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Europe Denmark Copenhagen Do & See Royal Library

Overview

Royal Library

The guide was updated: 2024-11-18

Scandinavia's largest library consists of two very distinct parts: the original 19th-century red-brick building and the head-turning 'Black Diamond' extension, the latter a leaning parallelogram of sleek black granite and smoke-coloured glass. From the soaring, harbour-fronting atrium, an escalator leads up to a 210 sq metre ceiling mural by celebrated Danish artist Per Kirkeby. Beyond it, at the end of the corridor, is the 'old library' and its Hogwarts-like northern Reading Room, resplendent with vintage desk lamps and classical columns.

Useful Information

Address: Det Kongelige Bibliotek, Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1, Copenhagen
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 9am–6pm, Sun closed
Website: www.kb.dk/en
Public Transport: Bus 66, Ferry "Det Kongelige Bibliotek"
Phone: +45 33 47 47 47

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

Nyhavn

Nyhavn

This iconic postcard-ready sight is somewhat of a sudden splash of colour and a definite must-visit when in town. The canal was built to connect Kongens Nytorv to the harbour and was long a haunt for sailors and writers, including Hans Christian Andersen. He wrote 'The Tinderbox', 'Little Claus and Big Claus' and 'The Princess and the Pea' while living at No 20, and also spent time living at Nos 18 and 67. Stroll along the harbour and sit down for an evening drink in one of the many enticing establishments, most of which offer heating and blankets to make for a cosy time even at low temperatures.

Amalienborg Palace

Amalienborg Palace

Home of the current king, Frederik X, Amalienborg Palace consists of four austere 18th-century palaces around a large cobbled square. Notably, Amalienborg is renowned for The Royal Life Guard, and visitors can witness the daily changing of the guards, marked by a ceremonial march from Rosenborg Castle through the streets to Amalienborg at noon.

Copenhagen Highlights Bike Tour

Copenhagen Highlights Bike Tour

Explore Copenhagen like a local and discover the city on two wheels on this 3-hour guided bike tour. Hop on a bike and discover the Danish capital's highlights, including The Little Mermaid statue, Rosenborg Castle, and Christiania – Copenhagen's most hippie neighbourhood. Taste traditional cuisine in Torvehallerne, a modern food hall, and learn about Danish culture as you cycle between different neighbourhoods and historic landmarks.

Grand Tour from Nyhavn

Grand Tour from Nyhavn

A sightseeing cruise is one of the best ways to get to know a new city. And in a city surrounded by water like Copenhagen, this is the perfect introduction! Join this 1-hour cruise around Copenhagen's picturesque canals to discover the city's top attractions like the Amalienborg Palace–home to the Danish royal family–the Little Mermaid statue, and the stunning Copenhagen Opera House. Cruise through the canal quarter of Christianshavn past colourful townhouses, cobbled lanes and houseboats and learn about King Christian IV.

Designmuseum Denmark

Designmuseum Denmark

Designmuseum Denmark, housed in the historic Royal Frederik's Hospital, presents decorative and industrial design from the Middle Ages onwards. Celebrating Danish icons like Arne Jacobsen, Jacob Jensen and Kaare Klint, it offers a blend of permanent and temporary exhibits, a shop, and a summer café in a charming courtyard.

Freetown Christiania

Freetown Christiania

Escape the capitalist crunch and head to Freetown Christiania, a hash-scented commune straddling the eastern side of Christianshavn. Since its establishment by squatters in 1971, the area has drawn nonconformists from across the globe, attracted by the concept of collective business, workshops, and communal living. Explore beyond the settlement's infamous 'Pusher Street' – lined with shady hash and marijuana dealers who do not appreciate photographs – and you'll stumble upon a semi-bucolic wonderland of whimsical DIY homes, cosy garden plots, eateries, beer gardens, and music venues.

Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Castle

A 'once upon a time' combo of turrets, gables and moat, the early-17th-century Rosenborg Slot was built in Dutch Renaissance style between 1606 and 1633 by King Christian IV to serve as his summer home. Today, the castle's 24 upper rooms are chronologically arranged, housing the furnishings and portraits of each monarch from Christian IV to Frederik VII. The pièce de résistance is the basement Treasury, home to the dazzling crown jewels, among them Christian IV's glorious crown and Christian III's jewel-studded sword.

The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid

New York has its Lady Liberty and Sydney its Danish-designed Opera House. When the world thinks of Copenhagen, the chances are they're thinking of the Little Mermaid. Love her or loathe her (watch Copenhageners cringe at the very mention of her), this small, underwhelming statue is arguably the most photographed sight in the country, as well as the cause of countless 'Is that it?' shrugs from tourists who have trudged the kilometre or so along an often windswept harbourfront to see her. Whether locals like it or not, The Little Mermaid has become Copenhagen's most recognisable symbol, and visiting to snap a quick shot is, certainly, worth the detour from the city's core. This commemoration of Andersen's genius is conveniently located right next to the historic fortress of Kastellet, so make sure to walk through the green star-shaped area on your way back.

