All about Hamlet’s castle in Denmark | What to see inside Kronborg castle & tips to visit

Everyone talked of the castle’s flamboyant glory
So much that Shakespeare immortalized it in Hamlet’s story. 
Painted ceilings, glittering ballroom & sculptured arc,
The whispers of its past still echo inside Kronborg castle in Denmark.

Explore what lies inside Hamlet’s castle in Helsingør, Denmark. This Kronborg castle tour includes the history, architecture & interiors of one of the best castles in Scandinavia. Get insider tips on best time to visit and the best way to get there. 

Hamlet – the longest Shakespearean play! Even if you have not read it, you would know it by name as a famous tragedy with the infamous lines – “To be or not to be.” Set in Elsinore (or Helsingør), the play is set around a castle with blazing cannons, a gala ballroom and a mighty trumpet tower. I believed that the castle in Hamlet to be a figment of Shakespeare’s imagination. It was during my tour inside Kronborg castle, Denmark that I realized how true to reality was the actual backdrop of Hamlet.

My Kronborg castle tour turned out to be a perfect combination of fairytale and real history. Dressed in medieval attire, my Kronborg host and guide took me through a vivacious tour of Elsinore Hamlet castle. She shared the various nuances of Kronborg castle interiors and architecture that were not just historically significant but had made their way into the Shakespearean play. It was one tour that had me hooked – so much that I wish I had a few more hours to spare for this castle during my day trip to Helsingor.

In this blog post, I will take you on a virtual tour of Hamlet’s castle in Denmark. You will find all the information that you need on Kronborg Castle features and stories. I have also, included useful tips on Kronborg castle tickets, when to visit and how to get there. This travel guide is all that you will need to visit Kronborg castle.

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Where is Kronborg Castle in Denmark?

Kronborg castle is located in the coastal town of Helsingør on the island of Zealand in North Denmark. It stands at the narrowest part of the Øresund strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to Baltic Sea.

One can easily do a day trip from Copenhagen to Kronborg Castle by train. The distance to Helsingor from the Danish Capital is just 45 km. The castle is right across the town of Helsingborg in Sweden and can be visited using a ferry.

History of Kronborg Castle

The Øresund Strait was always an essential connection for ships to navigate between the Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea. Controlled by the Danish kings, there was a toll that was collected from the ships who wished a safe passage through this narrow waterway. However, there was no proper system to stop the ships or redirect them for the toll.

In 1429, King Eric of Pomerania started the Sound Dues – a formal toll that was to be collected from every passing ship. To enforce the same, he built a stone castle called Krogen on the side of present-day Denmark and a twin called Kärnan on the opposite bank of then-East Denmark. The two strongholds were directed to fire their cannons at any ship that attempted to flout the Sound dues. Thus, ushered in the era of wealth and prosperity that changed the fate of Helsingor from a mere fishing village to the 3rd wealthiest town in Denmark.

Krogen marks the beginning of Kronborg Castle history. Turns out that building the Krogen and introducing the Sound Dues was the only good thing that King Eric did during his reign. My peppy guide shared an interesting anecdote about him first attempting to stop the pirates and finally becoming one when he was ousted from his position. Talk of a twist of fate!

The Krogen castle became Kronborg after King Fredrick II took over and expanded it in 1574. Kronborg means “Crown Castle” and so it was with its glittering copper roofs, sandstone walls and gilded spires. It became a formidable stronghold with its cannon-mounted walls and a defensive moat. Tales of the Krogen castle interiors with painted ceilings, sculpted corners and tapestry-laden halls traveled far and wide.

Though there is no evidence of Shakespeare ever having visited Elsinore, the stories of its extravagant castle must have reached his ears. He immortalized this glorious period of Helsingor castle in Hamlet – one of his most successful plays.

Unfortunately, a big fire destroyed this grand castle in 1629. Almost everything but the chapel was burnt down. However, the then King Christian IV immediately ordered the reconstruction of Krongborg castle. The grand exterior was restored but the interiors were tuned to then prevailing trend of simple elegance. This is what you can see today when you visit Kronborg Castle.

Kronborg was attacked by the Swedes in 1658. There were many art pieces and exotic décor that was taken away as loot which further diminished the elegance inside Kronborg Castle, Denmark. However, even after the Swedish royalty left, the castle continued to be the residence of the Danish kings till 1785. After this, it became the Barracks for the army – right until 1923.

It was eventually restored and opened to the public as a heritage landmark. In 2000, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the key places to visit in Helsingor, Denmark.

