Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Castle was built between 1606 and 1633 as the summer residence of King Christian IV — the same prolific Dane who founded Christiania, built the Round Tower, and lost most of his wars. The castle is a Dutch Renaissance jewel in red brick + sandstone; surrounded by Kongens Have (King's Garden), Copenhagen's oldest park (1606), open to the public since 1770 and the city's preferred picnic spot when the sun comes out.

The basement holds the Danish Crown Jewels — the Crown of Christian IV (1596, used in coronations until 1660) and the Crown of Christian V (1671, used afterwards). Unlike the British equivalents, these jewels are still worn — Queen Margrethe II (until her abdication in 2024) and now King Frederik X borrow them for state occasions. The treasury also displays the world's largest garnet brooch and several rooms of royal porcelain.

Adult ticket DKK 130 (~€17) in 2026, closed Mondays Nov–Apr (open daily May–Oct). Allow 90 minutes for castle + treasury, plus 45 minutes to wander the King's Garden. The Royal Life Guards parade through the gardens at 11:30 daily on their way from Rosenborg Barracks to Amalienborg Palace for the changing of the guard at noon — follow them for two attractions in one walk.