The best museums and art galleries in Copenhagen

What Copenhagen lacks in size it makes up for in art. Quaint and compact, the city is home to an impressive and diverse gathering of historic and contemporary art museums and galleries, which often showcase the city’s distinctive approach to design and architecture. Everything from ancient Greek sculptures and Islamic art to Nordic modernism can be found here, massaging art into local life and the cityscape. In past decades, the contemporary art scene in particular has grown extensively, making Copenhagen an impressive art destination in its own right. What’s more, as many of the city’s leading art destinations are within walking distance, it is easy to combine your cultural cravings with stop-offs at one of Copenhagen’s best bars, coffee shops or celebrated restaurants.

16 of the best galleries and museums in Copenhagen

Indre By

The David Collection

Best for: Scandinavia’s largest collection of Islamic art
Location: Kronprinsessegade 30, DK-1306 København K
Price: Free entry

The private collection of the Danish Supreme Court prosecutor C.L David (1878-1960) is one of a kind. Stepping into David’s 19th-century former residence is a journey back in time, where culture, history and art combine. In addition to showcasing Danish and European paintings, ceramics, silverware and furniture, the museum prides itself on its ever growing collection of Islamic art and crafts. Spanning 1,200 years, the collection covers the whole of the classical Islamic world from Spain to India. Pieces are curated along migratory, materialistic and historic-cultural perspectives without compromise.

SMK – Statens Museum for Kunst

Best for: Picasso’s and Matisse’s
Location: Sølvgade 48-50, DK-1307 Copenhagen
Price: 130 DKK / 18.90 USD

Denmark’s national art museum is the country’s largest, with a vast collection of Danish and European art dating back to the 1400s. The museum houses a permanent collection of French art from 1900 to 1930, and one of the largest collections of work by Matisse outside France. The Italian Renaissance-inspired building complements the greenery of Østre Anlæg Park and the Botanical Garden. Inside, the rooms are bright and airy, allowing for slow immersion in the art. The most impressive space might be the Sculpture Street, where a glass ceiling allows the changing daylight to shine on a diverse collection of Danish sculptures and seasonal exhibitions. The Kafeteria here is an excellent place to stop for lunch or to get some remote work done while on the move.

Kunsthal Charlottenborg

Best for: Discovering emerging Nordic artists
Location: Nyhavn 2, DK-1051 Copenhagen
Price: 90 DKK / 13 USD

Kunsthal Charlottenborg has hosted the annual Spring Exhibition showcase of new artists since 1857. When a censorship committee was introduced in 1887, it created an uproar in the art scene until, almost a century later, the State of Denmark took over the exhibition in 1974. Today, as the official gallery of the neighbouring Royal Academy of Art, Charlottenborg’s bright baroque rooms play host to both emerging and established contemporary artists from a range of disciplines. It also has an art cinema, demonstrating its dedication to showcasing art across different mediums (it is now the HQ for Copenhagen’s annual international documentary festival CPH:DOX). Apollo Bar & Canteen in the courtyard also serves up a mean Negroni.

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

Best for: More than 10,000 works of art and archaeology
Location: Dantes Plads 7, DK-1556 Copenhagen
Price: 125 DKK / 18.14 USD

Ny Carlsberg Glyptoteket is an art and history haven with an impressive collection of original ancient Greek marble sculptures and Roman copies, as well as Edgar Degas’ (1834-1917) famous Little Dancer of Fourteen (1880). There is a splendid collection of French paintings, most notably by Paul Gauguin. Equally as wonderous is the architecture that houses the exhibitions, created by some of the leading figures in Danish architecture, from Hack Kampmann’s Roman-inspired sculpture hall to the Victorian-age Winter Garden greenhouse that covers the museum cafe and garden.

Art Collective Gammel Strand

Best for: Political exhibitions
Location: Gammel Strand 48, DK-1202 Copenhagen
Price: DKK 90 / 13 USD

Taking a critical look at contemporary society is at the core of what Gammel Strand does. Here, art is a public service, and the artists on display often handle themes centred around politics and contemporary social discourse. The exhibitions change four to five times a year and usually focus on modern and contemporary visual artists. The nearly 300-year-old building wraps around a typical Copenhagen courtyard where visitors can enjoy coffee, food and fresh drinks. In addition, two notable Copenhagen sculptures can be found nearby: Svend Wiig Hansen’s Lineage Lifts Lineage and Fishing Wife by Charles Svejstrup Madsen, an ode to the women who sold fish along the canals in Copenhagen well up into the 20th century.