The layout and architecture of Kronborg Castle in Helsingør

Built in Renaissance style, the Kronborg Castle in Denmark has four distinct wings enclosing a gigantic courtyard. Originally designed by Hans Hendrik van Paesschen and Anthonis Van Obbergen, the castle was built with sandstone from Skane and Gotland and sported gleaming copper roofs and gilded spires. The exterior even after the fire was restored to its original glory but the Kronborg castle interiors were dimmed down for its ostentatious décor of vibrant paintings, tapestries and artwork.

The lower levels of the castle wings included the offices of the castle while the upper echelons roomed the royal chambers. The northern wing had the royal apartments, the south included the Royal chapel on the ground floor and the ballroom over it, the eastern wing had a Queen’s gallery which was a passageway for Her Highness to the ballroom while the western wing included the King’s offices.

Among the most distinct Kronborg castle features are its spires and towers. Each of the towers had a distinct function as is evident when you note the Kronborg castle map.

Cannon-laden walls and a moat around it protected the entire layout. Even today, when you visit Kronborg Castle, you can see all of these structures. Of course, there is more inside Kronborg castle, which you can check out in my next section.

What to see inside Kronborg Castle?

The Kronborg Castle visit is not just about seeing the classic royal palace. It includes delightful Shakespearean tales interwoven with the actual history of the Danish royalty. I have covered all the best things to see in Kronborg Castle in the same order I saw them.

The Crownwork Gate

Right after the ticket window, you will see a bridge leading to what seems to be the main gate to Kronborg Castle. This gate is called the Crownwork Gate and was rebuilt in the 1690s. The symbol of the then-King Christian V as C5 is inscribed over the gate.

What you need to watch out for is a psalm inscribed over it by Bishop Thomas that states something to the effect that you try to step inside without permission, and I will put an arrow to my bow for the whole crown castle to know.

The fortification walls and the Dark Gate

Once you enter through the Crownwork gate, you will find yourself standing in front of the moat that surrounds the Kronborg castle. The rest of the path follows the typical defensive zig-zag pattern that requires the visitors to walk along the sides and enter the next gate. This gate is called the Dark Gate.

The main entrance to the castle is right across this gate but before I wandered into the courtyard, I was guided along the perimeter of the walls that face the Øresund strait. Standing there, it was obvious to me how the cannon mounted along the walls forced the passing ships to pay their Sound Dues.

The opening scene of the discussed Shakespearean play is believed to have been based on this part of the Elsinore Hamlet castle. Standing along the walls, you can see the city of Helsingborg across the strait.

Shakespeare’s plaque in Elsinore Hamlet Castle

Opposite the main entrance of the castle, is a wall that has a sculpted plaque of Shakespeare. This was not an original part of the castle. Nor is it proof that Shakespeare ever visited the place. It was possibly made after Hamlet immortalized the Helsingør castle, Denmark.

As per our guide, King Fredrick II who gave the castle its present shape loved arts and had quite a few plays staged in his court. Some of the actors who worked with Shakespeare are believed to have visited the Kronborg castle when it was at its peak. This is possibly how the tales of its glamour might have reached Shakespeare.

Of course, there is another interesting story and theory around this – one that I shall save for a later section.

Sculpted Four-gate courtyard of Helsingor Kronborg Castle

Before you walk through the main entrance, spend a little time admiring the sculptures around it. Called the four-gate courtyard, on one side of the arch, you can identify the God of the Seas – Neptune with his trident while on the other Mercury strikes a pose. Gargoyles and angels complete the base and the rest of the arch.

The courtyard inside Kronborg Castle

Once a gorgeous fountain graced the center of this courtyard but now you can only see the outline. Turns out that the Swedes took it away as a war booty. The courtyard still has a smaller fountain but in general, is perfect for sitting down and taking a good look at the Middle-ages elements of the castle. From the larger spires on the top to the pretty lamps and the cobblestone paths, there are tons of tiny details that you can enjoy here. And of course, you cannot miss the Hamlet characters putting on their show in this space.

Wine Cellars and beer casements

My guide whipped out a very medieval key and opened a wooden door along the South wing. The door opened into a dark basement that was once a beer cellar. It was also, a part of the earlier Krogen castle and had several tunnels leading to different parts of the castle. This is where the Danish army hid and survived while the Swedes attacked.

She also, treated us to a similar cellar along the same wing – except that it was a wine cellar. The space is now given for events but at one time, this is where the best of wines were stored.

As the story goes, beer was locally produced and stored in the cellars but the wine was brought in from various parts of the world – courtesy of the Ships who had to pay the Sound Dues. Naturally, the King’s cellars had the best. 10 liters of this wine along with 8 liters of beer and 8 kgs of food was a common gift given by the King to any guest visiting him in Kronborg Castle.

