11 Best Buildings in Copenhagen

On your trip to Copenhagen pay special attention to the architecture. Visiting its buildings is a plan in itself, as you can delight in fascinating designs that combine modernity, sustainability and warmth. A visit is a must both during the day and at night**, when the lighting brings out the most interesting details.

In addition to the modern buildings of the Copenhagen Opera House or The Crystal, there are also restored sites converted into buildings, a waste plant where a ski slope operates and housing and office complexes that propose a different use of space. Here is a list of the most representative buildings, but there are many more that will surely amaze you during your stay in Copenhagen.

Although it is part of the traditional architecture of the Danish capital, on your trip you can not miss the Christiansborg Palace, a dazzling building that today houses the Parliament, the Prime Minister's office, the Supreme Court of Denmark and the government and judicial offices.

If you have the opportunity to visit, you will be dazzled by the tour of the royal reception rooms such as the Great Hall, the Tower Hall and the Oval Throne Room; the royal kitchen; and the ruins, as, beneath the main building, are the remains of an older castle.

The palace is over 800 years old and covers a large area. So keep in mind that the visit lasts approximately three hours if you want to see each and every one of the rooms at your leisure.

More information about the castle

• Location: Prins Jørgens Gård 1, 1218 København, Denmark.
• Opening hours: Christiansborg Palace is open from 10 am to 5 pm.
• Ticket Price: Tickets can be purchased at Hellotickets from approximately 28 €.
• How to get there: The Christiansborg Palace is very well located and can be reached by metro, stop Kongens Nytorv.

Blox is the innovative building where the Danish Architecture Center currently operates. Its shape resembles a series of stacked glass cubes that give it great originality. It was designed by the architects of the company OMA, who would have been inspired by the idea of "putting the city in a box".

The building, which is located on the waterfront of Copenhagen, houses a public square, and has become a meeting place for citizens. It also has sports venues and a bicycle bridge, so it will be one of your stops if you book a bike tour of Copenhagen.

I recommend you book tickets for the Danish Architecture Center. It also has a restaurant, cafe, bookstore and gym in addition to the offices and museum.

More info

• Location: Bryghusgade 10, 1473 København
• Opening hours: Blox EAT restaurant is open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 8 pm. Café DAT is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and on Thursdays until 8:30 p.m. The museum is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm and on Thursdays from 10 am to 9 pm.
• Museum entrance fee: about 19 €.

The Axel Towers are a set of cylindrical-shaped buildings of different heights and sizes that are joined together as if they were the gears of a sophisticated clock. In addition, they have a very characteristic copper color, which stands out in the fabric of the city. They were designed by architect Lene Tranberg of the architectural firm Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter.

The first floor houses cafes, restaurants and stores, and the rest of the building contains offices overlooking the city. By design, the towers provide plenty of natural light for office workers, as well as spaces as original as the shape of the towers. The details seen on the outside are equally well cared for on the inside, with the elevators and staircases located in the center. The curious thing is that you can enter the towers from any direction, since they have no front or back.

The towers are very close to the Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest amusement parks in the world, which was inaugurated in 1843. In this park, in addition to the games, you can see recreations of famous buildings and different shows.

More information about Tivoli Gardens

• Location: Axeltorv 2, 1609 København, Denmark.
• Hours: The cafes are generally open from 10 am to 6 pm and the restaurants from 10 am to 10 pm approximately.
• How to get there: it is 300 meters from the main square of Copenhagen, Radhuspladsen. You can get there by buses 10, 11A, 12, 26 and 33, or by subway to Copenhagen Central Station.

The Silo is a residential building that was built in a silo, the grain plant in the Nordhavnen district. It was designed by the company Cobe and opened in 2015. It is 65 meters high and consists of 17 floors and 40 apartments.

It also has restaurants and bars on the first floor and on the penthouse. In fact, it can be a stop on one of the gastronomic tours of Copenhagen. Its façade features large floor-to-ceiling windows and original balconies with geometric figures. Its novel design, which preserves its industrial imprint, has won many awards.

Although it is for private use, citizens encourage public use, which is why you can have lunch at the Silo restaurant located on the terrace and thus begin a kind of gastronomic tour of Copenhagen while enjoying a beautiful panoramic view.

