Rundetaarn - The Round Tower

In central Copenhagen stands the Rundetaarn (English: Round Tower), a 17th-century tower and one of the many architectural projects of the prolific Christian IV. Originally built as an astronomical observatory, it is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in Copenhagen.

Visitors can enjoy the spiral (or to give it its correct name, helical) corridor that leads to Europe's oldest functioning observatory at the top where you can soak up incredible views of Copenhagen and the surrounding Latin Quarter.

The tower is part of what is known as the Trinitatis Complex, comprising a university chapel, the Trinitatis Church, and an academic library.

In the old days, the Tower literally towered over the rest of the buildings in the city, and University astronomers were able to study the stars and planets from the Observatory at the top. Nowadays visitors can traverse a platform that runs around the outside of the Observatory where you can spot most of the famous buildings of the city.

Halfway up the tower you'll find the large and beautiful Library Hall, which now serves as an exhibition gallery and hosts a number of concerts.

Above the library is the Bell Loft, notable for its imposing wooden beams, which were used to reconstruct the Tower following the great fire of Copenhagen in 1728. Here you can also learn about the tower's history through artifacts such as Christian IV's wax seal, a tin of medicine produced by Tycho Brahe, and even the remains of a bomb that exploded in the Library Hall during the bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807.

The Rundetaarn is an essential visit for those visiting Copenhagen for the first time. It's reasonably central location on the pedestrianised Kobmagergade means that it is easy and convenient to find.

Opening times:

21 May–20 September: Daily 10:00–20:00

21 September–20 May: Daily 10:00–17:00

Mid–October to mid-March, Tuesday and Wednesday, both the Tower and the Observatory are open 19:00–22:00.

The Tower is shut on 24 and 25 December and 1 January

Admission / Access

Adults DKK 25

Children DKK 5

Annual season ticket: adults DKK 150