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Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

A palm-filled winter garden wrapped in world-class sculpture and 19th‑century art, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is Copenhagen’s most atmospheric refuge for art and light.

4.6

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is Copenhagen’s atmospheric temple of art, where a lush palm-filled winter garden meets world-class collections of ancient sculpture and 19th‑century painting. Founded in 1897 by brewer and art patron Carl Jacobsen, the museum spans Egyptian mummies, Greek and Roman marbles, and Danish and French masters like Degas, Rodin and Gauguin. Glass-roofed courtyards, calm galleries and a rooftop terrace with city views make it as much a sanctuary of architecture and light as a showcase of art.

A brief summary to Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

  • Dantes Plads 7, Copenhagen, Indre By, 1556, DK
  • +4533418141
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 1.5 to 3 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 to see both the antiquities and modern collections, with a break in the winter garden café to reset your eyes and enjoy the architecture.
  • Come on a Thursday if you want to use the longer evening opening hours to explore the galleries with a more relaxed, after‑work atmosphere.
  • Head to the roof terrace when open for unusual views of Copenhagen’s towers; check on arrival, as rooftop access is weather dependent and seasonal.
  • Use the lockers for coats and backpacks so you can move more comfortably through narrow sculpture galleries and avoid carrying extra weight.
  • If you love photography, focus on details: statue profiles, reflected light on marble, and the striking contrast between greenery and stone in the winter garden.
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Getting There

  • Train and walk from Copenhagen Central Station

    From Copenhagen Central Station, reach the museum area in about 5–10 minutes on foot, following broad pavements that are mostly level and suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. The station itself is served by regional trains, intercity services and the S‑train network, so this option works well if you are arriving from elsewhere in Zealand or from the airport via a train change at the main station. There is no extra cost beyond your regular train ticket, and the short urban walk means you avoid any need for additional public transport.

  • Metro and walk via Rådhuspladsen

    Take the M3 Cityringen metro line to Rådhuspladsen Station, which is typically 3–6 minutes from central hubs such as Nørreport or Kongens Nytorv. Standard adult single tickets within the central zones usually cost in the range of 20–30 DKK, or you can use a travel card to reduce the fare. From Rådhuspladsen it is around 10 minutes of straightforward city walking on wide sidewalks to the museum, with some road crossings but no steep gradients, making this a practical choice in most weather conditions.

  • City bus to the museum area

    Several city bus lines run along the streets surrounding Tivoli Gardens and the City Hall area, stopping within a few minutes’ walk of the museum. Typical journey times inside central Copenhagen are 10–20 minutes depending on traffic, and a single ticket within the core zones usually costs about 20–30 DKK, matching metro pricing. Buses have low floors and designated wheelchair spaces, though they can be crowded at rush hour, so off‑peak daytime departures are more comfortable if you prefer a calmer ride.

  • Bicycle from inner Copenhagen

    Cycling to the museum from neighborhoods such as Nørrebro, Østerbro or Vesterbro generally takes 10–20 minutes, using Copenhagen’s extensive network of separated bike lanes. You can use shared city bikes or standard rentals, which typically cost from around 100–150 DKK per day depending on the provider. Expect busy intersections near Tivoli Gardens and City Hall, but lanes are clearly marked and there are traffic lights for cyclists. Bike stands near the museum make it easy to park, though you may have to search briefly for an open spot at peak times.

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek location weather suitability

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A brewer’s dream turned art sanctuary

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek grew out of brewer Carl Jacobsen’s passion for sculpture and his belief that art should be shared with the public. In the late 19th century he donated his growing collection and funded a museum that opened in 1897, just steps from Copenhagen’s historic center. The name “Glyptotek” refers to a collection of carved works, and the building itself feels like a stately palace dedicated to stone, light and greenery. Today the museum holds more than ten thousand works, carefully arranged to unfold stories across time. Its architecture blends richly decorated historic wings with later extensions, all organised around a soaring central winter garden. Even before you see a single masterpiece, the building tells you that this is a place where art, architecture and atmosphere are inseparable.

Ancient worlds in marble and shadow

One half of the museum is devoted to antiquity, leading you through 3,500 years of Mediterranean history. Egyptian galleries present sarcophagi, delicate funerary objects and sculpted heads, lit to emphasise their expressive profiles and hieroglyphic surfaces. Nearby, the Greek and Etruscan rooms open into long vistas of marble statues, from idealised athletes to weathered portraits of philosophers. The Roman collections include emperors, deities and anonymous citizens, their faces caught between power and vulnerability. Thoughtful juxtapositions and clear sightlines invite you to compare styles and periods as you move from one space to the next. Quiet benches and generous natural light encourage slow looking rather than rushing past the pieces.

Nordic light and French modernity

The modern department focuses on 19th‑ and early 20th‑century Danish and French art. In one sequence of rooms you encounter Denmark’s Golden Age, with luminous landscapes and intimate interiors that capture the clarity of Nordic light. Nearby, sculpture galleries showcase Danish artists experimenting with form and movement. French rooms bring you face to face with Impressionism and Post‑Impressionism. Here you can trace shifts in colour and brushwork across works by key figures, including a notable group of pieces by Gauguin. Another highlight is the rich display of sculpture: a complete series of Degas bronzes and numerous works by Rodin illustrate how the human body became a field for psychological exploration as much as physical description.

The winter garden heart of the museum

At the centre of everything lies the winter garden, a glass‑roofed oasis of palm trees, tropical plants and echoing marble floors. A circular pool reflects the light, and classical statues stand among the greenery, softening the line between gallery and garden. It is both a meeting point and a retreat, inviting you to pause between collections. Along one side, the museum café serves light lunches, cakes and drinks, so you can linger in the filtered daylight without leaving the building. On upper levels, a rooftop terrace opens when weather permits, revealing a ring of city towers and red roofs. From here the museum becomes a vantage point, linking its ancient treasures to the living city around it.

Planning your time inside the galleries

With its breadth of collections and layered architecture, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek rewards at least two to three hours. A focused visit might concentrate on either antiquities or modern art, while a more leisurely exploration covers both wings with time to rest in the winter garden and café. Temporary exhibitions frequently reinterpret the permanent collection, so repeat visits can feel different from one season to the next. Clear signage, elevators and wide corridors make the museum broadly accessible, and lockers help keep larger bags out of the galleries. Photography for personal use is generally allowed without flash, letting you capture details of sculpture, ceiling decoration and the lush central garden. Whether you come for a quick visual escape or a deep dive into art history, the museum offers a calm, cultivated counterpoint to the bustle of central Copenhagen.

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