Our Saviour's is one of Denmark's most famous churches. Ever since the serpentine spire was inaugurated in 1752, is has been a popular passtime to climb the 400 steps to the top.
Please note: The entrance to the church is free of charge for all. If you wish to climb the tower you must book your visit in advance. Please choose the free 'Copenhagen Card' option here.
Every year, more than 200.000 people climb the stairway to the top where Our Saviour stands on his globe and overlooks the royal city of Copenhagen.
Our Savior's Church's iconic tower contains six large bells and a fantastic carillon which holds special meaning to Christianshavn. With as many as 48 bells, the carillon plays its delicate melodies over the neighbourhood daily.
On the last 150 external steps, you will, as far as the eye can see, experience one of the best views over Copenhagen with an overview of the city from every angle at 86 meters. This is not an ascent for the vertiginously challenged!
The large baroque church, consecrated in 1696, holds a magnificent organ from 1698 and a beautiful altar. Furthermore, the church has 40 elephants symbolising the absolute monarchy and the Order of the Elephant, the highest order in Denmark. Can you find all the elephants in the church?
Access to the tower is limited during crowded hours because of narrow stairs and pathways. Therefore, we recommend prior booking to avoid waiting time for purchasing tickets on-site and to reserve a spot in the tower at a preferred time.
The staff can require online booking upon arrival during busy hours if the tower has reached its maximum visitor capacity.
Please note that the church is closed for sightseeing during services and special events.
In the case of rain, snow or heavy wind, the tower closes temporarily for safety reasons.
Please note that the tower closes at 3:30PM on December 31st., and that it is completly closed on the 24th and 25th of December.
The Black Diamond
On the edge of Copenhagen Harbour sits The Black Diamond as a beacon of culture. The Black Diamond is Royal Danish Library's cultural centre in Copenhagen with lots of exhibitions all year round.
Storytelling, sensuous experiences and unique objects set the mind in motion when visiting exhibitions in The Black Diamond. With cultural heritage as an inexhaustible reservoir, everything from Søren Kierkegaard to contemporary art is staged, with particular emphasis on literature and photography.
Exhibitions 2025:
The Camera and Us
Today, the camera is a constant companion in every aspect of our everyday lives. But what does the ubiquity of photography do to our perception of ourselves and our perceptions of each other? In The Camera and Us you can dive into more than 250 photographs from The Royal Danish Library's vast photo collection. From the first silver-plated metal plates to today's constant stream of images.
Until 28.09.25.
Lene Adler Petersen – Space and Things
Discover one of Denmark's most prominent feminist artists, whose unique universe explores the home as a feminist battleground full of beauty, freedom and revolutionary action. The exhibition is a tribute to Adler Petersen's central role in Danish art and women's movement and brings together a large selection of works from her lifelong career.
Until 11.05.25.
Danish Press Photo of the Year 2024
Press Photo of the Year presents the dramatic, funny and memorable moments from 2024 – captured by Danish press photographers. Each year, the competition awards the best shots in several categories such as News Photo of the Year, Portrait of the Year, Sports, Photo of the Year and, and last but not least, Press Photographer and Press Photo of the Year.
Until 11.05.25.
Between Heaven and Earth – Magic books, alchemy and occult photography
For as long as humans have existed, we have had a desire to understand the incomprehensible – from ancient alchemists and ritual phenomena to today's spiritualists and scientists. This year's major exhibition invites you into the most magical and mythical parts of our cultural history. Discover disease-curing spell books, occult photographs, alchemical experiments, love-inducing divinations, tales of fantastic beings, mystical manifestations and many other magical artefacts.
Opens 19.06.2.
The World around Us
In The Black Diamond's new collection exhibition, we turn our gaze towards the landscape and everything that surrounds us. The exhibition takes us on a journey through the last 200 years of photographic history and focuses on how we have depicted and understood land and city through photography – from the romantic landscape photography of the 19th century to the Industrialisation's enthusiasm for cities and buildings to the climate challenges of today.
Opens 19.11.25.
Treasures in the Royal Danish Library
An exhibition with library's most precious, beautiful, significant, and valuable treasures. From the oldest of manuscripts to the Internet's ever increasing digital cultural heritage. Explore gems from the collections of science, philosophy, cartography, music, and much more – or take a peek into the lives of a number of prominent Danes by reading Søren Kierkegaard's letter to his fiancé, Karen Blixen's own manuscript, or Hans Christian Andersen's diary. Permanent exhibition.
Special feature on Sundays and public holidays
Visit The Old Reading Room
The atmospheric reading room in the original part of Royal Danish Library on Slotsholmen in Copenhagen is called The Old Reading Room. The reading room has remained virtually original since its inauguration in 1906 and is a true architectural gem. On Sundays, anyone interested can visit the reading room and experience its very special atmosphere. Visit to The Old Reading Room is included in the exhibition ticket and with a Copenhagen Card.
