What to see in Denmark: 11 must-sees
Discover what to see in Denmark: 11 must-see destinations, from Copenhagen to Kronborg (Hamlet's Castle). Predominantly UNESCO heritage and natural; each entry includes the best time to visit and the link to its official source.
UNESCO Heritage(3)
Behold the 17th-century castle where Shakespeare set the tragedy of Hamlet, the Danish prince who lived between the ghosts of the past and the madness of the present. Kronborg Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, dominates the Øresund Strait, where the Baltic Sea meets the North Sea at a strategic point the Danes have defended for 600 years. Tour the 1690 fortifications, the throne room where King Christian IV received his courtiers, the 17th-century chapel, and the underground labyrinth where prisoners were held for centuries. The statue of Holger Danske (the Sleeping Giant), carved in 1907, sleeps in the catacombs, ready to wake when Denmark needs him. The Kronborg Shakespeare Festival (summer) transforms the courtyard into an open-air theater stage where Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello come to life among the stones.
Behold the Gothic cathedral holding the sarcophagi of 40 Danish kings since the 12th century, a royal mausoleum where architecture, history, and music intertwine in a monument that has withstood 800 years of history. Roskilde Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, was built between 1170 and 1280 in red brick, the material that defines medieval Danish architecture. Inside, 20 chapels house the sarcophagi of Danish kings, queens, and nobles, including Christian IV (1577-1648), Denmark's most popular king, whose chapel is decorated with sculptures by Thorvaldsen. The cathedral's organs are famous for their sound and design, especially the 1995 main organ with its 3,000 pipes. The Roskilde rock festival (June-July), one of the largest in Europe, turns the nearby fields into a music stage where 80,000 people celebrate for 4 days.
Tour the castle where Hamlet faced his existential dilemmas and where Shakespeare set the world's most famous tragedy. Kronborg Castle (1420-1585), designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, dominates the Øresund strait where the North Sea and the Baltic Sea meet. The royal halls, the 17th-century fortifications, and the Holger Danske (Sleeping Giant) in the catacombs complete a visit that combines history, literature, and architecture.
Natural(3)
Reach Denmark's northernmost point, where the North Sea and the Baltic Sea meet in a whirlpool of currents the Danes call 'the union of the two seas,' creating a natural phenomenon that has fascinated artists and travelers for centuries. Skagen was home to a colony of Impressionist painters (1870-1920) who captured the golden northern light on canvases worth millions today. Walk Grenen beach where the two seas collide, admire the Painters' House (1811) where Peder Severin Krøyer, Michael Ancher, and Anna Ancher painted their masterpieces, and watch the sunset from the 19th-century lighthouse, where the sun never fully sets in summer. Restaurants serving fresh Baltic fish, craft markets, and the quiet life of a fishing village create an atmosphere of total escape.
Behold the 128-meter-high chalk cliffs rising over the Baltic Sea like a white wall of rock, where 70-million-year-old fossils tell the story of the planet. The Cliffs of Møns Klint, designated a Nature Reserve in 2001, are Denmark's highest cliffs and offer panoramic views of the Baltic Sea stretching as far as Germany on clear days. Trails through the beech forest wind along the top of the cliffs, while beach paths let you walk beneath the rock. Fossils of belemnites, ammonites, and sea turtles that fall from the rock are testimony to the tropical sea that existed here 70 million years ago. The Geocenter Møns Klint visitor center offers an interactive exhibition on the area's geology.
Reach Denmark's westernmost point, where the Atlantic stretches toward America in a horizon of endless water. Blåvandshuk Lighthouse (1900) overlooks the sand cliff where the Atlantic Lighthouse (1900) guided ships for 100 years. Cliff trails offer spectacular sea views, while the white-sand beach stretches northward like a golden ribbon.
City(2)
Dive into the city of dreams, where modern architecture, canals, and nightlife create a metropolis with the soul of a village, and where 1.2 million people live on their bikes, eat smørrebrød, and dream of hygge happiness. Copenhagen was founded in 1167 by Archbishop Absalon as a fortress against the Vikings and is today the world's most bike-friendly capital, where 62% of residents cycle to work. Stroll along Strøget, Europe's longest pedestrian street (1.1 km), where shops of Danish design such as Georg Jensen, Royal Copenhagen, and Lego create a Scandinavian design atmosphere. The Little Mermaid statue (1913), inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, rises from the rocks at Langelinie harbor, while Tivoli Gardens (1843), the world's oldest amusement park, teems with nightlife, its lights, music, and carousels conjuring a magic that inspired Walt Disney.
Explore Denmark's second city, where modern architecture, museums, and cultural life create a metropolis with the soul of a small town. Aarhus was founded as a Viking settlement in the year 900 and is now the 2017 European Capital of Culture, with 2 modern art museums (ARoS and Den Gamle By), a cultural center (Musikhuset), and a gastronomic scene that rivals Copenhagen's. The ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, with its circular 150-meter-diameter walkway, offers panoramic views of the city from the terrace of the infinite mirror room. Den Gamle By (The Old Town, 1909), Europe's oldest open-air museum, recreates 400-year-old Danish houses moved stone by stone. The main street (Strøget) buzzes with life as Danish design shops, cafés, and restaurants create the atmosphere of a perfect European small town.
Entertainment(2)
Explore Legoland Billund, the original LEGO theme park, opened in 1968 and the first of a chain that now totals 10 parks worldwide. Its 14 hectares in the Syddjurs region bring together more than 50 million bricks and more than 60 attractions, from the pyramids of Egypt to the Eiffel Tower. In Miniland, 20 million pieces recreate Venice, Rome, and Amsterdam at a 1:20 scale. Try Pirates of Skeleton Bay, the Flying Theater, and the Submarine Adventure, and let the kids build their own LEGO cars to race in the interactive workshop.
Wander through the 8 hectares of Tivoli Gardens, opened in 1843 in the heart of Copenhagen and recognized as the oldest amusement park in the world. Ride the Rutschebanen, the wooden roller coaster from 1914, try the Demon, the fastest in Europe, and explore more than 40 attractions among carved-horse carousels, gardens, and fountains. Choose from 30 restaurants serving Danish cuisine and enjoy live shows; its lighting and ambiance inspired Walt Disney to create Disneyland.
Museum(1)
Behold the 5 original 11th-century Viking ships that were sunk to protect Roskilde's harbor and are today the world's best-preserved Viking vessels. The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, opened in 1962, houses 5 ships that sailed the North Sea 1,000 years ago: the Skuldelev 2, a 30-meter warship that could reach 25 knots; the Skuldelev 5, a 12-meter fishing boat that fished for herring in the Baltic; and the Skuldelev 3, a trading ship that carried goods between Scandinavia and Byzantium. The Viking shipbuilding yard, where craftsmen still build boats using original 1,000-year-old techniques, is a living spectacle where you can watch the Vikings' method of carving oak trunks to create the ribs and hulls. If you visit in summer, you can sail a replica Viking ship on the Roskilde Fjord.
New destinations and itineraries, by email
Subscribe to receive newly published destinations and itineraries, plus seasonal travel ideas. One email, only when there is news.
Anything to correct or add about Denmark?
If you have spotted incorrect or outdated information, or want to suggest additional details about destinations in Denmark, leave us your comment. We review every one personally.