Copenhagen is a city which can keep you occupied for days on end. There is so much to see and do in the city, and this has become even better over recent years as its popularity has increased. Whilst we all know about the main attractions of the Danish capital, there are actually some excellent days out from it. One of my favourites has to be visiting Frederiksborg Castle. This is one of the most impressive buildings in the country and is steeped in Danish royal history.
If you are planning on visiting Frederiksborg Castle, this quick guide has everything you need to know. I’ll include my top tips and some fun facts to get you ready for your visit. Enjoy!
Visiting Frederiksborg Castle | Your Quick Guide
History of Frederiksborg Castle
Frederiksborg Castle was built in the 16th Century as the primary residence of King Christian IV, and was actually the first Danish in-land castle to be built. What is also interesting is that it was built as a Palace rather than a defensive fortress, something which was also a first for the country. It was then further renovated during the Renaissance to fit in with the current trends.
For years it was a Royal Residence, but then a fire broke out in the late 19th Century. This destroyed the majority of the castle with the exception of a few parts, including the beautiful chapel (which is still used for ceremonies today). Fortunately, it was reconstructed in the years which followed.
Today, the castle is not lived in by the Royal Family and hasn’t been used as this since the fire. However, it has been beautifully restored and houses the Museum of National History which attracts in visitors from all over the world.
Planning Your Visit
Getting to Frederiksborg Castle
Frederiksborg Castle is in Hillerød, a small town outside of Copenhagen. It is well connected to the capital and trains run regularly. These run directly between Copenhagen and Hillerød and take around 40 minutes. In terms of cost, we paid around 120 DKK, or the equivalent of about £14.00.
Once we arrived in Hillerød it was a good 15 minutes to get to the castle. I quite liked the walk though; it was clearly labelled and the part leading up to the castle is rather beautiful. It skirts a small lake and there was a surprisingly high abundance of wildlife.
Top Tip: Trains do run regularly, but I’d recommend catching it as early as possible to avoid the crowds. I also found that the ticket machines in Copenhagen were easy to use.
Entrance Fee and Opening Times
The ticket cost varies depending on who it is for. Adults cost 125 DKK (£14.50), whereas students and seniors can enter for 105 DKK (£12.00). Children under the age of 17 enter for free, which I personally think is excellent value.
Frederiksborg opens at different hours depending on the seasons. During the summer months (April through to October) the castle opens at 10:00am and closes at 17:00pm. However, during the winter months (November through to March) the castle opens at 11:00am and closes at 15:00pm.
Best Time of Year to Visit
This is quite a difficult one as the castle changes with the seasons. Of course, the gardens change the most throughout the year, but so do the exhibits and the character of the castle. In fact, each part of the year has its own special exhibition or activities which takes place. Here are just a few which you can expect in the next year (from 2026):
- May 14-17: Ascension Day activities
- June 13-14: Copenhagen Sprint
- Thought June: Sankt Hans celebrations of midsummer, with traditional bonfires held.
- October 8 – April 4 (2027): the “Agnes and Harald – Modern Middle Ages” exhibition
- February 4 (2027 ) – August 28 (2027): “Michella Bredahl – Rooms We Made Safe”
As well as these exhibitions to look forward to, there is also the recurring “Gods Recreated” exhibit. We were lucky enough to see this and it is really amazing how they’ve sculptured all of the classical Roman Gods. You can find it still in the Marble Gallery.
We visited most recently in early spring (April). The gardens were just waking up, but they still had an amazing display of crocuses, some of my favourite springtime plants. I really loved seeing these and the colours of the flowers paired perfectly with the hues of the sky and the castle stone. It is well-worth seeing if you can get here for this time of year. Alternatively, my previous explorations in the gardens during the summer have seen flowers which are more vibrant and bold, which are equally as beautiful.
A Day Out in Frederiksborg Castle
Arrival
We arrived at Hillerød Station early so that we avoided any crowds. From here, it was around a 15 minute walk to the castle, which opened at 10:00am. The walk was flat and is extremely accessible. It also skirts a small lake which has some of the best views of the castle.
As you arrive into the castle, you’ll be struck by the large statues which guard the bridge which leads across into the courtyard before entering the main building. From this angle, the castle is incredibly impressive. It is made of bricks (unlike older castles which you may associate with the word) and holds a beautiful copper-blue roof. Think Hampton Court in London, just with a bit of a twist.
As you enter, you’ll be directed straight into the ticket office. My main piece of advice is try not to bring any bags with you if you can help it. Any sizeable bags, including handbags, will need to be stored in one of the nearby lockers.
Ground Floor
We started our tour on the ground floor. There are a few older exhibits here which make up the Museum of National History, and these house historical artefacts collected over the years from across the country. It is nice to slowly walk around here and to take in all the different pieces of art collected throughout time. I genuinely found that I learnt a lot!
The Rose, or the ‘Knight’s Room’ is one of the places I’d heavily recommend you visit. It is actually reconstructed to look like how it would have done back in the 19th Century when Christian IV was on the throne. It is really nicely done and perfect for photographs.
First Floor
The first floor is one of the most exciting parts of the castle. There are changing exhibits here, with the most recent being the Gods Recreated. You also have historic paintings, pottery and antiques here to look at, all having a link to the Danish Royal Family. Again, the first part is the older part of the castle, dating back to the early 1500s. The bit further away from the main entrance is younger and more contemporary in design.
In my opinion, the real star of the show is the Chapel. Visiting Frederiksborg Castle is not complete without a stop here; it is truly beautiful. From the 17th to 19th Century, this is where the Kings of Denmark were anointed and it has great significance to the country. However, since the great fire it has actually acted as a local parish church. In fact, when we arrived we could not go in until 11 as there was a local christening going on!
Second Floor
Walking up to the Second Floor takes you again through more historical exhibits, but the best of which is certainly in the Great Hall. All around this area are beautiful tapestries and art works, depicting life in Denmark over the centuries. Whilst the Hall was all-but-destroyed in the fire, it has been beautifully restored to look how it did before. The tapestries in it are, of course, beautiful, but the real magic comes from looking at the ceilings and walls. It has been immaculately decorated and is easily one of the most impressive rooms in the castle, if not anywhere in Denmark. Just off of this is the Gothic Globe Room, which might just win the prize for my favourite room in the castle.
Next to this is the Angel’s Room. Why, you might ask? Because the ceiling is completely covered in beautiful portraits of angels. It is incredibly beautiful and sadly was almost lost in the fire. It was created by the widow of Frederik III after his death. Speaking of, the King’s old bedroom can be found just next door.
Third Floor
This is the modern part of the castle and, to be honest, the part where you don’t need to spend an awful lot of time. There are some really beautiful pieces here, but they just cannot compare to the historic heritage of the other parts in my opinion. I did quite like the detail on the Danish Royal Family, of whom I really knew nothing about, and there were a few paintings which were thought-provoking. The view was also excellent.
Final Thoughts | Visiting Frederiksborg Castle
I hope that this brief post has given you a flavour of visiting Frederiksborg Castle. It really is such a beautiful and interesting place to visit, and one which should be on anyone’s list if they are spending 48 Hours In Copenhagen. If you want to know anything else about the castle, including on any top tips for visiting, please do get in touch. I always love to hear from you.
