Kongeskibet Dannebrog – The Danish Royal Yacht

An elegant white royal yacht moored in Copenhagen’s harbour, Kongeskibet Dannebrog is a floating palace, naval vessel and living symbol of modern Danish monarchy.

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Kongeskibet Dannebrog

Moored along Copenhagen’s waterfront, the elegant white-and-gold Kongeskibet Dannebrog is far more than a ship: it is the Danish royal family’s floating residence and a working naval vessel. Built in 1931–32 at the Copenhagen Naval Dockyard, this 78m yacht sails on summer cruises and state visits, its clipper bow and slender masts flying the red-and-white Dannebrog flag. You cannot usually board, but seeing it up close offers a rare glimpse of living royal tradition, naval craftsmanship and understated Scandinavian pageantry set against the city’s harbour scenery.

A brief summary to Kongeskibet Dannebrog

Copenhagen, Indre By, 1259, DK
+4533401010
Visit website
Duration: 0.5 to 1.5 hours
Free
Outdoor
Mobile reception: 5 out of 5

Local tips

Bring a zoom lens or binoculars to pick out details such as the royal coat of arms, brass fittings and quarterdeck arrangements from the quayside.
Check the Danish Royal House website’s calendar before your trip; departures and arrivals of the yacht can add ceremonial flair with salutes and uniforms.
Visit on a clear, bright day or near golden hour for the most atmospheric views, when the ship’s white hull reflects the changing colours of the sky.

Getting There

Metro and short walk

From central Copenhagen, take the M1 or M2 metro to Kongens Nytorv, a ride of about 3–5 minutes from Nørreport. A single metro ticket within the city zones typically costs around 20–30 DKK. From Kongens Nytorv, continue on foot for roughly 15–20 minutes along flat, paved harbourfront paths, which are suitable for wheelchairs and strollers but can be busy in summer.
Harbour bus

Use the public harbour bus lines that run along Copenhagen’s inner harbour, a scenic option taking around 15–30 minutes depending on your starting stop. Standard city tickets and travel cards are valid, with single fares usually in the 20–30 DKK range. Services run frequently during the day but may be less frequent in the evening and in poorer weather, so check current timetables.
City bus connection

Several city buses serve the Frederiksstaden and waterfront area close to where the royal yacht is commonly moored, with travel times of roughly 10–20 minutes from central hubs such as Copenhagen Central Station or Nørreport. Expect fares similar to metro prices, around 20–30 DKK for a single journey. Buses are generally low-floor and accessible, but they can be crowded during commuter peaks.

Kongeskibet Dannebrog location weather suitability

Clear Skies
Mild Temperatures
Any Weather
Cold Weather

Discover more about Kongeskibet Dannebrog

A Floating Symbol of the Danish Monarchy

Kongeskibet Dannebrog is one of Copenhagen’s most evocative sights: a gleaming white royal yacht lying low and elegant in the harbour, its masts dressed with the red-and-white flag that gives the ship its name. Built in 1931–32 at the Naval Dockyard as a replacement for an older paddle steamer, the vessel was launched by Queen Alexandrine and first hoisted its flag in May 1932. From that moment, it became the royal family’s official ship and a highly visible emblem of the Danish state at sea. Today it serves as the official and private residence for the monarch and family members when they embark on summer cruises in Danish waters or travel on overseas visits. When the ship is in port, the covered quarterdeck turns into a ceremonial space, used for welcoming guests with all the ritual and protocol of a palace hall, only with the shifting reflections of the harbour as a backdrop.

Craftsmanship and Life On Board

Dannebrog was designed with dual roles in mind: a palace in peacetime and, if required, a hospital ship in times of war. Its hull is a riveted steel construction with a graceful clipper bow and elliptical stern, blending naval practicality with yacht-like lines. Forward of the funnel you find crew quarters, cargo spaces and engines; aft lies the royal apartment, a self-contained world of studies, salon, lounge and bedrooms furnished with pieces carried over from the previous 19th-century royal vessel. The ship is an independent command within the Danish Navy, crewed by officers, sergeants and a carefully selected group of conscripts who spend their summer operating and maintaining the vessel. Behind the polished brass and varnished wood lie countless hours of training, watch duty and meticulous upkeep, turning the yacht itself into a living classroom of seamanship and service.

