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Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

A palm-filled Winter Garden, world-class antiquities and Nordic–French masterpieces meet inside Copenhagen’s most atmospheric art museum.

4.6

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is Copenhagen’s great temple of sculpture and painting, founded in 1897 by brewer and art patron Carl Jacobsen. Just behind Tivoli Gardens, this atmospheric museum combines a spectacular glass-domed Winter Garden filled with palms and fountains, world-class collections of Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiquities, and outstanding 19th–20th century Danish and French art including works by Rodin, Degas, Gauguin and the Impressionists.

A brief summary to Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

  • Dantes Plads 7, Copenhagen, Indre By, 1556, DK
  • +4533418141
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 2 to 3.5 hours
  • Mid ranged
  • Environment icon Indoor
  • Mobile reception: 5 out of 5
  • Tuesday 10 am-5 pm
  • Wednesday 10 am-5 pm
  • Thursday 10 am-9 pm
  • Friday 10 am-5 pm
  • Saturday 10 am-5 pm
  • Sunday 10 am-5 pm

Local tips

  • Plan at least 2–3 hours so you can see both the antiquities and the modern galleries and still have time to unwind in the Winter Garden café.
  • Start on the upper floors for the Danish and French art, then work your way down to the Egyptian and classical collections to avoid backtracking.
  • Check current exhibitions in advance; major temporary shows may replace some permanent displays but often include important loaned works.
  • Bring a light layer: gallery temperatures are cool to protect the art, but the Winter Garden and roof terrace can feel noticeably warmer.
  • Photography is generally allowed for personal use without flash; always follow signage and staff instructions in sensitive areas.
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Getting There

  • Train and walk from Copenhagen Central Station

    From Copenhagen Central Station, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is about a 6–8 minute walk on mostly level pavements, suitable for most visitors with basic mobility. Regional and intercity trains as well as the S-train network all stop here, making this the most convenient hub if you are coming from elsewhere in Zealand or from the airport via train. Trains typically run every few minutes during the day, and a standard adult single from the airport to the station costs roughly 30–40 DKK depending on ticket type. Once at the station, follow general signs toward the city centre and Tivoli Gardens; the museum stands just beyond the park in a compact museum district.

  • Metro to Rådhuspladsen or Nørreport and walk

    You can also take the metro M3 Cityringen to Rådhuspladsen Station, from where it is around 10–12 minutes on foot along broad city streets with good crossings and kerb cuts. Trains on the M3 line run every few minutes throughout the day, and an adult single ticket within the central zones is typically in the 20–30 DKK range. Nørreport Station is a slightly longer 15–20 minute walk but offers direct metro connections to the airport and other parts of the city. Both routes are straightforward and largely flat, though in wet or icy weather pavements can be slippery, so allow extra time.

  • City bus services

    Several city bus lines stop within a short walk of Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, serving the central Copenhagen area and outlying neighbourhoods. Buses usually run every 5–15 minutes during the day and slightly less often in the evening. A standard single journey on the regular bus network within the central zones generally costs about 20–30 DKK, valid for a set time period so you can transfer between buses or metro if needed. Most buses are low-floor and wheelchair accessible, though they can be crowded at rush hour and during major events near Tivoli Gardens, so off-peak travel is more comfortable.

  • Bicycle within central Copenhagen

    For those already in the city centre, cycling to Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is a practical option thanks to Copenhagen’s extensive network of segregated bike lanes. The museum lies close to major cycling routes that run around Tivoli Gardens and past the City Hall area. Travel time from most central districts is between 5 and 15 minutes by bike, depending on your starting point. You can use a personal bicycle or one of the many app-based bike-share services; short rides typically cost from around 10–20 DKK, with fees increasing by duration. Be aware that bike parking can be busy at peak times, and always lock your bike securely in designated stands.

