The granite façade of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, with its two pavilion wings, central tower and copper spire, seen across the Riding Ground under a clear blue sky.

Christiansborg Palace · Slotsholmen, Copenhagen

Stand where Denmark's kings wait to be proclaimed

In the oval Throne Room, King Frederik X waited on 14 January 2024 before stepping out to the crowd.

From €44

Booked for the date you choose, by a desk that answers in English.

One island, four sites

Choose your ticket

The combination ticket covers all four Christiansborg visitor sites on the date you pick, in any order. The Royal Palace Pass adds Rosenborg Castle and the Amalienborg Museum.

Worth knowing before you pick a date The Royal Stables open only from 13:30 to 16:00. State visits and royal events can close any of the four sites without notice.

Most chosen

Adult combination ticket

One adult, all four Christiansborg visitor sites on one date

€44

One date · no time slot

On this ticket

The Royal Reception Rooms: the Throne Room, the Great Hall and the Queen's Tapestries, the Velvet Hall and the Hall of the Giants
The Royal Kitchen in the basement, with around 800 pieces of royal copperware
The Ruins under the palace: Bishop Absalon's castle of 1167 and Copenhagen Castle
The Royal Stables and coach collection, open 13:30 to 16:00
Valid all day on the date you choose, sites in any order, no time slot
Ticket emailed once your booking is confirmed; show it on your phone

Under-18s enter free, so book only the adults.

Choose adult ticket

Student combination ticket

One student with valid student ID, checked at the palace door

€30

One date · no time slot

On this ticket

The same four sites as the adult ticket: Reception Rooms, Royal Kitchen, Ruins and Royal Stables
The Throne Room and the Great Hall with its 17 tapestries of Danish history
Valid all day on the date you choose, sites in any order, no time slot
Bring your physical student ID: the palace checks it at the entrance, not us
Ticket emailed once your booking is confirmed; show it on your phone

Under-18s enter free, so book only the adults.

Choose student ticket

Royal Palace Pass

One adult: starts with a booked Rosenborg Castle slot, then 72 hours for Amalienborg and Christiansborg

€49

Time slot at Rosenborg

The slot you pick at checkout is your entry to Rosenborg Castle, where the pass begins. Nothing at Christiansborg is timed.

On this ticket

Your pass starts at Rosenborg Castle: the date and 10-minute slot you pick at checkout are for Rosenborg
Then 72 hours from that first visit to see the Amalienborg Museum, no time slot needed
All Christiansborg visitor sites within the same 72 hours: Reception Rooms, Royal Kitchen, Ruins and Royal Stables
At Rosenborg: the Treasury with the Danish Crown Regalia and the Long Hall
Adults only: under-18s enter all three palaces free with their own free ticket
Pass emailed once your booking is confirmed; show it on your phone

Choose the Palace Pass

Both combination tickets work the same way: one date, four sites, any order you like. Keep the Royal Stables for the afternoon.

How the desk works

No ticket, money back

The only refund we make

Real people answer

Replies from our desk, never a chatbot

Charged in your currency

The price you see is what's charged

No hidden fees

The full total, shown before you pay

The descent

Four sites, from the state floor down to 1167

One ticket covers all of it on a single date, in whatever order suits your day. Read it as a descent: the rooms the King still uses, the stalls across the Riding Ground, the copper kitchen in the basement, then the walls under everything.

The Alexander Hall at Christiansborg Palace: a marble frieze running the length of the wall above gilded doors, with two chandeliers hanging from the painted ceiling. — The Alexander Hall, with Bertel Thorvaldsen's marble frieze of Alexander the Great entering Babylon.

The state floor

The Royal Reception Rooms

This is the longest part of the visit and the reason most people come. You climb the King's Staircase to the Tower Hall, hung with five tapestries of Danish folk ballads designed by Joakim Skovgaard, then continue into the oval Throne Room. The thrones at the end of the room are relics of absolutism, the king's flanked by gilded lions and the queen's by griffins.

Audiences, gala banquets and the New Year's levée are still held up here.

