Fredensborg offers several reasons to stay: historic architecture, sculptures, routes through the town and experiences by the water. When planning your visit, you can decide whether culture, activity or Lake Esrum should take centre stage. The routes and attractions offer different highlights rather than a single way to discover the town.
Getting around on foot or by bike
The Oplevelsesruter in Fredensborg form a connected network of more than five kilometres. You can explore them on foot or by bike, passing the town’s historic and distinctive buildings, streets and landscapes. This means architecture, streetscapes and landscapes all contribute to the experience of the routes. You can decide in advance whether to explore the routes on foot or by bike. Another option is to start the Dronningerunden in Fredensborg or Nivå. This tour therefore offers a choice of two possible starting points.
Water activities and seasonal offerings
Swimming and diving are permitted in Lake Esrum. As water conditions can vary, you should check them before swimming. One dedicated swimming option is the 1,000-metre swimming course: it starts at the municipal bathing jetty at Fredensborg Harbour, runs north along the shore past Skipperhuset and ends north of Kongebroen in Fredensborg Palace Park. The swimming course is seasonal, and its operating details may change; therefore, check the latest information about its use before your visit.
With Bådfarten Esrum Sø, you can take boat trips on the lake. Along the way, you can enjoy views of Fredensborg Palace and its palace garden on one shore. The trips are seasonal. If you are planning a trip, it is worth checking the current timetable for your travel dates.
Church, art and sculptures
Fredensborg Palace Church was built by Frederik IV in 1726 and is a Rococo/Baroque church. Its features include a large ceiling painting by Per Kirkeby. The year it was built and its patron provide a specific historical context; its architectural classification and artwork offer further perspectives on the church. The building’s history, style and art are thus presented side by side, without reducing the site to just one of these aspects.
In Nordmandsdalen in Fredensborg Palace Garden, there are 70 sculptures of Norwegian and Faroese farmers and fishermen. The group offers a different cultural focus from the church: instead of architecture and ceiling paintings, the emphasis is on figurative depictions of people from Norway and the Faroe Islands. If you choose Fredensborg mainly for its cultural attractions, these two sites offer distinct points of interest.
Planning your routes
The “Under Kronen” information centre of Kongernes Nordsjælland National Park is centrally located in Fredensborg, near the palace, the palace garden and Lake Esrum. It is a convenient starting or finishing point for routes through the royal landscape and along the lake. This offers a different perspective on routes from the Oplevelsesruter, which pass the town’s buildings, streets and landscapes: “Under Kronen” focuses on the royal landscape and the lake, while the town routes highlight the sights along the way. Which option you choose depends on what you want to focus on during your exploration.
Discover more destinations: Copenhagen, Kikhavn, Jægerspris, Melby, Helsinge, Skibby, Kongens Lyngby, Birkerød
For the main travel overview: Hovedstaden.
