5 Day Trips from Copenhagen

When visiting the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, why limit yourself to just the city? Here are five recommendations for day trips to see as much as possible on your next trip. Ask your Travel Specialist about these tours when you request a quote!

Kronborg Castle (45 min by train)

This castle is famously known as the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet even though it is not known whether he visited it or not. In Hamlet, Shakespeare called Kronborg Castle – Elsinore. This has become the English name for Helsingør, the town where you can visit Kronborg. Each summer is the annual Shakespeare festival where you can see performances of Hamlet at Kronborg Castle. The castle has been here since 1420 but there was a fire so most of what is visible is from 1640. The Castle Chapel survived the fire, and its Renaissance interior and German wood carvings remain intact.

Frederiksborg Castle (40 min by train)

Frederiksborg Castle was built in the early 17th century by King Christian IV. It is the largest Renaissance castle in all of Scandinavia! Sadly, there was also a fire here in 1859, and the greater part of the interior of the castle was destroyed. Wildly enough, the castle was rebuilt by J. C. Jacobsen, the owner of the Carlsberg Breweries. The castle chapel, however, survived the fire and today stands as it did in Christian IV’s time. To this day, Danish kings and queens are anointed in the chapel at Frederiksborg Castle. The castle is situated on three islands surrounded by a lake and beautiful gardens. It is also home to the Museum of National History!

Roskilde (35 min by train)

Roskilde may just be 35 minutes away by train but you will go years back in time. The two main highlights of this town are the Viking Ship Museum and the Roskilde Cathedral.The Viking Ship Museum has five Viking ships that were recovered from underwater in the Roskilde Fjord. They are displayed in a hall that was built to showcase them against a full view across Roskilde Harbor and the fjord. Exhibits here tell the fascinating history of these ships as well as their recovery and preservation. You can even watch them build reproductions and cruise on the water in the summer! Roskilde Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The present brick church was started in the 1170s and not completed until a century later! It is one of the earliest examples of Gothic architecture in Northern Europe, and inside Viking kings and Danish kings are buried. People such as Harald Bluetooth and as well as more than 35 kings and queens of Denmark. It actually holds the world record for number of royal burials in one church!

Odense (1 hr 15 min – 1hr 30 min by train)

The birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, author of the Little Mermaid and the Ugly Duckling! The top sites to visit here are his childhood home and the excellent Hans Christian Andersen Museum. You can also visit the house in which he was believed to be born. Beyond the direct links to H.C. Anderson, there is the Funen Village, an open-air museum of farm village life in the 18th century showing how it would have been in his day. Other than H.C. Anderson landmarks, there is the Old Town quarter known for its adorable houses, not to mention the excellent Møntergården cultural history museum. You can also visit the city center and St. Alban’s Church, plus the riverfront park.

Malmö, Sweden (35-40 min by train)

Just across the Øresund Bridge, lies Sweden and the city of Malmö! Malmö is the third largest city in Sweden. Begin the day by visiting Stortorget Square in the historic center of the city to see the City Hall, before heading to the far more whimsical square of Lilla Torget with its half-timbered houses. Another great historic sight to see is the Malmö Castle, a 16th-century fortress surrounded by a moat and gardens, Scandinavia’s oldest preserved Renaissance-style castle! More modern additions to Malmö include the Turning Torso tower, the tallest building in Scandinavia. From here you will get great views all the way back to Copenhagen on a clear day!