Kronborg Castle – Hamlet’s Castle

With this ticket you can explore the castle which Shakespeare named Elsinore. You can make your way through the castle including the ballroom, Renaissance chapel, casemates, as well as the castle yard. If you want you can choose to take a guided tour, which are available on select days (check starting times upon arrival at the castle shop), or you can bring your own earphones and listen to the audio guide at selected locations in castle.

Kronborg Castle dates back to 1420, when it was a fortress known as Krogen. The fortress, set at the narrowest point of the Øresund, was used to control entry to the waterway. Between 1574 and 1585, King Frederick II had the medieval fortress transformed into the Renaissance castle it is today, though it was faced by a massive fire in 1629 and occupation by the Swedes from 1658-1660.

No one knows if Shakespeare ever visited Kronborg but it is certain he had heard the rumours of the decadent lifestyle maintained at the court. British players visited Kronborg several times during Shakespeare’s time, who like told the famous playwright about the castle.

Today, you can enjoy live performances of Shakespeare’s greatest plays from both Danish and international companies in summer at the castle during the Shakespeare festival. For the festival an open-air theatre is created with a stage built across the moat, with the castle as a backdrop.

One thing you cannot miss when you visit Kronborg Castle is an audience with Holger the Dane, who sits deep down under the castle amongst the crypts and catacombs. Holger is known to every Dane, for he will sleep until the day when Denmark is in real trouble, and he will wake up and defend the mother country. Get your tickets now so you don’t miss out on this great day-trip from Copenhagen.