Attractions outside of Copenhagen

10 tempting must-sees outside the capital

Denmark is full of cultural experiences, also outside Copenhagen. But with the many options, it can be difficult to choose.

We recomment you to set some time aside for these 10 attractions. You can read more about them here on the page or download our pdf.

• Kronborg Castle
• Forest Tower – Camp Adventure
• M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark
• Frederiksborg Castle
• Louisiana – Museum of Modern Art
• The Karen Blixen Museum
• Old Denmark – Open Air Museum
• The Viking Ship Museum
• Roskilde Cathedral
• ARKEN

At Kronborg Castle, you can learn about the history of Denmark. Walk in the footsteps of kings, queens, famous actors, and the legendary hero Holger the Dane.

The history of the castles dates back to 1420 when it was built on the coastal tip of the Northern town Helsingør (Elsinore). And since then has been noted as one of Northern Europe’s finest Renaissance castles.

The Castle is listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Besides the ballrooms, royal suites, and art covered walls, the historical castle walls host events such as theatre and Christmas Markets.

During the summer, you can experience a live version of William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tragedy of Hamlet’, which has made Kronborg world famous. When you walk around in the castle, the Hamlet play is performed through short and interactive theatre performances.

In the winter, Kronborg Castle is filled up with ‘hygge’ and cosiness for ‘Christmas at Kronborg’. Here, you can experience Christmas stalls, concerts, and storytelling for the children.

Did you know that the Forest Tower in Gisselfeld Kloster’s forests is on the 2019 list of the World’s Greatest Placesin the American TIME Magazine?

It is easy to understand why because when you reach the top of the tower, you have a 360 degree view of the clattering beechwoods from a height of 45 metres. The Forest Tower is designed by EFFEKT architects who has made sure that the tower blends into it’s surroundings by designing it weathered steel and locally sourced oak.

A visit to the tower is an active excursion. The walk through the beechwoods, to the towertop and back is 3,2 kilometers and last about 2 hours.

Do you want a maritime and subsurface cultural experience that makes you think of brave naval heroes with tattoos on their upper arms and flapping sails that seek for the top of the mast?

The M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, is placed in a well preserved and glass framed dry dock that invites plenty of light inside.

In here, you can explore between old ships, movies, acoustic images, and background music that tell stories about Denmark and its status as one of the world’s leading maritime nations since the seventeenth century.

At Fredriksborg Castle, you find the Museum of National History. It tells 500 year old stories about Denmark’s cultural heritage through portraits, paintings, furniture and industrial art.

You can also take a boat trip in the Castle Lake or take a walk in the beautiful palace garden.

Frederiksborg Castle was build by Christian IV in the beginning of the seventeenth century. It was build as a mark of his powerful position in the Northern European monarchy. The castle therefore gives you an insight into the royal life back then.

Do you feel like being wrapped up in an artistic universe of contemporary creations and sense impressions?

At Louisiana, the art does not only take the shape of paintings and sculptures, but also of architecture and landscapes. Therefore, you can look forward to both traditional, virtual and lively exhibitions with illusionistic rooms of colours, lights and mirrors.

Outside the museum, you can wander around on winding paths in the Sculpture Park or enjoy a coastal breeze from the ocean.

Experience the artistic home in which the Danish writer, poet and storyteller Karen Blixen was born. It is also where she wrote her world known stories and lived until her death in 1962.

At the Karen Blixen Museum, you can get a deep insight into the life of the famous writer and see many of the original furniture brought back from her farm in Africa.

You can also look forward to a peaceful experience of nature. In the bird sanctuary you can listen to twittering from 40 different bird species.

At the Open Air Museum, you can travel 350 years back in time. Here you can get an insight into the agricultural life that has formed the foundation of the Denmark we know today.

As a visitor, you can grind flour, cut flint stones or make snaps to take home. You can also stroll around in peaceful surroundings and experience more than 50 original timber framed houses with thatched roof and mills.

The authentic experience is underlined by the volunteers who wear period clothing and live in the museum during the summer.

At the Viking Ship Museum, you and your family can get a shared experience that awakens your senses and creates memories. Memories that make you think of Mead wine drinking seafarers, dangerous expeditions and roaring sea waves.

You get a rare chance to explore five original Viking ships, cultural history, and maritime workmanship. From the 1st of May to the 1st of September, you can even hoist the sail and grab the oars before you set the course and head for Roskilde Fjord in a hand built and secure Viking boat.

If you visit Roskilde Cathedral, you get close to architecture that tells 1000 year old stories. The cathedral has been the burial church of the Danish monarchs for decades. Besides the majestic size and brick architecture, this makes the building one of the oldest and most important heritage symbol of Danish history.

In the cathedral, you can go for a tour and be fascinated by murals, artistic details, high arches, and the historic organ built by Herman Raphaelis.

When you visit the art museum ARKEN, you also step into spectacular architectural building, which put the suburban town of Ishøj on the map.

The pointy bow and the reflection in the surrounding water’s surface make the museum look like a stranded ship. The maritime experience continues inside, where you can wander between 400 artworks in frames that make you think of the hull of a ship.

The museum offers Danish, Nordic and international contemporary art from both upcoming and well established artists.