Elsinore is one of the most popular cities for tourists to visit in Denmark. In fact, up to 2 million tourists visit Elsinore every year, and this number is constantly increasing. Swedish tourists in particular love Elsinore, which is understandable as there are many interesting things to experience in the city. In this guide, we've put together an overview of what to see and do in Elsinore and how to get here. In addition, we've also included a small guide to what to do in Elsinore with children and some tips for Christmas markets in Elsinore.

A bit about the history of Elsinore

Elsinore emerged as a city in the late 12th century as the natural crossing point between Zealand and Scania. The city quickly established itself as an important destination, gaining status as a market town and also as a gateway to the rest of Scandinavia due to its geographical location on the northeastern tip of Zealand. In addition, the royal castle of Kronborg has given the city status around the world thanks to Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, which is based at Kronborg. Shakespeare decided to use Kronborg in his play as Kronborg was already a castle known to all English sailors at the time. For Danes, Kronborg also has special significance as Holger Danske, a famous Danish legendary hero, resides in Kronborg's casemates as a statue. Today, just over 60,000 inhabitants live in Elsinore Municipality.

How do you get to Elsinore?

All roads lead to Rome. The same can almost be said for Elsinore. Depending on your departure destination and means of transportation, there are many ways to get to Elsinore:

• You can take the ferry from Helsingborg in Sweden to Elsinore

• You can take the train directly from Copenhagen to Elsinore. From Copenhagen Central Station it takes about 55 minutes and it's a beautiful train ride as the train runs partly along Strandvejen with sea views

• If you're up for it, hop on your bike and cycle along the beautiful coastal road, Strandvejen, which runs from Copenhagen to Elsinore. It can be a fun way to turn your trip to Elsinore into a day trip that combines nature, exercise, fresh air and sightseeing

• If you are driving, you can also drive to Helsingør, which offers great parking options in the city

There are also many popular cottage areas on the north coast of Zealand, such as Marienlyst. If you stay in a vacation home in this area and have access to a car or bicycle, Elsinore is also easily accessible.

What to see and do in Elsinore?

Elsinore offers a wide range of tourist attractions, so whether you're into food, nature or museums, you can find activities to suit you. Here you can find different places that are both exciting and fun to experience in Elsinore.

Hunt through history at Kronborg Castle

When you say Elsinore, you must also say Kronborg Castle. The two are inextricably linked, and Kronborg is the city's landmark. The castle was built in the years 1574-1585 by King Frederik 2. Kronborg Castle is one of Northern Europe's most important Renaissance castles and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

At Kronborg Castle, a wealth of experiences await visitors to the castle. In the castle's casemates, you can meet the legendary hero, Holger Danske. You can explore the fine halls of the castle and wonder what it was like to be a nobleman hundreds of years ago. You can walk around the fortress that surrounds the castle and look out over Øresund and across to Sweden and imagine what it must have been like to stand guard here and perhaps fire cannons from here in case of an unexpected visit from enemies. You should also pop in and see the beautiful Kronborg Castle Church. These experiences are fun and exciting for both children and adults.

Kronborg Castle offers an event calendar where various exciting events take place, from afternoon tea to communal dining and concerts. Check out the calendar here. You can also find information about the current opening hours and prices for visiting Kronborg Castle here.

Learn about maritime history and globalization at M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark

Close to Kronborg Castle you'll find the M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark. It can be hard to spot the museum as it is built in the old dry dock in a most spectacular way by the award-winning design studio BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group. If you're interested in architecture, a visit to the museum alone is a must to experience the architecture that brings together raw concrete, large glass facades and aluminum-clad bridges and stairs. The museum used to be part of Kronborg, but in 2013 it moved into these new premises in the old dry dock. Here you can shop in the museum's cool museum shop, and you can explore hundreds of years of maritime history up to the globalization that dominates maritime culture today. The museum is also very child-friendly with fun activities and a playground.

Take a walk in Elsinore's historic city center

Elsinore is one of Denmark's oldest and most important cities, and you can still feel this today if you walk around Elsinore's historic city center. In the small cobbled streets and alleys are beautiful, colorful townhouses. Brostræde is an example of an old street with fine old houses worth exploring. Here you can also taste ice cream in freshly baked waffles from an ice cream shop that has been located here for more than 100 years. Be sure to stop by Sct. Mariæ Church, which was built in 1430.

Experience culture at Kulturværftet

Kulturværftet is Elsinore's cultural center where locals and tourists are invited to various events and experiences. Kulturværftet houses a restaurant, exhibitions, a museum and a library. You can get an overview of all the fun events that take place here on their calendar.

Where to eat in Elsinore

In addition to culture, museums and beautiful old buildings, Elsinore offers several culinary experiences. Close to Kronborg is a large street food market in the city's old shipyard, which has now been transformed into a mecca of food from around the world. There's a great atmosphere and many happy visitors. In Elsinore city center you'll find a wealth of restaurants and cafés, from fine dining restaurants to burger bars and cafés serving coffee and cake. So there's no need to worry about visiting Elsinore and being embarrassed, whether you're a child or an adult. At Kronborg Castle there is also a coffee shop that serves great coffee.

What to do in the summer in Elsinore?

In the summer, there are plenty of reasons to enjoy Elsinore's beautiful nature and seaside location. On Elsinore's beach you can enjoy the sea and sand and maybe take a dip in the blue waves. In Elsinore's old city center you can sink your teeth into an old-fashioned Danish ice cream. And the street food market offers a great atmosphere as visitors enjoy good food and the bright Scandinavian summer nights.

What to do in winter in Elsinore?

When it's winter and cold, or when it's raining, there are still plenty of great experiences to explore in Elsinore. Because Elsinore offers so many cultural experiences from architecture to history, art and museums, there are plenty of activities to get involved in. Take a tour of Kronborg Castle or visit one of the other museums we've written about in the "What to do in Elsinore" section.

Tips for visiting Elsinore with kids

Elsinore is a great destination for children who are curious about experiences. In addition to the city's waterfront and harbor with a large playground and a beach where you can swim if the weather is good, children will also have great experiences by visiting Kronborg Castle and not least Elsinore's old city center. As mentioned above, the M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark offers great experiences for children. In addition to these experiences, the Technical Museum of Denmark and the Øresund Aquarium are great places for children to experience. At the Technical Museum of Denmark you and your family can explore old airplanes and rockets. And at the Øresund Aquarium, you and your family can explore underwater life through the large, beautiful aquariums with colorful wildlife.

Christmas markets in Elsinore

When the calendar says Christmas, it means that Elsinore invites you to Christmas spirit and Christmas markets. Every year, Christmas-loving visitors experience the Christmas market at Kronborg, Christmas at Kronborg, which takes place two weekends in December. Christmas at Kronborg is one of Denmark's largest Christmas markets, and the market's location in the castle courtyard and inside the castle makes the market a magical Christmas experience. At the Christmas market you can hunt for Christmas gifts from beautiful stalls selling beautiful things. There are workshops for children to try out their creative skills. Various Christmas concerts and theater performances also take place. You can also find treats for your palate at the Christmas market's food and drink stalls. Read more about the Christmas market in Elsinore, Christmas at Kronborg, here.

We hope you feel that you are well equipped to experience Elsinore and all its attractions through this guide. We look forward to welcoming you at Kronborg.