Across the Riding Ground

The Royal Stables

The riding ground complex behind the palace is the oldest surviving part of the first Christiansborg. Its stables date from the 1740s and survived both the 1794 and 1884 fires, and they are still home to the royal horses, including white Kladruber horses reintroduced in the 1990s.

Open 13:30 to 16:00, which is the one fixed point in the day.

The vaulted Royal Kitchen at Christiansborg, with long work tables and rows of copper pans along the walls. — The Royal Kitchen, left as it stood for the gala dinner of 15 May 1937.

The basement

The Royal Kitchen

The exhibition freezes the kitchen on 15 May 1937, the day of the gala dinner for Christian X's silver jubilee: 275 guests, the largest royal banquet in 90 years. Around the vaulted room hang some 800 pieces of copper cookware weighing about two tonnes, one of the largest collections in Europe. The oldest piece is an oval stockpot from 1767. Look into the chef's office too, where the radio still plays the jubilee speeches.

A banquet caught mid-preparation, under two tonnes of copper.

The gates of Christiansborg Palace at dusk, lamps lit under the arches, with the floodlit tower rising behind. — The gates at dusk. Absalon's castle of 1167 lies under this ground.

Under the palace

The Ruins

Below the palace lie the remains of the castle Bishop Absalon built in 1167 and of Copenhagen Castle, which replaced it. Absalon's ring wall was made of limestone shipped from the cliffs at Stevns and enclosed a site about 53 metres across. The Hanseatic League, which had captured the castle, had it torn down stone by stone in 1369.

Open to visitors since 1924, and older than every palace built above them.

Measured

The palace in four figures

3 powers

Parliament, PM and Supreme Court

1167

Absalon's castle lies beneath

40 m

Great Hall, seating 400

13:30

Stables open afternoons only

The building

The third palace to stand on this ground

Christiansborg stands on Slotsholmen, a small island in the middle of Copenhagen, and it is the only building in the world that houses all three branches of a country's government: the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister's Office and the Supreme Court. The monarch still uses part of it too. The Royal Reception Rooms are where the King holds audiences, hosts gala banquets and state dinners, and receives guests at the New Year's levée.

The palace you see is the third Christiansborg on this spot. The first, a baroque palace begun for Christian VI in 1733, burnt in 1794; only the riding ground and stables survived. C. F. Hansen's neoclassical second palace burnt in 1884. The present building, designed by Thorvald Jørgensen in a neo-baroque style, was built between 1907 and 1928, and its tower rises to 106 metres, still the tallest in the city.

Underneath it all lie the ruins of the castle Bishop Absalon built in 1167 and of Copenhagen Castle, which replaced it in the late 14th century. Workers found them while laying the foundations of the present palace, and the ruins have been open to the public since 1924. You walk among walls that were the seat of Danish kings for centuries before the first Christiansborg was even planned.

Upstairs, the Great Hall is 40 metres long and seats 400 dinner guests beneath Bjørn Nørgaard's 17 tapestries, which tell a thousand years of Danish history and were hung in 2000. The oval Throne Room opens onto the balcony where new monarchs are proclaimed, most recently King Frederik X on 14 January 2024. Below ground, the Royal Kitchen holds one of Europe's largest collections of copper cookware, and across the riding ground the Royal Stables still keep the royal horses and coaches.

The copper-capped tower of Christiansborg Palace above its granite walls, seen from below against a bright sky. — The tower rises to 106 metres, still the tallest in the city.

Still in use

A palace that goes to work in the morning

Parliament sits here, the Supreme Court sits here, and the horses are out on the sand behind the building.

Four white horses in harness, driven across the sand of the Riding Ground behind Christiansborg Palace. — White horses at work on the Riding Ground, where the royal horses are exercised.

Mounted guards in red and blue uniform riding in column past the long front of Christiansborg Palace. — Riders pass the palace front; the tower stands at the end of the square.

Copper pots and pans standing on a stove range in the Royal Kitchen at Christiansborg. — Part of the copper: about 800 pieces, one of the largest collections in Europe.

