Is Frederiksborg Castle Worth Visiting?
Frederiksborg might just be the most beautiful castle in Denmark.
If you're into history, Frederiksborg Castle is easily one of Zealand's must-sees. Here's how we experienced it!
It's easy to see why Frederiksborg Castle holds such a special place in our memories since it was the final stop on our road trip across Denmark. The whole journey was amazing, and honestly, we couldn't have picked a better place to wrap it all up than here, at this Renaissance gem that's truly a symbol of Danish royal history. But we're getting ahead of ourselves.
Before we got there, we didn't really know much about Frederiksborg. We'd already visited a few castles during the trip (and in, well, in our lives), so we expected to see a few lavish rooms, beautiful gardens, and of course, some royal Danish history. Then we checked out some photos, and the castle's red brick design mirrored in the calm lake really caught our interest and reminded us of Egeskov Castle, just on a much grander scale.
Anyway, Frederiksborg Castle is located on the northern edge of the small town of Hillerød, and without a doubt, it's one of Zealand's top attractions. The castle as it stands today was built in the seventeenth century by King Christian IV, though the history of the site itself goes back to the 1500s, when a manor called Hillerødsholm stood there. These days, the former coronation site of Danish kings houses the Museum of National History, which we were definitely excited to check out. So let's dive in!
Frederiksborg was built for the purpose of serving as a royal residence.
What's There to See in Frederiksborg Castle
Ideally, a visit to Frederiksborg includes a tour through the Renaissance castle, a stroll around the Baroque gardens, and maybe even a scenic boat ride. Since we had parked at the entrance to the gardens, with the castle sitting on the opposite end, we first thought about starting with the gardens. It looked like a logical choice, right?
But the real issue was time. We had just 90 minutes total before the castle closed. Since the main entrance was just over a kilometer from where we parked, we knew the walk plus getting tickets would take at least 15 minutes. So, instead of risking it, we skipped the gardens for now and headed straight to the castle.
We explored Frederiksborg by ourselves and didn't need a guide.
We hurried through the gardens (okay, it wasn't dramatic, I even took some photos along the way), knowing we'd enjoy a slower, more relaxed stroll on the way back, and reached the ticket desk just as we had planned minutes earlier. While we decided to save exploring Frederiksborg's exteriors for later, we couldn't help but notice that the entire northeast section and the front façade of the castle courtyard were covered in scaffolding due to ongoing renovations.
We also realized that Frederiksborg sits on three islets, all connected by bridges. Even though it looked like a traditional moat, it's actually the lake and canals that separate it from the mainland.
To get to the main courtyard of the castle, we had to cross a footbridge.
Tickets to Frederiksborg Castle
Admission to Frederiksborg Castle is 115 DKK per adult, and we bought our tickets on the spot (though you can buy them online). It's worth noting that entry is included with the Copenhagen Card, which definitely comes in handy when exploring both Denmark's capital and nearby attractions.
The Baroque Gardens and the surrounding park are free to enter. Honestly, for how stunning and grand the place is, Frederiksborg ended up being one of the cheaper castles we saw in Denmark. Even smaller places like Koldinghus cost more, so we were happy to see such fair pricing here.
In the center of the main courtyard is Neptune Fountain.
Opening Hours
Frederiksborg is open year-round, even in winter. From April 1st to October 31st, it's open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM. In the colder months, November through March, it keeps the same hours on weekends but closes at 3 PM on weekdays. We visited in late September on what should've been a busy weekend, but the grounds were surprisingly quiet. Maybe it was because we arrived a bit late in the afternoon, and most of the locals were already on their way home, given it was a Sunday.
Touring the The Museum of National History
With tickets in hand, we headed inside. There weren't any individual guided tours available at Frederiksborg, but we were able to download the official castle app, which includes an audio guide that walked us through the castle over the next hour. Since we weren't sure how long the museum would take and were a bit pressed for time, the app turned out to be a really convenient option.
The app gave us a pretty standard castle tour, and while it wasn't quite as engaging as the one at the H.C. Andersen House, it did the job well. But honestly, that's okay; this was a totally different type of experience. Here, the straightforward historical narration felt just right for the setting.
Our Tip: If you want a guided tour of the interiors, you'll need to book with a tour company, since the castle itself only offers tours for larger groups.
Frederiksborg is surrounded by a body of water simply called Castle Lake.
It was a sunny weekend, and while the gardens were still fairly full, the inside of the castle felt surprisingly empty. Maybe it was because we arrived about an hour before closing, or maybe people were already heading out, but either way, we didn't mind. After the crowds at Rosenborg Castle the day before, this quiet vibe was a welcome change.
One small point of confusion was that the 'Museum of National History' is actually just the name for the entire Frederiksborg Castle experience, not a separate building or exhibition. So don't go searching for an extra museum tucked away somewhere. Everything is under one roof.
Frederiksborg's Museum of National History feels more like a traditional castle tour.
