The Round Tower, Copenhagen, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Round Tower (Rundetaarn) is a 17th-century tower on Købmagergade in the centre of Copenhagen, built by King Christian IV as an astronomical observatory. It is best known for its broad spiral ramp, which you walk up instead of climbing stairs, and for the view over the rooftops from the top.

The story behind it

Christian IV had the tower built in the 1630s and 1640s, and it was finished in 1642. It was part of a larger complex meant to bring learning, worship and science together in one place near the university. Astronomers used the platform at the top to study the sky, long before electric light dimmed the stars over the city.

The ramp is the tower's best-known feature. It winds around a hollow core about seven and a half times, and it was made gentle and wide enough for horses and carts, so heavy instruments and books could be brought up easily. The most famous story says that in 1716 Tsar Peter the Great rode his horse up the ramp while his wife, Catherine, followed in a carriage.

What to look for

• The gilded lettering and monogram of Christian IV on the facade, a reminder that the king saw the tower as a statement about faith and learning.
• The long spiral ramp itself, with its gentle slope and worn floor, where you can picture riders and carts making the climb.
• The hollow central core, which you can look into as you climb, and the glass floor section near the top that lets you peer down it.
• The view from the platform across the red roofs and spires of old Copenhagen, with the pedestrian streets below.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 45 minutes to an hour if you want to climb, take in the view and look around at your own pace. Check current opening hours and ticket details before you go.
• Go earlier in the day or on a weekday if you prefer a quieter climb, since the ramp is fairly narrow and people pass each other on it.
• The tower stands on Købmagergade, a pedestrian street close to the main shopping streets, so it is easy to combine with a stroll through the old centre.
• The tower is next to the Church of the Trinity, which forms part of the same historic complex.

See it on a quest

Time Travelers Cronophone in Copenhagen brings you to the Round Tower on foot as one stop on a longer route through the city. The app tells you about each place when you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like.

Lost Stories and Hidden Streets: Andersen’s Copenhagen is a good way to see the tower together with the streets around it. You walk from place to place, hear the story of each stop as you reach it, and solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, one ticket covers the whole group, and there is no guide to wait for.