Experience Frederiksborg Castle and Museum of National History with magnificent halls, portraits, history paintings, and special exhibitions, located just 35 minutes north of Copenhagen. The impressive Renaissance castle was built by Christian IV to showcase the king's power. With its fairytale-like location in the middle of the Castle Lake, surrounded by the Baroque Garden and the romantic landscape garden, Frederiksborg Castle offers a unique destination with great cultural experiences, garden walks, and boat trips with the Little Ferry on the Castle Lake throughout the summer. National History Museum and the National Portrait Gallery Christian IV's (1588-1648) magnificent castle from the early 17th century now serves as the framework for more than 500 years of stories and myths that shaped Denmark into what it is today. Frederiksborg Castle is both Museum of National History and the National Portrait Gallery, where hundreds of portraits give faces to individuals who have shaped Denmark's history. The portrait collection is the country's largest and most significant, and the collection of paintings, busts, drawings, and photographs is continuously supplemented with new works. History paintings also communicate important national events. Experience the pomp and splendor of bygone times up close. The museum's fine period interiors and the castle's impressive grand rooms, such as the Castle Church, the Great Hall, and the Audience Hall, provide insight into changing periods and styles. Additionally, changing special exhibitions on portrait art and the history of both Denmark and Frederiksborg Castle are shown each year. The museum has been housed at Frederiksborg Castle since 1878 when it was established by the founder of Carlsberg, brewer J.C. Jacobsen, after a devastating fire in 1859. The museum continues to operate as a department of the Carlsberg Foundation. Frederiksborg for children Experience Frederiksborg Castle from a child's perspective with one of the museum's treasure hunts or the children's audio guide. During holiday seasons, there are special activities for children. Visit dnm.dk for current activities. Make the most of your visit Download the Smartify app for the museum’s audio guides. Use the app to scan and explore portraits and paintings. Download the app before your visit to be well-prepared. Also, keep an eye out for the museum's podcast PORTRÆT, which delves into both the castle and its collection. Dine at Rabarbergaarden Slottet The museum's restaurant, Rabarbergaarden Slottet (meaning the Rhubarb farm at the castle) brings the flavors of North Zealand to the table. Enjoy a gastronomic experience with local, organic ingredients from the sustainable farm-to-table kitchen. The restaurant is located in a former carriage port and stable building, offering views of both a lake and the castle at Northern Europe's largest Renaissance complex. The Castle Gardens Frederiksborg Castle was completed by creating gardens around the grand building complex. Christian IV had his own garden, but in 1720, architect J. Krieger was commissioned to create a Baroque garden. The Baroque Garden was recreated in the 1990s. The lowest terraces in the garden feature four monograms in tightly trimmed hedges: Frederik IV, Frederik V, Christian VI, and Margrethe II. These are the four monarchs under whom the garden has existed, from its establishment by Frederik IV to its restoration in Queen Margrethe's time. However, the Baroque Garden is not the only garden at the castle. Next to the Baroque Garden is the romantic, English-inspired garden, where a small Bath House Castle is also located. With its small lakes and groves, the romantic garden is designed to convey moods and showcase the beauty of nature. In contrast, the Baroque Garden with its straight lines and sharp edges represents the beauty that lies in human control over nature. Getting There The museum is open every day of the year. It takes approximately 35 minutes to drive from Copenhagen. If you are coming by train, the easiest way to reach Frederiksborg is via the S-train line A. It takes about 15 minutes to walk from Hillerød Station. You can walk along the Castle Lake or through the city's pedestrian streets with cafes and shops.      

Historical Experiences for the Whole Family at Kronborg Castle At Kronborg Castle, the entire family can meet Holger Danske, experience fascinating history, participate in lively guided tours with our skilled castle hosts, view changing exhibitions, and immerse themselves in engaging historical quests during all school holidays. Children have free admission. During your visit to Kronborg Castle, you can explore the castle with our knowledgeable castle hosts, who vividly share information about all the things you didn’t know you wanted to know. Dive into Kronborg’s significance for the Danes in the exhibition “Forever and Always Kronborg,” featuring a brand-new painting by Thomas Kluge. In school holidays, we offer immersive historical quests for the whole family. And don’t miss the popular exhibition “Monster – Creatures with Big Emotions,” developed by the multidisciplinary artist Shane Brox, which helps children and adults discuss emotions. For over 500 years, Kronborg Castle has stood in a strategically important location where the Øresund Strait is narrowest, allowing control over the entrance to the Baltic Sea. It’s here that King Christian IV ran around the castle’s stairs as a child and through its magnificent halls. And it’s here that Holger Danske sleeps in the casemates, ready to awaken when Denmark is in need. Today, Kronborg Castle is open to the public and is part of the National Museum of Denmark. You can explore the old Renaissance castle, where there are clear traces of its inhabitants, including old inscriptions of names on the walls. In the Dance Hall, you’ll quickly sense the castle’s grandeur during its heyday. The king’s parties were so extravagant that Kronborg Castle was once known as Europe’s wildest nightclub. Allegedly, these parties inspired the renowned playwright Shakespeare to set his famous drama “Hamlet” right here. In 2000, Kronborg Castle was also designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

