Things to do in Copenhagen, Zealand: The Best Sights & Landmarks

Large marble Baroque church which stood unfinished from 1770 to 1874. It was finally finished in 1894.

The beautiful 400-year-old castle is situated in central Copenhagen's popular park, The King's Garden. The castle was built by one of the most famous Scandinavian kings, Christian IV. Today, the glory of the past can be experienced through the numerous art treasures of the previous kings and queens. Among the main attractions is the Great Hall with the coronation thrones and three life-size silver lions standing guard. The crown jewels and royal regalia sparkle behind the thick walls of the treasury beneath the castle.

Copenhagen's Nyhaven, or "New Harbor," is actually steeped in a long heritage. Colorful buildings line the canal and hint at a history of small-vessel traffic. Like many ports, this strip has a salty history, rich with sailors, drinking and literary exploits. Danish author Hans Christian Andersen made his home in Nyhavn as well. It's cleaned up now and is a lovely place for a stroll.

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.

The Round Tower Lookout Tower – Observatory – Exhibitions – Concerts.One of the best-known and most popular structures in Denmark, the Round Tower has been a distinctive feature of the Copenhagen skyline since 1642. The Tower once soared far above the rest of the rooftops in the city, and University astronomers studied the stars and planets from the Observatory at the top. The scholars may have forsaken the building a long time ago, but during the winter visitors are still able to gaze at the cosmos from Europe's oldest functioning observatory. The platform that runs around the outside of the Observatory affords views over the old Latin Quarter – from here, you can spot most of the city's famous buildings. The Round Tower does not have an elevator, so visitors have to climb the winding, white-washed Spiral Walk, where kids often hide in the niches, only to jump out shouting “boo!” as adults approach. Halfway up the tower is the entrance to the large and stunningly beautiful Library Hall, which now serves as a popular gallery and concert venue. It hosts several exhibitions a year, and stages concerts almost every week. Above the Library is the Bell Loft, notable for its enormous wooden beams, which were used in the reconstruction of the Tower following the great fire of Copenhagen in 1728. The Loft is also home to a small exhibition of fascinating artefacts from the Tower's history, including Christian IV's wax seal, a tin of medicine produced by Tycho Brahe, and a piece of the bomb that exploded in the Library Hall during the bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807.The Round Tower was built by Christian IV between 1637 and 1642. It was the first part of the Trinitatis Complex, which combined church, library and observatory in a single building.

Christiansborg Palace is situated on the little island of Slotsholmen (Castle Island) which is surrounded by canals in the heart of Denmark's capital, Copenhagen. Denmark has one of the oldest monarchies in the world, and the palace has a long, dramatic history which revolves around the exercise of royal power. Today, Denmark is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance. Under its beautiful copper roof, the palace houses the Danish parliament, the office of the Danish prime minister and the Supreme Court. It is therefore the center for legislative, executive and judicial power in Denmark. The palace also accommodates rooms for the Danish Monarchy. Focusing on the royal part of the palace, Christiansborg Palace is H.M. the Queen's working palace. This is where the Queen holds audiences, signs laws, holds banquets and receptions, celebrates royal anniversaries and receives state visits. It is a working palace where old traditions and the modern Royal Family meet. You will see dazzling halls, adorned with colorful tapestries, vast paintings, patterned floors, glittering chandeliers, and sumptuous stucco ceilings. You can explore The Royal Kitchen and see its two tons of shiny copper kitchenware. You can visit the beautiful palace chapel, stand underneath its dome and let your head spin as you gaze up at the angels in the ceiling décor more than 30 metres above you. In The Royal Stables you'll find the the white royal horses in the wintertime, and in the summertime the exhibition "All the kings' horses" - all year around you can see the Royal Family's array of carriages. One of them is coated with 24-carat gold leaf. You can also explore the underground ruins underneath Christiansborg Palace. These are ruins of earlier castles and palaces showing that the Castle Island is steeped in 800 years of power and political intrigue.

See sculptures created by sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, whose work can be found across Europe. Long corridors allow for natural light and echo the creative ambiance. The Museum opened on September 18, 1848. It is Denmark’s oldest and also most extraordinary museum building. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

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.