The easiest way to get to Christiansborg Palace from Gammel Strand is to leave the metro station, walk towards Højbro Plads, cross Højbro over the canal, and enter Slotsholmen at Christiansborg Palace Square. The Copenhagen Metro places the palace about 150 metres from the station, so the surface route should take only a few minutes.

The important split comes at Højbro Plads. Crossing the bridge takes you to Christiansborg; continuing away from the canal towards Amagertorv takes you into Strøget. Once you reach the palace, check which visitor site is on your ticket. Christiansborg is a working complex containing the Royal Reception Rooms, the Ruins, the Royal Kitchen, the Royal Stables, the Palace Chapel, the Tower and the Danish Parliament, and they do not all use the same public entrance. Christiansborg is separate from Amalienborg Palace; if Amalienborg is your actual destination, use the Amalienborg Palace from Marmorkirken route instead.

For the Royal Reception Rooms and the main palace visit, use Christiansborg Palace, Prins Jørgens Gård 5, 1218 Copenhagen K. If you are visiting only the Tower, use the King’s Gate beneath the tower instead. Check the official opening information on the day of your visit because individual areas can close for royal or state events.

Cross Højbro from Gammel Strand to Christiansborg Palace Square

Gammel Strand is served by M3 and M4 and has two lifts between the underground station and street level. It is the nearest Metro station named by Christiansborg Palace’s official visitor information.

After reaching street level:

  1. Orient yourself towards Højbro Plads and the Slotsholm Canal.
  2. Find Højbro, the short bridge connecting Højbro Plads with Christiansborg Palace Square.
  3. Cross the canal towards the palace.
  4. After crossing, use your ticket or destination name to choose the correct entrance within the complex.

The bridge is the decisive landmark. Copenhagen’s official Metro guidance specifically directs visitors from Gammel Strand across Højbro for the Ruins beneath Christiansborg. The same crossing places you on Slotsholmen beside the palace complex.

Do not continue from Højbro Plads into Strøget

Højbro Plads connects two very different directions. Højbro crosses the canal towards Christiansborg, while Amagertorv and Strøget lie on the city-centre side behind the square.

If shops and the main pedestrian-shopping flow are carrying you away from the water, turn back towards Højbro Plads. Find the bridge and cross the canal. You do not need to return to the metro station unless you have moved well beyond the square.

Following the canal without crossing it can also leave you beside Christiansborg rather than at its entrances. Cross to Slotsholmen first; then follow the palace signs for the specific area you plan to visit. If The Black Diamond is your actual destination, continue with the Black Diamond from Gammel Strand Station waterfront route instead of using the Christiansborg entrance instructions.

Choose your Christiansborg entrance before crossing the palace grounds

Christiansborg Palace is a large complex, and different visitor sites sit within the broader palace setting. A map search for “Christiansborg Palace” may place a pin on the building without identifying the entrance needed for your ticket.

Before leaving Gammel Strand, check whether your booking or plan names one of these:

  • The Royal Reception Rooms
  • The Ruins under Christiansborg Palace
  • The Royal Kitchen
  • The Royal Stables
  • The Palace Chapel
  • The Tower
  • The Danish Parliament

Reaching Christiansborg Palace Square completes the station-to-palace route, but it may not complete the walk to your entrance. Use the exact visitor-site name after crossing Højbro rather than circling the building under the general palace pin.

Use Prins Jørgens Gård 5 for the Royal Reception Rooms

The official visitor address is:

Christiansborg Palace
Prins Jørgens Gård 5
1218 Copenhagen K

The Royal Danish Collection recommends beginning a first palace visit at the Royal Reception Rooms at this address. Enter through the large gate, which opens automatically as you approach. Inside the gate, take the large staircase on the left to the Hall of Giants, where the ticket desk and Palace Shop are located.

This is the useful destination when your ticket is for the Royal Reception Rooms or when you need palace staff to explain how to continue to the other Royal Danish Collection visitor sites. Do not assume that the first doorway facing Christiansborg Palace Square is the museum entrance.

Use the King’s Gate beneath the tower for The Tower

The Tower has a separate entrance at the King’s Gate, the large central gate directly beneath Christiansborg’s tower. It can be reached from Christiansborg Palace Square or from the inner courtyard.

Access to the Tower is free, so visitors going only to the viewpoint do not need to join the Royal Reception Rooms ticket line. Space at the top is limited and queues can form. A lift operates from the entrance to the top; the stairs are not available as an alternative route.

