Attraction
Tivoli Gardens
Copenhagen's amusement park and pleasure garden, open since 1843 beside the Central Station, with historic rides, gardens, concerts, restaurants and seasonal Halloween and Christmas events.
Christiansborg Palace
The palace on Slotsholmen that houses Denmark's parliament, Supreme Court and Prime Minister's Office, with royal reception rooms, stables, kitchen and medieval ruins open to visitors.
At a glance
- Type
- Palace, parliament and royal reception rooms
- Area
- Slotsholmen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Official site
- denkongeligesamling.dk
Good to know
- Royal Reception Rooms
- Royal Kitchen
- Royal Stables
- Ruins
- Palace Chapel
- Free tower viewpoint
Why we recommend it
Christiansborg Palace stands on the small island of Slotsholmen, the spot where Copenhagen began. Bishop Absalon built a castle here in 1167, and the site has held a fortress or palace ever since. The current building is the third Christiansborg: the first Baroque palace burned in 1794 and its successor in 1884, and the present neo-Baroque palace by Thorvald Jørgensen was built between 1907 and 1928. It is unusual in housing all three branches of Danish government, with the Folketing (parliament), the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister's Office under one roof.
Several parts of the palace are open to visitors, each with its own ticket desk. The Royal Reception Rooms, still used by the monarch for official functions, are the main draw. The Great Hall is hung with tapestries by the artist Bjørn Nørgaard telling the history of Denmark, a gift for Queen Margrethe II, and an audio guide covers the rooms. Below ground you can walk among the ruins of Absalon's castle and the later Copenhagen Castle, open to the public since 1924. The Royal Stables still keep horses and carriages used on ceremonial occasions, and the Royal Kitchen shows how banquets were prepared. A Palace Ticket combines the sites.
The palace tower, at 106 metres, was the tallest in the city when it was completed, and its viewpoint has been open to the public free of charge since 2014. You pass a security check before taking the lift up, and the views over the old town and harbour are among the best in Copenhagen.
Children and young people under 18 enter the paid sites free, which makes Christiansborg good value for families. All visitor sites can be reached with a wheelchair or walking frame, with lifts available on request, and wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Reception Rooms ticket desk. Allow two to three hours if you want to see the Reception Rooms, ruins, kitchen and stables. Opening hours vary through the year, so check the official page before you go.
The nearest metro station is Gammel Strand. Thorvaldsens Museum and the old Stock Exchange are also on Slotsholmen, and Strøget and the canal boats at Ved Stranden are a few minutes' walk across the bridges.
Christiansborg Palace FAQs
What can you visit at Christiansborg Palace?
The Royal Reception Rooms, the Ruins, the Royal Kitchen, the Royal Stables and the Palace Chapel. A Palace Ticket combines the main sites.
Is the Christiansborg tower free?
Yes, the tower viewpoint is free, but you need to pass a security check before taking the lift up.
Do children pay?
No. Visitors aged 0 to 17 enter the paid palace sites free.
Is Christiansborg accessible for wheelchair users?
Yes. All visitor sites can be reached with a wheelchair or walking frame, and lifts are available on request.
How old are the ruins under the palace?
They include the remains of Bishop Absalon's castle from 1167 and the later Copenhagen Castle.
How do I get to Christiansborg?
Take the metro to Gammel Strand, a short walk from the palace on Slotsholmen.
How long should I allow?
Two to three hours to see the Reception Rooms, the Ruins, the Royal Kitchen and the Royal Stables.
Is there a combined ticket with other royal palaces?
Yes, the Royal Palace Pass covers Christiansborg, Rosenborg Castle and the Amalienborg Museum over three days.