Traditions, Voyages and Ceremonies

Since entering service in 1932, Kongeskibet Dannebrog has logged hundreds of thousands of nautical miles. It has called at ports across Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, sailed to European harbours and ventured as far as the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the shores of North America. Each cruise follows a carefully planned route of official visits, local receptions and symbolic stops that underline the monarchy’s role as a unifying institution across the kingdom. When the royal yacht departs from Copenhagen at the start of the summer sailing season, the event is marked with naval salutes and formal send-offs from quaysides lined with onlookers. The ship’s arrival in foreign ports often includes guard formations, bands and national anthems played from shore, with the yacht’s quarterdeck acting as a compact stage for protocol and pageantry.

Seeing the Royal Yacht in Copenhagen

For visitors, Kongeskibet Dannebrog is primarily a visual experience. When the yacht is in Copenhagen, it is typically moored along a central stretch of waterfront where its long white hull, golden details and tall masts draw the eye from across the harbour. You cannot usually step aboard, but the ship’s position makes it easy to admire from promenades, nearby parks and harbourfront viewpoints. Photography opportunities abound: the yacht framed against historic warehouses, modern city architecture or, on a calm day, mirrored in the water at its bow. Subtle details reward a closer look, from the royal coat of arms on the stern to the precise spacing of portholes and the neat rows of lifeboats on deck.

Connecting Flag, Ship and National Identity

The name Dannebrog is shared with the national flag, one of the oldest state symbols in the world. Legend tells of the red banner with white cross falling from the sky during a medieval battle, turning defeat into victory and becoming a lasting emblem of Denmark. The royal yacht carries that story into the present, turning the myth into something you can see and almost touch as it rides at anchor in the modern city. When the flag flies from the yacht’s stern, it links centuries of maritime history, royal ceremony and everyday Danish flag culture, where the same symbol appears on birthday cakes, in gardens and at national celebrations. Watching the ship at rest in Copenhagen’s harbour, you witness that continuity in physical form: a traditionally built vessel still in active service, bridging naval discipline, royal ritual and the understated confidence of a small seafaring nation.

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Nyholm Central Guardhouse

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Iver Huitfeldt Memorial

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A towering tribute to Admiral Huitfeldt's heroic last stand at sea, crowned with Victory.

Horn mine

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A disarmed World War II naval mine displayed in Churchill Park, turning a former weapon of the sea into a quiet reminder of conflict amid central Copenhagen’s greenery.

Our Fallen

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A bronze tribute to World War II sacrifice, standing sentinel at Kastellet's gate since 1957.

I am Queen Mary

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A powerful harborfront monument honoring rebel leader Mary Thomas, confronting Copenhagen’s colonial past beside the historic West Indian Warehouse.

Maritime Monument

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Honoring Denmark’s seafaring legacy, the Maritime Monument in Østerbro is a striking, evocative memorial nestled in the heart of Copenhagen’s leafy cityscape.

Larsens Pl.

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Historic waterfront where Scandinavian dreams embarked for America, now a refined promenade of heritage and harbour views.

Frederik's Church

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St. Paul's Church

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Neo‑Romanesque red brick meets ochre-yellow naval housing at this calm parish church, giving Nyboder a quiet spiritual heart amid central Copenhagen.

Hans Christian Andersen plaque

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A modest plaque on elegant Amaliegade quietly marks Hans Christian Andersen’s presence amid the formal mansions and palace axis of Copenhagen’s Frederiksstaden.

The Genetically Modified Little Mermaid by Bjørn Nørgaard

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The Genetically Modified Little Mermaid by Bjørn Nørgaard

The Kissing Stairs

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Copenhagen's beloved waterfront amphitheatre where culture, community, and harbour views converge.