These cellars can be accessed only on guided Kronborg Castle tours. They are not open to the general public.

The Chapel – one of the main highlights among the attractions in Kronborg Castle

The Royal Chapel is the lone survivor of the original ornate Kronborg castle interiors. Built in 1587, this was the only part that was not burnt down by the fire. Step through the sculpted entrance and you can get a glimpse of the legendary rich interiors that once graced the entire castle. Almost every room in the castle at that time had similar coffered ceilings that you see here today.

The marble altar with its wooden panels is another original part of this castle. You can see scenes from the Old Testament around its centerpiece. Equally impressive is the pulpit that belongs to the same era. The black and white tiles of the room were a feature of many rooms in the castle – prior to the fire.

One of the interesting things that you should not miss is the Pews. Each of them has a coat of arms inscribed on them. They represent the Royal family – including the in-laws and their extensions.

The Chapel also, has these arched windows above the pew area – which was added later by King Christian IV. The impressive structure with its gold paintings has the tell-tale monogram of CIV  and his coat of arms. The Danish king also, added a beautiful pipe organ to the Chapel.

The Chapel though not destroyed, was used as a military gym for a while in the 18^th century. Later in 1840, it was restored to its original use, along with its furniture. Today, the Chapel is still used for weddings and baptisms. If you happen to be there on the 1^st Sunday of the month or a festival, you are likely to hear the church bells signaling the start of services.

The Royal apartments

The Royal apartments on the first floor include bedrooms, a royal reception area, the King’s office as well as a grand ballroom. Compared to a lot of other European palaces like the Madrid royal palace, the décor seems muted. However, that wasn’t the case during its glory days under King Fredrick II.

Speaking of King Fredrick II, let me quickly share an interesting tale – this time a love story. Turns out King Fredrick was in love with a noblewoman – Anne Hardenburg, who served his mother. However, the relationship was an ill-fated one as she did not belong to a royal family. The King remained a bachelor.

That was until he met the love of his life. Turns out, he was to meet 17-year-old Margaret of Pomerania but instead he fell head over heels for the 14-year-old Sophie, who had accompanied her. He was 35 then and their marriage is believed to have been the most loving and successful among the Danish royal families. It is said that he redesigned the Krogen castle as a gift for his new bride.

Ah well, you will now see the Royal apartments through the lens of this harmonious couple.

Another interesting tidbit you should know when you visit Kronborg Castle is that the rooms would be bare when the Royal family was not in residence. Before their arrival, chariots filled with their belongings, furniture and other amenities would be sent to the castle and within no time, the servants would make the place befitting for the king. It is said that around 150 chariots would roll to the castle for this arrangement.

The King’s Office and Library

This was where the King spent time on various correspondence and other official tasks. The room has an old writing desk and cabinets that hold archives of his dictates, laws, and other official notices.

Right next to this, is a well-stocked library with literature on various subjects including wars, science and strategy. King Frederick liked to keep abreast of the developments and was a well-known patron of learning.  

The King’s Chamber

Consider this similar to the living room of your apartment. This is where the King would party and have important meetings. The room has these large bay windows that overlook the strait and entrance to Kronborg castle. The King could clearly see his guests before they entered as well as could keep a watch on the ships passing by.

The most impressive part of this room is its painted ceiling – mostly on the theme of the Royal family and scenes from the Bible. At the end of the room, is an exquisite door with the monogram CIV on it. No prizes for guessing who was responsible for this room’s décor.

The King and Queen’s bedrooms

Two smaller rooms – separate ones, were the bedrooms of the King and Queen. Contrary to the other rooms, these are much smaller in size. The reason for this was it was much easier to heat up the smaller space. Also, not every royal union was a happy one. Hence, separate rooms were kept for the two Royal Highnesses.

Both the rooms had gorgeous fireplaces and the typical medieval candelabras hanging down from the ceiling.

The Queen’s Chamber

Quite like the King, the Queen also, had a chamber that doubled up as her office and living space. Though smaller than her husband’s space, this is where she spent time pursuing her interests and controlling her household.

The Queen’s Gallery

Now a plain passage, this was once a gorgeous walkway for Her Majesty from her chambers to the Royal chapel or the Grand Ballroom.

Tapestries room – The Little Hall

Once 40 tapestries decorated the walls of this former reception room. They showcased the various Danish Kings but now only seven survive. The rest were taken away by the Swedes as their war loot. The tapestries were commissioned by King Fredrick II to showcase Danish history.

This room inside the Kronborg Castle is referred to as The Little Hall. It was here that the guests were received before they proceeded to the formal dance hall.

The tapestry room is one of the must-see attractions when visiting Kronborg Castle.

