Kronborg vs Frederiksborg: Which Castle?
Kronborg or Frederiksborg? Hamlet's fortress on the Øresund against the palace and Museum of National History in Hillerød: hours, DKK prices, trains, and when to do both.
Pick Kronborg for Hamlet, the sea and a fortress you can go underneath; pick Frederiksborg for the interiors. Kronborg in Helsingør is the castle Shakespeare called Elsinore, a Renaissance fortress on the Øresund with casemates under the ramparts. Frederiksborg in Hillerød is a palace on a lake that holds Denmark’s Museum of National History, a chapel where kings were anointed, and a Baroque garden. Neither is a short hop from the other by train, so if you want both in one day, the guided day tour is the easy way, and it adds Roskilde.
Side by side
| Kronborg | Frederiksborg | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Helsingør, on the Øresund | Hillerød, on three islets in a lake |
| Built | 1574 to 1585 by Frederik II; rebuilt after a fire in 1629 | 1600 to 1620 by Christian IV; rebuilt after a fire in 1859 |
| What you see | Royal rooms, the casemates and Holger Danske, ramparts and sea views | The Museum of National History: portraits, history paintings, period rooms; the chapel; the Great Hall |
| Known for | Shakespeare’s Elsinore; the Sound Toll; UNESCO World Heritage since 2000 | The largest Renaissance complex in the Nordic countries; Denmark’s largest portrait collection |
| Adult entry | DKK 150, DKK 135 online | DKK 125; students and 65+ DKK 105 |
| Children | Free | Free (0 to 17) |
| Hours, end of March to 31 October | Every day, 10:00 to 17:00 | Every day, 10:00 to 17:00 |
| Hours, November to March | Closed Mondays; 10:00 to 16:00 most days | Every day, 10:00 to 17:00 |
| From Copenhagen Central | About 46 min on the Coastal Railway, then a 10-minute walk | About 40 min on S-train line A, then a 15-minute walk |
Hours and prices are the castles’ own, checked in October 2026. Kronborg also closes on 24, 25 and 31 December and opens daily during the February winter break; Frederiksborg is open on Mondays and through the holidays.
Choose Kronborg if
- Hamlet is the reason. Kronborg’s fame is as much literary as historical: it is the castle Shakespeare set Hamlet in, under the name Elsinore. The castle’s own programme includes a 45-minute English tour, In Hamlet’s Footsteps.
- You like fortresses more than furniture. Frederik II built it between 1574 and 1585 as both a fortress and a royal home, at the narrowest point of the Øresund. For centuries every ship passing paid the Sound Toll here, until 1857. The casemates under the ramparts hold the statue of Holger Danske, the sleeping hero of Danish legend.
- You want the sea. From the ramparts you look across the strait to Sweden, and Helsingør’s old town is a short walk away. If you want to cross as well, swedendaytripfromcopenhagen.com covers the days that pair Kronborg with Helsingborg or Malmö.
Choose Frederiksborg if
- You want the rooms to be full. Since 1878 the castle has housed the Museum of National History, founded by the Carlsberg brewer J. C. Jacobsen: 500 years of Danish history in portraits, history paintings, furniture and applied art, and the largest portrait collection in the country.
- The chapel interests you. It survived the fire of 1859 with its decoration from Christian IV’s time. Denmark’s kings were anointed there during the absolute monarchy, from 1660 to 1848, and it has been the chapel of the Orders of the Elephant and the Dannebrog since 1693. The Compenius organ in the gallery dates from 1610.
- You are going on a Monday in winter. Kronborg is closed on Mondays from November to late March; Frederiksborg opens every day of the year.
- You like gardens. The Baroque garden across the lake was laid out in 1720, fell into disrepair and was recreated in the 1990s, with royal monograms cut into the hedges.
Both in one day
By train the two castles sit on different lines out of Copenhagen, so seeing both in a day means two separate trips or a car. The Kronborg, Frederiksborg Castle and Roskilde day tour picks you up at your hotel and does both, plus Roskilde Cathedral and the Viking Ship Museum, with the entrance fees included. Our page on the Kronborg, Frederiksborg Castle and Roskilde Tour covers how the day runs, the time at each stop and what happens in winter.
Book whichever fits your day:
Kronborg, Frederiksborg Castle and Roskilde Tour
Guided at Kronborg, Roskilde Cathedral and the Viking Ship Museum, on your own at Frederiksborg, entrance fees included.
Check dates →Hillerød: Frederiksborg Castle Entry Ticket
Sold by Frederiksborg Castle: the castle, the Museum of National History, every exhibition and the Baroque Garden, with a free audio guide app. No guide; you take the S-train to Hillerød yourself.
See the ticket →Prices, ratings and review counts from our October 2026 data check; operators use seasonal pricing, so treat them as the shape of the market, not a quote.
Only want Kronborg? Buy the castle’s own ticket at kronborg.dk, DKK 135 online, and take the Coastal Railway to Helsingør.
Quick answers
Is Kronborg Castle worth visiting? Yes, if Hamlet, Renaissance fortifications or the Øresund draw you: it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and you can go down into the casemates under the ramparts. Kronborg has no lift and many stairs. If you mainly want furnished rooms and paintings, Frederiksborg gives you more.
Is Frederiksborg Castle worth visiting? Yes, for anyone interested in Danish history or art: the Museum of National History fills the castle, and the chapel and the Great Hall are part of the visit. It is also the castle to choose on a winter Monday. See the entry ticket.
How much are Frederiksborg Castle tickets? DKK 125 for an adult, DKK 105 for students and visitors over 65, and free for under-18s (October 2026). The ticket covers the whole museum, special exhibitions included. The castle’s own ticket on GetYourGuide is from US$19 and adds the Baroque Garden and an audio guide app.
What are Kronborg Castle’s opening hours? From late March to 31 October, every day from 10:00 to 17:00. From November to late March it closes on Mondays and shuts at 16:00 on most days.
Is Kronborg Hamlet’s castle? It is the castle Shakespeare set Hamlet in, calling it Elsinore, the English name for Helsingør.
Can't Make These Dates?
Browse More Available Options
Find a tour that fits your schedule. Dates and cancellation terms are on each listing.
See Both Castles, and Roskilde, in One Day
Kronborg, Frederiksborg, Roskilde Cathedral and the Viking Ship Museum from Copenhagen, with hotel pickup and entrance fees included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, as listed in October 2026.
Check Dates