As we moved deeper into the castle, we had the chance to explore 500 years of Danish history through portraits, historical paintings, elegant furniture, and a variety of beautifully preserved rooms. On the first floor, we were greeted by the stunning Rose Room. Originally a dining room, it was heavily damaged, like much of the castle, during the great fire of 1859. Thankfully, it was beautifully restored, and we were genuinely surprised to find such a gem at the very start of our visit. The vaulted ceiling was especially breathtaking.
Right at the beginning of the tour was the beautiful Rose Room.
The tour continued through several of Frederiksborg's main highlights: the impressive Great Hall, the lavish Audience Chamber, and the remarkable Castle Chapel. The chapel, officially known as Frederiksborg Castle Church, which survived the fire, is only accessible from the upper floor and stretches across the entire West Wing.
It features a richly decorated stucco ceiling, an elaborate 17th-century organ, and even a Royal Oratory, a private prayer room for the king, adorned with wood panels and 23 paintings. We visited quite a few churches in Denmark, from Roskilde Cathedral to those medieval ones on Møn Island, but this one was hands down the most ornate.
We were expecting just a modest little chapel, but Frederiksborg Castle Church turned out to be quite the opposite.
The Audience Chamber came after, a domed Baroque-style hall filled with paintings and even a lift chair the king used to move between floors.
The Audience Chamber looked a bit different from the other rooms.
After passing through a series of smaller rooms, we arrived at the magnificent Great Hall. It's a true ceremonial space, with patterned parquet floors, ornate chandeliers, large tapestries and portraits, and an incredibly detailed ceiling. Like much of the castle, it was destroyed in the fire and painstakingly rebuilt.
The Great Hall was easily the most stunning room we saw at Frederiksborg.
As we moved through Frederiksborg's corridors, we discovered even more fascinating rooms, including the Valdemar Room (filled with historical paintings), a striking blue-painted room that holds the impressive Gottorf Globe, and the Angels' Hall.
The Globe of Gottorf is a 17th-century walk-in globe that shows both the Earth and the celestial sphere.
Finally, we reached the third floor, home to the last section of the museum, which focuses on modern Danish art. It featured mostly paintings, along with some photography tied to Denmark's 20th- and 21st-century history. While some pieces were definitely interesting, we found that this section was probably more meaningful to local visitors, since we didn't recognize many of the names, so we just enjoyed the art for what it was.
On the third floor, we came across a portrait of Queen Ingrid.
Our Tip: About 11 kilometers northeast of Frederiksborg lies another similarly named site, Fredensborg Palace. We actually had to pause for a moment while planning to make sure we were heading to the right place. Fredensborg is the Danish royal family's spring and autumn residence and is only open to the public in terms of its gardens. If you're still unsure, like we were, just remember: Frederiksborg Castle is the more complete experience for most visitors.
How Much Time to Spend at Frederiksborg Castle
We had about 75 minutes for our self-guided tour of Frederiksborg, and while we managed to see nearly everything inside, it definitely felt like we could have used a bit more time. It didn't feel rushed exactly, but part of that was because there were very few people inside, so we didn't have to deal with crowds. Based on our visit, we'd say spending around two hours at Frederiksborg Castle is a good estimate, just keep in mind that we spent another hour or so exploring the gardens after the tour.
On a nice day, you can easily spend a couple of hours just exploring the gardens.
Is Frederiksborg Castle Worth the Trip?
To sum up, we really enjoyed our time at Frederiksborg Castle. It's really beautiful, plus it's a true masterpiece of Renaissance architecture and a symbol of Danish royal history. It's easy to see why we think it's well worth the visit. Plus, it's one of the best day trips from Copenhagen. Since the visit only takes a few hours, we'd recommend pairing it with another nearby attraction, like Kronborg Castle or the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, to make the most of your day.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip. Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more. Travel smarter and safer!
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Strolling Around the Baroque Garden
After the tour, we took some time to stroll around the castle and admire its stunning architecture up close. There was a lot to take in, especially since Frederiksborg is the largest Renaissance castle in the Nordic region. We soaked up this part at a much more relaxed pace, and then it was time to finally dive into exploring the gardens. One of the coolest things about Frederiksborg is that it actually has two green spaces within its grounds.
The Baroque Garden at Frederiksborg was beautifully landscaped.
The first is the Baroque Garden, commissioned by King Frederick IV back in 1720. It's got terraces, cascades, fountains, hedges, paths, and carefully shaped flowerbeds, simply the kind of classic royal garden look you'd expect. Honestly, it was bigger than we thought it'd be. It doesn't compare to the sheer size of Versailles Gardens (what does?), but it has the same neat symmetry since it's French-inspired. Plus, it felt more cozy and intimate. We also got some really nice views of the castle, even though some parts were still under scaffolding.
