The Complete Guide to Exploring Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen: A Self-Guided Mystery Tour

Are you looking for an unforgettable self-guided tour of the daunting yet captivating Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’ll introduce you to the sprawing palace situated on three separate islands, allowing you to uncover its secrets in a true “mystery tour.’

Christiansborg Palace is one of the most iconic parts of Copenhagen. On the exterior, it projects regality and grandeur, while its interiors are filled with tales of the past. With this guide, you’ll get an in-depth look at the palace and the many attractions within its walls. Ready to explore? Let’s begin.

A Brief History of Christiansborg Palace

This ancient castle serves as the seat of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget), the Danish Prime Minister’s Office and the Danish Supreme Court. Before that, it was also the home of the Royal Families over the years. It has been destroyed and rebuilt at least 3 times since the mid 12th century.

The earliest record of building activity is believed to be between 1167 and 1177 when the castle was constructed on a smaller island at that time called Slotsholmen. The castle served as the royal residence until 1417 when a fire destroyed substantial parts of it.

In 1660, King Frederik III commissioned Swedish architect Nicodemus Tessin to rebuild it, becoming known as “the old Christiansborg”. But about 114 years later, in 1794, fire struck again! This time it destroyed almost all parts of the original building.

For yet another time, it underwent reconstruction once more beginning in 1803 under Christian VII’s successor Frederick VI, who used its baroque design for his new palace.

Finally, its most recent renovation was completed in 1928 and was created by architect Thorvald Jørgensen.

Explore the Grounds

As you approach Christiansborg Palace, you’ll be overwhelmed by awe of its grandeur. The sprawling complex is spread across 3 islands: Slotsholmen Island, Sjaellands Odde Island, and Holmens Kanal Island. It houses several official Danish buildings, churches and chapels, gardens and courtyards, each with an equally compelling story to tell.

Here are some must-visit places around Christiansborg Palace:

Palace Chapel

The Palace Chapel was built under King Hans in the early 16th century. The exterior walls are made of natural stone while the columns and vaults are constructed from bricks painted in a rainbow of colors from white to black. Inside, visitors can take a peek of the ornate altar which dates back to 1524–25 when King Christian II added his signature engravings. You can also marvel at its painted ceiling which features figures from Christianity and notable Danish kings like Christian III. The chapel isn’t open on Tuesdays and Thursdays so be sure to check before making your visit!

The Great Hall

Second floor access to The Great Hall can only be done with a guided tour which lasts for two hours. Depending on what day you visit, admission fee may or may not be required. The ticket fees are available for purchase onsite.

This enormous room consists of several historically significant elements such as a large red carpet with golden dragons thought to have been weaved from Mongolian silk and portraits of 10 members of the 18th century Bernstorff Family who were among the first to inhabit this palace once it was complete in 1960.

Be sure not to miss its stunning marble staircase salvaged from “the old” Christiansborg which was once known as one of the most beautiful features of the palace.

The Royal Reception Rooms

When entering Makere Hall – one of the stately reception rooms – you’ll be greeted with a crescendo of grandiose details like 12 colossal tapestries and intricate ceiling designs worth thousands of dollars each. This room is intentionally used for royal ceremonies such as coronations and weddings, much like its beautiful counterparts: Mirror Room and Christian VII’s Room. Don’t forget to check out Nobles’ Corridor as well! This corridor is 17 meters long and is often used by visiting dignitaries, who can admire its captivating 17th century ceiling paintings and wooden parquet flooring all the way down.

The Tower

As part of your visit, be sure to make your way to The Tower which stands out as one of the four spires on top of Christiansborg Palace. You’ll enjoy a spectacular view from the top that overlooks Slotsholmen Canal as well as Sweden in the distance. The tower is sometimes open for visitors during special occasions or if you purchase a private tour for yourself or small group.

Admission & Opening Hours

Feel free to explore Christiansborg Palace on your own in parts throughout your visit – admission is free! For group tours and access to certain parts like The Tower, you will need to pay admission fees which vary depending on how many people are in your group and how long you plan on staying inside the Castle.

Public opening hours are:

• Monday – Sunday 10:00am – 16:30pm only for certain areas.
• Monday – Sunday 10:00am – 4:00pm for all areas.

Note that this opening schedule may change depending on when official events take place within its walls (e.g., parliament meetings). Be sure to double check before planning your visit!

Dining & Shopping

After taking in all of the sights, why not head to both Cafe Fru Clausen located inside Slotskirken Cathedral or Schavs Cafe in Parliament House for a refreshing snack? And while you’re there, you can shop around Christian VII’s Mansion’s gift shop which sells all kinds of souvenirs ranging from magnets to t-shirts to mugs and postcards – perfect for a piece of history from your tour!

How To Get There

Plan ahead so that your trip will go off without a hitch! Here’s some help getting there:

By Metro：
The nearest stop is Kongens Nytorv Station (on Trunk Line A) which takes about 10 minutes from Copenhagen Central Station and a mere 5 minutes from Nørreport Station (on InterCity lines). From there, you will have an easy 5-minutes walk to Christiansborg Palace.

By Bus：
You can also take buses 1A and 26 along Slotsholmsgade Street which stops just across from Christiansborg Palace. Lastly, services 3A, 5C and 250S all run along Gammel Strand Street which lands you within walking distance to the palace.

By Water：
Take a sightseeing boat offered by Canal Tours close to Nyhavn Harbor and enjoy 20 minutes worth of viewing the city’s beautiful canals which end at Slotsholmen Island – then just follow the signs which will lead you right up to Christiansborg Palace itself!

Conclusion

Exploring Christiansborg Palace can take up an entire day or even more depending on how much time one wishes to spend exploring its stunning sites and lavish interiors. By combining details from this guide with your curiosity and enthusiasm, you’re sure to make your next mystery tour a walkable one!

Ready to go? Now that you have all the inside scoop needed for taking a guided self-tour at Christiansborg Palace, why not make things more official by checking out this guided excursion provided by GetYourGuide? Experiencing through highly rated professionals gives you reliable access even to private areas like The Tower while enjoying your exploration even more securely!