Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen (must see)
Christiansborg Palace, located on the small island of Slotsholmen outside Copenhagen Harbor, is a multifunctional building serving as the seat of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget), the Prime Minister's Office, and the Supreme Court. Unique for housing all three branches of government鈥攅xecutive, legislative, and judicial鈥攊t is the only structure in the world to do so.
The current palace is the third on this site; the original castle built by the city's founder, Bishop Absalon, stood here since 1167. Its remains along with those of its successor 鈥� Copenhagen Castle 鈥� have been excavated and are now visible in the subterranean section at Christiansborg. After suffering two major fires in 1794 and 1884, the palace was rebuilt in a historicist Neo-baroque style by 1928.
Often called "the Castle of the Realm" (Rigsborgen) or simply "the Castle" (Borgen), Christiansborg is also used by the Danish monarchy, specifically the Royal Reception Rooms, the Palace Chapel, and the Royal Stables.
King Christian IX's equestrian statue at the Riding Ground Complex, unveiled in 1927, caused controversy, as the horse model for it was sourced from Hanover, Germany, causing discontent among Danish breeders.
Owned by the Danish Government, parts of Christiansborg are open to the public. If you have a Copenhagen Card for tourists, admission to the royal reception rooms (as well as the stables, kitchen, and underground ruins) is free. Highlights of the experience include the Queen's china collection; her ornate ceremonial library; and the Great Hall, which today is adorned with tapestries chronicling Denmark's history. The detail in the hand paintings that cover every square inch of some of the rooms is simply amazing.
If you don't have a Copenhagen Card (or don't want to pay to get in), it is still possible to walk around the courtyard and go up the Tower (Copenhagen's tallest), where a nice observation area looks over the city on all sides. There's even a small elevator that takes groups of 8ish at a time to the top, so definitely do this, if nothing else. Access to the viewing platform is free, though passing through a security check is required due to the official nature of the building.
Why You Should Visit:
The on-site library is the stuff of dreams, and one could easily spend an hour looking at the modern tapestries.
Tip:
Always look out for the free English one-hour tours included in your ticket (they run at 3 pm each day but also at different times during weekends: 12 pm or 2pm), unless you'd rather wander the rooms on your own, reading the descriptions.
The current palace is the third on this site; the original castle built by the city's founder, Bishop Absalon, stood here since 1167. Its remains along with those of its successor 鈥� Copenhagen Castle 鈥� have been excavated and are now visible in the subterranean section at Christiansborg. After suffering two major fires in 1794 and 1884, the palace was rebuilt in a historicist Neo-baroque style by 1928.
Often called "the Castle of the Realm" (Rigsborgen) or simply "the Castle" (Borgen), Christiansborg is also used by the Danish monarchy, specifically the Royal Reception Rooms, the Palace Chapel, and the Royal Stables.
King Christian IX's equestrian statue at the Riding Ground Complex, unveiled in 1927, caused controversy, as the horse model for it was sourced from Hanover, Germany, causing discontent among Danish breeders.
Owned by the Danish Government, parts of Christiansborg are open to the public. If you have a Copenhagen Card for tourists, admission to the royal reception rooms (as well as the stables, kitchen, and underground ruins) is free. Highlights of the experience include the Queen's china collection; her ornate ceremonial library; and the Great Hall, which today is adorned with tapestries chronicling Denmark's history. The detail in the hand paintings that cover every square inch of some of the rooms is simply amazing.
If you don't have a Copenhagen Card (or don't want to pay to get in), it is still possible to walk around the courtyard and go up the Tower (Copenhagen's tallest), where a nice observation area looks over the city on all sides. There's even a small elevator that takes groups of 8ish at a time to the top, so definitely do this, if nothing else. Access to the viewing platform is free, though passing through a security check is required due to the official nature of the building.
Why You Should Visit:
The on-site library is the stuff of dreams, and one could easily spend an hour looking at the modern tapestries.
Tip:
Always look out for the free English one-hour tours included in your ticket (they run at 3 pm each day but also at different times during weekends: 12 pm or 2pm), unless you'd rather wander the rooms on your own, reading the descriptions.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Copenhagen. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Christiansborg Palace on Map
Sight Name: Christiansborg Palace
Sight Location: Copenhagen, Denmark (See walking tours in Copenhagen)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Copenhagen, Denmark (See walking tours in Copenhagen)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Copenhagen, Denmark
Create Your Own Walk in Copenhagen
Creating your own self-guided walk in Copenhagen is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Latin Quarter Walking Tour
One of the most interesting, young-spirited neighborhoods of Denmark's capital, the Latin Quarter is well known for its hangout spots, alternative shopping, and 18th-century architecture.
Back in the Middle Ages, the area surrounding Our Lady's Square (鈥淔rue Plads鈥� in Danish), right in the heart of it, was considered a 鈥渞ay of light鈥� in the overall darkness of those times. A... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Back in the Middle Ages, the area surrounding Our Lady's Square (鈥淔rue Plads鈥� in Danish), right in the heart of it, was considered a 鈥渞ay of light鈥� in the overall darkness of those times. A... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Castle Island (Slotsholmen) Walking Tour
Traditionally seen as the birthplace of Copenhagen, Castle Island (Slotsholmen) gave rise to the Danish capital with a small fortress built on it in the 12th century AD. Since the Middle Ages, this area, also known as the "Island of Power," has been the center of Denmark's government. It houses several prominent landmarks that played significant roles in the country's history.
... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Hans Christian Andersen's Copenhagen
Above the numerous plays, novels, and poems, the 19th-century Danish author Hans Christian Andersen is primarily renowned internationally as the man who wrote "The Little Mermaid," "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Ugly Duckling" and many other fairy tales we know since childhood.
Born in Odense (central Denmark) a poor shoemaker's son, Andersen spent... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Born in Odense (central Denmark) a poor shoemaker's son, Andersen spent... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Copenhagen Introduction Walking Tour
The Danish capital Copenhagen is a fairy tale of a city, full of peculiarities. Its name 鈥� derived from the Danish words for merchant ("k酶pmann") and harbor ("havn") 鈥� reflects the city's origin as a place of commerce by the sea. A humble fishing village, established in the 10th century AD, some hundred years later it emerged as a town after Bishop Absalon, recognized... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Little Mermaid Walking Tour
Back in the 18th century, Denmark was in the throes of an economic boom. Constructed during the reign of King Frederick V (hence the name), the district of Frederiksstaden attests to that with its beautiful architecture, measuring up to the projects from the same period in Berlin, Paris, and Vienna. This tour will guide you through the area's broad streets lined by bourgeois houses, mansions,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Copenhagen Shopping: 16 Distinctively Denmark Things to Buy
Denmark is renowned for simple, industrial and functional design, as well as bohemian and everyday fashion-wear for the individual urban living. The capital Copenhagen, home to Copenhagen Fashion Week twice a year and biannual INDEX: Design to Improve Life - the world鈥檚 biggest design awards, is...