“I just want to see a real castle.” With a childlike grin, that was exactly what my husband, Jan, said as our plane landed in Copenhagen. I glanced at him in amusement wondering how a mature, thirty-something adult could have such a simple and innocent request in mind. I thought to myself, this is Denmark. Surely there’s a host of other sights to see than just castles?
Admittedly, we did not have a specific itinerary planned out. Denmark was one part of our trip where we agreed that we will just go wherever we feel like going. Luckily, we stayed at the home of a dear family friend and we thought it best to just ask them for tips on sights to see. Being first-time travelers to Denmark, I was sure that there were numerous places we can visit which will allow us to have a feel of the local vibe and learn a lot about Danish history and culture. In my mind, I was already picturing us visiting exhibits, museums, perhaps even catching a local play or doing a food tour. But of course, I made a mental note to accommodate my husband’s request so I added “visit a castle” to my already growing list.
I was in for a surprise. Just on our first day out, we visited Frederiksborg Castle. What a treat for the eyes! Just 40 minutes away from downtown Copenhagen, this castle was a sight to behold and a marvel to explore. Just as expected, my husband Jan was as excited as can be. Once inside, we eagerly explored each room, allowing ourselves to be immersed in such a beautiful, grand place.
Because we enjoyed Frederiksborg Castle so much, we decided to visit two more castles. After all, why visit one when you can visit more? I found myself to be equally excited as my husband was, if not more.
Located in the picturesque town of Helsingør, Kronborg Castle is famous for being the castle that Shakespeare set Hamlet in. How amazing is that? Because of its rich history, exploring Kronborg Castle was almost like stepping back in time. What added to its magic was the unique experience of walking inside its underground passageways where we saw the statue of Holger the Dane. A legendary figure in the Danish culture, it is believed that he will wake up and come alive if Denmark was ever in grave danger.
The last castle we visited was Rosenborg Castle in the heart of Copenhagen. The majestic interiors showcased the extravagance of how the royals lived in their time. We were impressed with how neat and well-preserved everything was. Even the crown jewels which were housed in a vault were displayed for visitors to admire.
Outside the castle, the King’s Garden was another attraction that tourists can visit and enjoy. The garden was immaculately maintained which made it an excellent place to relax and just soak in the beautiful surroundings. On the day that we visited, the sun was out and the wind was crisp. If it weren’t for the dim sky (and the sound of our stomachs rumbling), we would not have realized that we had already spent three straight hours in the garden! Talk about getting lost in the moment!
I have read once before that we should always “leave room for surprises in our plans”. This statement certainly holds for our Denmark trip. I am grateful that instead of following a rigorously planned itinerary, Jan and I opted to just go with the flow which ultimately lead us to an experience of a lifetime. In a beautiful European country, we felt like two kids on one awesome field trip, discovering castles we thought only existed in storybooks.