Copenhagen Architecture: Discover the Best Gems

Copenhagen isn’t just a city, it’s a design statement. A living, breathing gallery of architectural innovation. Walk its streets, and you’ll see history and modernity in a seamless dance, 15th-century castles standing shoulder to shoulder with cutting-edge eco-friendly skyscrapers.

Danish architect Bjarke Ingels once said, “Architecture is the art of turning fiction into fact.” Nowhere is this more evident than in Copenhagen. This city has turned radical urban ideas into reality, from waste-to-energy power plants with ski slopes on top to entire districts designed for people, not cars.

But here’s the thing. Copenhagen’s architecture isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about function. Sustainability. Human-centric design. That’s what makes it one of the most fascinating architectural landscapes in the world. Whether you’re an architect, a design enthusiast, or just someone who appreciates a well-built city, there’s something here for you.

So, where do you start? That’s exactly what this guide is for. We’ll walk through the city’s architectural DNA – its history, its iconic structures, its vision for the future. Get ready to see Copenhagen like never before.

Key Takeaways

Frederik’s Church (Marble Church) – Majestic dome, 150 years in the making. Climb to the top for sweeping city views.

Amalienborg Palace – Royal symmetry in the heart of the city. Catch the guard change at noon. Classic Copenhagen.

Rosenborg Castle – Renaissance beauty with crown jewels inside. Set in Copenhagen’s oldest royal garden.

Copenhagen Opera House – Waterfront icon of modern Danish design. At night, it looks like it floats on the harbor.

Portland Towers – Former cement silos turned sustainable offices. Best viewed from Konditaget Lüders rooftop park.

CopenHill – A ski slope on top of a power plant. Wildly functional and 100% Copenhagen.

8 House – A looping residential complex made for community living. You can literally walk the building’s roof.

A Brief History of Copenhagen’s Architecture

Copenhagen’s skyline is a storybook of architectural evolution. From medieval castles to cutting-edge green buildings, the city blends centuries of design philosophy into a cohesive, modern metropolis.

• Medieval Era (12th-16th Century): The city’s oldest architectural gems, including Rosenborg Castle and Christiansborg Palace, showcase Renaissance and Baroque influences, heavily inspired by Dutch and German designs.

• Neoclassical & Historicist Period (17th-19th Century): The Frederiksstaden district, home to Amalienborg Palace, highlights Copenhagen’s fascination with symmetry, grandeur, and order.

• Modernism & Functionalism (20th Century): The early 1900s saw architects like Arne Jacobsen introduce clean, functionalist designs, emphasizing simplicity and efficiency.

• Contemporary & Sustainable Architecture (21st Century): Today, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and firms like Henning Larsen Architects are pushing the boundaries of eco-friendly, human-centered urban design. Projects like CopenHill (a ski slope on a waste-to-energy plant) and the 8 House (a mixed-use residential masterpiece) are global benchmarks in sustainable architecture.

Copenhagen isn’t just a city of history, it’s a city of continuous reinvention.

Notable Danish Architects and Their Impact

Great cities are shaped by great minds. Copenhagen’s architectural identity has been defined by a handful of visionary Danish architects whose work continues to inspire global design.

Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971)

A pioneer of modernist architecture, Jacobsen’s work blended form and function seamlessly. His designs, like the SAS Royal Hotel (now the Radisson Collection) and Bellavista Housing, showcase his clean, minimalist aesthetic. He’s also the mind behind the world-famous Egg and Swan chairs, which remain design icons today.

Bjarke Ingels (b. 1974)

If there’s a face of contemporary Danish architecture, it’s Bjarke Ingels. His firm, BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), is behind some of Copenhagen’s most innovative structures, including:

• CopenHill – A power plant that doubles as a ski slope.

• 8 House – A residential complex designed for community interaction.

• VM Houses – A playful take on modern apartment living with unconventional angles.

Henning Larsen (1925-2013)

Best known for the Copenhagen Opera House, Larsen’s designs often play with natural light and geometric precision. His firm continues to influence sustainable urban planning with projects like The Royal Danish Library’s Black Diamond extension.

