Fredensborg – The Royal Town by Esrum Lake
Fredensborg is a vibrant royal town that has grown around Fredensborg Palace, which celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2022. The palace is an architectural gem and one of the royal family's favorite residences. Fredensborg Palace Gardens, designed in an elegant Baroque style, slope beautifully down towards Esrum Lake and are open to the public.
Fredensborg Castle, Castle Park and changing of the guard
If you have blue blood in your veins, go to Fredensborg. The old palace and commercial town has a very special cultural heritage in store for you. Here you will find falconers training the flying skills of birds of prey, hop on the boat and visit Fredensborg Palace and take a stroll in the Royal Palace Gardens that have been restored for 10 years and have won international acclaim.
Fredensborg is situated between Hillerød and Helsingør surrounded by a forest and a lake. The town’s main attraction is Fredensborg Palace where you can stroll around Denmark’s largest and finest baroque garden which is an important part of the Danish cultural heritage. Last year it won international acclaim and was given The European Heritage Award for the thorough restoration of Fredensborg Palace Garden.
A very special attraction in the Palace Gardens is Nordmandsdalen with its 70 sandstone statues of Norwegian and Faroese farmers and fishermen. If HM The Queen is residing at the palace, the Queen’s Guard has a daily change of guards at 12 o’clock, while the corps of drums parade through town every Thursday to the palace with pipes and drums.
Explore the elegant gardens of Fredensborg Palace, experience royal interiors, and enjoy rare access to the Queen’s private garden in North Zealand.
The dining experiences
You will find great eateries in Fredensborg. Madkollektivet Naboskaber, which is a modern community centre, forms the setting for parties or jazz for children, champagne dinners and baking events around Christmas on selected dates – and
every Wednesday at 6 pm you can enjoy communal dining at Madkollektivet.
If you prefer market place atmosphere, you should visit the charming Summer Country Market offering local produce. Relax on the sofa with a good cup of coffee or peruse all the delicate specialities and buy local produce to bring home for dinner. In Fredensborg you will find a lot of tasty treats and eateries like shop community No. 16 at Fredensborg Store Kro and Skipperhuset.
Experience Restaurant Skipperhuset in scenic surroundings in the gardens behind Fredensborg Palace and by the lakeside in North Zealand. A charming dining experience close to nature and history.
Experience the bistro at Store Kro in Fredensborg, where classic bistro dishes, seasonal ingredients and historic surroundings create a relaxed dining experience close to Fredensborg Palace.
Visit Country Market in Fredensborg – a charming marketplace with a café, specialty shops, and high-quality products from local producers.
Stay close to shopping and sights
If you are looking for accommodation close to town and sights - we have three nice places for you
Stay the night in fantastic royal settings in North Sealand. Dining in the bistro Kongens Weertshuus (the Royal Pub), an informal food experience. Meeting, parties and conferences in beautiful surroundings.
Experience luxury and history at Kokkedal Slot Copenhagen. Perfect for parties, meetings, and holidays in royal surroundings just 30 minutes from Copenhagen.
Events and sights
For the time of your life, drive to Falkonergården with its fascinating universe of birds of prey with the most lovely views of Esrum Lake. Here the professional falconers cooperate with falcons, American buzzards and steppe eagles for an
amazing display regardless of the weather – so remember to bring rainwear and warm clothes.
You can also swing by the charming, old harbours Sørup Harbour and Fredensborg Harbour and take a walk by the sea. For a boat trip, hop on Bådfarten Esrum Sø, departing from Skipperhuset which offers a beautiful boat trip on the lake to Dronningens Bøge passing the Palace Gardens.
When you are done, stop by for great ice cream at Sørup Is, a stone’s throw away from the harbour. Here they also serve coffee and homemade cakes and cookies that you can enjoy inside or outside in their little, charming courtyard with views of Esrum Lake and the Palace Gardens.
See major international exhibitions in Louisiana if you are into art, design and architecture, and get a demonstration of ancient hunting methods at Falkonergården. Fredensborg Castle invites inside throughout the month of July.
Lake Esrum is the lake in Denmark with the most water. Here, you can swim, kayak, canoe, and SUP. And you can watch birds, fish, and simply enjoy nature.
Experience the beautiful Esrum Lake at Fredensborg Castle in North Sealand. Book boat trips with the ferries Rolf and Viking.
Louisiana is Denmark's international museum for modern art. Experience fabulous architecture, design, photography, film & culture. Get more info.
Visit the Nivaagaard Collection, an exquisite experience for art lovers. An atmosphere of the Danish “hygge” (cosiness) and intimacy, among 500 years old European masterpieces.
Discover the Fredensborg Houses – Jørn Utzon’s renowned courtyard housing development and museum set in scenic surroundings by Lake Esrum. Architecture, community and Danish design heritage.
Outdoor experiences
Hop on your bike and embark on the 40 km long Queen's Route, taking you from Nivå along the Øresund coast to Fredensborg Castle and Esrum Lake - Denmark's second-largest lake.
Langstrupstien takes you from Fredensborg through villages and forests to the marshlands of Nivå by the Øresund. Experience one of Denmark's oldest bridges and the Nivaagaard Collection.
Take your family on a journey through history and nature in the Fredensborg Palace Garden. Experience a 5 km route that takes you from the royal palace to the picturesque lakeside while enjoying the whispers of history and the opportunity for refreshments.
Explore Nivå through the small streets and paths known only to the locals on this 10 km hike.
For children
Kom og udforsk Fredensborg, hvor der venter en eventyrlig interaktiv tur for dig og din familie. Turen er gratis, via natureventyrs app.
Neighboring towns with charm, art and edge
Practical information
Here you will find useful information for planning and use during your vacation.
Find opening hours at the tourist information, plan your holiday, see the map of the city, how to get around by public transport, read the large holiday magazine for North Zealand, and where to rent a bike. Get answers to this and more here.
