Medical Museion

Copenhagen, Denmark

Originally the home of the Royal Academy for Surgeons, the Medical Museion preserves a wonderful historical collection of how medicine was taught from its founding in 1787 to the present day. The collection of artifacts contains a wealth of exhibits from medical history and is enlightening about the rapid advancements made in the medical profession.

One of the museum’s highlights is the original auditorium. According to the museum’s signage, the auditorium was where all of Denmark’s doctors learned about the human body through dissections. The doctors who gathered in Copenhagen for their education then spread out and practiced medicine throughout the nation. Eventually, the location became too small for the country’s needs, and the school moved to a new, larger location. The building was then turned into a medical museum in 1969.

The Official Copenhagen Card app plainly states that the “Medical Museion is not for delicate souls,” and that is very true. If you are easily queasy or prone to feeling sick to your stomach, this location should probably be skipped for your own self-preservation. I did not take pictures of the most jarring exhibits, which included preserved babies and other body parts. For example, I was unfamiliar with Sirenomelia or ‘Mermaid Syndrome’ before I toured the museum. I have provided a link to a description of the syndrome, but be careful before you proceed. Another exhibit that was jarring for me was the then-current exhibit on the COVID-19 pandemic. The Medical Museion was the first time that I had ever seen COVID-19 displayed in a historical context. Living through the pandemic was surreal, as I was surprised by how political vaccines became thanks to misinformation. Vaccines have helped us overcome many debilitating diseases and given us the best chance of overcoming COVID-19. A different exhibit drives home the importance of vaccines: a copy of a 1903 gravestone. The original gravestone still stands in Vesterlund and features five children from the same family who all died from Diphtheria in one week.

We used the Official Copenhagen Card for entry, but if you decide to go without the app, entry in 2026 is 110 Danish Krone for adults, 70 DKK for students, 50 DKK for children 7-17, and free for children under 7. Like many museums, the Medical Museion is closed on Mondays. If you have a medical background or an interest in medicine, this museum should be a must-stop location in Copenhagen. As a fan of history, I’ve always appreciated specialty museums that focus on a theme and the original artifacts. The Museion has both of these in abundance, making for a great option when visiting Copenhagen. Depending on your interest, you could complete a whirlwind tour of the museum in 15-20 minutes, or you could devote more time. I would recommend at least an hour to visit this fascinating location in Copenhagen.