After our Norway cruise, we lingered in Denmark. A few days based in Copenhagen gave us the city's greenhouses and rooftops, plus easy day trips to three very different corners of Danish history — a Renaissance castle, a Baroque palace, and a thousand-year-old Viking legacy.

Arrival: Copenhagen from the water

We came in by ship. First glimpse of Copenhagen from the deck — spires, waterfront, and a ship dressed in pennant flags.

Arriving in Copenhagen by ship — the waterfront and spires from the deck.
Arriving in Copenhagen by ship — the waterfront and spires from the deck.
Pennant flags flying on deck at arrival.
Pennant flags flying on deck at arrival.

The Botanical Garden and Butterfly House

A slow morning among the lily ponds of the old glasshouse, and a blue-and-black butterfly that sat still just long enough for a portrait.

The lily pond inside the Botanical Garden's old glasshouse.
The lily pond inside the Botanical Garden's old glasshouse.
A blue-and-black butterfly at rest in the Butterfly House.
A blue-and-black butterfly at rest in the Butterfly House.

Rooftops and Christiania

Up on a rooftop terrace with the Copenhagen skyline spread out below, then down to the famously colorful streets of Christiania.

Copenhagen's skyline from a rooftop terrace.
Copenhagen's skyline from a rooftop terrace.
A mural-covered building in Christiania.
A mural-covered building in Christiania.

Helsingør: Kronborg Castle

Kronborg — Hamlet's castle — sits right on the strait, and it earns its reputation. We walked the courtyard, stood by the cannons on the ramparts with Sweden visible across the water, and went inside to find painted ceiling frescoes and a chandelier in the great rooms.

The courtyard at Kronborg Castle, Helsingør.
The courtyard at Kronborg Castle, Helsingør.
Cannons lined along the Kronborg ramparts.
Cannons lined along the Kronborg ramparts.
The Danish flag flying over Kronborg.
The Danish flag flying over Kronborg.
Painted ceiling frescoes and a chandelier inside Kronborg.
Painted ceiling frescoes and a chandelier inside Kronborg.
Us at Kronborg Castle.
Us at Kronborg Castle.

Hillerød: Frederiksborg Castle

Frederiksborg rises straight out of its lake in Hillerød — the most romantic silhouette in Denmark. Inside, the Great Hall (Riddersalen) is all dark wood, portraits, and carved detail.

Frederiksborg Castle mirrored in its lake, Hillerød.
Frederiksborg Castle mirrored in its lake, Hillerød.
The Great Hall (Riddersalen) at Frederiksborg.
The Great Hall (Riddersalen) at Frederiksborg.

Roskilde: the Viking Ship Museum

Roskilde was the Viking Age capital of Denmark, and the Viking Ship Museum keeps that story afloat — literally. Havhingsten, a reconstruction of a full-size longship, sat at the dock ready for the water.

Havhingsten, the reconstructed longship, at the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde.
Havhingsten, the reconstructed longship, at the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde.

A farewell dinner

Last night in Denmark ended the Danish way — smørrebrød at VITA Restaurant, open-faced and done right.

A farewell smørrebrød plate at VITA Restaurant.
A farewell smørrebrød plate at VITA Restaurant. The traditional Denmark dish - and made Gluten Free!

If Denmark is on your list — castles, coast, or a slow Copenhagen long weekend — I can help you shape it around your pace. Send me a note at Sandy.Wilcox@fora.travel.

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