More information

• Location: Fortkaj 30, 2150 København.
• Opening hours: Silo Restaurant is open Monday and Wednesday from 12 to 10.30 pm, Thursday from 12 to 11 pm, Friday and Saturday from 12 to 11.30 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 3.30 pm.
• Admission: free of charge.

The National Aquarium in Copenhagen is a must-see. Popularly known as Den Blå Planet or The Blue Planet, it was opened by Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik in 2013, is Denmark's largest aquarium and is surrounded by water.

Its design, inspired by the shape of a jacuzzi, occupies about 10,000 m2, covers an area of 2,000 square meters and contains about 7 million liters of water. It also has parking facilities for visitors. The Blue Planet won as the best prestige building at the World Architecture Festival and the Riba award, among others.

During your visit you can visit the 53 aquariums, the whirlpool tub and the curved lobby, as well as see the exhibits on the history of the ocean and marine animals, among others. It is one of the best things to do with children in Copenhagen for all they can learn about life in the sea.

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• Location: Jacob Fortlingsvej 1, 2770 Kastrup, Denmark.
• Hours: Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm and Mondays from 10 am to 9 pm.
• Museum entrance fee: adults from 28 €, children from 3 to 11 years from 15 € and children from 0 to 2 years free.
• How to get there: from Copenhagen terminal you can get there in about 30 minutes by car or cab on 02 and Amager Strandvej. By bus with lines A, B, Bx, C, D and E, you arrive in 45 minutes. By metro with line M2 you arrive in about 40 minutes.

The Crystal is a curious building that resembles a rectangular glass cube, which seems to float in the air, since not all sides are supported on the ground. The facade, which generates a curious play of reflections, is made of semi-transparent glass that reveals its internal metal structure.

The complex is located between Copenhagen's harbor and its historic center. It was designed by architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen, who also designed The Crystal Cube, which is reflected in its facade.

The Crystal is privately owned by Nykredit bank. It is located very close to the Danish Architecture Center and Tivoli Gardens, so you can include it in your tour of Copenhagen's most iconic sights, whether you undertake it on your own or book a private tour of Copenhagen.

More information about Copenhagen

• Location: 1562 København, Denmark
• How to get there: less than a kilometer from the city center on H. C. Andersens Blvd. It is also close to Tivoli Gardens.

The Arken Museum of Modern Art, opened in 1996, was designed for an architectural competition, which was won by Saren Lund. The student, inspired by the context of water, designed a building in the shape of a boat, in which both the exterior and the interior contain elements of this figure.

Because of its shape it is considered deconstructive architecture, because it does not respect the common forms of buildings, but plays with optical illusion, strong colors and wide or narrow rooms joined together. In addition, the walls are curved and the lighting takes center stage.

Arken is one of the best museums in Copenhagen, with exhibition halls in Danish, Nordic and international style; a cinema and the Nordic design store Arken Shop. There are also workshops for children and adults. Get the Copenhagen Card and don't worry about the entrance fee.

More information about Copenhagen

• Location: Skovvej 100, 2635 Ishøj, Denmark.
• Hours: Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm and Thursdays from 11 am to 9 pm. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
• Admission to the museum: about 7 € for adults, about 3.5 € for young people from 18 to 25 years, and free for children under 17 years.
• How to get there: from the Copenhagen terminal you arrive by car or cab on the E47, in 40 minutes. By bus, with lines A, E and 128 you arrive in about an hour.

The seat of the Royal Danish Library is known as The Black Diamond, as it is designed with black marble and glass. It is located on the Christianshavn canal and was designed by the architectural group Schmidt Hammer Lassen. The glass facade is made up of two black cubes, connected by a luminous atrium. It has 8 floors with undulating white walls connected by corridors, which compose a unique and modern architecture. Per Kierbedy decorated the 200 square meter ceiling of one of the bridges that connects El Diamante with the old library.

The Royal Library was founded by King Frederick III of Denmark in 1648, and houses an important collection of European works, which are spread over three buildings. It is estimated to contain around 32 million items, including books, documents and publications. It is ideal for reading if you go to Copenhagen in winter, or at any time of the year, as it is also a viewpoint to the Christianshavn canal.

