Attractions

Denmark’s top attractions span thousands of years of history and encompass everything from ancient Viking monuments and magnificent royal palaces to cutting-edge contemporary art museums and world-renowned amusement parks.

In Copenhagen, no visit is complete without experiencing Tivoli Gardens, the historic amusement park and pleasure garden that has enchanted visitors since 1843 and inspired Walt Disney himself. The iconic Little Mermaid statue at Langelinie is Copenhagen’s most recognised landmark, and while modest in size, its setting and symbolic power make it a genuinely moving sight. Nyhavn, the colourful 17th-century canal lined with historic merchant houses, painted in vibrant shades of red, yellow, and blue, is arguably Denmark’s most photographed street and a wonderful base for exploring the city by foot or harbour bus.

Christiansborg Palace on the island of Slotsholmen houses the Danish Parliament (Folketing), the Supreme Court, and the Royal Reception Rooms, and its tower offers the best panoramic view across Copenhagen entirely free of charge. The National Museum of Denmark (Nationalmuseet) houses an extraordinary collection of 14 million artefacts spanning Danish prehistoric, Viking, medieval, and modern history.

The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, perched dramatically on the Øresund coast north of Copenhagen, is one of Europe’s finest modern art museums, combining an outstanding permanent collection with breathtaking architecture and sea views. Beyond Copenhagen, Kronborg Castle in Helsingør, the castle immortalised as the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of rare drama and historical resonance. Legoland in Billund is a world-class family destination that has welcomed visitors from across the globe since 1968.

The Jelling stones in Jutland, sometimes called Denmark’s birth certificate, are among the most important Viking Age monuments in Scandinavia. ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, with its spectacular rooftop rainbow panorama by Olafur Eliasson, is one of the most visited art museums in Northern Europe. These are just the beginning of what Denmark has to offer in terms of unforgettable attractions.