The Danish Design Museum

Best for: Danish and international design traditions
Location: Bredgade 68, DK-1260 Copenhagen
Price: DKK 130 / 18.90 USD

Since 1895, the Danish Design Museum has played an active role in promoting quality in design, acting as a source of inspiration for the Danish design industry. Exhibitions change regularly, but the focus always lies on showcasing principles, practices and developments in Danish and international design, showcasing everything from the history of Danish chairs to Japanese ceramics. Its current location, in a former hospital, is one of Denmark’s most impressive examples of rococo architecture. To underline the museum’s design heritage, the interior was designed by none other than Kaare Klint, known as the grand old man of Danish furniture design. The Danish Design Museum is also home to the largest public library on design and craftsmanship in the Nordics.

MACA Museum

Best for: Contemporary powerhouses
Location: Toldbodgade 12, DK-1253 Copenhagen
Price: DKK 160 / 23.20 USD

One of the more recent additions to Copenhagen’s art scene, MACA is a contemporary art museum that shows some of the biggest names in contemporary art, including Koons, Warhol and Kusama, to name a few. Located in the picturesque neighbourhood of Nyhavn (where author HC Andersen used to live), the museum makes for a convenient stop while touring Copenhagen. The 19th-century building contrasts with the contemporary art pieces, blending old and new Copenhagen. The private outdoor courtyard is also a great spot to cool down during summer or experience Danish hygge by candlelight in winter.

Galleri Christoffer Egelund

Best for: Standout contemporary art
Location: Bredgade 75, DK-1260 Copenhagen
Price: Free to book a visit

Bright white rooms across a 300 sq m building might not sound intimate, yet Galleri Christoffer Egelund manages to offer a calm space for experiencing the latest in contemporary art. Since 2003, this privately run gallery has presented numerous acclaimed Scandinavian and international artists, bringing the latest from art fairs, biennials, museums and galleries around the world. When it comes to materials and practices, expect paper, ceramics, paintings, sculptures and everything in between.

Vesterbro

V1

Best for: A trio of galleries pushing art in the centre of Copenhagen’s gastro scene
Location: Galleries – Slagtehusgade 44, D, DK-1715 Copenhagen; Salon – Flæsketorvet 69, DK-1715 Copenhagen
Price: Free to visit

V1 is a contemporary art gallery spread across three individual locations within Copenhagen’s buzzing Meatpacking District. While the V1 Gallery and Eighteen only host interchanging exhibitions, the V1 Salon also offers a curated selection of artworks, books, editions, talks and signings. Its portfolio of represented artists spans multiple nationalities, providing new perspectives with each exhibition. A minimal setup in the old factory buildings provides a Bauhaus-style backdrop, allowing the art pieces pop. Once a tour of all three venues is complete, visitors can look forward to a cocktail, beer or Michelin-starred meal among the neighbouring venues that give the Meatpacking district its vibrance.

Gallery Poulsen

Best for: An exuberant connection between Denmark and the US
Location: Staldgade 32, DK-1699 Copenhagen
Price: Free to visit

Warm earth tones provide the backdrop at this international art gallery that takes a more figurative approach to curation, presenting eight to ten exhibitions a year. While paintings and paper are the main mediums on display here, it is also possible to experience sculpture, photography, and printmaking centred around hyperrealism and satire. With a strong connection to the US, the gallery is a go-to space for exhibitions showcasing emerging artists from the US art scene.

Østerbro

Den Hirschsprungske Samling

Best for: 150 years of Danish art history
Location: Stokholmsgade 20, DK-2100 Copenhagen
Price: Entry 110 DDK / 16 USD

Located in the 19th-century Østre Anlæg sculpture park, the Hirschsprung Collection houses works by Denmark’s most renowned painters of the 19th and 20th centuries. An exceptional number of female painters, including queer couple Marie Luplau and Emilie Mundt, are on display, many of whom laid the foundation for modern Nordic art at a time when women weren’t allowed admittance to the Danish art academies. More than 150 years of Danish art history can be found here, from the highly productive Golden Age (1800-1850 approximately) to Vilhelm Hammershøi’s introspective painting Portrait of a Young Girl (1885). The latter kickstarted a battle against the censorship committee of Kunsthal Charlottenborg, who refused to acknowledge the portrait, leading to the establishment of Den Frie in 1891 (see below).

