Visit Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen
Kongens Nytorv - or 'The King's New Square' as its’ name means in Danish, is a square in the heart of Copenhagen's old town.
It’s situated slap bang in the must-see tourist area of central Copenhagen, nestling between the picturesque harbour of Nyhavn to the east and the bustling shopping streets of Strøget and The Round Tower to the west.
The square itself is home to prominent institutions like the Royal Theatre, the fanciest hotel in town Hotel D'Angleterre and the art gallery Kunsthal Charlottenborg.
A short history of Kongens Nytorv
Kongens Nytorv is the result of a project dating from the early 17th century, where the centre of the medieval city was moved from the muddy streets of Gammeltorv to the cobbled, garden complex sophistication of the ‘New Square’ Nytorv.
Inspired by Parisian projects at the time, the move symbolised a transition from the dirty marketplaces of medieval Europe, towards the ordered, planned streets of the renaissance and enlightenment.
The land around the new square was shared among interested wealthy citizens and friends of the Danish royalty.
Each new building constructed on the square was required to have at least two stories and meet certain standards.
Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløvem, King Christian V's half-brother, completed his Gyldenløve Mansion on the square in the mid-1780s. Admiral Henrik Bjelke constructed another town mansion on the square in the 1670s.
In 1688, a baroque garden complex with trees around a parterre and a gilded equestrian statue of Christian V in its centre, was inaugurated. In 1747 the entire square was rebuilt by Frederik V as a military drill and ceremony ground for the King's troops until 1908, where the square was re-shaped into its original design.
Visiting Kongens Nytorv
Although Kongens Nytorv might not be the main point of attraction on your list, it is well worth seeing, and its’ location in the centre of Copenhagen means you will definitely pass through it at some point anyway!
Those visiting the square in June or July may be lucky to see a high school or college graduation, where (very drunk!) studetns will traditionally pull up into Kongens Nytorv in their party buses and cars, then dance around the statue of Christian V, throwing their graduation hats in to the air!
While you are there, it is definitely worth having a look at the impressive Hotel D’Angleterre. The building dates from 1767 and today the hotel is just about the fanciest place you can stay, and eat, in the whole city. Magasin Du Nord (mostly shortened to just Magasin) is a famous department store which has been open since the 1890s on Kongens Nytorv. It’s worth paying a visit inside the store during Christmas for their amazing displays!
If you are taking a walking tour of the old city, they will often start from this location. Similarly, the classic boat tours of the beautiful canals of Copenhagen will almost all begin at nearby Nyhavn, for which Kongens Nytorv is the nearest public transport link.
You’ll recognise the name from the Copenhagen Metro, as it provides a major crossing point between the M1-2 lines and the M3-4 lines.