Helsingør, Denmark
“Something is rotten in the State of Denmark.”
Marcellus, Act 1, Scene 4, Hamlet
Kronborg Castle is famous worldwide for its association with Hamlet, but its connection to the play is at best uncertain. William Shakespeare was never documented as having visited Denmark, and the castle differs significantly from the one depicted in the play.
However, Kronborg Castle was situated in a highly strategic location on the Øresund. Denmark required every ship passing through the narrow strait (2 1/2 miles) to stop and pay a toll to allow for passage into and out of the Baltic Sea. These tolls brought Denmark great wealth and allowed the country to invest heavily in infrastructure. They also funded many lavish parties, which is how William Shakespeare learned about Kronborg and was inspired to write Hamlet, set in Elsinore Castle.
From a distance, Kronborg Castle appears very imposing. It would have looked even more impressive in its prime. It’s about a 15 to 20 minute walk along the waterfront from the Helsingør train station. We also managed to take a bus on the way back.
The area is very windy, which is important to remember when buying a ticket for the castle. We scanned our Official Copenhagen Card to get a paper admittance ticket. Hold onto this ticket tightly, as Adrienne’s blew away. Eventually, she had to go back inside to receive a handwritten ticket to go inside the ticketed area of the castle. As of 2026, if you purchase a ticket separately, adults are 150 Danish Krone (on-site) and 135 Danish Krone (online in advance), and children are free. Tickets are not required for the ramparts or the grounds so that you can visit the castle on a budget.
One of the highlights of the tour was the visit to the casements. The casements were dimly lit areas used for storage and housing the castle’s troops. Walking around the area today can be a little spooky, but the casements are home to Holger Danske, a mythical Viking warrior who helps protect Denmark in times of need.
It is also possible to visit the Royal Apartments. Kronborg Castle suffered a major fire in 1629, and although King Christian IV refurbished it, it was never used as a royal residence with any frequency afterward. The castle‘s exterior is remarkably well-preserved, despite Sweden briefly conquering it in the 17th century. Most of the furnishings were mobile and followed the Kings and Queens as they traveled throughout their realm.
One part of the castle escaped the fire, and that was the chapel. The chapel was very ornate and still has many of the same furnishings from the 16th century. After our visit that morning to Frederiksborg Castle, it is amazing that the chapel was the only part of both structures untouched by fire. The chapel gives today’s visitors a taste of how ornate the castle was when it was the main castle of King Frederik II, Christian IV’s father.
To paraphrase Hamlet, “To visit or not to visit, that is the question.” Honestly, Kronborg Castle is historically important because of the wealth it generated for the Danish Crown. The castle is incredibly well preserved, and it is intimately tied to two separate Fictional characters in Hamlet and Holger Danske. Kronborg Castle has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000 and is a key structure in the city of Helsingør, a short train ride from Copenhagen or a short ferry ride from Helsingborg, Sweden. Going to the castle is a great way to spend a few hours, and even less without the paid entry. The castle is impressive and worthwhile, but it depends on how many castles you want to visit on your trip to Denmark. For Shakespeare or Hans Christian Anderson fans, it is a must-go-to destination that buys into the lore of the Hamlet and Holger Danske stories. On a return visit, I would probably either hang out on the ramparts or figure out a way to attend a church service in the impressive chapel.