Follow the named signs for the Ruins, Kitchen and Stables

The Ruins, the Royal Kitchen and the Royal Stables are separate visitor sites rather than rooms reached automatically through the Royal Reception Rooms. After entering the palace area, follow signs for the destination printed on your ticket.

The Royal Stables are on the Riding Ground side of the complex. The Royal Danish Collection describes the approach across the Marble Bridge into the Riding Ground, so a pin for the main palace address is not a substitute for the stable entrance. If the Royal Stables are your only destination, keep the full visitor-site name open in your map after crossing to Slotsholmen.

Check the opening status for the exact visitor site

Christiansborg is an active palace used for royal events, audiences and meetings of the Council of State. The Royal Danish Collection warns that areas may close without prior announcement in connection with official events.

The Royal Reception Rooms, Ruins, Royal Kitchen, Royal Stables and Palace Chapel can also have different schedules. Do not rely on a general “Christiansborg Palace is open” result. Check the official opening-hours page for the exact site you intend to enter, particularly if the visit is tied to a booked tour or the Palace Chapel.

Last admission is 30 minutes before the selected visitor site closes. Opening hours and ticket prices can change, so confirm both on the official site before travelling rather than relying on an older search result.

Leave suitcases and large bags before the palace visit

Christiansborg Palace is not a good place to approach with large luggage. The official visitor information says the cloakroom has space only for small bags and umbrellas. Large bags and suitcases are not permitted inside.

Prams, pushchairs and buggies are also not allowed inside the palace. They may be left at the Queen’s Gate at the owner’s risk, while carry cots and sleep carriers are prohibited for security reasons. Travellers arriving after a hotel checkout should arrange luggage storage before taking the metro to Gammel Strand.

The walk from the station is short, but that does not solve the entry restriction. A taxi or a shorter walking route will not make a suitcase acceptable at the visitor sites.

Use the lifts if steps or mobility are a concern

Gammel Strand station has two lifts. At Christiansborg, the Royal Danish Collection states that all palace visitor sites can be accessed with a wheelchair or walker frame, but visitors should contact ticket-desk staff at the individual site to use the relevant lift.

For the Royal Reception Rooms, assistance can be requested from the staff on arrival. Wheelchairs and walker frames can also be borrowed through the Royal Reception Rooms ticket desk. Accessible toilets are available at the Royal Reception Rooms, Royal Kitchen and Palace Chapel.

If you need step-free access, keep the exact visitor-site name available when you cross Højbro. “Christiansborg Palace” is too broad for staff or navigation tools to identify which lift or ticket desk you need.

Correct the route at Højbro Plads or Christiansborg Palace Square

If you are still north of the canal and have entered Strøget, return to Højbro Plads and cross Højbro. This corrects the walking direction without another metro journey.

If you have crossed Højbro and can see the palace but not your entrance, stay on Slotsholmen. Return to Christiansborg Palace Square, check the exact name on your ticket, and follow the corresponding palace sign. Do not cross back to Gammel Strand merely because the main façade does not match the entrance shown in your booking.

If your map has taken you along Gammel Strand beside the canal, use Højbro as the correction point. The station, bridge and palace are close enough that a long canal walk indicates you have passed the direct crossing.

Questions that change the final 150 metres

Is Gammel Strand the nearest Metro station?

Yes. Christiansborg Palace names Gammel Strand as its nearest Metro station, and the Copenhagen Metro places the palace about 150 metres away. The station is served by M3 and M4.

Which bridge should you cross?

Cross Højbro from Højbro Plads to Christiansborg Palace Square. Do not continue from Højbro Plads towards Amagertorv and Strøget.

Which address should you use for the main palace visit?

Use Christiansborg Palace, Prins Jørgens Gård 5, 1218 Copenhagen K for the Royal Reception Rooms and the recommended starting point for a first palace visit.

Is the Tower entrance the same as the Royal Reception Rooms entrance?

No. The Tower entrance is at the King’s Gate directly beneath the tower. The Royal Reception Rooms use the entrance at Prins Jørgens Gård 5.

Can you visit the Tower without buying a palace ticket?

Yes. Access to the Tower is free. Capacity at the top is limited, so there may still be a queue.

Can you enter with a suitcase?

No. The palace has only limited cloakroom capacity, and large bags and suitcases are not allowed inside. Store them before travelling to Gammel Strand.

Can an official event close the palace?

Yes. Christiansborg is still used for royal and state functions, and individual visitor sites may close without prior notice. Check the official opening status for the specific area on the day of your visit.

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