Plan your day

What to settle before you arrive

Opening hours

From 30 March to 1 November 2026 the Royal Reception Rooms, the Royal Kitchen and the Ruins open daily 10:00 to 17:00, and the Royal Stables 13:30 to 16:00. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Winter hours are published by the palace later in the year. Any site can close at short notice for state or royal events.

Address

Christiansborg Palace, Prins Jørgens Gård 5, 1218 Copenhagen K, Denmark. The palace sits on Slotsholmen island in the city centre.

How long to allow

Three to four hours for all four sites. The Royal Reception Rooms take the longest; the Kitchen, Ruins and Stables are shorter visits.

Entry

One date, all four sites, in any order during their opening hours. No time slot. Plan the Royal Stables for the afternoon, as they only open at 13:30.

Photography

Personal photography is welcome at all four sites. Handheld only: no tripods, monopods, flash or lamps.

Getting there

Gammel Strand Metro station is the nearest stop and a short walk across the canal. Parking around the palace is very limited; the underground car park at BLOX is about ten minutes away on foot.

If a royal event closes a site

Christiansborg is an active palace. The Royal Family uses it for state visits, audiences and Council of State meetings, and any site may close without prior announcement for official state or royal events. The palace recommends checking the week's opening hours before your visit, and we do this for your date and tell you if a closure is announced.

From the visitor guide

The short answers, in one place

Address: Prins Jørgens Gård 5, 1218 Copenhagen K, Denmark
Operator: Kongernes Samling (The Royal Danish Collection)
Entry model: Date-only combination ticket; all four sites on one date, no time slot
Present palace: Built 1907 to 1928 to designs by Thorvald Jørgensen; tower 106 metres
Ruins open to the public: Since 1924
Time needed: Three to four hours for all four sites

Open the visitor guide

The long granite-faced front of Christiansborg Palace, windows in rows, with a street lamp in front of it. — Granite, window after window: the third palace was finished in 1928.

Written by the desk

Five guides to the palace and the day around it

Sent before you go

Your Christiansborg Palace 5-minute guide

A short spoken history sent before your visit: three palaces on one island, a bishop's castle under your feet, and the Throne Room behind Denmark's proclamation balcony.

Included with every ticket. English narration, plays in any browser, no app needed.

Why this is the third Christiansborg, and what survived two great fires
Bishop Absalon's castle of 1167, still standing under the palace
The royal apartments that no king ever moved into
The white horse that followed Frederik VII's coffin in 1863

Asked at the desk

Questions we answer most days

What does the combination ticket include?

All four Christiansborg visitor sites on one date: the Royal Reception Rooms, the Royal Kitchen, the Ruins under the palace and the Royal Stables. Visit them in any order during their opening hours. The Tower is separate and free.

Do children need a ticket?

Under-18s enter free, so we never sell a child ticket. They still need a free ticket from the palace, which you can collect at the ticket desk on the day or get when the adults book. Book only the adults with us.

Who can use the student ticket?

Anyone with a valid student ID. The palace checks it at the entrance, not us, so bring the physical card. If you cannot show it on the day, book the adult ticket instead.

What will I see inside?

The Throne Room with its balcony, the Great Hall and Bjørn Nørgaard's tapestries, the Velvet Hall, the Hall of the Giants and the Alexander Hall; the copper-filled Royal Kitchen; medieval castle walls in the Ruins; and the royal horses and coaches at the Stables.

How long should I allow?

Three to four hours for all four sites. Most people spend the longest in the Royal Reception Rooms. Start in the morning and leave the Royal Stables for the afternoon, as they open at 13:30.

What are the opening hours?

From 30 March to 1 November 2026 the Reception Rooms, Kitchen and Ruins open daily 10:00 to 17:00, and the Royal Stables 13:30 to 16:00. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. In the 2025 winter season Mondays were closed; we check your date.

What if a site is closed for a royal event?

It can happen. Christiansborg is a working palace, and any site can close without prior announcement for state visits, audiences or royal events. We check the week's published hours for your date and tell you if a closure is announced, then take it up with the palace for you.

