Baltic Bliss

Copenhagen is on the island of Sealand. The attractions below are also on Sealand and easily reached from Copenhagen. None, in fact, are more than an hour away by train. Your Copenhagen Card will give you free train or bus transportation and free or discounted admission to most of these attractions.

North Sealand

• Helsingør, better known as Elsinore, is the home of Kronborg Castle, the inspiration for the setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
• Frederiksborg Castle at Hillerød is the traditional coronation site for Danish monarchs. Dating from the 16th century, the castle features ceremonial rooms and a museum.
• The Karen Blixen Museum at Rungsted is the home of the Danish author of Out of Africa and many other works. Under the pen name Isak Dinesen she wrote most of her books here. The house is filled with her personal belongings, including souvenirs of her days in Africa. For lunch, try the Smorrebrod at Rungsted Kro.
• Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk is a haven for art lovers, featuring the work of the world’s great 20th- and 21st-century artists. Known for its innovative exhibitions, both small-scale and large, the museum is surrounded by a pleasant park and sculpture garden

West Sealand

• Korsor is home to the Great Belt Bridge and Nature Center, where you’ll find exhibitions about the largest construction projects in Danish history.
• For a historic look at the town, visit Kongegaarden, a manor house that has hosted kings while they awaited favorable weather for sailing across the Great Belt.
• Roskilde, a short trip west of Copenhagen, is known for its Viking Ship Museum. The museum came about after a cache of Viking ships were discovered submerged in the fjord beside the city. The ships, along with a wealth of information about Viking seafaring history and skills, are displayed in the main hall. The newest addition is Skuldelev 2, an 11th-century Viking warship that was fully reconstructed in 2004. Be sure to watch the film about how all the ships were recovered and restored.
• Roskilde Cathedral is the traditional burial place of Danish monarchs. The red brick Gothic structure, built in the 12th and 13th centuries, was expanded over the centuries in unusual ways, making it a delight for historians and architecture aficionados.

South Sealand

Arken Museum for Modern Art in Ishoj is part gallery, part concert hall, with wonderful views of the flat sandy beach and the Bay of Koge.

If you really want to get out of town, hop a train and cross the beautiful Oresund Bridge to Malmo, Sweden. The trip from Copenhagen Central Station takes just 35 minutes.

Be sure to visit Ralph Grizzle’s Coming To Copenhagen