Kongens Nytorv Plaza

Address: Kongens Nytorv, 1050 Copenhagen, Denmark

Website: https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/

Hours: Open 24 hours

Admission: Free

Kongens Nytorv is a major public square in central Copenhagen established in the late 17th century under King Christian V. It functions as an urban civic space surrounded by landmark buildings from the 17th through 19th centuries.

The square’s central feature is the equestrian statue of Christian V, and it is bordered by buildings including the Charlottenborg Palace, the Royal Danish Theatre and the historic Hotel D’Angleterre. The open plaza is a common meeting point and a gateway between Strøget and the Nyhavn waterfront.

Originally designed as a royal square, its role has evolved to accommodate markets, public gatherings and urban circulation while retaining a strong ensemble of historic facades.

Kongens Nytorv sits in central Copenhagen, at the eastern end of the Strøget pedestrian street and a short walk from the Nyhavn canal and many central city transport links.

• Central location: The square was laid out in the 1670s as a formal urban plaza and remains a major junction between the Strøget pedestrian shopping street and the Nyhavn canal area.

What to See#

• Equestrian statue of Christian V: An equestrian statue of King Christian V erected in the center of the square in the 17th century, set on a stone plinth and forming the square’s focal point.
• Charlottenborg Palace: Charlottenborg Palace, a prominent 17th-century building on the square now housing an art exhibition centre and part of Copenhagen’s cultural institutions.
• Royal Danish Theatre: The Royal Danish Theatre, a late 19th-century theatre building bordering the square that fronts onto the main pedestrian shopping street, Strøget.
• Hotel D’Angleterre: Hotel D’Angleterre, a landmark luxury hotel on the square dating to the 18th century and frequently used as a point of reference for visitors.

Kongens Nytorv sits in central Copenhagen at the eastern end of Strøget. Take the Copenhagen Metro (M1 or M2) to Kongens Nytorv station - the station exits open directly onto the square (a very short walk). From Copenhagen Central Station it is about 1 km (roughly a 10-15 minute walk or a few minutes by taxi).

• Use Kongens Nytorv metro station (central exits) to arrive and avoid walking the busiest sections of Strøget at peak hours; early morning or late afternoon weekday visits are noticeably quieter.
• Pause to view the square's centerpiece-the equestrian statue of King Christian V-and then walk the quieter arcades around the square to discover Charlottenborg's courtyard galleries, which many passersby miss.
• If you want photos without crowds, wait for early-evening golden hour when tourist groups thin out and the surrounding historic façades are most photogenic.