Is Christiansborg accessible for wheelchair users?

Yes, largely. The palace says all visitor sites can be reached with a wheelchair or walker; ask the ticket desk staff at each site for the lift. Wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Reception Rooms, and there are accessible toilets there and in the Royal Kitchen.

Can I bring a bag or a pushchair?

Only small bags and umbrellas. The cloakroom is limited, and large bags, suitcases, prams and pushchairs are not allowed inside. Pushchairs can be left in the Queen's Gate at your own risk; a baby sling works better.

Can I take photographs?

Yes, for personal use at all four sites. Only handheld cameras and phones: tripods, monopods, flash and lamps are not allowed. Commercial and wedding photography is not permitted.

How do I get there?

Take the Metro to Gammel Strand, the nearest station, then walk across the canal to Slotsholmen. From Copenhagen Central Station it is roughly a 20-minute walk. Parking nearby is very limited; the BLOX underground car park is about ten minutes away on foot.

Can I change my date?

Tell us before your date and we will ask the palace to move it. Changes depend on the operator agreeing, as tickets bought online carry no right of withdrawal. All sales are final; we refund only if we fail to deliver your ticket.

How do I receive my ticket?

By email, once your booking is confirmed with the palace. Show it on your phone at each site's entrance, or print it if you prefer. Check your spam folder if it has not arrived and reply to your confirmation email.

What is the Royal Palace Pass?

One adult ticket for three palaces. It starts with a booked 10-minute slot at Rosenborg Castle, the slot you pick at checkout. From that visit you have 72 hours for the Amalienborg Museum and every Christiansborg visitor site, with no time slot needed.

Should I pick the pass or the combination ticket?

If Christiansborg is your only palace, take the combination ticket. If you also want Rosenborg's Crown Jewels and the Amalienborg Museum within three days, the Royal Palace Pass covers all three. Remember the pass begins at Rosenborg, not here.

Is this the official Christiansborg website?

No. We are an independent concierge service that buys the official ticket from Kongernes Samling, The Royal Danish Collection, on your behalf and answers your questions in English. You can also buy directly at kongernessamling.dk.

Is the Tower included?

No, and it does not need to be. The viewing platform in Christiansborg's 106-metre tower is run by the Danish Parliament and is free, with a security check at the entrance. It makes an easy extra before or after your visit.

Can I eat or drink inside?

No food or drink is allowed inside the visitor sites. You can buy water at the Palace Shop by the Royal Reception Rooms, and bring a packed lunch to the tables in the Royal Library Garden or the benches on the Riding Ground.

Answers from the visitor guide

Is the Palace Chapel part of the combination ticket?

No. The combination ticket covers the four visitor sites: Royal Reception Rooms, Royal Kitchen, Ruins and Royal Stables. The Palace Chapel keeps its own hours and opens on Sundays only.

Do I have to visit all four sites in one go?

You visit them on the same date but in any order, and you can take a break between sites. Last entry is 30 minutes before each site closes.

Why do the Royal Stables open so late?

The Stables are a working royal stable, and the horses are exercised on the Riding Ground. Visitor hours are 13:30 to 16:00, with last entry at 15:45.

Which rooms are closed to visitors?

The Audience Chamber and the State Council Room, where the King holds audiences and meets the government, are the only Royal Reception Rooms not open to the public.

Can I see the Danish Parliament on this ticket?

No. The Folketing and its chamber are run by Parliament, separately from the four visitor sites. Parliament does run the free Tower viewing platform in the same building.

Is there an audio guide at the palace?

The palace sells its own smartphone audio guide for the Royal Reception Rooms in Danish and English. We also send every customer a free five-minute spoken history before the visit.

What happens on my date if a site closes?

Tell us straight away. We follow the palace's announced hours for your date and take any closure up with the operator on your behalf.

Who you are booking with

Christiansborg Palace Tickets is an independent concierge booking service. We buy the official ticket on your behalf from Kongernes Samling, The Royal Danish Collection, and handle the booking admin and your questions. We are not affiliated with the operator or the palace, and you can buy directly at kongernessamling.dk.