Rundetaarn (Round Tower)

Rundetårn

Europe's oldest astronomical observatory, completed in 1642. A 209-meter spiral ramp with no stairs winds up to the top, where you can look over the red roofs and spires of Old Town.

The Round Tower was built by Christian IV between 1637 and 1642. It is the oldest observatory in Europe still in use and stands 34.8 meters tall. There are no stairs inside. Instead, a spiral brick ramp, 209 meters long and making seven and a half turns, winds up to the top. It is said the ramp was designed so that carriages could haul heavy astronomical instruments to the summit, and in 1716 Tsar Peter the Great rode a horse to the top. The observation platform offers a 360-degree view of Old Town's red-tiled roofs, Copenhagen Cathedral (Vor Frue Kirke), the spire of Christiansborg Palace, and as far as the Øresund Bridge. The small observatory at the center of the platform is open to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from October to March, when visitors can stargaze through telescopes. Halfway up the ramp, the library hall (originally the university library, where Hans Christian Andersen once borrowed books) now serves as an art exhibition space. Nearby, a glass floor lets you look down 25 meters into the tower's core. Adult admission is DKK 40, and the Copenhagen Card gives free entry. There is no elevator, but the ramp is gentle, so strollers and wheelchairs can reach most of the tower. The tower stands on the pedestrian street Købmagergade, 2 minutes' walk from Strøget and 5 minutes from Nørreport station, and it is connected to Trinitatis Church next door. Nearby, you can combine your visit with shopping on Strøget, cafés in the Latin Quarter, and Torvehallerne food market beside Nørreport station, where you should try smørrebrød and Danish hot dogs. Note that in peak summer the top platform has limited space and visits may be capped. The ramp is dim, so keep children from running.

Rundetaarn (Round Tower)

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