Den Frie

Best for: A contemporary art museum by Denmark’s oldest artists’ association
Location: Oslo Plads 1, DK-2100 Copenhagen
Price: 70 DKK / 10.16 USD

Eight Danish artists established Den Frie in 1891 to protest the conservative censorship imposed on the annual spring exhibition at Kunsthal Charlottenborg, which at the time was the only place for emerging artists to showcase their work. Since then, the growing art collective has continued to provide fertile ground for challenging established notions around art. A variety of practices are on display, though sculptures and installations tend to be more frequent. Members of the collective also co-curate an annual exhibition to showcase their most recent work. Beyond the exhibitions, Den Frie acts as an artists’ hub transcending age, gender and ethnicity. Until January 2025, the exhibitions are unavailable to wheelchair users, while the museum undergoes refurbishment.

Nørrebro/Nordvest

Galleri Nicolai Wallner

Best for: Cutting-edge contemporary art
Location: Glentevej 49, DK-2400 Copenhagen
Price: Free to book a visit

An oasis of art in an otherwise culturally depleted part of northern Copenhagen, Galleri Nicolai Wallner has supported some of Denmark’s finest contemporary artists since its 1993 opening. This personal and deep-felt connection to each artist’s forte is what makes Galleri Nicolai Wallner stand out among its peers. There is no discrimination against style or medium, resulting in an impressive list of international artists working across a range of disciplines, including Danish-born and New York-based video artist Jens Just.

Frederiksberg

Frederiksbergs Museums

Best for: Four distinct art museums within walking distance
Location: Roskildevej 25A, DK-2000, Frederiksberg
Price: 75 DKK / 10.90 USD for Bakkehuset and Storm, 115 DKK / 16.70 USD for Cisternerne, and Free Entry for Møstings. 175 DKK / 25.40 USD for all museums.

If you’re short on time but keen on learning what Denmark’s art scene has to offer, these four museums will cover it all in one ticket. Cisternerne is a former water reservoir and dripstone cage in the middle of the lush Frederiksberg Garden. Bakkehuset is a 19th-century residence turned art museum with a romantic garden and a delicious cafe in the Orangerie. STORM is named after Denmark’s most cherished cartoonist and showcases humour and culture throughout the decades. Møstings is a small yet impactful contemporary art museum that invites new and established artists to co-develop site-specific exhibitions. If short on time, aim for Cisternerne, as it offers a rare and unique ambience for experiencing art. Be aware that the reservoir structure makes it inaccessible for wheelchair users.

Suburbs

ARKEN Museum for Contemporary Art

Best for: Architecture blending with its surroundings
Location: Skovvej 100, DK-2635 Ishøj
Price: 140 DKK / 20.30 USD

To the south of Copenhagen, on a small island surrounded by nature, lies ARKEN. Standing against the horizon like a ship washed ashore, the museum is one of Denmark’s finest examples of maritime architecture. A non-profit charity and art museum, ARKEN aims to blur the lines between nature and culture, inviting visitors to experience both at once. Containing works from more than 400 post-war Danish, Scandinavian and international artists, ARKEN is one of Scandinavia’s largest museums for contemporary art. The permanent collection is a cutting-edge gathering of daring artists that, among others, include British-Palestinian artist Mona Hatoum. Alongside their permanent collection, research-based interchanging exhibitions present a mix of genres from architecture and design to sculpture, prints, installations and mixed-media displays.

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

Best for: Modern art, architecture and a sculpture garden
Location: Gl Strandvej 13, DK-3050 Humlebæk
Price: DKK 145 / 21 USD

The discreet 1950s architecture of Louisiana, designed by Jørgen Bo and Wilhelm Wohlert, seamlessly blends art and nature into one transcendent experience. Undeniably Denmark’s most famous art museum, the biggest names from the mid-century to today are on display. Since 2008, the museum has housed a permanent Yayoi Kusama installation, and paintings by Danish artist Asger Jorn can be enjoyed throughout the year. In addition, ground-breaking artists regularly find their way to Louisiana’s six to ten annual exhibitions. This is best exemplified in the year-round Sculpture Park, hosting works by some of the world’s most famous sculptors, including Henry Moore’s abstract figures and Alexander Calder’s modernist mobiles. Explore, get lost or find peace as you gaze across the ocean and immerse yourself in the symbiosis of art and nature.