These architects have shaped not just Copenhagen, but global architectural trends. Their influence is visible in every corner of the city.

In Copenhagen, Frederik’s Church is called the Marble Church due to the large amount of marble used for the building. It is impressive and picturesque; you can go to the church’s top and see central Copenhagen from above.  Frederiks Church was built after King Frederiks wished to build a church in honour of God and absolute monarchy. However, it took 150 years till the church was finished. 

Visit the home of the Danish Royal family. Amalienborg Palace was built in 1760 and has been home to one of the oldest monarchies in the world.  Amalienborg Palace is an architectural masterpiece, the area consists of four different palaces and currently, two of them are open for the public eye. One of them – the Christian VIII Palace that is created into a museum, which gives a great overview of the royal family. In front of the palace, there are the royal guards, which are very interesting to see, especially when they are changing, which is at 12:00 PM.

One of the most outstanding architectural buildings built 400 years ago, Rosenborg Castle was the home of one of the most famous Kings – Christian IV, located in the centre of Copenhagen. The castle currently holds Denmark’s crown jewels, an exquisite collection of Flora Danica, and one of the world’s finest Venetian glass collections. Rosenborg Castle is surrounded by one of the oldest royal gardens in Denmark and is currently a special hang-out place for the locals.

One of the world’s most modern and beautiful opera houses, Copenhagen Opera House was built in 2005 and is currently one of the architectural landmarks of Copenhagen.  Copenhagen Opera House is located on the island of Holmen, a water-bound neighbourhood in Central Copenhagen. It looks exciting at night, as if the opera house is floating on top of the water. Copenhagen Opera House has 14 floors, and the main stage has up to 1,700 seats for spectators. 

Copenhagen will soon become one of the world’s most sustainable capitals. Therefore Portland Towers is a fascinating example of achieving the sustainability goal.  Originally Portland Towers were two Aalborg Portland silos that used for cement storage; however, in 2014, they were remade into a unique office building. The towers have a 360-degree view and a panoramic view from the top, where a canteen for the office employees is located. Currently, it is not open to the public. However, it is imposing from the outside, and for a better view, you can go up the Konditaget Lüders and see the buildings from the top.

Sustainable Architecture in Copenhagen

Copenhagen isn’t just beautiful. It’s one of the most sustainable cities in the world. By end of 2025, it aims to be carbon neutral, and its architecture plays a key role in that mission.

Green Buildings That Lead the Way

• CopenHill – A power plant that turns waste into energy while doubling as a recreational ski slope.

• The UN City – Features harvesting rainwater, automated daylight controls, and seawater cooling systems to minimize environmental impact.

• The Circle House – A residential project where 90% of materials are reusable, setting a new standard for circular construction.

Sustainable Urban Planning

• Nordhavn District: A “five-minute city” concept where shops, offices, and homes are within walking distance, reducing car dependency.

• Superkilen Park: An urban space promoting social sustainability, designed to reflect Copenhagen’s multicultural identity.

Copenhagen isn’t just adopting green architecture, it’s redefining what cities can be in the future.

Conclusion

Copenhagen is a city that doesn’t just follow architectural trends, it sets them. From medieval spires to futuristic green rooftops, every building tells a story of innovation, resilience, and design thinking at its finest.

It’s no wonder architects from around the world flock here for inspiration. The balance between form and function, past and future, sustainability and beauty, few places get it right like Copenhagen does.

So now it’s your turn. Walk the city. Look up. Notice the details. Stand beneath the weight of history at Rosenborg Castle, then ride your bike past the cutting-edge architecture of Nordhavn. Feel the contrast. Feel the harmony.

And if you discover a hidden gem, a tucked-away modernist masterpiece, a new eco-friendly structure rising from the skyline, share it. Copenhagen’s architectural story is still being written, and who knows? Maybe you’ll be the one to find the next chapter.

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If you would like to explore the most impressive architectural buildings across Copenhagen and have an unforgettable experience through our customised tours – book a custom tour with Amitylux and let our knowledgeable guides show you the most impressive architectural buildings from an insider’s perspective.

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