As interesting as Copenhagen is, you may want to take a day tour of the Danish countryside and visit three colorful castles while your ship is docked in Denmark. We took a half day shore excursion from a cruise ship, driving along the picturesque ‘Danish Riviera’ coastal road, stopping at Frederiksborg Slot, Fredensborg Slot and Kronborg Slot along the way. Each of these three castles had its own special attraction.
Frederiksborg Castle
Frederiksborg is a huge castle in the town of Hillerød, about 40 kilometers northwest of Copenhagen. The village is located in the center of North Zealand and is surrounded by lush forests. The journey from Copenhagen is interesting, with many thatched-roof huts along the route. Although the oldest parts of the slot (castle) date back to 1560, most of the slot was built between 1600 and 1620 by Christian IV, the King of Denmark builder, who was born in the castle. It is often called the ‘Danish Versailles’ as it is the most important castle in Scandinavia, built on three islands in the castle lake.
The slot is built of red brick, with a copper roof and sandstone facade. Danish royalties used the slot for over two hundred years, and the Christian IV chapel is still used today. It is filled with the shields of many families and has an organ that dates back to the 17th century. Although photos are not allowed inside the Frederiksborg Slot, we really enjoyed touring the castle.
Frederiksborg Castle Garden is also a must see. You will have to take time to stroll around the back of the castle to visit this baroque garden, which was restored to its original style in 1996.
Fredensborg Castle
A few kilometers from Frederiksborg Slot is Fredensborg, the summer palace of the current Danish royal family, built in 1720. We only had a photo stop at the palace, which was being remodeled. Fredensborg is also in a small town, and many compare the atmosphere of the town and castle to Windsor in England. The style of the castle is quite different from that of Windsor, with Baroque, Classical and Rococo features.
Kronborg castle
Anyone who is a fan of Shakespeare should visit the town of Helsingør (Elsinore), about 15 miles northeast of Hillerød at the narrowest point of the canal that separates Denmark from Sweden. The castle is located on a peninsula that juts out into the Øresund. There is no evidence that Shakespeare visited Helsingør or Kronborg Castle, but he used it as the setting for his famous play Hamlet. (Renamed Kronborg “Elsinore Castle”,) Kronborg looks much more like a fortress than the other two slot machines we visited.
It has numerous artillery compartments in the ramparts, huge walls and a moat. “Hamlet” is sometimes performed in the great courtyard of the Kronborg slot.
At one point in the early 15th century, all ships passing through Helsingør had to pay a toll. The narrowness of the gap allowed the King’s men to easily force all ships to pay, and the city prospered and became a focal point of shipping. For a time, Helsingør was even the second largest Danish city.
After touring the three castles, we returned to Copenhagen along the coast, with a quick look at the family home / museum of Karen Blixen, who wrote under the pseudonym Isak Dinesen. We did not stop at the museum in honor of his legacy, but others on the ship who visited him found his story and life fascinating. The Karen Blixen Museum is accessible from the Rungsted Kyst train station.
Visiting Denmark and Copenhagen by cruise
Many cruise lines dock or embark / disembark from Copenhagen. Scandinavia is one of the most expensive areas in Europe to visit, so a cruise really helps to keep the cost down since your “hotel” and meals are included. Spending a few days in this fascinating city gives you time to venture out of the city.
