A Sampling of Attractions on Zealand (Sjælland)

For a description of attractions in and around Copenhagen, click here.

Castles and Cathedrals:

Frederiksborg Slot
Kronborg Slot
Roskilde Cathedral

Viking Attractions:
Roskilde Viking Ship Museum
The Viking Fortification Trelleborg

Iron Age Attraction:
Lejre Experimental Center

Museums:
Karen Blixen Museum
Louisiana Museum

Amusement Parks:
Knuthenborg Safari Park
Sommerland Sjælland
BonBonLand

Tivoli Gardens (Click to go to Copenhagen Attractions page)
Bakken (Click to go to Copenhagen Attractions page)

Follow in the footsteps of the Vikings in Zealand, the most historically fertile region in Denmark. A region blessed with dramatic sweeping fjords, lush rolling fields and thousands of miles of sandy beaches, Zealand is full of culture, excitement and surprises, offering the very best that Denmark has to offer. The north of the island is charged with the power and drama of nature, as it is the point at which the Baltic and the North seas meet, creating a noisy and chaotic symphony that has echoed for millions of years. The south of Zealand is calmer in atmosphere, featuring glittering inlets and forest-clad ridges.
Zealand’s largest city is Copenhagen, capital of Denmark. Home to the world’s largest pedestrian street and the world-famous statue of the Little Mermaid, the fairytale city of Copenhagen is the largest city in Scandinavia and one of its liveliest. Dotted with parks, gardens, water fountains and squares, the city combines a charming laid-back feel with an exciting, exuberant atmosphere. Tivoli Gardens has been a central element of Copenhagen’s entertainment life since 1843 for Danes and visitors alike. Tivoli features, in addition to its sentimental significance, the latest in amusement rides as well as stage shows, restaurants, and bars. Take a trip north along the Oresund Coast, known as the Danish Riviera. This stretch is mainly a sequence of small, affluent seaside suburbs and yachting harbors and is home to a museum dedicated to Karen Blixen, author of Out of Africa, and to the Louisiana Museum at Humlebaek. Louisiana is located on a striking waterfront park featuring world-class outdoor statuary and houses truly outstanding modern art.

Spoil yourself with a lakeside meal at Esrum So, Denmark’s second-largest lake and enjoy tours of Frederiksborg Slot, an impressive Dutch Renaissance castle, and Kronborg Slot, the castle that is the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Make your way through Zealand’s gently rolling landscape to the south of the island and visit the towns of Roskilde and Koge. Roskilde features a magnificent cathedral and a truly outstanding Viking Ship Museum located by the town’s fjord, as well as being home to one of Europe’s largest music festivals during the summer. Koge is a gently restored city with centuries of atmosphere. Savor the wealth of history of this delightful town with charming market squares, antique shops and cozy courtyards.

For a description of attractions in and around Copenhagen, click here.

Castles and Cathedrals:

Frederiksborg Slot (Frederiksborg Castle) is located in the middle of Hillerød (about 30 minutes northwest of Copenhagen) on three islands in the castle lake. The oldest parts of the castle were built in 1560 by King Frederik II and the castle is named after him. The majority of the present castle was built between 1600-1620 by Frederik II's son, Christian IV in Dutch Renaissance style with sweeping gables, sandstone decorations and copper-covered roofs and spires. The Danish royal family lived in Frederiksborg Castle for about a century and the monarchs were crowned in the palace chapel from 1671. Since 1693, Christian IV's palace chapel has served as the knight's chapel for the Order of the Elephant and the Knights of the Dannebrog and is also used as a parish church at the moment. The church houses the old organ from 1610 built by Esajas Compenius.

