5 Amazing Historical Sites in Denmark
Denmark has a huge variety of sites for a visitor to see and explore. When I had the opportunity to visit in May 2023, I was initially not sure what to expect. However, I was truly amazed and even surprised at the large amount of sites to explore. Even though I was only in the country for a short time, I tried to see as much as I could. The five sites on this list are all part of the Copenhagen Card plan, so it definitely helps save money if you visit all the sites on this list.
While there are a lot more sites that should be on this list, here is a list of 5 must-see historical sites one must see while in Denmark.
1) Christianborg Castle
Christianborg Castle is located in the center of Copenhagen and is the seat of the Prime Minister's Office, Parliament, and Supreme Court of Denmark. Aside from its importance in the politics of Denmark, several areas are still used by the Danish monarch. For a tourist, it is possible to see the Royal Chapel (open only one Sunday per month), the royal reception rooms, and various other sites, such as the royal riding grounds and stables and kitchens, which are maintained as they were in the early 20th century.
2) Rosenborg Castle
Rosenborg Castle is located close by Christianborg Castle. Rosenborg Castle dates from the early seventeenth century and today is the site of the royal treasury, which is possible to visit. Even though the castle is located right in the middle of Copenhagen, it seems almost secluded, and one does not get the impression they are still in the city. The castle is also home to the Rosenborg Castle Gardens, so one can take a leisurely stroll of the area en route to the castle or after visiting and get some Vitamin D.
3) Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde is a short train ride from Copenhagen and is home to Roskilde Cathedral, which is the official burial place of Danish monarchs. In addition to the Cathedral, there are several other sites that a visitor will be interested in seeing, such as the Roskilde Museum, Viking Museum, and Ragnarock (The Museum of Pop, Rock, and Youth Culture) . Unfortunately, I went on a Monday when the other attractions aside from the Cathedral were closed, but I definitely would like to return to Roskilde to check out those other places. There is a lot to see in the Cathedral itself, and it is quite fascinating to see the coffins/graves of Danish monarchs, whose graves range from spartan and minimalist to extravagantly decorated.
4) Kronborg Castle
Kronborg Castle, which is known as "Hamlet's Castle" since Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” takes place in the castle, can easily be reached by train from Copenhagen or from Roskilde (what I did). The castle is located on an island in a defensive position a short walk from the town of Helsingør (Elsinore). The castle has a long history since it originally was built in the 15th century before being turned into the site it is today in the 16th century. For a visitor, there is a lot to explore and check out, such as the ballroom and royal chapel. On the day I went, the weather was perfect, but near the end of my time there, a storm started to arrive.
5) Frederiksborg Castle
Frederiksborg Castle is another place that is very easily reached by train from Copenhagen, and in my opinion, this the most impressive of all the sites given on this list because of its extravagance. Getting to Frederiksborg Castle is very easy, and in my case, I took a train from Helsingør after vising Kronborg Castle to Hillerød, and then I took a city bus right to the castle. Of all the castles, this one was my favorite in terms of its interiors and extremely picturesque setting on a lake. I was particularly impressed by the royal chapel and great hall because of their highly-decorated interiors.
Even though these are only five sites in Denmarks, there are still many other locations to see. In my case, I was able to do Roskilde Cathedral, Kronborg Castle, and Frederiksborg Castle all in one day. It was exhausting but definitely worth it. However, if you want to spend more time exploring their respective towns, it might be better to do one or two in a day rather than all three.
