Copenhagen Amber Museum (House of Amber)
A tiny 17th‑century townhouse on Kongens Nytorv where Baltic amber, ancient insects and Scandinavian craft turn deep time into a warm, golden museum experience.
Tucked into Kanneworff’s House on Kongens Nytorv by Nyhavn, the Copenhagen Amber Museum pairs one of the city’s oldest timbered houses with a glittering journey through 30–50 million years of history. Inside, you explore Baltic amber from raw nuggets and insect-filled specimens to intricate jewellery and rare artefacts, including some of the world’s largest pieces. Compact yet atmospheric, it’s an easy cultural stop to weave into a Nyhavn stroll or a wider exploration of central Copenhagen.
A brief summary to Copenhagen Amber Museum
- Kongens Nytorv, Nyhavn 2, Copenhagen Municipality, København K, 1050, DK
- +4551859615
- Visit website
- Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours
- Budget
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Indoor
- Mobile reception: 5 out of 5
- Monday 10 am-5 pm
- Tuesday 10 am-5 pm
- Wednesday 10 am-5 pm
- Thursday 10 am-5 pm
- Friday 10 am-5 pm
- Saturday 11 am-5 pm
Local tips
- Plan 60–90 minutes inside; the museum is compact but text-rich, and the insect inclusions reward slow viewing under the magnifying glasses.
- Bring a light layer: the historic building can feel cool in winter and pleasantly shaded in summer compared with the busy Nyhavn waterfront.
- If you intend to buy amber jewellery, use the museum shop as a benchmark for certified pieces before browsing other shops in the Nyhavn area.
For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you
- Restrooms
- Drink Options
- Food Options
- Seating Areas
- Trash Bins
- Information Boards
Getting There
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Metro from central Copenhagen
From most central areas, take the M1 or M2 metro line to Kongens Nytorv Station, which is typically a 5–10 minute ride from Nørreport or the main station. Trains run every few minutes throughout the day and are fully accessible. A single-zone ticket usually costs around 20–25 DKK one way, or you can use a city travel card. From the station it is a short, level walk through the square to the museum on the edge of Nyhavn.
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City bus to Kongens Nytorv
Several bus routes serve the Kongens Nytorv area from different neighbourhoods, with typical journey times of 10–20 minutes from inner districts depending on traffic. Standard bus tickets for the relevant zones are in the 20–30 DKK range and can often be bought via ticket machines or transport apps. Buses set down on or near the square, leaving only a brief walk on mainly flat pavements to reach the museum entrance.
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Bicycle from inner-city districts
Copenhagen’s cycle-friendly streets make it easy to reach Kongens Nytorv by bike in about 10–15 minutes from most central neighbourhoods such as Vesterbro, Nørrebro or Østerbro. You can use public bike-share schemes or hotel rental bicycles, with typical hire prices starting around 100–150 DKK for a day. Cycle lanes are well marked, but the area around Nyhavn can be busy in peak season, so allow a little extra time to navigate crowds and find appropriate places to lock your bike.
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On foot from Nyhavn and Inner City
If you are already exploring the historic centre or Nyhavn, the museum is easily reached on foot as part of a wider stroll. Walking times from many nearby sights, such as the harbourfront or the shopping streets around Strøget, are generally within 5–15 minutes along level, paved routes. The immediate area can be crowded in high season, so expect a slower pace but pleasant views of colourful façades and the central square as you approach.
