Frederiksberg Gardens

Frederiksberg Gardens (Frederiksberg Have) is a 32-hectare English-style landscape park wrapped around Frederiksberg Palace on the western edge of Copenhagen. The palace itself was commissioned by King Frederik IV, who began construction in 1699 and used the hilltop estate as a summer residence for the Danish royal family throughout the 18th century. The gardens were originally laid out in a strict Baroque French style — rigid axes, geometric parterres, and clipped hedgerows — befitting the absolutist tastes of the era. It was not until the early 19th century that Crown Prince Frederik (later Frederik VI) ordered the grounds redesigned in the sweeping English Romantic landscape tradition, introducing the winding canal network, artificially sculpted hillocks, and irregular woodland paths that define the park today.

Among the park's most distinctive features are its Chinese-style pavilions, built in 1799 during the height of European chinoiserie fashion. These lacquered wooden structures — perched at the edge of the canals — were used by the royal family for informal afternoon gatherings and reflect the period's fascination with East Asian aesthetics. The network of interconnected canals, fed by a series of lakes, allowed the royals to row through the grounds, and small rowboats remain available for visitors to hire today. Atop the central hill, the three-winged Baroque palace provides a commanding backdrop, its yellow ochre facade visible from multiple vantage points across the park. Frederiksberg Palace ceased to be a royal summer residence in the mid-19th century and since 1869 has served as the Danish Officers' Academy — it is not generally open to tourists, but its exterior presence dominates the landscape at every turn.

The gardens were opened to the general public in 1909, a decision that transformed them into one of the most beloved green spaces in the Copenhagen metropolitan area. Today the park is managed by the Danish Nature Agency and remains free to enter year-round. In summer, the lawns fill with families, cyclists, and picnickers; in autumn, the canopy of beech and chestnut trees turns deep amber and rust, creating some of the most photographed scenery in the city. Just beyond the park's northern boundary lies the Copenhagen Zoo, founded in 1859, making the area a natural full-day destination for families.

Frederiksberg Gardens is located a short walk from Frederiksberg Station (Metro Line M1/M2) or a 20-minute ride from central Copenhagen by bicycle along dedicated cycle paths. The park has no admission fee and no closing time in summer, though it is gated at dusk in winter months. Visitors should allow at least 90 minutes to walk the main canal loop, climb to the palace terrace for the panoramic view over Copenhagen, and explore the wooded southern section near the Chinese pavilions. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, as the gravel paths and grass slopes are uneven in places.