The Danish capital has an impressive array of museums covering everything from Viking ships to modern art.
While my own first-hand experiences of Copenhagen’s museums only scratched the surface, the stellar reputations of many other institutions piqued my interest for future visits.
So for other travelers hoping to dive into Copenhagen’s vibrant museum scene, I’ve compiled this visitor’s guide covering some of the best museums in Copenhagen, well worth your time.
Join me for a vicarious tour through Viking ships and Renaissance treasures, cutting-edge modern art, and lurid medical oddities that Copenhagen’s world-class museums have to offer.
Just be warned — they may well tempt you to extend your future Copenhagen itineraries too!
Start at the National Museum for a Sweeping Overview
The National Museum of Denmark is a great place to start your museum hopping, as it provides an excellent overview of Danish history and culture.
Give yourself at least half a day here to make your way through the sprawling galleries filled with Viking weaponry, rune stones, Bronze Age artifacts, Renaissance-era astronomical instruments, and much more.
Be sure to discover exhibits like the 2,000-year-old Egtved Girl. A Bronze Age woman whose oak coffin and clothing remnants provide intriguing glimpses into Nordic life in the pre-Viking era.
As you wander through the museum’s maze of corridors, you’ll get a panoramic sense of the breadth of Danish history and culture across the millennia.
Address: Ny Vestergade 10, 1471 Copenhagen
Getting There: 10-minute walk from Nørreport Station or 15-minute bus ride on lines 14, 18, 42, 150S, 184 and 185 to Nationalmuseet station.
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday: 10am–5pm (closed Mondays)
Admission: Free for permanent collection; special exhibitions around $10-15
Step Back in Time at the Open Air Museum
Once you have the sweeping historical backdrop from the National Museum under your belt, head just north of Copenhagen to the Open Air Museum.
Here you’ll find an engaging living history lesson among cottages, farmhouses, historic buildings, mills, and shops spanning five centuries of Danish life.
Costumed guides add a homey human touch while demonstrating traditional crafts from the past. Walking along the cobblestone streets lined with thatched-roof houses, you’ll feel transported back in time.
Don’t miss ducking inside the adorable 18th-century inn from the island of Funen, with its tiny rooms that look plucked straight from the world of Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales.
Lastly, don’t forget to dress appropriately as you experience Danish culture and history at the Open Air Museum. Read the tips on what to pack for Copenhagen so you come prepared for changeable weather with the appropriate layers.
Address: Kongevejen 100, 2830 Virum
Getting There: 20-minute train ride from Copenhagen Central Station to Sorgenfri Station, then 15-minute walk
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 10am-4pm from April 1–September 30 (shorter hours rest of year, closed Mondays)
Admission: $14 for adults
See Royal Treasures at Rosenborg Castle
Once you’re back in Copenhagen, it’s time for some regal splendor at Rosenborg Castle. This lovely Dutch Renaissance-style palace dates back to the early 17th century, when it served as a summer residence for the royal family.
Today, Rosenborg’s stately halls contain the Danish Crown Jewels and other precious objects belonging to the monarchy over the centuries.
Be sure to admire the glittering crown worn by King Christian IV at his coronation in 1596, and the jewel-encrusted sword of Christian III from 1551.
Equally stunning are tableware items from Renaissance and Baroque days, all decorated with enough gold and gems to make even a jaded royal blush.
Strolling through the Castle Gardens, a must while you’re here, for tranquil views over quiet lakes dotted with fountains.
Address: Øster Voldgade 4A, 1350 Copenhagen
Getting There: 10-minute walk from Nørreport Station
Hours: June–August: 9am–6pm daily; Rest of year 10am–4pm (closed on some public holidays)
Admission: $20 for adults
Marvel at Astounding Nautical Finds at the Viking Ship Museum
Of course, no visit to Denmark is complete without paying homage to its mighty seafaring ancestors. Just a quick trip across the Oresund Bridge lands you in the city of Roskilde, home to the Viking Ship Museum.
Here you’ll stand in awe before massive vessels like the Skuldelev 2 warship, dug up from the Roskilde fjord along with several other partial ships that date back over 1,000 years.