The Viking Ships in Roskilde The Viking Ship Museum exhibits the five 1000-year-old original ship finds from the Viking Age (the Skuldelev Ships) as well as a fleet of sailing reconstructions. Several of these reconstructions and other Nordic boats are also available to sail in. You can also meet the craftsmen who keep up the traditions of the old maritime trades, and you can try your hand with axes, ropes and many other activities. The permanent exhibitions are focused on the five Skuldelev Ships. The goal of these exhibits is to tell the story of these ships and of the many Nordic maritime adventures during the Viking Age. The five original Viking ships stand majestically with the Roskilde Fjord as a living backdrop. With this view, it becomes easy to imagine how the merchant set off for distant shores with his goods, the warriors waved goodbye to their families before the voyage and the fisherman embarked on the fjord with the hope of returning with a good catch. Sailing trips on Roskilde Fjord - Climb on board! Board a Viking ship and get up close!The Museum is the only place in the world where you can experience seeing 1000-year-old Viking ships, and then go directly out to the Museum harbor, where the full-scale reconstructed Viking ships lie moored at the quayside. The Viking Ship Museum invites its guests to take part in unique sailing trips with either Viking ships or traditional Nordic boats, which are the descendants of the Vikings' ships. Viking ships were originally used for war, trading, fishing and transport during short every day trips or on longer voyages to foreign shores. We go sailing on Roskilde Fjord every day during the summer season and timeslots are posted and updated daily on our website. You buy your sailing ticket as an addition to your Copenhagen Card.  

Take a walk through Danish war history from the 1500s until today, and explore the treasure trove of equipment from samurai swords and medals to ship models and massive howitzers. Experience life as a deployed soldier as you step into Danish military camps from Afghanistan. Stay alert in the watch tower, and climb into an actual PMV hit by a roadside bomb. Also, get an overview of Danish war history. From knights in shining armour, wars with the Swedish and the English, to World War II, the Cold War and the war in Iraq. Or relax in the hammocks as you hear stories from the seven seas. The Danish War Museum is located in king Christian IVs arsenal on Slotsholmen in the heart of Copenhagen. When the arsenal was completed in 1604 it consisted of a war harbour, an arsenal and armoury, a provisions building with a bakery and a brewery, and an array of different workshops. We will take you on an exciting journey through the past 500 years of Denmark’s wars – from famous battles against Sweden and England to Afghanistan.  

The Øresund Aquarium (Øresundsakvariet) in Elsinore, north of Copenhagen, is a part of the University of Copenhagen’s museums and also an information and research center for water environment – and a ”must see” for everybody interested in the marine life in the Danish waters. The aquarium is a locally placed saltwater aquarium specialized in the marine life in Oresund (Øresund). It is placed close to the northern harbor of Elsinore and with the sound as a close neighbor. Visiting the aquarium will give you a thorough insight into the colorful and fascinating world, which is found on the seabed of the Danish waters and fiords. Touch pools for children and grown-ups The Øresund Aquarium is equipped with four different types of aquariums: biotope aquariums, theme aquariums, the touch pool for grown-ups (with for example rays and small sharks) and the very popular children’s touch pool, where children can touch crabs, sea stars and flatfish.  The Water Laboratory – a small piece of Øresund At the harbor – approximately a one-minute walk from the aquarium – you will find the new outdoor Water Laboratory. Here we show you a small natural piece of Øresund. It is established with stone reef, sand beds and banks of seaweed and you can experience lots of exciting fish and crabs. The Øresund Aquarium often puts new fish and animals into the basin, so there is always something to look at and study.  Activities at the aquarium During school holidays the Øresund Aquarium organizes several activities for children and their families, for example, crab-catching at the Water Laboratory, special ”Touch living sea creatures”-events and dissections of various sea animals. We also offer boat trips on the Øresund where we are watching for the small whale – the porpoise – as well as the elusive tuna fish and wild seabirds.  Please note that the aquarium is closed on the 24th, 25th & 31st of December + 1st of January

NB: The museum is closed for the winter and reopens on May 10th 2025. Peder Skram was part of the Royal Danish Navy from 1966-1988. Peder Skram was the first large warship in the world to use a combination of gas turbines and diesel engines for propulsion. It could reach a speed of approximately 30 knots (55 km/h or 34 mp/h) using gas turbines. In case of war the frigate was a heavily armed flagship in the defense of the Baltic coast of Germany and the Danish islands against a naval invasion from the Warsaw Pact. The coordination of Operation Hurricane, large scale air raids, and missile attacks on hostile landing forces, was to be coordinated from the combat information center of Peder Skram. Onboard the frigate you can experience the life of Danish naval personnel during the Cold War. You can witness how the 200 crewmembers of a Navy Flagship lived and worked every day. You can visit different stations: the combat information center, engine room, galley, bridge and even the gun turret.