10 History Museums in Copenhagen That You Shouldn't Miss

Danish history is brought to life at The National Museum of Denmark Meet the Danes of today and of the past. Go for a guided walk with a local insider who will elaborate on Danish welfare, the country’s free spirit and what “hygge” really means. And finally, hear from the Danes in the 9th Century; the Vikings who were feared and renowned all over Europe. See the remains of the people who lost their lives in the tribal wars of The Stone Age. The woman who survived a blow to the head with a stone axe and later covered her mutilated head with a hat. See the treasures that the Vikings brought with them from their travels to England and The Mediterranean. Or experience the axe that in 1772 severed the head of one of the main characters of Danish history’s most dramatic love affair. On your way out, grab a Danish souvenir from the museum’s gift shop - and if you get hungry, you can always eat typically Nordic dishes at the appraised restaurant Smor.

Get up close and personal with the everyday life of Danish working class families in the historical assembly hall from 1879 in the centre of Copenhagen. Learn about struggles which ordinary workers have faces in unity through more than 150 years, Step out in the backyard where the laundry hangs on clothes lines, and let yourself be guided through small flats, steps staircases, outdoor latrines, the beautiful banquet hall and the old trade union office. Let the kids play in the old grocery shop in the Kid's museum with goods, scales and small change, Give them af job at the brewery, as a bicycle delivery boy or girl and let them expericence the hard life as working class children in the 1930s. Take a break in the authentic coffee bar from the 1950s and have traditional Danish 'smørrebrød' (open faced sandwiches) for lunch in the Cafe & Ølhalle - the basement restaurant.

The Danish War Museum houses permanent exhibitions about war, defence and weapon technology, and presents Danish military history from the 1500s until today. Experience the exhibition "Denmark's Wars" in the museum's large Rustkammersal and "A Distant War - a Danish Soldier in Afghanistan", an exhibition in which you can feel the atmosphere of a Danish combat group in Afghanistan.

Bakkehuset tells a fascinating story about the Danish Golden Age. Discover Kamma and Knud Lyne Rahbek’s authentically furnished home which became a hub for literary figures in the first decades of the 19th century. Prominent authors such as Hans Christian Andersen and Adam Oehlenschlager joined this social circle. The museum is surrounded by a historic garden with flowers and vegetables. On the ground floor of the museum you will find the "Fairytale Academy". Here - perhaps guided by the muse of Hans Christian Andersen - visitors can be creative and design their own fairytales and stories. On the first floor, various exhibitions are displayed often employing a more modern mode of design but they non-the less provide an insight into the thoughts and ideas of the Danish Golden Age. In these truly beautiful surroundings, in the middle of the museum's historic garden lies “the Orangery” Bakkehuset's lunch restaurant; here you can enjoy delicious open sandwiches, beers, wine and coffee.

Exploring, understanding and treating the body has always been the job of medicine. At Medical Museion we explore what medicine means for our lives – in the past, present and future. Medical Museion is a museum for everyone who has a body and is curious about how it is has been understood and treated, from Antiquity to Genetics. Exhibitions at Medical Museion draw on the museum’s vast collection of historical objects. However, you can also encounter cutting edge medical research and practice. The exhibitions take you on a journey through the world of medicine from historical understandings of our bodies to current challenges in public health such as obesity. The Body Collected (opened in 2015) lays out how medicine has collected the human body for research and teaching throughout history, running up to the present day. Guests are invited to join one of our guided tours (included in admission price) for a general introduction to the exhibitions, however, we also encourage you to explore the museum on your own. Do make sure to check out the museum’s calendar for special events, including Evening Consultations. Medical Museion is a university museum where scholars do research in science communication and medical humanities, often based in or contributing to the exhibitions. Many of the museum’s activities are experimental - both in format and content. Examples include the open collection room for Psychiatry, and the contemporary research focus of Room for Ageing. The Royal Surgical Academy Medical Museion is based in the buildings of the old Surgical Academy from 1787. Traces of the past are still evident in the exhibition rooms. At the centre of the museum is the anatomical theatre in which generations of medical student witnessed dissections of corpses and learned about anatomy. The anatomical theatre is still used for public lectures, doctoral defences and teaching. Medical Museion also hosts concerts, performance art and theatre in its historical surroundings, and arranges public events based on the exhibitions.

Amalienborg offers two royal experiences that let you get close to royal history through the last 250 years. In Christian VIII’s Palace the museum offers an insight into royal life past and present. You can see the private chambers of former kings and queens and, on most days, there is also admittance to the royal reception rooms (check periods at our website) from the museum. In Christian VII’s Palace you can walk in the footsteps of the royal guests, and be shown round the magnificent rooms where grand festivities are held. You can book a guided tour of Christian VII’s Palace in the ticket office of Christian VIII’s Palace or on our website. Remember that every day at noon you can watch the changing of the The Royal Danish Life Guards.

Designmuseum Danmark is located in the historic Copenhagen-area, Frederiksstaden, in one of the fine old rococo buildings, originally build in 1757 by King Frederik V as the first public hospital. The museum offers permanent exhibitions where guests can explore the Danish design legacy and historical roots along with sources of inspiration. Guests can also enjoy contemporary Danish design, lovely museum garden with outdoor serving during summer period, cafe and museum shop. Free guided tours on Wednesday evenings and Sundays and free familiy workshops on Sundays.

The Danish Jewish Museum tells the story of the Danish Jews through 400 years - including the dramatic rescue of the Danish Jews during World War 2. Experience the unique museum interior by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. Find the perfect gift or souvenir in the museum shop.