Getting up close to these intricate relics, with their ornately carved dragon heads and tarred hulls, it’s easy to imagine bold Vikings launching across stormy seas within them.
A visit to the Viking Ship Museum is easily one of the most exciting things you can do in Copenhagen. Just remember to climb the viewing tower for panoramas over the fjord, giving you a taste of the windswept shores these ships once sailed.
Address: Vindeboder 12, 4000 Roskilde
Getting There: 30-minute train from Copenhagen Central Station to Roskilde Station, then 20-minute walk
Hours: Daily from 10am–4pm
Admission: $15 for adults
Get Inspired by the Best Modern Art Museums in Copenhagen
While Denmark’s past may span the millennia, Copenhagen also boasts a thriving modern art scene. Top-notch collections await you at both the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art and the ARKEN Museum of Modern Art.
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Louisiana Museum lies about a half hour north of Copenhagen. Nestled directly on the Oresund Strait for some scenic views alongside its modern masterpieces.
The museum, founded in 1958, hosts an impressive collection of contemporary and modern art. Featuring works by renowned artists like Picasso, Warhol, and Giacometti.
Its thoughtfully curated exhibitions and sculpture park offer an inviting space, encouraging visitors to explore the interplay between art and the surrounding landscape.
Beyond the canvases, Louisiana fosters a relaxed atmosphere, encouraging contemplation and appreciation of art in a setting that feels as refreshing as the sea breeze.
Address: Gl. Strandvej 13, 3050 Humlebæk
Getting There: 35 minute train from Copenhagen Central Station to Humlebæk Station, then 10-minute walk
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 11am–10pm, Saturday-Sunday 11am–6pm (closed Mondays)
Admission: $16 for adults
ARKEN Museum of Modern Art
ARKEN sits 20 km south of the city limits but rewards visitors with exhibits from Damien Hirst, Olafur Eliasson, Ai Weiwei, Grayson Perry and more contemporary greats.
Housed in a building inspired by a shipwreck and surrounded by windswept dunes. Its collection of over 400 contemporary artworks, primarily from the post-1990 period, showcases one of Scandinavia’s finest collections of contemporary art.
The museum’s emphasis on accessibility and community engagement is evident in its thought-provoking exhibitions and educational programs. The surrounding nature park provides a serene backdrop for artistic contemplation.
Address: Skovvej 100, 2635 Ishøj
Getting There: 20 minute train from Copenhagen Central Station to Ishøj Station, then 10-minute walk
Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday 10am–9pm, Thursday-Sunday 10am–5pm (closed Mondays)
Admission: $14 for adults
Copenhagen Contemporary
For edgier modern art vibes, check out exhibitions at the Copenhagen Contemporary Gallery. Housed in a vast industrial waterfront building, its minimalist design complements the innovative artworks within.
The museum hosts cutting-edge exhibitions, featuring works by both Danish and international artists. With a focus on immersive installations and multimedia experiences, they create a vibrant dialogue between art and space.
The museum’s waterfront location adds an extra layer of charm and provides visitors with a unique cultural experience in the lively city of Copenhagen.
Address: Refshalevej 173A, 1432
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm
Admission: $18 for adults
Discover Cutting-Edge Science at Experimentarium
If modern art feels a bit too abstract, swing by Experimentarium to unleash your inner science geek instead. This lively science center aimed at curious minds of all ages occupies an Instagram-worthy spiral building. It was originally constructed for the 1991 Scandinavian Conference on Electron Microscopy.
Today, Experimentarium contains over 300 interactive exhibits focused on everything from physics to biology to mathematics. See how your own heart works, try your hand at performing simulated surgical procedures, or explore models of nanotechnology.
It’s both educational and entertaining for all who enjoy gaining fascinating science insights through hands-on tinkering.
Address: Tuborg Havnevej 7, 2900 Hellerup
Getting There: 15-minute train from Copenhagen Central Station to Hellerup Station, then 10 minute walk
Hours: Monday–Friday 9:30am–4pm; Saturday–Sunday 10am–5pm
Admission: $22 for adults
Admire Design Classics at the Design Museum
Denmark is renowned worldwide for its leadership in furniture and product design, thanks to iconic brands like Bang & Olufsen, Georg Jensen, and Royal Copenhagen.