The National Historical Museum has been housed in the castle since 1878. The museum was founded by brewer J. C. Jacobsen as a special department of the Carlsberg Foundation. In addition to magnificent rooms and spaces like the palace chapel, the Rose, the Audience Chamber and the Great Hall, the museum contains the country's most important collection of portraits and historical paintings.
Contact Information: http://www.frederiksborgmuseet.dk/default.asp

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Kronborg Slot (Kronborg Castle or Elsinore Castle) is one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe. It is located in Helsingør within less than an hour’s drive north of Copenhagen. The many foreign guests mainly associate Kronborg with Shakespeare's drama about Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. For Danish visitors, this castle is a national and historic monument. For generations of Danes, a visit to Kronborg has been associated with a tour of the dark and dingy casements to see the statue of Holger Danske (Holger the Dane). Slumbering and with his arms crossed over his sword, he sits in Kronborg's underground shelter ready to take on the enemy. Legend has it that when the Kingdom is threatened, the stone figure will turn into flesh and blood and Holger Danske will rise in defense of his country.
Kronborg is listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List, making this castle officially a member of the world's cultural legacy, on a par with the Egyptian pyramids and the Acropolis in Greece.
Contact Information: Kronborg Castle, DK-3000 Helsingør (Elsinore), Telephone: 49 21 30 78. www.Kronborgcastle.com

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Roskilde Cathedral (Roskilde Domkirke) is one of Denmark’s most impressive and historic cathedrals, the preferred burial site for the royal family since the 1400s. This cathedral made Roskilde the spiritual capital of Denmark and northern Europe. Today it rises out of a modest townscape like a mirage -- a cathedral several times too big for the town surrounding it. Construction started in 1170 when Absalon was bishop of Roskilde. Work continued into the 13th century and the building's original Romanesque features gave way to an early Gothic facade. The twin towers were built in the 14th century. Today the cathedral's beauty goes beyond a single architectural style, providing almost a crash course in Danish architecture. The Domkirke is the final abode of 38 Danish monarchs whose tombs are found here, ranging from the modest to the downright eccentric. Not surprisingly, the tomb of Christian IV, the builder king, who was instrumental in the construction of nearly all of Copenhagen's famous towers and castles, is interred in a grandiose chapel with a massive painting of himself in combat, a bronze likeness by the Danish sculptor, Bertel Thorvaldsen. In humble contrast is the newest addition, from 1972, of the simple brick chapel of King Frederik IX, father of the present monarch, Queen Margrethe II.

Roskilde Cathedral is located less than an hour's drive or train ride west of Copenhagen. Contact Information: Roskilde Domkirke, Domkirkestrade 10, Roskilde. Telephone: 46 35 27 00.

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Viking Attractions:

The Roskilde Viking Ship Museum is probably the most significant exhibit of Viking history. The five original Viking ships – the Skuldelev ships from the 11th century – can be seen in the Viking Ship Hall, which is beautifully situated on the shore of Roskilde Fjord. The museum also contains other exhibits telling of life in the times of the Vikings and a boat building shop where replicas of the Viking ships are made using old tools and techniques. The reconstruction of the 30-metre-long (100-foot long) Viking warship is the largest single boat-building project to be carried out at the museum to date. It was made possible by financial support from the Tuborg Fund. The longship, which is being built in accordance with Viking traditions, designs and methods, will be launched in 2004.
Roskilde is located in the center of Sjælland, less than an hour’s drive from Copenhagen. Contact information: http://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/

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Vikingeborg Trelleborg (The Viking Fortification Trelleborg) is a 1000+year old Viking fortress. Set in the beautiful countryside of Vest Sjælland (Western Zealand) are the remains of one of the big Viking ring fortresses constructed in about 980 AD. It is one of the few places where the Viking period can be experienced up close through displays and participatory activities. During the season, the museum offers opportunities for visitors to partake in activities of the Vikings. Many shows and activities are especially for children including wood cutting, bread baking, fishing, archery, spinning, forging, market days, and equestrian events. In the fall of 1999, the Museum began the construction of the Viking Age settlement of Trelletorp. Trelletorp brings together houses and buildings from Viking settlements all over Europe. Together, they form a varied portrait of the dwellings and workshops of the Vikings. Here, it is possible to literally step into the Viking Age, to see, feel, touch, taste and experience the Viking Age with all your senses. The museum shop at Trelleborg offers a wide range of books, jewelry and copies of Viking Age products, some of which are produced exclusively for Trelleborg. Contact information: Trelleborg Allé 4, Hejninge, 4200 Slagelse. Telephone: 58 54 95 06. Website: http://www.vikingeborg.dk/default.asp?lang=da