In addition, inside the library is the National Museum of Photography, exhibition halls and an auditorium. It is also interesting to take a walk outside, where there is a sculpture by Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen, called The Mermaid; or watch it from the water if you book a cruise on the canals of Copenhagen.

More information about Copenhagen

• Location: Den Sorte Diamant, Søren Kierkegaards Pl. 1, 1221 København K.
• Hours: Monday to Thursday from 8 am to 9 pm. Saturdays from 9 am to 7 pm. Closed on Fridays, Sundays and public holidays.
• Admission: free of charge.

The Royal Danish Opera House is one of Copenhagen's most iconic buildings. It was built thanks to the donation of billionaire Marsk Mc-Kinney Moller and was designed by architect Henning Lansen. Opened in 2005, it is considered one of the most modern and expensive buildings in Europe.

It stands out for its roof covered with 24-karat gold panels, its metal facade and the unbeatable sound quality of its auditorium. Marsk was personally commissioned to visit the best theaters in the world to achieve that sound. Also not to be missed are the bridges leading to the theater, made of 19th century hardwood.

The Opera House has a hall with a capacity for 1,500 people and another smaller hall for chamber music. It is interesting to see the panoramic view from the foyer of the Opera, where you can also see the famous light sculptures of Olafur Eliasson. If you want to see a play, remember to book your tickets for the Copenhagen Opera in advance. Most guided tours of Copenhagen include a visit to the theater, as it is considered an icon of the city.

More information about Copenhagen

• Location: Kongens Nytorv 9, 1050 København K, Denmark
• Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
• Admission fee: about 16
• How to get there: From the airport: by subway, with the M2 line you arrive in 15 minutes and from there it is 5 minutes to the opera, with the 9A bus, walking or taking a cab. By bus it takes 45 minutes with lines 31, 36, 37, 5C, 250S. By car or cab it takes 20 minutes.

CopenHill is located in the industrial area of Copenhagen and is the highest in the city. It is a working plant where waste is incinerated and converted into energy, which is used by the city. Its facade is built with huge aluminum bricks more than one meter long and three meters wide.

The interesting thing is that on the terrace of the plant there is a ski slope of 11,000 m², where you can practice this sport, or take lessons, and that works all year round, so you can is a good choice if you go to Copenhagen in autumn or summer. If skiing is not your thing, you can choose to have lunch or a snack at the Apres-ski bar, while enjoying the incredible panoramic view.

The building, designed by the Bjarke Ingels Group studio, also serves as an environmental education center, providing workshops and educational lectures related to sustainable technology. CopenHill annually converts 440,000 tons of waste into energy, which is provided to more than 200,000 families.

More information about CopenHill

• Location: Vindmøllevej 6, 2300 København, Denmark.
• Hours: Monday to Friday from noon to 7 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.
• Ticket price: from 22€ per person. The hour of skiing for adults plus the rental of the complete equipment costs about 30 €. Children under 10 years old pay about 26 € per hour. Ski lessons cost around 17-50 € per hour.
• How to get there: from Copenhagen terminal you can get there in 15 minutes by car or cab taking the O2. Parking is free. By bus with lines M4 and 2A you can get there in 44 minutes.

The VM Mountain complex is located in Ørestad, a new neighborhood 5 km from the center of Copenhagen. It is striking for its stepped shape that resembles a mountain, and its green terraces with gardens fed by complex irrigation systems. The building, built in 2008 by the Plot studio, won the award for best residential building at the World Architecture Fair.

The 33,000-square-meter VM Mountain apartments have been built on the roof of the diagonally shaped parking garage. Each apartment has a courtyard garden, which is the roof of the dwelling that is on the level below. In addition, they are all "L" shaped. It is interesting to see the building from above, as the homes with their courtyards and gardens form a geometric motif. It also stands out for one of the aluminum facades that reproduces the figure of Mount Everest.

To visit this neighborhood you can book the Copenhagen tourist bus. You can see other incredible buildings such as the University Residence Tietgen or the two leaning towers of the Bella Sky Hotel, so it is a must for lovers of architecture.

More information about Copenhagen

• Location: Ørestads Blvd 55, 2300 København, Denmark.
• How to get there: by car or cab you can get there in 10 minutes from the center of Copenhagen, along Ørestads Blvd. By public transport you can get there in about 15-20 minutes.