Fredensborg Palace – The King’s Residence in North Zealand
Visit Fredensborg Palace, where the royal family frequently resides, and experience both the palace itself and its magnificent Baroque garden.
Today, Fredensborg Palace is one of the Danish royal family’s most frequently used residences. Their Majesties King Frederik X and Queen Mary regularly stay at the palace and have chosen to uphold the tradition of residing in the Kancellihuset.
The palace often serves as the setting for major royal events such as weddings, confirmations, and birthdays. It also hosts state visits, where heads of state and ambassadors from around the world are received. A unique tradition during state visits is that the visiting head of state engraves their monogram with a diamond onto one of the palace’s glass panes.
Palace Garden with Historic Features
A stroll through the atmospheric Fredensborg Palace Garden is a must. It is one of Denmark’s largest historic gardens and was originally designed alongside the palace. Later, between 1759 and 1769, it was transformed into a French Baroque-style garden, with sculptor Johannes Wiedewelt creating a series of sculptures for the impressive double avenue, Brede Allé.
In 2022, Fredensborg Palace received a generous donation from the A.P. Møller Foundation for the restoration of the garden in celebration of Queen Margrethe II’s jubilee. The restoration included the Eremitage Pavilions, originally built by King Frederik IV, as well as the King's Bridge (Kongebroen), which was a birthday gift to Prince Henrik in 1996.
A particularly unique feature of the garden is Nordmandsdalen, home to 70 sculptures depicting Norwegian and Faroese farmers and fishermen—an unusual commission by King Frederik V, as royal gardens were typically adorned with sculptures of gods and mythological figures.
Closest to the palace are the royal private garden, the orangery, and the historic herb garden, which supplies the royal household with fresh flowers and vegetables. These three areas are only open to the public in July through guided tours, while the rest of the garden—one of Denmark’s finest Baroque landscapes—is open year-round with free admission.
Explore the elegant gardens of Fredensborg Palace, experience royal interiors, and enjoy rare access to the Queen’s private garden in North Zealand.
Explore Fredensborg Palace Garden, one of Denmark’s largest baroque gardens, with grand avenues, sculptures and views of Lake Esrum. Perfect for a peaceful walk in historic surroundings.
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.
Discover Nordmandsdalen in Fredensborg Palace Garden – 70 sandstone sculptures of farmers and fishermen from the 18th century in a unique historic setting.
Discover royal tradition with the daily guard change and evening tattoo at Fredensborg Palace. Music and ceremony during the King's residence.
A Royal Experience in Fredensborg
Experience the royal atmosphere in Fredensborg and visit historic sites with ties to the Danish monarchy. Stay at the inn, originally built to accommodate royal guests, or enjoy an exquisite dinner at the restaurant, which was once the king’s skipper’s residence. Here, history and gastronomy blend together in a truly unique setting.
Experience Fredensborg Store Kro near Fredensborg Palace – a historic hotel with a restaurant, charming rooms and scenic surroundings by Lake Esrum.
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.
Explore the Experiences Near the Palace
Fredensborg Palace is surrounded by exciting experiences. Discover the beautiful palace gardens, visit local galleries and museums, or enjoy a relaxing boat trip on Esrum Lake. Whether you are drawn to nature, culture, or gastronomy, you will find a wealth of unforgettable experiences just around the corner.
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.
Embark on a 75 km cycling route through North Zealand and visit Kronborg, Fredensborg, and Frederiksborg Castles, as well as the UNESCO-listed Parforce hunting landscape.
Explore the Crown Route – a 135 km cycling route around North Zealand with castles, coastline, beaches and charming towns. Ideal for an active cycling holiday.
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 a trip to Esrum Abbey and immerse yourself in the life of a monk in the ancient monastery. Explore the impressive buildings, the historical exhibition, and the beautiful monastery garden. Also, find inspiration for nature experiences in the Royal North Zealand National Park.
Experience Lake Esrum from the water with guided boat tours through forests, nature and palace surroundings. Book a scenic trip or a private tour.
FAQ
When are the guided tours at Fredensborg Palace?
During the summer holiday period, guided tours are available at the palace, the orangery, and the herb garden. Purchase tickets and check dates and times on the Kongernes Samling website.
How to get to Fredensborg Palace?
It only takes one hour by public transport from Copenhagen Central Station. Take the train to Hillerød station. Here you change trains to Lille Nord, which is one of the Local Trains in North Sealand. Lille Nord runs from Hillerød to Helsingør with a stop in Fredensborg.
Fredensborg Castle is within walking distance of Fredensborg Station. It takes approx. 15 min depending on how fast you walk.
Opening hours at Fredensborg Palace?
The public areas of the palace gardens are always open. The palace is only open for guided tours.