Landbohøjskolens Have, Copenhagen Travel Guide

A historic horticultural garden in the heart of Frederiksberg

Laid out in the mid‑nineteenth century as part of the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Landbohøjskolens Have is one of Copenhagen’s most characterful green spaces. Established around 1858, the gardens were conceived both as teaching grounds for horticulture and botany and as a generous park for the surrounding city. Today they form the leafy core of the University of Copenhagen’s Frederiksberg Campus, yet still retain a distinctly intimate atmosphere.Winding gravel paths lead you past lawns, herbaceous borders and mature trees that bear witness to more than a century of careful planting. The overall impression is of a cultivated landscape that still feels human in scale: handsome but never grandiose, designed to invite wandering rather than impress with pomp.

Living collections and themed plant areas

The garden’s scientific roots are clearest in its extensive plant collections. More than 6,000 different species and varieties grow here, ranging from wild Danish herbs and native woody plants to exotic ornamentals and useful crops. Dedicated beds showcase alpine plants, special grasses and heathers, while other sections focus on roses, azaleas and rhododendrons that burst into colour in late spring and early summer.Several areas are devoted to medicinal and historically important plants, highlighting species that have been used in remedies for centuries and many that still form the basis of modern pharmaceuticals. Labels and orderly groupings make it easy to understand connections between species, so a stroll effectively becomes an informal botany lesson in the open air.

A campus oasis for quiet moments

Although it belongs to an active university campus, Landbohøjskolens Have feels remarkably calm. The garden is framed by academic buildings, yet once inside you are surrounded by greenery, birdsong and the gentle sound of wind in the trees. Benches are scattered generously along the paths and around lawns, encouraging you to linger with a book, a sketchpad or simply your thoughts.A small pond adds to the sense of retreat, reflecting the surrounding trees and attracting ducks and other urban wildlife. Because the paths are generally level and wide, the garden suits unhurried ambles for all ages, from families with prams to older visitors who prefer flat terrain and frequent seating.

Glasshouses, seasonal colour and subtle details

Beyond the open beds and lawns, you may notice modest glasshouses that recall the garden’s working, experimental character. These structures, together with more formal planting near them, hint at the ongoing teaching and research that still take place on campus. In warmer months, one of the glasshouses sometimes hosts a simple café, reinforcing the garden’s role as a social as well as educational space.Each season brings a different mood: spring bulbs and blossoms give way to lush summer foliage, then autumn sets the larger trees ablaze in gold and rust tones. Even in winter, the structure of bare branches, evergreens and carefully planned vistas provides visual interest. Close observation rewards you with details such as scented herbs, unusual seed heads and carefully chosen groundcover plants along the paths.

Everyday park life with a botanical twist

For locals, Landbohøjskolens Have functions as a neighbourhood park, a place to cross between lectures, walk a dog at the edges or sit with a takeaway coffee. For visitors, it offers a more low‑key and local perspective than the city’s grander parks and formal botanical garden. Here, research plots and ornamental beds sit side by side, and the boundaries between campus and park softly blur.Informal lawns invite picnics and play, yet the underlying structure remains that of a living outdoor classroom. It is this blend—part scientific collection, part everyday refuge—that gives the garden its particular charm and makes it worth seeking out during a day in Frederiksberg or greater Copenhagen.