Best Museums in Copenhagen
Best Museums in Copenhagen.In a country famend for its minimalistic Scandinavian design, it’s no surprise that some of the fine museums in Copenhagen consciousness on cutting-edge art, innovative architecture, and ahead-thinking creativity.
Nevertheless, with more than 50 museums to find out in Denmark’s capital alone, you’ll find a various array of worldwide-magnificence exhibition spaces throughout the metropolis. From the National Museum highlighting the kingdom’s Viking records to galleries of traditional masterpieces and ancient artifacts, there’s lots to keep you entertained and knowledgeable.
Whether you’re looking for a slice of subculture on a wet day or to take a deeper dive into Denmark’s layout scene, here are the first-rate museums in Copenhagen to go to.
Thorvaldsens Museum
Set proper inside the coronary heart of Copenhagen, moments from the Christiansborg Palace, the mustard-colored Thorvaldsen Museum is a homage to the works of Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770–1844). In fact, his frame was laid to rest here, buried under the museum’s inner courtyard.
As both an avid artwork collector and certainly one of Denmark’s maximum well-known neoclassical sculptors, Thorvaldsen spent a good deal of his existence in Italy, returning to his fatherland of Copenhagen rapidly before his demise. Many of his finest works followed him, now adorning the ornate halls and corridors of the constructing.
His pretty-particular pieces, mainly crafted from marble, depict a large number of subjects, from Greek gods to royal busts, while temporary exhibitions often present other artists’ sculptures alongside his very own.
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
Since its inauguration in 1907, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek has been taken into consideration one of the very pleasant museums in Copenhagen, which nevertheless jewelry actual nowadays.
Displaying some of the ten,000-piece private collection of Carl Jacobsen, because the museum’s call suggests, there is a lager connection, his father being the founding father of Carlsberg brewery.
As an avid collector of Danish sculptures, French high-quality art, and historic antiques, the exhibitions are incredibly various. From historical Egyptian mummies to Greek marble masterpieces and canvases through the likes of Van Gogh, the visit will take you on a journey thru civilization.
Natural mild plays a big position in maintaining the space ethereal and brilliant, because the museum was initially built to be illuminated handiest with the aid of the windows.
Whether you’re enjoyable inside the dome-capped Winter Garden shaded by hands or marveling at the Roman-stimulated marble colonnade of the Central Hall, the architecture is as stunning as the gathering.
Be positive to go to the roof terrace for high-quality panoramic perspectives throughout Copenhagen’s lovely skyline, dotted with spires, towers, and domes.
SMK – National Gallery of Denmark
Home to the maximum significant artwork collection within the usa, The SMK (Statens Museum for Kunst) is without a doubt the nice museum in Copenhagen to start coming across Denmark’s inventive scene.
Having served because the countrywide gallery in view that 1896, the since-improved Renaissance-style constructing is a treasure trove of Danish and global artistic endeavors.
With greater than 250,000 portions in the series, you’ll want to your self sufficient time to wander the halls and appreciate each the state’s maximum prominent and lesser-recognised artists.
Particularly incredible is the everlasting exhibition committed to Danish and Nordic paintings from the mid-18th century.
Seen as some thing of a leap forward technology for Danish art, this four hundred-strong series is displayed across a couple of rooms, highlighting snap shots from Jens Juel and the dreamy landscapes of Christen Købke, amongst others.
With a group accomplishing past the usa’s borders, hardly ever exhibited art work from famous international artists additionally make quite the influence. The works targeted at the innovative style of the early 20th century, painted by renowned masters which includes Picasso and Matisse, are well worth searching out.
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Located in Humlebæk, a small metropolis to the north of Copenhagen, the Louisiana Museum is a global-class modern artwork gallery worthy of the 45-minute educate journey from the town.
The modernist structure that homes the gathering stays respectful to the natural putting, with low horizontal strains and expansive glass windows framing the verdant environment.
Since its starting in 1958, the authentic architects Jørgen Bo and Vilhelm Wohlert have overseen many expansions, and nowadays, the full-size space holds a few four,000 works.
