palace; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Rosenborg Castle: Timed tickets are recommended in summer, when the small rooms fill quickly.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Indre By): Rosenborg Castle → National Museum of Denmark, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Indre By, Frederiksstaden and Slotsholmen): Rundetårn (Round Tower) → Amalienborg → Christiansborg Palace, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Vesterbro and Christianshavn): Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek → Freetown Christiania → Church of Our Saviour, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 3°C (37°F), about 8 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Often the coldest month, with occasional snow; one of the lowest-priced times to visit.
- January: highs of 3°C (37°F), about 10 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Cold, dark and often grey, with short days; museums, cafés and candlelit hygge come into their own.
- March: highs of 6°C (43°F), about 8 rainy days, quiet crowds. Still chilly but the days lengthen quickly, and café tables appear outside on sunny afternoons.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Indre By — Medieval lanes, Strøget shopping and the Round Tower in the old city
- Nyhavn and Frederiksstaden — The postcard canal, royal Amalienborg and the Marble Church
- Christianshavn — Canals, houseboats and a spiral church spire across the harbour
- Vesterbro — Old working-class streets turned bars, cafés and the Meatpacking District
More of Copenhagen
All things to do in Copenhagen · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Copenhagen?
Rosenborg Castle. Christian IV's Dutch Renaissance castle, built in the early 17th century, keeps its royal interiors, a Knights' Hall guarded by three life-size silver lions and, in the basement treasury, the Danish crown jewels and regalia.
+Which of these are free in Copenhagen?
Amalienborg and Freetown Christiania.