Tivoli Gardens

Tivoli Gardens

Dating from 1843, the stunning Tivoli wins fans with its dreamy whirl of amusement rides, twinkling pavilions, carnival games, and open-air stage shows. Visitors can ride the renovated, century-old roller coaster, enjoy the famous Saturday evening fireworks display or just soak up the story-book atmosphere. A good tip is to go on Friday during summer when the open-air Plænen stage hosts free rock concerts by Danish bands (and the occasional international superstar).

Kronborg Castle & Sweden Tour

Kronborg Castle & Sweden Tour

Explore two Scandinavian countries in one day on this enjoyable tour from Copenhagen. Travel by minibus to Helsingør, where you can visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kronborg Castle, immortalized in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'. Then, hop on a ferry to Sweden to discover the highlights of the historical university city of Lund and the vibrant city of Malmö.

Christiansborg Palace

Christiansborg Palace

Christiansborg Palace is home to Folketinget (the Danish parliament), the Prime Minister's office, and the Supreme Court. Visitor highlights include the glorious royal reception rooms, 11th-century ruins and royal kitchen, all of which can be visited separately or by joint ticket. Admission to the palace grounds, public galleries (during parliamentary debates only), and the tower is free. The tower, by the way, offers sweeping views of the Danish capital.

Kastellet

Kastellet

The star-shaped fortress of Kastellet was originally commissioned by King Frederick III in 1662. Today, it is one of the most historically evocative sites in Copenhagen, its grassy ramparts and moat surrounding some beautiful 18th-century barracks, as well as a chapel occasionally used for concerts. A historic windmill graces the ramparts, offering splendid views of the harbour and the impressive Marmorkirken's Vatican-like dome.

The Round Tower

The Round Tower

Haul yourself to the top of the 34.8m-high red-brick 'Round Tower' and you will be following in the footsteps of such luminaries as King Christian IV, who built it in 1642 as an astronomical observatory as well as a tower for the new university church, Trinitatis. You will also be following in the hoofsteps of Tsar Peter the Great's horse and, according to legend, the track marks of a car that made its way up the tower's spiral ramp in 1902.

Operaen — Copenhagen Opera House

Operaen — Copenhagen Opera House

Designed by the late Henning Larsen, Copenhagen's state-of-the-art opera house has two stages: the Main Stage and the smaller, more experimental Takkeløftet. The repertoire runs the gamut from blockbuster classics to contemporary opera. While the occasional opera is sung in English, all supertitles are in Danish only. Tickets can be booked directly via the website.

Louisiana Museum Of Modern Art

Louisiana Museum Of Modern Art

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is located 35 km north of Copenhagen, on the shore of the Øresund Sound in Humlebæk. The interaction between world-class art, nature and architecture is unique, and Louisiana is often hailed as 'probably the most beautiful museum in the world'. The collection includes significant chapters in XXth-century art, and the museum is a dynamic framework for grand exhibitions, concerts, literature and more.

Børsen — The Old Stock Exchange

Børsen — The Old Stock Exchange

Not many stock exchanges are topped by a 56m-tall spire formed from the entwined tails of four dragons. Børsen is one. Constructed in the bustling early 17th-century reign of Christian IV, the building is considered one of the finest examples of Dutch Renaissance architecture in Denmark, with richly embellished gables. Its still-functioning chamber of commerce is the oldest in Europe, though the building is not generally open to the public.

National Aquarium Denmark — Den Blå Planet

National Aquarium Denmark — Den Blå Planet

One of the most iconic architectural masterpieces in Copenhagen is 'The Blue Planet' (Den Blå Planet), Northern Europe’s largest aquarium, home to thousands of animals and 7 million litres of water. It offers a unique experience, combining entertainment, fascination and knowledge in a spectacular setting. Surely worth paying a visit.

Planetarium

Planetarium

Explore the heavens at Copenhagen's planetarium, with its state-of-the-art equipment capable of projecting more than 7500 stars, planets and galaxies in its domed Space Theatre. The centre also screens IMAX and 3D films on subjects ranging from dinosaurs to the Galápagos Islands. While the films are narrated in Danish, English-language headphones are available at the ticket counter.

Gefion Fountain

Gefion Fountain

At the southeastern edge of Kastellet is Anders Bundgaard's monumental Gefion Fountain, depicting the Norse goddess Gefion steering some rather stoic oxen. The fountain was donated to the city by the Carlsberg Foundation to celebrate the brewery's 50th anniversary in 1897.

Royal Library

Royal Library

Scandinavia's largest library consists of two very distinct parts: the original 19th-century red-brick building and the head-turning 'Black Diamond' extension, the latter a leaning parallelogram of sleek black granite and smoke-coloured glass. From the soaring, harbour-fronting atrium, an escalator leads up to a 210 sq metre ceiling mural by celebrated Danish artist Per Kirkeby. Beyond it, at the end of the corridor, is the 'old library' and its Hogwarts-like northern Reading Room, resplendent with vintage desk lamps and classical columns.