Copenhagen Amber Museum location weather suitability
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Any Weather
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Rain / Wet Weather
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Cold Weather
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Mild Temperatures
Discover more about Copenhagen Amber Museum
Amber stories inside one of Copenhagen’s oldest houses
Step through the doorway at Kongens Nytorv 2 and you enter both a historic townhouse and a deep-time narrative. The Copenhagen Amber Museum occupies Kanneworff’s House, a narrow gabled building dating back to 1606, making it among the oldest surviving houses in the city. Creaking staircases, slanting floors and small-paned windows set a period backdrop for display cases filled with glowing resin in shades from pale honey to dark cherry. As you move between the compact rooms, the building itself becomes part of the visit. Low ceilings and exposed beams hint at 17th‑century life, while glimpses of Nyhavn’s coloured facades outside connect the museum to the harbour-front bustle. The combination of intimate domestic architecture and precious organic gemstones gives the place a decidedly old-world charm.From prehistoric resin to Baltic treasure
The core story here is how simple tree resin, formed 30–50 million years ago in ancient Scandinavian forests, hardened into what we now call Baltic amber. Exhibits walk you through this geological journey, using diagrams, sample blocks and text panels to show how resin seeped from trunks, dripped to the forest floor, was buried, and eventually washed up along today’s Danish coasts. You encounter impressive raw pieces, polished cabochons and a spectrum of natural colours, including milky, cognac, cherry and the rarer greenish tones. Together they illustrate how variations in plant origin, burial conditions and trapped air create unique internal structures. It is both a science lesson and a visual feast, presented in a way that is easy to follow even if you arrive knowing very little about geology.Insects in amber and a window on lost ecosystems
One of the museum’s most captivating themes is amber as a time capsule. Dozens of specimens contain perfectly preserved insects, plant fragments and tiny organic details frozen at the moment they were engulfed in resin. Magnifying glasses and lit display cases help you pick out delicately veined wings, jointed legs and even air bubbles. These inclusions are more than curiosities: they offer scientists insight into prehistoric ecosystems and climate. Here, they also provide a moment of quiet fascination for visitors of all ages. Children often linger, hunting for recognizable shapes, while adults appreciate the idea that they are looking at creatures that walked the Earth tens of millions of years before humans.Amber craft, jewellery and Scandinavian trade
Another section traces how amber travelled from raw material on northern shores to coveted luxury item across Europe. Panels outline how Scandinavian peoples collected and traded amber along early routes, turning it into beads, amulets and religious objects. You see historic carvings and small devotional pieces that highlight amber’s role in myth, status and ritual. Alongside these are examples of modern jewellery, showcasing the design heritage behind the House of Amber name. Settings range from simple silver and gold mounts that let the stone dominate, to more elaborate contemporary pieces that treat amber as sculptural material. The displays reveal how each piece of resin, shaped by nature, dictates the final design in the workshop.A compact stop in the heart of Nyhavn
The museum’s footprint is small, typically explored comfortably in under two hours, which makes it easy to fold into a day centred on Nyhavn, Strøget or the royal quarter. Being right on Kongens Nytorv, it slots neatly between canal-side cafés, harbour photo stops and nearby cultural sites. Inside, the atmosphere is unhurried. You can move at your own pace, pausing where displays catch your interest, whether that is the story of Baltic trade routes or the allure of a particularly luminous stone. The attached retail area presents certified amber pieces for those wishing to take home a memento, but browsing without buying is entirely possible.Practical visit notes and what to expect
Copenhagen Amber Museum usually charges a modest entrance fee, with separate child pricing, and occasionally participates in city museum and attraction passes. Opening hours have historically been daytime only, with minor seasonal variations, so it is wise to check current times before planning a late visit. The historic staircase and compact rooms can feel tight, which is part of the charm but may limit full accessibility for some visitors. Most travellers spend between one and one and a half hours here, enough to read key panels, study the most interesting inclusions and browse the jewellery. As you step back outside onto Kongens Nytorv, the glow of amber tends to linger—a small, concentrated encounter with deep time in the middle of modern Copenhagen.Iconic landmarks you can’t miss
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For the vibe & atmosphere seeker
- Scenic
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- Casual
- Boutique
For the design and aesthetic lover
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For the architecture buff
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For the social media creator & influencer
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For the eco-conscious traveler
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For the kind of experience you’re after
- Cultural Heritage
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For how adventurous you want the journey to be
- Easy Access
Location Audience
- Family Friendly
- Senior Friendly
- Child Friendly
- Teen Friendly
- Solo Friendly
- Couple Friendly
- Business Friendly
