Things to do in Copenhagen
As you might expect of the country's capital city, Copenhagen has plenty for visitors to see and do. There are attractions with cultural and historical themes, and others aimed purely at entertaining those who visit them. With theme parks, museums, nature attractions and art galleries, whatever your status or background, you'll find something to interest you in Copenhagen.
Rosenborg Castle
Designed and used as a summer residence by King Christian IV (from 1606 to 1634), Rosenborg Castle is an attractive Dutch Renaissance style construction, which now serves as a public museum (since 1838) and is hailed as one of the country's most significant cultural institutions. The museum contains artefacts detailing the history of the country's royal family as well as articles belonging to the Crown Jewel collection, which are on show in the castle's cellars. The castle's magnificent gardens are a pleasant place in which to relax or take a stroll.
Tivoli
Tivoli is a fantastic amusement park, set in the Tivoli Gardens, which have been a part of Copenhagen since their founding by Georg Carstensen. Hailed as Scandinavia's greatest themed attraction, Tivoli opens for business every year in April and closes at the end of the summer season in September. The park offers a large variety of entertainment, which includes rides for the children, live performances, firework displays at night and plenty of bars and restaurants. The gardens themselves are also well worth checking out, with over 100,000 flowers available for viewing. Visitors to Tivoli will quickly forget that this exciting attraction is set right in the middle of the city.
Kunstindustrimuseet (Museum of Decorative and Applied Art)
Set in a magnificent four-wing Rococo building, the Kunstindustrimuseet is part of the former Royal Frederik Hospital, which was constructed between 1752 and 1757, during the reign of King Frederik V. In the 1920s, the building was restored for the purpose of exhibiting art and today is one of the city's finest art galleries.
The museum's collection consists of mainly European decorative and applied art dating from the Middle Ages to the present day, with furniture, pottery, tapestries, silver and glass amongst the displays. Respectable Chinese and Japanese art collections are also on show, while temporary exhibitions are a regular feature of the facility. A library is also on-site, featuring around 65,000 books relating to art and design themes.
Christiansborg Palace
History lovers shouldn't miss a chance to check out the Christiansborg Palace, located on the island of Slotsholmen. The palace houses various state departments such as Denmark's parliament and the Supreme Court as well as the Royal Reception Rooms and the offices of the Prime Minister. Guided tours of the building are available, giving visitors the chance to see the lavishly furnished and decorated rooms such as the Queen's Library, the Banqueting Hall and the Throne Room. Beneath the palace are the well preserved remains of the original castle, built by Bishop Absalon, the founder of Copenhagen.
