Rundetårn, Zealand, Denmark
4.5 (7.838 reviews) Spent 1-2 hours Ranking #14 in Copenhagen Observation Decks & Towers
Go when the observatory is open!
The Round Tower Lookout Tower – Observatory – Exhibitions – Concerts.One of the best-known and most popular structures in Denmark, the Round Tower has been a distinctive feature of the Copenhagen skyline since 1642. The Tower once soared far above the rest of the rooftops in the city, and University astronomers studied the stars and planets from the Observatory at the top. The scholars may have forsaken the building a long time ago, but during the winter visitors are still able to gaze at the cosmos from Europe's oldest functioning observatory. The platform that runs around the outside of the Observatory affords views over the old Latin Quarter – from here, you can spot most of the city's famous buildings. The Round Tower does not have an elevator, so visitors have to climb the winding, white-washed Spiral Walk, where kids often hide in the niches, only to jump out shouting “boo!” as adults approach. Halfway up the tower is the entrance to the large and stunningly beautiful Library Hall, which now serves as a popular gallery and concert venue. It hosts several exhibitions a year, and stages concerts almost every week. Above the Library is the Bell Loft, notable for its enormous wooden beams, which were used in the reconstruction of the Tower following the great fire of Copenhagen in 1728. The Loft is also home to a small exhibition of fascinating artefacts from the Tower's history, including Christian IV's wax seal, a tin of medicine produced by Tycho Brahe, and a piece of the bomb that exploded in the Library Hall during the bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807.The Round Tower was built by Christian IV between 1637 and 1642. It was the first part of the Trinitatis Complex, which combined church, library and observatory in a single building.
Address
Koebmagergade 52A, Copenhagen 1150 Denmark
Mobile
Website
http://www.rundetaarn.dk/en
Current local date and time now
Monday, April 29, 2024, 2:21
User Ratings
4.5 based on (7.838 reviews)
Reviews
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5kmaria1202 5:00 PM Mar 1, 2023
Go when the observatory is open!
It's a cool building (entrance fee is included in the CPH Card) with a long winding ramp that is fairly easily walkable. Pause to capture the view from the windows on your way up, and don't miss any special exhibits along the way - they are worth a stop! If you go on a night when the historic observatory is open, definitely wait in line for a peek through the telescope -- very cool experience.
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4NaomiRGreen 5:00 PM Mar 5, 2023
A tourist must
I know we are all ‘over’ visiting tall buildings in every city we go to but this one took me by surprise, because the city is so compact, you can literally see the whole city and way out to the ocean. The views were beautiful, in fact my friend commented ‘you can see why Hans Christian Andersen was so inspired here’. Tickets were super cheap, the exhibition halfway up was really unexpected and lovely and having to walk up did give it a bit more authenticity than the lifts of other viewing platforms.