With a focal point on modern-day artwork from 1945, contemporary pieces, paintings and sculptures are at the vanguard of the collection. With an ever-converting application of neighborhood and international greats, from Warhol’s pop art to Yayoi Kusama’s interactive mild-reflecting installation, the gap is as stimulating as it’s far serene.
Outside, the gardens decorated with sculptures offer impeccable views over the waters of the Nivå Bugt bay towards Sweden, supplying a tranquil backdrop to the contemporary portions.
Best Museums in Copenhagen
The Treasury Museum at Rosenborg Castle
Rosenborg Castle, a Renaissance-era royal summer time house, dominates the inexperienced heart of the metropolis. Inside, a number of the first-rate museums in Copenhagen focused at the royal family may be discovered, which include the Treasury Museum, home of the Crown Jewels.
Located within the fortress’s basement, regalia and valuable artifacts are offered in glass chambers. Across the three rooms, infinite treasures can be visible, from Christian III’s 16th-century State Sword decorated with diamonds to golden tableware and fantastic coronation pieces.
The most high-quality of the gathering’s gadgets are the copiously bejeweled crowns. Dating from 1596, Christian IV’s headpiece, made from gold, pearls, and valuable stones, is perhaps the most astounding.
The sapphire-embellished crown of Christian V is any other dazzling heirloom. Rounding off the gathering are emerald-encrusted necklaces, golden brooches, and diamond earrings—a true feast of riches and wealth.
National Museum of Denmark
Copenhagen, because the nation’s capital, proudly hosts the various usa’s national collections, and none is greater culturally vast than the National Museum of Denmark.
Housed in the former Prince’s Palace, the space is an area of legends and legacies. From the united states’s prehistoric records to a preserved past due-Victorian technology domestic, you’ll want to allow multiple hours to completely uncover Denmark’s records.
Most interesting is the permanent exhibition devoted to the Vikings, whose seafaring history formed both Denmark and the continent of Europe.
Here, you’ll be transported to bygone days of expeditions and pillaging through a catalog of Viking Era archaeological finds and the large Viking deliver, Roskilde 6, dating from 1025.
Other amazing items on display consist of The Sun Chariot, a Bronze Age statue, a great collection of aged cash, Danish Renaissance artwork, and objects from past Denmark’s borders, which includes Egyptian mummies.
The Cisterns
For some thing a bit extraordinary, task to The Cisterns, an immersive art space housed in Copenhagen’s antique water reservoirs, just a stone’s throw from Frederiksberg Palace.
Hidden in undeniable sight, an underground global of weathered stone awaits at the bottom of the staircase. While this area once would have held the capital’s consuming water—extra than four million gallons—in recent times it hosts temporary artwork installations which take over the particular area.
Working on an “invitation version”, all the works exhibited here are purposefully designed to make the maximum of the surroundings. Whether it’s mild and imagery projected on the columns or a labyrinth-like exploration of the earth’s elements, it’s properly well worth peeking in to see which global artist is currently curating the gap.
Copenhagen Contemporary
Opened to lots fanfare in 2016, this ahead-thinking artwork center has quickly earned a recognition as one of the first-rate museums in Copenhagen for current artwork.
The gallery, set internal a decommissioned welding factory, is a extensive space that evidently lends itself to an array of audio-visible works from up-and-coming artists. Keen to compel a communique and draw you into the installations, most of the temporary famous are a sensory overload.
With a program that can span from thought-scary projections and progressive sculpture works to experimental audio creations, the curators aren’t shy of commissioning the summary, making it best in case you’re curious for the unknown.
ARKEN Museum of Modern Art
Away from the town middle, the structure of ARKEN gives you a stark assessment to the beach-backed place, imparting a taste of the forward-wondering exhibitions you’ll discover internal.
Contemporary and modern art installations from local and global creatives are on display here, and the program is regularly as playful as it’s miles attractive. Temporary exhibitions are always changing, highlighting installed and promising artists, at the same time as the out of doors sculpture park will allow you to hook up with the nature reserve putting.