Folketinget — The Danish Parliament

Folketinget — The Danish Parliament

Folketinget is where the 179 members of the Danish parliament debate national legislation. Guided tours also take in Wanderer's Hall, which contains the original copy of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Denmark, enacted in 1849. Outside the summer high season, the guided tours generally take place at 1pm on selected Sundays and public holidays — dates are listed on the website, where you can also book tour tickets.

Church of Holmen

Church of Holmen

Queen Margrethe II took her marriage vows here in 1967, and while much of the present Dutch Renaissance–style structure dates from 1641, the church's nave was originally built in 1562 to be used as an anchor forge. Converted into a church for the Royal Navy in 1619, the building's burial chapel contains the remains of Admiral Niels Juel, who beat back the Swedes in the crucial 1677 Battle of Køge Bay. Other highlights include an intricately carved 17th-century oak altarpiece and pulpit.

Danish Architecture Centre

Danish Architecture Centre

The Danish Architecture Centre (DAC) is Denmark’s leading exhibition venue for new architecture and urban development located in an old warehouse by the waterfront. DAC offers changing exhibitions, discussions, debates and cultural events. Enjoy lunch in the café and be sure to stop by the bookshop with the finest selection of books on architecture and design.

Gl Strand

Gl Strand

Located by the canals, Gl Strand is a unique venue of modern and contemporary art. Annually, it hosts between six and eight exhibitions featuring the newest tendencies and modern art with a contemporary twist along with artist talks, performances, and other events.

National Gallery of Denmark

National Gallery of Denmark

Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK), the Danish national gallery, is the only place in Denmark that features 700 years of Western art and cultural history under one roof. Consequently, a visit to the museum means an artistic encounter between classical, modern and contemporary art, just as the museum building itself representing a fusion of new and old.

Experimentarium

Experimentarium

Located 6 km north of Copenhagen, Experimentarium is a modern, hands-on science and technology museum filled with exciting experiments and activities that will make your kids interested in science right away. Some of the activities are 'The Tunnel of Senses' and 'The Labyrinth of Light'.

Danish Jewish Museum

Danish Jewish Museum

The museum, an immersive tribute to 400 years of Danish Jewish history, unfolds a narrative of integration, diversity, peaceful coexistence, and humanity. The spectacular exhibition space was designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind.

National Museum of Denmark

National Museum of Denmark

Where can you learn about the history of the Danes, from the first hunters of the Ice Age to the last hash stall from the ‘free state’ of Christiania? And where can you see one of the world’s largest collections of exhibits from cultures all over the planet? The National Museum of Denmark is a must-see for every visitor to Copenhagen. As Denmark’s most important and biggest cultural and historical museum, it hosts a broad variety of fascinating exhibitions.

Guinness World Records Museum

Guinness World Records Museum

Dive into a world of fascination with records spanning sports, art, nature, science, fashion, and music at the Guinness World Records Museum in the heart of Copenhagen. Encounter extraordinary individuals like the world's tallest man at 272 cm or witness the spectacle of 1,382,101 dominoes toppling over. Immerse yourself in the realms of music, with Michael Jackson, and fashion, featuring Marilyn Monroe. This family-friendly experience promises an entertaining journey through captivating records and iconic personalities.

Kunsthal Charlottenborg

Kunsthal Charlottenborg

Kunsthal Charlottenborg is the largest contemporary art venue in Copenhagen, presenting exhibitions by the most exciting artists from Denmark and around the world. You can also visit the great café with outdoor serving during summer as well as the bookshop – Motto Charlottenborg. Kunsthal Charlottenborg is situated on Nyhavn, next to the canal, just behind Kongens Nytorv.

Hirschsprung Collection

Hirschsprung Collection

The Hirschsprung Collection displays a unique selection of Danish art from the 19th century. The collection gives an almost overwhelming view of the period’s pictorial art, which is one of the most exciting and dynamic in Danish art. Here are works by masters such as Hammershøi, Eckersberg, Købke, Ancher and Krøyer. The museum is set in one of the most beautiful parks in the heart of Copenhagen, Østre Anlæg.

Karen Blixen Museum

Karen Blixen Museum

The Karen Blixen Museum is located in the charming old estate of Rungstedlund where the world-famous author was born and lived most of her life. Experience the unique atmosphere of the very rooms where books such as 'Out of Africa' and 'Seven Gothic Tales' were written. The museum also boasts a park, a cosy café, and many special exhibitions and events throughout the year.

David Collection

David Collection

Experience an atmospheric museum with elegant 19th-century interiors, fine collections of furniture, porcelain and silver, and works by many renowned Danish painters, from Jens Juel and Christen Købke to the internationally acclaimed, Vilhelm Hammershøi. Then, enter a completely different cultural sphere through one of the world’s largest collections of Islamic art.

Carlsberg Brewery Tours

Carlsberg Brewery Tours

Situated in the heart of J.C. Jacobsen's original brewery on Valby Bakke, Home of Carlsberg offers a fascinating journey into history, brewing traditions, and the legacy of the Carlsberg family. Wander through ancient cellars, witness majestic brewery horses, marvel at a remarkable bottle collection, and partake in beer tastings.

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