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Iron Age Attraction:

Lejre Experimental Center is a historic and archeological research center where you can take part in activities of the Iron Age (first two centuries AD). Try sailing in a dug-out boat or make fire with a fire drill or an Iron Age strike-a-light. Visit families living in the reconstructed Iron Age village and the country cottages. Experience Vikings in battle, combat and feasting, song and dance in the dance labyrinth or hear stories by the fire in the sacrificial bog or fire valley.
Lejre Experimental Centre is located in the middle of Zealand, 7 km west of Roskilde, close to the town of Lejre and to Ledreborg Palace, about an hour’s drive from the center of Copenhagen. Contact information: Slangealleen 2, DK-4320 Lejre. Telephone: 46 48 08 78. http://www.english.lejrecenter.dk/

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Museums:

Karen Blixen Museum is established at the home of the legendary Danish author, painter, radio personality, etc., of particular fame for her book, “Out of Africa”. The home is open for tours and is dedicated to the life and memory of Karen Blixen, also known as Isak Dinesen. This is where she wrote her break-through book “Seven Fantastic Tales” as well as “Out of Africa”. The west wing, which previously housed the wagon entrance, horse’s stables, and hayloft, now contains the museum shop, café, exhibition- and library rooms. Here you can listen to recordings of Karen Blixen speaking and look at slides from her years in Africa. The rooms in the north wing remain as she had them, always with fresh flowers in the vases. This section of the museum also has a small gallery of Karen Blixen’s oils, pastels, and charcoal drawings.
The museum is located by the town of Rungsted Kyst, on the coast of Øresund about 30 minutes north of Copenhagen. Contact information: Karen Blixen Museet, Rungstedlund, Rungsted Strandvej 111, DK-2960 Rungsted Kyst. Telephone: 45 57 10 57 http://www.karen-blixen.dk/

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Louisiana Museum: One of the world’s leading art museums, focusing on post-WWII paintings and sculptures, the Louisiana takes as its point of departure the years immediately following the Second World War. It was at this time that Danish artists such as Robert Jacobsen and Richard Mortensen moved to Paris and came in contact with likeminded sculptors and painters who, now, are represented in the collection. Examples of these are Vasarely, Herbin, Dewasne, Albers, Soto and other artists close to constructivism, such as Gabo, Bill, Rickey and Calder. The museum also prides itself in its collection of works of the more recent periods up to the present. Louisiana also has a significant collection of 20th century sculptures, including thirteen works by Giacometti and 60 works in the museum’s park. The park generally is home to the sculptures that require more space and that can be placed freely in relation to the trees, grass, and water. Works found here are by artists such as Jean Arp, Max Bill, Alexander Calder, Max Ernst, Henri Laurens, Joan Miró og Henry Moore.
Louisiana is located near the town of Humlebæk, about 30-minutes north of Copenhagen by car or by train. Contact information: Louisiana Museum for Moderne Kunst, Gl. Strandvej 13, 3050 Humlebæk. Telephone: 49 19 07 19. www.louisiana.dk/

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Amusement Parks:

Knuthenborg Safari Park. See beautiful, exotic animals from your own car. Giraffes, rhinos, ostriches, antelopes and zebras go freely amongst the cars in the safari area. Frisky young animals frolick around, while you sit in the centre of it all! Close the car windows in the Tiger Reserve, while the Siberian tigers pass close by. In the rest of the park, you can stay in your car or get out to pet the tamer animals. Llamas, camels, ponies, and goats in flocks will welcome you and gratefully accept to be petted. Also enjoy the baboons, kangaroos, more than 600 exotic birds, deer, yak.... More than 1,000 animals and birds live freely in natural surroundings.
Knuthenborg Safari Park is located on the island of Lolland at the southern tip of Sjælland, about an hour and 45 minutes from the center of Copenhagen. Contact Information: Knuthenborg, Birketvej 1, Maribo, 4941 Bandholm. www.knuthenborg.dk