Copenhagen is a capital city in all the best ways, including that it plays host to some of the more amazing art and history of the Scandinavian world.
In Denmark, many of the cultural treasures live in Copenhagen's museums. Between riding a bike through the streets and relaxing in the late summer sun, check out these beautiful and fascinating museums.
The National Museum of Denmark, documents Denmark's cultural history. Housed in an 17th century mansion in downtown Copenhagen which once housed royalty, this museum hosts art and artifacts from the last 10,000 years of history, both Scandinavian and further in reach. The museum offers large exhibitions and an easy-to-navigate hour-long self-guided tour for visitors in many languages. From Danish prehistory through the renaissance and the middle ages, all the way through modern Danish history, this museum is the quintessential and most revealing museum in Copenhagen. Museum admission is free.
Glyptotek
While it seems strange, this stunning museum hosts one of the largest collections of Greek, Egyptian, Etruscan and Roman sculpture, which was inherited from a private Danish collector many years ago. With a large, open atrium at the middle and large showrooms and exhibition halls with impressive ancient artifacts like Egyptian rock carvings and Roman marble statues. While this is classical art, the Glyptotek arranges and presents them with a sense of humor and a dash of modernism. There is also art and sculpture from famous European renaissance artists. Admission is free one day a week, and this museum is also located conveniently nearby to Tivoli Gardens in the center of Copenhagen.
Open Air Museum
Copenhagen's Open Air Museum is a sight to see. This 86-acre reserve, located north of the city, hosts more than 50 period buildings, from farms and windmills to homes, from different periods in Denmark's mostly agrarian history. Visiting this museum is usually a delightful experience, as it's located outside in the stunning countryside and each corner reveals a new dwelling or site. There are reenactors on the property to simulate Danish life at different points in history and animals in the functioning parts of the museum. All the buildings are authentic and were moved to their site at the museum from their original sites, which spanned all over Denmark and from former Danish territories in southern Sweden and northern Germany. Admission to this museum is also free, and it provides a great cultural experience.
Providing a guided history through Europe's world of music through the ages, the Danish Music Museum offers elaborate displays of antique musical instruments and musical accomplishments. Located in the city near the gardens of Rosenborg Castle, this museum focuses on the period between the renaissance and the beginning of the 20th century. The museum offers guided tours in several languages and also has an area for children to play and explore with musical instruments called "Play with Sound."
Children vacationing in or visiting Copenhagen will enjoy the respite of a museum dedicated entirely to letting them learn through hands-on fun. They can play as Vikings, or learn how their Danish ancestors may have dressed with authentic period clothing that children can actually wear. There are also clases and frequent guided discussions with the children and their families who are visiting the museum. It promises to be a one-of-a-kind learning experience, and is recommended for children age 12 and younger.