The second area, just across the gravel Rendelæggerbakken, is a more regular park, which is perfect for leisure walks. It's very green, full of trees, plants, and has even little canals, smaller lakes, and winding paths. I imagine that this must be a treat for locals, especially in the morning (for walking, and especially running) when everything is still quiet (a bit less on the busy weekends like when we were there). It's much bigger than the Baroque Garden, and you can easily spend another hour there.
Compared to the elegant castle gardens, Frederiksborg Park looked much more simple.
Both areas are worth exploring, but we simply spent much more time in the Baroque Garden simply because of the views of the castle and the fact that we still had a pretty long drive ahead of us and didn't have that extra time for wandering aimlessly around the park.
The Baroque Garden is open from 10 AM to 9 PM. The adjacent park is open all day long. Both are free to enter.
What's There to See and Do in Hillerød
If you have some extra time, it's worth exploring Hillerød a bit. The town has some charming spots, like the Old Town Hall and a few cobblestone streets, plus some nice views of Frederiksborg if you choose to walk around the lake instead. Honestly, there's not a whole lot else to see beyond Slotsgade, which is the main shopping street. That said, Slotsgade is quite picturesque, and if Hillerød is your only chance to visit a Danish town, it might not be as famous as Ribe or Roskilde, but it's definitely charming enough.
Taking the Little Ferry
While we're on the topic of Hillerød, one of the best local experiences is taking the ferry that sails between Hillerød Square and the Baroque Garden (or the other way around). The ride on The Little Ferry takes about 30 minutes and costs 40 DKK per adult. It's a relaxed and scenic way to see the area.
This little ferry crosses the lake at Frederiksborg Castle, offering a scenic way to get around.
Getting to Frederiksborg Castle
Frederiksborg Castle sits in the small town of Hillerød, in Denmark's Capital Region, and is easily accessible by both car and train.
By Car: Since Frederiksborg was part of our big road trip around Denmark, we drove there. We started from Kronborg Castle, about 30 minutes north, with a stop at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (also 30 minutes away). Copenhagen and Roskilde are roughly a 40-minute drive from Frederiksborg, and Odense is about two and a half hours away. Although this was our last stop in Denmark, we still had a long drive across Jutland before leaving the country. Our entire trip covered about 360 kilometers, and crossing the Great Belt Bridge around sunset was an unforgettable highlight. After that, we drove back to Prague, our hometown, which, by the way, you should definitely visit if you get the chance. Here, you can check the rental car prices in Denmark.
Once you're inside Frederiksborg Castle grounds, it's easy to just walk everywhere.
Parking at Frederiksborg Castle
And since we had a car, my biggest question was where to park. I found that Hillerød has several parking lots available, but most of them are paid, and some had pretty terrible reviews due to strict parking rules, which made me worried about possibly getting fined. The most convenient option is Parkering Frederiksborg Slot, run by APCOA, which is just a two-minute walk from the castle entrance.
So I started looking into other options and found that Frederiksborg Castle actually has two free parking areas. The only downside is that they're a bit farther from the castle, but still within a 10 to 15-minute walk, which felt like a fair trade-off.
Since it was a beautiful weekend, I figured both parking lots might be pretty full, so we decided to try the larger one on Rendelæggerbakken Street first, which is the farther of the two. When we arrived, we found two smaller lots (GPS coordinates: 55.94175, 12.30715 and 55.94147, 12.30849), along with one bigger, newer-looking lot (GPS: 55.94223, 12.309212).
Both of the smaller lots were completely full, and to our disappointment, so was the big one, at first. But luckily, just as we were about to turn around, we noticed a family getting ready to leave. After waiting a couple of minutes, we were able to grab their spot. This parking lot is about 1.1 kilometers from the castle.
The other free parking lot for Frederiksborg Castle is located on Batzkes Bakke (GPS coordinates: 55.93547, 12.30834), and it's a bit closer, about 800 meters from the castle.
By Train: When it comes to public transport, the easiest way to get from Copenhagen to Frederiksborg Castle is by taking a S-Train Line A from Kobenhavn H (aka the central station) to Hillerød Station.
Frederiksborg Castle Tours
Since the area surrounding Copenhagen has several must-see sights, most tours do combine some of those places in one really packed day. This popular Frederiksborg Castle Tour from Copenhagen is a great example, as it also adds Kronborg and Roskilde Cathedral. One of the biggest advantages of this tour is that the guide will actually visit the attractions with you.
Frederiksborg features elaborate Renaissance architecture.
Hotels Near Frederiksborg Castle
Hillerød is a small town with limited lodging options, but there are a couple of hotels worth mentioning. Probably the best place to stay in Hillerød is The Four Points by Sheraton Hillerød, which offers modern rooms and the best location, just a few hundred meters from Frederiksborg Castle. Another choice is the three-star Best Western Hotel Hillerød, which is a bit farther from the castle, as is the budget-friendly Danhostel Hillerød. Since Copenhagen is so close, we chose to stay there the night before our visit. If you're curious, we stayed at AC Hotel Bella Sky, which was really comfortable and convenient.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
