Copenhagen Castle Castle

Copenhagen Castle was a medieval royal fortress and residence located on Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen. It served as the principal royal seat before being replaced by later palace buildings.

There is no standing Copenhagen Castle today; the site is occupied by Christiansborg Palace, which incorporates later palace phases on the same footprint. Historical information and archaeological displays about the earlier castle may be available within Christiansborg.

The castle functioned as a royal stronghold and residence through the Middle Ages and early modern period, and was demolished in the 18th century to make way for the construction of the first Christiansborg Palace and subsequent palace buildings.

The former castle site sits on Slotsholmen island in central Copenhagen, in the Capital Region of Denmark, surrounded by the channels and government buildings of the city centre.

• Site continuity: The medieval Copenhagen Castle once occupied the site now known as Slotsholmen and was the immediate predecessor of Christiansborg Palace.

Copenhagen Castle sits in central Copenhagen on Slotsholmen (the city centre). From København H (Copenhagen Central Station) it is an easy walk of about 1 km (10-15 minutes) via Vester Voldgade/Stormgade; Nørreport station is also within roughly 800 m. Several frequent city buses (including routes 1A/2A) stop within a short walk of Slotsholmen; driving and parking in the immediate area are limited.

• The original Copenhagen Castle stood on Slotsholmen where Christiansborg Palace now stands-visit early in the morning when the palace complex and nearby museums open to avoid lunchtime tour groups and to get clearer views across the canal.
• Enter the site via the Christiansborg visitor entrance on Slotsholmen (near the palace tower) to buy combined tickets and access the main visitor circuits; check the Parliament's schedule because public areas can close or get busier on sitting days.
• Don't skip the archaeological ruins under Christiansborg and the Christiansborg Tower viewpoint-many visitors only see the palace exterior but the basement ruins explain the medieval layout and the tower gives one of the best panoramic views of central Copenhagen, often with shorter lines outside peak hours.