Kongens Have

The city's oldest park

Kongens Have (the King's Garden) covers around 12 hectares, making it the oldest and most-visited park in central Copenhagen — some 2.5 million people visit every year. It sits right around Rosenborg Castle in Indre By (the city centre) and is free to enter year-round. It is managed by the Danish Agency for Palaces and Culture (Slots- og Kulturstyrelsen).

For Copenhageners, the park is the city's open-air living room whenever the weather is fine: picnic blankets cover the lawns edge to edge, and the lime-tree avenues offer welcome shade. If you're visiting the neighbouring Rosenborg Castle, a walk through the garden makes an easy add-on either side of the visit.

History

King Christian IV had the garden laid out from 1606 — originally as a riding, pleasure, fruit and kitchen garden whose produce served the royal court. Rosenborg Castle, set within the park, was completed in 1624. Two straight lime-tree avenues from the earliest layout survive today, Damegangen and Kavalergangen ("the Ladies' Walk" and "the Cavaliers' Walk"), which still give the park its formal, axial structure.

A rose garden and perennial flowerbeds were added in the 19th century. Unlike its origins as a private royal garden, the park is now public city space — a shift marked by several monuments within it.

What to expect

Kongens Have isn't a single garden but a sequence of areas, each with its own character:

• Rose garden and perennial garden – the horticultural highlight, at its best in May and June.
• Lime-tree avenues Damegangen and Kavalergangen, dead-straight walking axes from the park's founding.
• Rosenborg Castle as the centrepiece; the park is free, the castle charges admission.
• Sculptures throughout the park, including a monument to statesman Viggo Hørup by Jens Ferdinand Willumsen and the bronze group "Horse and Lion" from the first half of the 17th century.
• Fairytale playground and puppet theatre with summer performances – the family-friendly side of the park.

The park also holds the historic Orangery, now used mainly as an events and restaurant venue and not generally open to the public.

Visiting

For an unhurried walk, allow 1 to 2 hours — longer if you bring a picnic. The best time to visit is May to September, with May and June the most rewarding for the blooms; mornings are quieter than afternoons.

• The park opens daily at 7:00; closing time varies by season – as late as 22:00 in high summer, as early as 17:00 in winter.
• Admission is free. You only need a ticket if you want to see inside Rosenborg Castle.
• Gates are located at Gothersgade, Sølvgade, Kronprinsessegade and Øster Voldgade.

Getting there and combining your visit

The park sits right by Nørreport station, the hub for the metro, S-train, and regional and bus services — from there it's just a few minutes' walk to the entrance on Øster Voldgade.

The obvious pairing is Rosenborg Castle and its crown jewels, set right in the middle of the park, along with the Botanical Garden opposite. To see more of royal Copenhagen, continue on to the Amalienborg palace residence — in summer, the Royal Life Guards march from their barracks by the park to the daily changing of the guard there. Travelling with children? See the Copenhagen with Kids guide, and for trip planning check the overview of attractions.