If you want to learn more about the history of Copenhagen, the City Museum is the ideal place to start as it offers a comprehensive overview of the history of Copenhagen from its beginnings in the 12th century right up to the present day. If you are planning to visit the city’s various historical landmarks, you can research their provenance and the stories behind them here.
Situated in a beautiful 17th century building with plenty of history of its own, the building was once the headquarters of the Royal Copenhagen Shooting Society. Today, it has been transformed into a compact, yet comprehensive museum, with a gift shop housed outside in the former rifle range.
The museum’s goal is a simple one: to educate visitors about the city’s history and how it developed into the city you see today. It is a goal that has certainly been achieved, with the museum able to illustrate very clearly how its unique culture was created and developed.
The exhibits here are arranged in chronological order allowing you to follow a very clear timeline from the city’s earliest days as a fishing town established around 1167, to the present day. A slide show lasting around 25 minutes illustrates the physical development of the city’s landscape with each new landmark building or monument.
To complement the slide show, there are rare photographs of the city plus films, artefacts and interactive digital displays. The subjects covered include the history of the royal family, the wars fought against neighbouring Norway and Sweden and a celebration of the city’s literary, cultural and academic highlights. The museum also runs a programme of educational workshops throughout the year aimed at both children and adults.
There is also a large contemporary section that examines the vibrant youth culture of the city, the strong environmental awareness campaigns that are so well supported here and the effects immigration has had on the city.
Situated to the west of the city centre, the Copenhagen City Museum is easily accessible on foot or by bicycle from the main train station. There is limited paid parking available in the areas around the museum. Open daily, the museum charges a small admission fee for adult visitors, except on Fridays when admission is free.