Please note that only students and researchers have access to the library Monday to Saturday.
Related Attractions
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is located in the center of Copenhagen and the museum collection consists primarily of Danish and French art work of the 19th century and archaeological artefacts from ancient Egypt, the Greek and Roman impires, and from the Middle Eastern cultures.
Art and beer Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek was founded by the brewer, Carl Jacobsen (the founder of Carlsberg breweries), who was one of the great industrial magnates of the 19th century and the greatest art patron Denmark has seen. In 1888 Carl Jacobsen gave his art collection to the public and began the building of the Glyptoteket. Glyptoteket has been open to the public since 1897 and holds over 10,000 works, primarily divided between ancient antiquities and Danish and French sculpture and paintings from the 19th century.
The collection The collection of ancient sculptures includes an extensive collection of Ancient Greek and Roman portrait heads as well as a large collection of Palmyrene portraits. The modern part of the collection includes French sculptures from the 19th century – featuring a significant selection of works by Auguste Rodin – and French paintings from 1800 to 1950, with Impressionism and Paul Gauguin as the absolute stars, plus a collection of Danish Golden Age Art. The main proportion of the collection is part of the museum’s permanent exhibitions, though there are, also, temporary special exhibitions which help to develop a perspective on the museum’s collection with the aid of works on loan.
The Winter Garden, café and roof terraceUnwind from the daily grind at the café overlooking the beautiful and spacious Winter Garden. Picnic is open on the same days as the museum itself. They serve tasty light lunches, desserts, coffee and other beverages.
Visit the roof terrace of the Glyptotek and experience a beautiful view of Copenhagen and the city towers. Every summer, the museum café serves cold drinks, snacks, coffee and cake for you to enjoy in open air.
Special Exhibithions:
Iconoclasm – Art as a Battleground - 5/12 2024 - 18/5 2025
What prompts activists to attack famous works of art in an attempt to spotlight the climate crisis? And why do people knock down statues when power changes hands? In the exhibition Iconoclasm – Art as a Battleground, the Glyptotek tells the story of our tempestuous relationship with art and what compels us to destroy it.
For millennia, humans have not only erected statues, but also knocked them down or changed and destroyed them. Because, even though monuments are often made of durable materials such as marble and bronze, the ideologies, people and events they commemorate and preserve are rarely as enduring.
SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark
SMK - The National Gallery of Denmark (Statens Museum for Kunst) is Denmark’s largest art museum, featuring outstanding collections of Danish and international art from the past seven centuries. SMK is located just off of Copenhagen's Nørreport station. Here you can experience special exhibitions, the royal collections, guided tours, performances, art talks, concerts, workshops and much more.
At the SMK you can enjoy the grand masters of art history along with cutting-edge contemporary artists and the rising stars of the art scene. No other museum in Denmark shows such a rich and varied selection of art – from the European classics of the Renaissance to the overwhelming diversity of modern and contemporary art. Here you will find gems by artists such as Mantegna, Nolde, Anna Ancher, Derain, Rubens, Matisse, Hammershøi, Munch, Abramovic, Danh Vo and Elmgreen & Dragset.
SMK is especially famous for its beautiful collection of Danish Golden Age art, the country’s most comprehensive collection of Danish contemporary art – and one of the world’s best Matisse collections.
Start your exploration of Copenhagen at Danish Architecture Center (DAC). From the spectacular modern home in BLOX on Copenhagen’s waterfront, the international cultural attraction presents exhibitions, guided tours and events on historic icons and new highlights in Danish architecture and design for both children and adults. You can also shop new designs, art and books in the DAC Design Shop or enjoy coffee in the DAC Café with a view of Copenhagen harbor.
Architecture exhibitions with leading Danish and international profiles
Get inspired by the biggest stars in architecture and design. DAC showcase changing exhibitions on the most creative and talked-about Danish studios, including BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) and Olafur Eliasson; works from historic masterminds such as Arne Jacobsen; and new trends in housing and daily life.
Current exhibitions (dac.dk):
Recycle!, April 11 – September 10, 2025Everything we build has value – even after it has been used. How can we rediscover the beauty of reuse and create a future where used materials gain new life and circular resources take on new value? How can reuse become part of architecture’s aesthetic? What does architecture look like if we stop throwing things away?Guided tours
Get the close-up experience of Copenhagen’s architecture with their expert guides. Discover the masterpieces and the city’s hidden gems – from Nyhavn to the 8 House and bicycle bridges to harbor baths. DAC offer tours every week. Tour ticket gives free access to DAC exhibitions within 24 hours of the tour.
Kids and families
Architecture is for kids too! On weekends and holidays, they invite you and your kids to family workshops. You can build, draw and design with help from our DAC learning team. Try the thrilling DAC Slide, enjoy the outdoor playground and end the day with family-friendly food in the DAC Café.
