parklandheritage

Frederiksberg Have and the Slot

Frederik IV's Baroque garden, the canal system, and the palace on the hill.

Drafted by Claude — the editor hasn’t walked this one yet. We’ll update this notice once it’s been verified on the ground.

Distance

3 km

Time

~ 90 min

Start

Frederiksberg metro (M1/M2/M3)

End

Frederiksberg metro (M1/M2/M3)

Best at

afternoon

Right now

23°C· Partly cloudy

Open in Maps for turn-by-turn, or take it offline as GPX.

Frederiksberg Have is the Baroque garden Frederik IV laid out from 1697 around his summer palace on Frederiksberg's modest hill. Thirty-two hectares, formal Italian planning relaxed into English-romantic in the 19th century, with a working canal system, a Chinese Pavilion, and the slot itself — still the Royal Danish Military Academy, so visitors stay outside.

Three kilometres, ninety minutes at a strolling pace. Frederiksberg metro (M1/M2/M3 cross here) lands you at Runddel, the main gate. The central canal opens immediately west — boat trips in summer, willows year-round. Det Kinesiske Lysthus (the Chinese Pavilion) sits on a small island in the canal, J.A. Kirkerup's 1799 commission for a tea pavilion when Chinoiserie was the European fashion.

Climb the hill — modest by Copenhagen standards but the city's high point — to Frederiksberg Slot. The 1703 J.C. Ernst palace is the Italian Baroque the king imported; the working military academy is the present. View across the gardens; don't try the gates. The southern side opens onto Søndermarken, the wilder park.

Walk back to Frederiksberg metro via the canal path. Boat hire in summer is the other way to do it.

The route

On the map.

A soft dashed line, numbered stops. It’s a suggestion, not a turn-by-turn.

Stops along the way

Things to notice.

01
1
Frederiksberg metro (Runddel)
Where M1, M2 and M3 Cityringen all cross. The main park gate (*Runddel*) is directly across *Frederiksberg Runddel* square from the metro exit. The big elephant statues at the brewery gates are visible to the north.
01
Frederiksberg metro (Runddel)
Where M1, M2 and M3 Cityringen all cross. The main park gate (*Runddel*) is directly across *Frederiksberg Runddel* square from the metro exit. The big elephant statues at the brewery gates are visible to the north.
02
2
The central canal
Opens immediately west of *Runddel*. Frederik IV's working canal system, now used for small boat hire in summer (May–September). Willows and ducks year-round. Walk the eastern bank for the *Kinesiske Lysthus* view.
02
The central canal
Opens immediately west of *Runddel*. Frederik IV's working canal system, now used for small boat hire in summer (May–September). Willows and ducks year-round. Walk the eastern bank for the *Kinesiske Lysthus* view.
03
3
Det Kinesiske Lysthus (Chinese Pavilion)
On a small island in the canal. J.A. Kirkerup designed the pavilion in 1799–1803 — a tea house in the Chinoiserie fashion the European courts were rehearsing at the time. Only viewable from outside; restoration has limited access for years.
03
Det Kinesiske Lysthus (Chinese Pavilion)
On a small island in the canal. J.A. Kirkerup designed the pavilion in 1799–1803 — a tea house in the Chinoiserie fashion the European courts were rehearsing at the time. Only viewable from outside; restoration has limited access for years.
04
4
Frederiksberg Slot (hilltop)
Climb the gentle gradient to the *slot*. J.C. Ernst's 1703 Italian Baroque palace was Frederik IV's summer residence; since 1869 the Royal Danish Military Academy (*Hærens Officersskole*) has occupied the building. Stay outside; the academy is a working institution. The view east across the canal is the closing image.
04
Frederiksberg Slot (hilltop)
Climb the gentle gradient to the *slot*. J.C. Ernst's 1703 Italian Baroque palace was Frederik IV's summer residence; since 1869 the Royal Danish Military Academy (*Hærens Officersskole*) has occupied the building. Stay outside; the academy is a working institution. The view east across the canal is the closing image.
05
5
Søndermarken side gate
The hilltop opens onto *Søndermarken*, the more wooded park immediately south of *Frederiksberg Have*. The gate between them is the natural connection to the *Søndermarken + Cisternerne* walk in the same launch batch.
05
Søndermarken side gate
The hilltop opens onto *Søndermarken*, the more wooded park immediately south of *Frederiksberg Have*. The gate between them is the natural connection to the *Søndermarken + Cisternerne* walk in the same launch batch.
06
6
Back to Frederiksberg metro
Walk back through *Frederiksberg Have* via the canal path or the central avenue. The metro takes you back toward the city; or push west on M1/M2 toward *Lindevang* or *Vanløse* for the suburbs.
06
Back to Frederiksberg metro
Walk back through *Frederiksberg Have* via the canal path or the central avenue. The metro takes you back toward the city; or push west on M1/M2 toward *Lindevang* or *Vanløse* for the suburbs.

Frederiksberg Have and the Slot

On the map.

Things to notice.

Frederiksberg metro (Runddel)

Frederiksberg metro (Runddel)

The central canal

The central canal

Det Kinesiske Lysthus (Chinese Pavilion)

Det Kinesiske Lysthus (Chinese Pavilion)

Frederiksberg Slot (hilltop)

Frederiksberg Slot (hilltop)

Søndermarken side gate

Søndermarken side gate

Back to Frederiksberg metro

Back to Frederiksberg metro

Two more, on similar days.

The old ramparts: Tivoli to Kastellet

Rosenborg and Kongens Have: castle in the garden