After a morning visit, the museum’s minimalist eating place with expansive window views of Ishøj Beach is the proper region to pattern normal food in Copenhagen.
Amalienborg Palace Museum
If you’re searching for a more classical enjoy, take a excursion of the 18th-century Amalienborg Palace, the Royal Family’s Copenhagen residence.
While you won’t have at the back of-the-scenes get entry to to the Queen’s non-public chambers, you may go to her grand reference library and wonder at the opulent Gala Hall, a area still used to host lavish activities.
However, the maximum remarkable items are in the Fabergé Chamber, in which over one hundred flamboyant Russian earrings portions highlight the historical hyperlinks between the two countries.
The Museum of Danish Resistance
The Frihedsmuseet is one of the exceptional museums in Copenhagen to understand the recent records of Copenhagen and the way the German occupation for the duration of World War Two affected the neighborhood population.
As you enter the underground area, an audio tour transports you to this darkish duration in Denmark’s past thru the testimonies of five primary characters.
Not handiest will you find out about the resistance motion and the collaborators, however you’ll additionally gain a more expertise of every day lifestyles trying to protect the population through interactive sports.
From decoding secret messages to getting ready prohibited guides, the immersive nature of the museum is thought-provoking and emotional.
Danish Architecture Center
Denmark’s contribution to the now global-famous Scandinavian design motion takes middle level in this glass-fronted and forward-questioning constructing overlooking Københavns Havn port.
The shape, referred to as BLOX, is the brainchild of the Dutch architectural corporation OMA, but the works discovered inner predominantly attention on Danish layout.
As the museum itself most effective occupies a small space to the rear of the building, temporary exhibitions are frequently changing, protecting some thing from ladies in architecture to the use of recyclable materials in creation.
M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark
For a deep dive into Danish seafaring records, take the forty-minute journey north of Copenhagen to the M/S Maritime Museum.
As with a lot of Denmark’s nice museums, the structure of the M/S Maritime is placing. Sunken under floor and fashioned like a vessel, the contemporary building occupies an antique dry dock, a fitting repurposing of the distance.
Inside, you’ll find a everlasting exhibition focused on Bjarke Ingels’ architectural feat, along exhibitions on maritime practices.
With version ships from centuries gone by means of, tales of celebrated sailors, and shows dedicated to seafaring exchange from tea to modern transport strategies, the varied exhibitions are well presented and informative.
Designmuseum Danmark
Beyond the unassuming outside of Denmark’s Designmuseum, housed interior a former health center, you’ll find a area committed to Scandinavian and Western design, along a few East Asian pieces, with a particular consciousness on furnishings and textiles.
Don’t assume all easy traces and white partitions, although, as the museum also embraces the more colourful and eclectic side of Scandinavian design.
With notion-provoking famous linking the objects we use to humanity itself, the Designmuseum prides itself on being an area where conservation extends past the collections.
Nikolaj Kunsthal
Completely reborn as a current art space, the past due-Gothic St. Nicholas Church is dishonest from the out of doors.
Stepping thru the doorway at the bottom of the enforcing sixteenth-century tower–the best element no longer broken in a fire–you’ll be whisked right into a carefully curated exhibition that makes the maximum of the 3-nave space.
With an emphasis on Danish modern artwork, eccentric installations of colorful, innovative, and every so often slightly difficult blended-media take over the distance. It’s additionally recognised for frequently hosting performances and cultural occasions.
Open Air Museum
On the metropolis’s outskirts, just 20 mins via car, the Frilandsmuseet (Open Air Museum) is one of the high-quality museums in Copenhagen, if now not the entire u . S ..
In truth, Frilandsmuseet is certainly one of the largest and oldest open-air museums within the world, and a visit here will sense like touring a long-misplaced Denmark. Original farm homes and houses from centuries past have been preserved right here after being relocated and rebuilt to preserve their heritage.
As you stroll between aged barns, windmills, and wooden-clad houses, horse-drawn carriages and costumed characters add to the magic—a definitely interactive insight into age-antique Nordic traditions.