DAC Café
In DAC Café, you experience Copenhagen anew – high above Copenhagen’s vibrant city life and harbour. Have a break on one of our rooftop terraces and enjoy tasteful Nordic dishes, refreshments or a good cup of coffee.
DAC Design Shop
DAC Design Shop is your destination for design and architecture in Copenhagen. Explore a hand-picked selection of new Danish design. DAC offer everything from jewelry, watches and fashion to books, prints and designs for children. All objects in the store are carefully selected with a focus on sustainability and innovation. The range and decor are a holistic experience that constantly changes every time you visit us. The DAC Design Shop is the perfect place to find great gifts for your loved ones or for yourself.
Welcome to ENIGMA, Denmark’s vibrant hub for communication and media. Born from the old Post & Tele Museum, it now thrives in a historic post office in Østerbro.
ENIGMA is a treasure trove of Denmark’s communication history, housing the largest stamp collection and a significant specialist library. It’s a place where past, present, and future converge, offering a journey from the postal service’s inception in 1624 to today’s digital realities.
The museum houses four different exhibition and activity areas. Together they depict the Danish communication and media history from the establishment of the postal service in 1624, over mass communication in sound and images, to our time’s digital realities. Past, present, and future under the same roof.
The name ENIGMA, a Greek word meaning riddle, reflects the museums mission to help decipher the riddles of everyday communication. The museum even house the world’s oldest ENIGMA machine, a code device from World War II.
The exhibition, “Hello human - do you trust me?” invites you to explore the potentials and pitfalls of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Would you trust a machine to write your love letter or talk to your doctor? Join us at ENIGMA, and you’ll leave with new insights and knowledge. The exhibition guides you through what artificial intelligence is and can be used for. You get the opportunity to participate actively and critically take a position on the potentials and dangers that arise in the use of artificial intelligence.
Karen Blixen Museum Rungstedlund
A beautiful, short walk from Rungsted Kyst Station north of Copenhagen leads to the Karen Blixen Museum. A unique experience awaits in the beautiful, charming and authentic author's home surrounded by a bird sanctuary and situated just by the Sound.
Rungstedlund is one of the oldest existing properties on the coastal road Strandvejen and was Karen Blixen's home for most of her life. The author Karen Blixen, also known as Isak Dinesen, wrote herself into world literature with well-known works such as Out of African and Babette's Feast.
The living rooms at Rungstedlund stand as Karen Blixen left them, decorated in her unique style and with fresh, sumptuous flower arrangements inspired by her own bouquets. Experience changing exhibitions at the museum and explore Karen Blixen's outdoor natural gem, the Bird Sanctuary. There is always free access to the Bird Sanctuary, which was protected in 1958 and has since attracted nature- and bird enthusiast of all age groups.
In 2024, the BLIXEN Route opened - a 16 km certified hiking route marked with signs and audio stories along the way. The route is circular with start at the Karen Blixen Museum and it is free of charge. Read more at Karen Blixen Museum — BLIXEN ROUTE Madam Carlsen's café, named after Karen Blixen's housekeeper, is a cozy meeting place offering beautiful views of both forest and sea and with a wonderful outdoor terrace. The café serves brunch, lunch and dinner as well as a good selection of delicious cakes, wine and coffee. It is recommended to book a table here.
Find inspiration in a wide selection of books in several languages and be tempted by unique art, fine textiles and quality products in the cozy museum shop.
Step into the Danish Golden Age Bakkehuset was an essential meeting place in the Danish Golden Age, hosted by Kamma and Knud Lyne Rahbek and frequently visited by Hans Christian Andersen, Oehlenschläger, H.C. Ørsted and other poets, scientists and opinion formers of the romantic period.
Today, Bakkehuset is buzzing with art and culture. The historic house and its surrounding gardens provide an authentic insight into the way of life in the early 19th century, its atmosphere and style. A visit to Bakkehuset is a visceral experience of one of the most central periods in Danish cultural history; the period that would become known as the Golden Age.
Hans Christian Andersen visited Bakkehuset as a young man and here he found inspiration and support to become a writer. His famous tales work as inspiration for creative activities in the cozy family area, Eventyrakademiet (the Fairytale Academy)
Experience the newly renovated romantic garden around Bakkehuset. You can enjoy coffee and historical food in the orangery, beautifully situated in the middle of the blossoming garden.
The café is set in the historical garden and serves traditional open sandwiches.
Opening Hours
01.02.2025 - 23.12.2025:Monday: 10:00 - 20:00
Tuesday: 10:00 - 20:00
Wednesday: 10:00 - 20:00
Thursday: 10:00 - 20:00
Friday: 10:00 - 20:00
Saturday: 10:00 - 18:00
Sunday: 10:00 - 16:00
Location
Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1
1221 København K
https://www.kb.dk/arrangementer/udstillinger
Restaurant
Café
Wheelchair Accessible