Tracing the evolution of Danish design prowess, the Design Museum contains over 2,500 objects. Ranging from cutting-edge contemporary items to 18th-century rococo clocks and ceramics.
See how Denmark moved from a largely agrarian society to a global design powerhouse across the 20th century, through galleries dedicated to groundbreaking movers and shakers like Hans J. Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, and Poul Henningsen.
Don’t skip the gift shop either, brimming with covetable examples of Danish minimalist chic you’ll want to take home.
Address: Bredgade 68, 1260 Copenhagen K
Getting There: 10 minute walk from Kongens Nytorv Metro Station
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 11am–5pm (closed Mondays)
Admission: Free
Get Creepy at the Medical Museum
If you have the stomach for it, the Medical Museum makes for a grimly fascinating detour during your Copenhagen museum adventures.
Containing one of Europe’s largest collections of medical artifacts. Exhibits here highlight milestones of medical science, alongside rather disturbing remnants of archaic treatment methods.
Peer at jars preserving deformed fetuses and pioneers’ first attempts at plastic surgery. Admire delicate wax models used for anatomy lessons, or gaze in horror at a kidney stone the size of a newborn’s fist.
While not for the faint of heart, the Medical Museum ultimately provides a poignant perspective on how far medical capabilities have advanced across the centuries.
Address: Bredgade 62, 1260 Copenhagen K
Getting There: 10-minute walk from Kongens Nytorv Metro Station
Admission: Free
Hours: Tuesday–Friday 9am–4pm; Saturday & Sunday 1pm–4pm (closed Mondays)
Copenhagen Museums FAQs:
What is the best museum in Copenhagen for seeing Danish history?
The National Museum of Denmark provides the best sweeping overview of Danish history and culture across the millennia. With exhibits covering everything from Viking weaponry to Renaissance-era astronomical instruments.
How can I experience what old Denmark was like?
The Open Air Museum located just outside central Copenhagen. It contains restored cottages, farms, mills, and shops spanning 5 centuries of Danish life. Complete with costumed guides demonstrating traditional crafts.
Where can I see historic Viking ships near Copenhagen?
The Viking Ship Museum across the Oresund Bridge in Roskilde displays several excavated Viking vessels over 1,000 years old. Including the massive Skuldelev 2 warship, with views from an observation tower over the fjord.
What Copenhagen museum houses the Danish Crown Jewels?
Rosenborg Castle, a 17th century Dutch Renaissance summer palace, now displays the Danish Crown Jewels and other precious royal objects like the coronation crown of King Christian IV.
Which Copenhagen-area museum should I visit for exceptional modern art?
Dedicated modern art fans should head to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, located in the North of the city. Housed in a scenic seaside spot with top-notch collections from modern masters like Damien Hirst and Olafur Eliasson.
Where can I learn about science through interactive exhibits in Copenhagen?
At the spiral-shaped Experimentarium science center. Here, you can explore over 300 educational yet entertaining interactive displays focused on biology, physics, medicine, mathematics and more.
Is there a Copenhagen museum covering the history of Danish design?
Yes, the Design Museum Denmark contains over 2,500 objects tracing Denmark’s evolution into a global design superpower. Including iconic furnishings from brand pioneers like Hans J. Wegner and Arne Jacobsen.
Wrapping Up Your Museum Marathon
Phew! As you can see, Copenhagen offers no shortage of riveting museums to fill your hours. Whether you’re fascinated by Viking warships or Renaissance crystal goblets or lurid kidney stones.
Just be sure to pace yourself, as trying to cram in too many museums in one day is a recipe for getting burnt out. I always advise visitors to delve deeply into 2 or 3 museums that connect best with their interests, rather than racing shallowly through 8 or 10. That way, you leave each museum feeling genuinely engaged and wanting to learn more, instead of suffering from art fatigue.
Hopefully, this guide gives you a helpful starting point for crafting your own perfect Copenhagen museum itinerary. Full of Vikings ships and modernist chairs and lurid medical oddities galore!
Just leave enough time between all the exhibitions for relaxing canal-side strolls, lingering over hot smørrebrød lunches, and soaking up hygge vibes like a local. Have fun adventuring through Denmark’s fascinating history and culture!