The Royal Ballroom (Danse Hall) – the pride of Kronborg Castle, Denmark

You cannot miss the gala ballroom measuring 62m x 12m on your Kronborg Castle tour. It was the largest dance hall in North Europe. The glam and glitter of the parties thrown here were talked about across the world. No wonder Shakespeare chose to cast this setting in his play Hamlet. He even included the tradition that King Fredrick II established for his parties at Kronborg Castle, Elsinore.

As the practice was, the King would raise his glass and that would be a cue for the trumpets to blaze, which in turn was a signal for the cannons to fire. Naturally, everyone in Helsingør town knew that the party was on full blast.

The ballroom of Kronborg Castle used to be filled with precious paintings in its hey days. Though now a plain ceiling, it was once coffered like the one you saw in The Chapel.

The Guest Rooms on the 2^nd floor of Kronborg Castle

The guest rooms on the 2^nd floor were devoid of décor or furnishings. Quite like its inhabitants, the guests had to get their own set of chariots and staff to decorate and furnish their temporary dwellings.

Currently, you will find the place filled with artifacts and tapestries.

The Scottish Suite

Part of the guest rooms area, this was a suite used by Princess Anne after her marriage to King James VI of Scotland. Their wedding saga is quite a story.

With a lavish party, Princess Anne’s marriage took place first in 1589 at the Kronborg Castle. Circumstances were such that the groom aka King James VI could not make it for his own wedding and hence, the ceremony was conducted with a proxy groom. Soon, she set sail for Scotland but was blown by the tempest to the coast of Oslo.

To rescue his young bride, King James made his way to Oslo and owing to the sea conditions had to get her back to Kronborg Castle. This called for another wedding celebration and the newlywed couple stayed in this suite till 1590 when they finally made it back to Scotland. As you can see, the bedroom and the adjoining rooms are richly decorated with carved fireplaces, paintings and tapestries.

Incidentally, this Scottish couple later went on to become the famous King and Queen of England. This was the same time that Shakespeare became a famous playwright. One of the theories behind making Kronborg famous as the castle of Hamlet was that he might have wanted to please King James and his Danish wife. He might have also, heard tales of the place from the couple.

Towers of Kronborg Castle

During your trip to Kronborg Castle, spare some time to climb up to the roof. From here you can get a panoramic view of the town as well as Helsingborg in Sweden and the famous strait that separates it.

You can also, get a closer look at the towers that struck awe and fear amidst the sailors during the Sound Dues age. Each one had a purpose –

• The Trumpet Tower – Where the band would play for the parties held in the Royal ballroom.
• The King’s Tower –  A private haunt for the King. This is the flat tower next to the Trumpet tower
• Pigeon Tower or the Kakkelborg

Statue of Holger The Dane in the basement

He is a mythical hero who was the son of King Gulfred and a great warrior. He fought against Charlemagne of France and defeated him. He is believed to have been unbeatable. However, currently, he is sleeping under the Kronborg Castle and will awaken whenever Denmark is in severe danger.

Your tour inside Kronborg Castle is not complete if you have not met him. Located in the basement, is a huge statue of Holger Dansk that you should visit before you exit the castle. He has quite a presence.

Barracks

Finally on your way out, you should take a few pictures against the colorful barracks , along the periphery of the moat. They definitely make great frames and memories of your visit to this epic Hamlet’s castle in Denmark.

Hamlet at Kronborg Castle, Elsinore

During your Kronborg Castle tour, you are likely to come across actors dressed in medieval costumes, performing scenes from Hamlet. These are a part of the Hamlet live feature of Kronborg Castle. At the entrance of the castle, you will see a board that tells you the timings of the various acts and the place inside Kronborg Castle where they would take place. They add a spin to your Helsingor castle tour.

The Hamlet live feature is generally done during the summer months August and September. Besides this, watch out for the live stage shows of Hamlet. You can check the Kronborg website for more information on these plays and when they are scheduled.

Common FAQs about visiting Kronborg Castle

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Ami

Popularly referred to as a Restless Ball of Energy. My Mom refuses to entertain my complaints about my equally restless daughter & assures my husband that I was born with a travel bug.

I am a Post-Graduate in Marketing by qualification and a travel blogger by passion. Besides travel, I enjoy photography and if you don’t find me at my desk, I would be out playing badminton or swimming or just running. I believe in planning for every long weekend through the year. And when I cannot travel physically, I travel virtually through this travel blog. My travel stories have also, got published on various websites and magazines including BBC Travel, Lonely Planet India and Jetwings. I have recently published my first book – When Places Come Alive – a collection of stories that are based on legends, landscapes, art and culture of a place which is available in both ebook and paperback format.

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