Amalienborg Palace

Amalienborg Became the Royal Residence After a Fire Destroyed the Previous Palace in 1794

Christiansborg Palace burned in 1794 and the Danish royal family relocated to Amalienborg, a complex of four identical rococo palaces arranged around an octagonal square in Copenhagen’s Frederiksstaden district. They have been there ever since. The complex was built during the 1750s, each palace named after a Danish king: Christian VII, Frederik V, Christian VIII, and Christian IX. The symmetry of the four identical facades around the octagonal square – with the equestrian statue of Frederik V in the centre – is one of the most elegant pieces of 18th-century urban design in Europe.

The Changing of the Guard at noon is free and worth seeing: the Den Kongelige Livgarde (Royal Life Guard) in full dress uniforms conducts an intricate choreographed display around the square. Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early for a good position. The ceremony is more elaborate when members of the royal family are in residence, which you can identify by the royal flag flying above the palaces.

What to See

The Amalienborg Museum in Christian VIII’s Palace covers Danish royal life with royal regalia, historic carriages, period furniture, and exhibits chronicling the palace from 1794 to the present. Open Tuesday through Sunday, approximately 10am to 4pm (extended summer hours). Admission approximately DKK 75 to 100.

The Royal Reception Rooms open to the public in spring and summer (typically May through October), showing the ceremonial state chambers with rococo and neoclassical furnishings. Admission approximately DKK 90 to 120.

The Marble Church

Frederiks Kirke, directly opposite the palace’s northern facade, is the massive copper-domed neoclassical church visible across much of Copenhagen. Completed in 1894 after over a century of intermittent construction, it is free to enter. The dome can be climbed for panoramic city views for a small fee.

Practical Notes

The Marmorkirken metro station (Line M2) is the closest. Nyhavn is a 15-minute walk east. The Kastellet (star-shaped fortress from 1662) and the Little Mermaid statue are a short walk north. The Copenhagen Card covers public transport and many museums and pays for itself quickly if you plan to visit several attractions in the same day.