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek location weather suitability

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Discover more about Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

A brewer’s dream turned art sanctuary

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek was born from the passion – and fortune – of brewer Carl Jacobsen, who transformed his private collection into a public museum at the end of the 19th century. Stepping inside today, you enter the vision of an industrial magnate determined to surround his city with beauty. Grand halls, vaulted ceilings and richly detailed stonework frame thousands of artworks that trace a line from ancient civilizations to modern Europe. The name "Glyptotek" refers to a collection of sculpture, and that focus is still at the heart of the museum. Marble figures, bronzes and terracottas line the galleries, many displayed in natural light that brings out every chisel mark and curve. The building itself has grown in stages over more than a century, and you can feel the shift from historicist opulence to later, calmer modern wings as you wander.

Ancient worlds under one roof

One of the museum’s great strengths is its Department of Antiquities, which gathers outstanding works from ancient Egypt, Greece, Etruria and Rome. Here you move between sarcophagi and mummies, temple reliefs and painted coffins that span some 3,500 years of Egyptian history. The carefully lit rooms and muted colours create a contemplative atmosphere that suits the age and gravity of the pieces. In the classical galleries, rows of Greek and Roman statues stand in colonnaded halls, from idealized athletes and gods to intense, characterful portrait busts of emperors. Etruscan artefacts – urns, bronzes and decorative details – add another layer to this panorama of Mediterranean cultures. Together, the antiquities give a vivid sense of how sculpture and ornament once filled temples, villas and public spaces across the ancient world.

Nordic light and French colour

Beyond antiquity, the modern collection focuses on 19th- and early 20th-century Danish and French art. Danish Golden Age paintings capture Copenhagen’s streets, seascapes and quiet interiors with crystalline northern light. Nearby, sculptural works trace the development of Danish realism and symbolism, often displayed with generous space around them so you can walk and look from every angle. The French rooms bring a change of rhythm and colour, with Impressionist canvases, post-Impressionist experiments and a particularly rich representation of Paul Gauguin. A complete series of Degas bronzes and dozens of works by Auguste Rodin highlight the museum’s sculptural strengths in this period. Moving between these rooms, you see how ideas, techniques and tastes crossed borders in an era of rapid artistic change.

The Winter Garden at the museum’s heart

At the centre of the complex lies the famous Winter Garden, a soaring glass-domed hall filled with tall palms, lush planting, a central fountain and a fish pool. The air here is warmer and more humid than in the surrounding galleries, and the sound of water and soft echoes from the dome create a gentle acoustic backdrop. It feels like a conservatory and an indoor piazza at once, with sculptures placed among the greenery. A café borders the Winter Garden, offering light lunches, cakes, coffee and drinks. Sitting here between exhibition visits is part of the Glyptotek experience: you can rest with a view of fronds and statues, watching shafts of light move across the tiled floor. On upper levels, a roof terrace opens in warmer months, giving open-air views over Copenhagen’s towers and rooftops and reminding you how central the museum is in the city.

Architectural details and changing exhibitions

As you explore, notice how different wings of the building carry different architectural languages – from richly ornamented, historicist interiors to more restrained modern galleries designed to let the works speak for themselves. Floors shift from mosaics to parquet, and doorways often frame long perspectives of aligned sculptures. Alongside the permanent displays, the museum stages special exhibitions that draw on its own holdings and loans from elsewhere. These projects might focus on a particular artist, theme or historical moment, and they often bring fresh juxtapositions to familiar pieces. Not every work is always on view, but this changing rhythm means repeat visits can reveal new angles on the collection.

Planning your time in the galleries

Most visitors find that two to three hours allows a comfortable first encounter with the Glyptotek, including time in the Winter Garden and café. Art enthusiasts can easily linger longer, especially if a major special exhibition is on. The layout invites unhurried wandering rather than a fixed route, so you can dip into an era, then return to a favourite room or sculpture. The museum operates with regular daytime hours from Tuesday to Sunday, with extended opening on Thursday evenings for those who prefer a quieter or more atmospheric visit. With its combination of world-class collections, distinctive architecture and oasis-like Winter Garden, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek offers one of Copenhagen’s most evocative indoor cultural experiences in any season.

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