Copenhagen is full of unknown treasures, and many lie in its museums. Even if they aren’t on your priority list of activities in this city, if you have some time and want to learn more about Danish art and history, why not visit a few of these museums. Here are 7 of the best museums that will definitely complete your experience in Copenhagen.
National Museum of Denmark
What better way is there to gain the best insights about the country than by visiting the National Museum? Previously the Prince’s Palace, the National Museum of Denmark houses the largest collection of Danish cultural and historical artefacts, with items dating all the way back to the Stone Age.
For an entrance fee, you’ll be able to explore the museum’s wide collection of antiquities from important periods throughout the centuries and millennia of Denmark’s history, with a particular focus on the time of the Vikings. As you walk through the halls, you’ll learn more about how Danes of the past used to live, and how the country came to be. Many different guided tours are also available if you want an in-depth experience.
Don’t miss out on one of the museum’s most notable exhibitions, the Huldremose woman, the perfectly preserved mummified body of a woman recovered from a peat bog, who was believed to have died sometime between the 3rd century and 1st century B.C.
Address: Ny Vestergade 10, 1471 København K
Opening Hours:
Tuesday - Wednesday, Friday - Sunday: 10am - 5pm
Thursday: 10am - 8pm
Tickets:
Adults: 95 Kr
Children up to 18: Free
National Gallery of Denmark
After learning about Denmark’s history, follow it up by exploring Denmark’s art. The National Gallery of Denmark, also known as the Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK), is the country’s largest art gallery, a grand building located in the centre of Copenhagen.
The Gallery has a large collection of artwork, with pieces dating all the way back to the 14th century. Other than Danish art, there are also international works as well, focused mainly on European art. Aside from period pieces, the Gallery also showcases more modern and contemporary artwork. If you have some time, why not explore this beautiful gallery and gain a deeper appreciation for some of Europe and Denmark’s greatest works.
Address: Sølvgade 48-50, 1307 København K
Opening Hours:
Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday: 10am – 6pm
Wednesday: 10am – 8pm
Tickets:
Adult (Over 26): 120 kr
Youth (Under 27): 95 kr
Children (Under 18): Free
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
This museum is one of the more unique ones on this list. Founded by avid art collector Carl Jacobsen, this museum/gallery contains more than 10,000 artworks and artefacts from across 6,000 years of history, which include Danish and European art as well as Ancient Roman and Egyptian sculptures.
What makes this museum so special is its central green space, known as the Winter Garden. This area is full of lush greenery and tall trees, covered by a lofty ceiling, making it a great place to take a breath of fresh air during your visit to the museum.
With such a unique design, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is easily the prettiest and the most instagrammable museum in Copenhagen. Get your devices ready to take plenty of pictures, not just of the Garden, but of the beautiful exhibits and rooms too.
Address: Dantes Plads 7, 1556 København V
Opening Hours:
Tuesday - Wednesday, Friday - Sunday: 10am - 5pm
Thursday: 10am - 9pm
Tickets:
Adult (Over 26): 115 kr
Young (Under 27): 85 kr
Children (Under 18): Free
Free Admission on Tuesdays
Designmuseum Danmark
Lovers of graphic and/or furniture design, this is the museum for you. Designmuseum Danmark showcases designs and artworks from all over the world, creating a unique space to learn more about this lesser known world of creativity.
Explore this museum and go on an eye-opening journey through the world of design. Through multiple exhibitions, you’ll get to see the creativity of both Danish and international designers. The museum isn’t limited to just modern design however, with works that date as far back as the Middle Ages on display as well.
The exhibitions inside this museum are beautifully crafted, giving visitors an aesthetically pleasing experience that is full of photo opportunities. You won’t want to miss the museum’s most famous exhibition, a long hallway of Danish chairs, each housed in their own display case.
Address: Bredgade 68, 1260 København
Opening Hours:
Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday: 10am - 6pm
Wednesday: 10am - 9pm
Tickets:
Adult (Above 25): 115 kr
Child/Youth (0-25): Free
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Not too far from the main city of Copenhagen, you’ll find the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. It is the most visited art museum in Denmark, with a wide collection of modern and contemporary artworks that complements perfectly with its beautiful architecture.
As you stroll through this museum, you’ll see all types of beautiful works on display. Colourful, weird, interactive; these are just some of the words to describe the art you’ll find in this place dedicated to the modern world of art.
Make sure to take a walk around the Sculpture Park, one of the museum’s most popular spots. Not only will you find strange and fascinating sculptures, but you’ll have an amazing view of the Sound, and on a clear day, you might even catch a glimpse of Sweden across the water.
Address: Gl Strandvej 13, 3050 Humlebæk
Opening Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 9am - 11pm
Sunday: 9am - 6pm
Tickets:
Adult (Above 18): 130 kr
Student: 115 kr
Child (0 - 18): Free
Thorvaldsens Museum
Unlike the other museums mentioned above, the Thorvaldsens Museum and its works are in honour of a single artist - Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. Here, you will find an extensive collection of Thorvaldsen’s sculptures inspired by the sculptor’s time in Rome. Inside this bright yellow museum, you’ll find countless white marble sculptures, standing out perfectly against the colourful walls, revealing the fine details and absolute beauty of Thorvaldsen’s works.
This museum isn’t just dedicated to Thorvaldsen’s works; it is actually his final resting place as well. The sculptor is buried underneath the central courtyard, surrounded by his precious works of art.
Address: Bertel Thorvaldsens Plads 2, 1213 København K
Opening Hours:
Tuesday - Wednesday, Friday - Sunday: 10am – 5pm
Thursday: 10am - 9pm
Tickets:
Adults: 90 kr
Children under 18: Free
Free Admission on Wednesdays
Medical Museion
You won’t find art or sculptures here in the Medical Museion. Instead, this museum is dedicated to the history of medicine and medical practices, and how they have evolved over the years. From the medical theatre where students learned their craft, to the history of psychiatry, and even artefacts depicting the different ways doctors have treated and repaired the human body, the Medical Museion will shed light on the history of healthcare, a past that has led to the advanced medical treatments we have today.
This museum is not for the faint of heart. Exhibitions include not only skeletons and preserved organs, the preserved bodies of babies with physical anomalies, such as conjoined twins, are also displayed, which were saved for future study and research. Looking at them might make you feel squeamish, but nevertheless they are helpful in learning about the extensive and complicated history of medicine.
oc
Address: Bredgade 62, 1260 København K
Opening Hours:
Tuesday - Friday: 10am – 4pm
Saturday - Sunday: 12pm – 4pm
Tickets:
Adults: 90 kr
Students and Seniors: 60 kr
Children 7 - 18: 50 kr
Children under 7: Free
Museums aren’t just for history buffs or art lovers; they can be a great way of learning about different parts of the world, or in this case, about Denmark. Though it’s unlikely that you’ll have the time to visit all the museums mentioned above, a trip to even just one of them will definitely make your time in Copenhagen that much more enriching.
