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.
National Museum of Denmark
Denmark's largest museum of cultural history, in a former royal mansion near Slotsholmen, home to the Sun Chariot, the Egtved Girl, the Gundestrup Cauldron and major Viking finds.
At a glance
- Type
- History and culture museum
- Area
- Indre By, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Official site
- nationalmuseet.dk
Good to know
- Prehistory galleries
- Viking exhibitions
- Ethnographic collection
- Guided tours in English
Why we recommend it
The National Museum of Denmark, Nationalmuseet, is the country's main museum of history and culture and the best single place in Copenhagen to understand Denmark's past. The main building on Ny Vestergade, a former royal mansion close to Slotsholmen, holds collections that run from the Ice Age and the Vikings to the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and modern Denmark, along with large ethnographic galleries covering cultures from around the world.
The prehistory galleries are the highlight for most visitors. Here you can see the Trundholm Sun Chariot, a Bronze Age offering to the sun, the oak coffin and clothing of the Egtved Girl, a young woman buried in a corded skirt with a bronze belt plate, and the silver Gundestrup Cauldron, decorated with gods and animals. Other pieces the museum itself picks out include an elm longbow from around 7000 BCE, described as the world's oldest known bow, a 1.8 kilo gold ring that is Denmark's heaviest gold treasure, and Ragnhild's rune stone. The ethnographic collection includes a waterproof whaling parka made from gut and sealed with blubber.
Temporary exhibitions change through the year and have recently included shows on a Viking sorceress and on the history of money. The museum also runs a guided tour in English called Meet the Danes, and it runs visits to The Victorian Home, a preserved historic apartment in Copenhagen. The museum's own overview of Danish history is laid out over three floors, so it is worth choosing a few themes rather than trying to see everything.
The museum suits history enthusiasts, families and anyone visiting Copenhagen on a rainy day. Allow at least two to three hours. From Tuesday to Sunday the museum is open 10:00 to 17:00 all year, and it also opens on Mondays from April to October; exhibitions begin to close at 16:45. It is closed on 24, 25 and 31 December.
The entrance is on Ny Vestergade, a few minutes' walk from Christiansborg Palace, Strøget and Tivoli. The nearest metro stations are Rådhuspladsen and Gammel Strand. Combine the museum with Christiansborg or the Glyptotek for a full day of culture in the centre.
National Museum of Denmark FAQs
What are the highlights of the National Museum?
The Sun Chariot, the Egtved Girl, the Gundestrup Cauldron, the elm longbow, Viking treasures and the ethnographic collections.
What are the opening hours?
Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:00 all year, plus Mondays from April to October. It is closed on 24, 25 and 31 December.
Is the museum open on Mondays?
Only from April to October, plus a few holiday periods. It is closed on Mondays from November to March.
How long should I spend there?
Plan at least two to three hours, more if you want to see the special exhibitions.
Are there guided tours in English?
Yes, the museum runs an English-language tour called Meet the Danes.
Where is the museum?
At Ny Vestergade 10, close to Christiansborg Palace and Strøget. Rådhuspladsen and Gammel Strand metro stations are nearby.
Is it good for children?
Yes. The Viking and prehistory displays, weapons and treasure appeal to many children.
Does the museum have special exhibitions?
Yes. Temporary exhibitions change through the year and have recently included shows on a Viking sorceress and on the history of money.