Ofelia Plads

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Copenhagen's iconic waterfront plaza where culture, harbor views, and the famous kissing stairs meet the sea.

Langelinie

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Sankt Annæ Pl.

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Unmissable attractions to see

ZinkGlobal by Kim Michael

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Langelinie Park

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Langelinieparken

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Leafy waterfront lawns, sculptures and sea views where cruise ships, mythic fountains and Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid all meet along a single harbourfront walk.

Gefion Fountain

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Langelinie Pavillonen

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Experience modernist elegance and panoramic harbor views at Copenhagen's iconic Langelinie Pavillonen.

St Alban's Church

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Step into history and legend at Kronborg Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site famed as Hamlet’s ‘Elsinore,’ overlooking the spectacular Øresund Strait.

The Little Mermaid

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Museum of Danish Resistance

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Go underground beneath Churchill Park to follow five real lives through Denmark’s World War II occupation, in an immersive museum of resistance, choices and courage.

Monument to Denmark's international activities after 1948

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A quiet, contemporary memorial within Copenhagen’s star-shaped fortress, honoring Denmark’s post‑1948 international missions with flame, stone and thoughtful space.

Monument to Denmark's international activities after 1948

Holmen

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Historic naval islands turned calm harbour quarter, where dockyards, academies and the Copenhagen Opera House share wide quays and sweeping city views.

Kastellet

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Explore Rosenborg Castle, Copenhagen's Renaissance masterpiece housing Denmark's crown jewels and royal regalia.

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Inugsuk

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Designmuseum Danmark

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Bredgade Kunsthandel

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Restaurant Barr

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Experience the cozy atmosphere of Eiffel Bar in Copenhagen, where friendly service meets affordable drinks in a charming setting.

Your Ultimate Free Travel Guide

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Kongeskibet Dannebrog – The Danish Royal Yacht

A brief summary to Kongeskibet Dannebrog

Local tips

For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you

Getting There

Metro and short walk

Harbour bus

City bus connection

Kongeskibet Dannebrog location weather suitability

Unlock the Best of Kongeskibet Dannebrog

Buy tickets

Book tours with entry

Book tours without entry

Discover more about Kongeskibet Dannebrog

A Floating Symbol of the Danish Monarchy

Craftsmanship and Life On Board

Traditions, Voyages and Ceremonies

Seeing the Royal Yacht in Copenhagen

Connecting Flag, Ship and National Identity

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Nyholm Central Guardhouse

Iver Huitfeldt Memorial

Horn mine

Our Fallen

I am Queen Mary

Maritime Monument

Larsens Pl.

Frederik's Church

St. Paul's Church

Hans Christian Andersen plaque

The Genetically Modified Little Mermaid by Bjørn Nørgaard

The Kissing Stairs

Ofelia Plads

Langelinie

Sankt Annæ Pl.

Unmissable attractions to see

ZinkGlobal by Kim Michael

Langelinie Park

Langelinieparken

Gefion Fountain

Langelinie Pavillonen

St Alban's Church

The Little Mermaid

Museum of Danish Resistance

Monument to Denmark's international activities after 1948

Holmen

Kastellet

Reffen - Skøjteøen

Inugsuk

Designmuseum Danmark

Bredgade Kunsthandel

Essential places to dine

La Banchina

Alchemist

Noma

Veve

Aoc

Kokkeriet

Restaurant Rebel

Khun Juk

Restaurant Vita

Skipperkroen

Restaurant Koefoed

Cap Horn

Nyhavns Færgekro

Den Lille Fede

Restaurant Barr

Markets, malls and hidden boutiques

The Crown souvenir

Royal Souvenir Shop

Maritime Antiques &

Copenhagenglass

Zane

The Wilde Shop

Viking Souvenirs

Welcome Giftshop & Souvenirs

Danish Souvenirs & luggages

Copenhagen Souvenir & Design World of Memories

Copenhagen Souvenir & Design

Magasin du Nord