Kongens Nytorv, Copenhagen, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Kongens Nytorv, or King's New Square, is one of the largest squares in Copenhagen, Denmark, laid out in 1670 under King Christian V. It sits where the old medieval centre meets the harbour district, with the Royal Danish Theatre, Charlottenborg Palace and the start of Nyhavn all around it. It is a free, open public space and a natural starting point for a walk through the city centre.

The story behind it

The square was created in the later 17th century as Copenhagen grew beyond its medieval core, and it was meant to give the capital a formal, royal setting. At its centre stands an equestrian statue of Christian V, put up in 1688 and shown in the style of a Roman emperor. Today the square is a busy crossing point of streets, trams of people and the metro below.

The city around it has seen hard times. In September 1807, during the Napoleonic Wars, a British fleet bombarded Copenhagen for several days. Britain feared the Danish navy would end up in French hands, and its ships seized the fleet. Fires destroyed large parts of the old city and many civilians were killed. Rebuilding took years, and the memory of that attack shaped Danish thinking about defence for a long time.

Just beside the square, Nyhavn has a literary link. Hans Christian Andersen lived at Nyhavn 20 for a time in the 1830s, a period in which he wrote some of his early fairy tales. He is also remembered for carrying a rope in his luggage, so that he could escape from a window if a hotel caught fire.

What to look for

• The equestrian statue of Christian V in the middle of the square, with the king dressed like a Roman ruler.
• The Royal Danish Theatre on one side, whose Old Stage building is a grand landmark of Danish performing arts.
• Charlottenborg Palace, a baroque building on the edge of the square, which today is linked to the arts.
• The corner where the square opens toward Nyhavn, with its colourful gabled houses along the canal.

Tips for your visit

• Give the square itself 15 to 30 minutes, longer if you want to look closely at the theatre and palace facades.
• Morning is calmer for photos, while evening brings lighting and a livelier mood around the theatre.
• Nyhavn is a few minutes on foot, and the pedestrian street Strøget runs off the square in the other direction.
• Kongens Nytorv has its own metro station, so it is easy to reach. For visits inside the theatre or palace, check current opening hours.

See it on a quest

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Indre By, Copenhagen is a good way to see the square as one stop on a longer walk through the old centre. You reach each place on foot, the app tells you about it as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Lost Stories and Hidden Streets: Andersen’s Copenhagen suits you if the Nyhavn side of the square draws you in. You walk a route through the area, hear about each place when you get there, and work out a puzzle in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.