History & Highlights

Free Walking Tour of Renaissance Copenhagen

Christian IV's castles, towers and the Danish Golden Age

4.5 (59) · Bookable via Civitatis

No Danish king shaped Copenhagen like Christian IV, and this tour follows his blueprint through the old town: Rosenborg Castle, the red-brick summer palace he built as a Dutch Renaissance fantasy and where the crown jewels and royal regalia are still kept, and the Round Tower, an astronomical observatory whose spiral ramp was designed so a horse and carriage could reach the top.

Between the two, your guide connects the dots to Denmark's Golden Age — the 19th-century flowering of Danish painting, philosophy and design that followed centuries later — and explains how a small northern kingdom kept building on this scale even after losing wars and territory. It's a quieter, history-dense counterpart to the harbor tours, ideal if castles and architecture are what drew you to the city.

Tour highlights

Rosenborg Castle
Round Tower (Rundetårn)
King's Garden
Nikolaj Church
University of Copenhagen quarter

Meeting point

Hojbro Plads

Google Maps OpenStreetMap

This tour is free — there's no charge to join. At the end, tip your guide whatever you feel the experience was worth. 100% of tips go directly to them.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Free Walking Tour of Renaissance Copenhagen really free?

Yes — there is no ticket and no upfront cost. You reserve a free spot, join the tour, and at the end tip your guide whatever you feel it was worth. Most travelers tip the equivalent of €10–20 per person, but the amount is entirely up to you.

Where does the Free Walking Tour of Renaissance Copenhagen start?

The tour meets at Hojbro Plads (Hojbro Plads). Look for the guide with the FreeTour sign; the exact meeting point is confirmed in your booking.

How long is the tour, and what languages is it in?

It lasts around 1h30 and is guided in English. Groups are capped at about 6 people so the experience stays personal. Comfortable walking shoes recommended.