A treetop hideaway in Brobæk Mose by Gentofte Lake offers a view of lakes that are otherwise hidden from sight. This change in perspective reflects Gentofte: nature experiences sit alongside a varied cultural landscape of museums, forts and historic gardens.
By the lake and along green paths
Gentofte Lake is Gentofte’s largest natural area. It is used for exercise, play, relaxation and nature experiences; the walking trail around the lake is about four kilometres long. You can make a lakeside visit part of a stroll or use the time to observe nature, without needing to walk any farther.
Brobækmose reveals another side of the landscape: wild orchids and a diverse birdlife can be found alongside changing areas of woodland, marsh and bog. There are also options for exploring on two wheels: four cycling routes and a heart trail run through Gentofte and near major and minor attractions. The Park Route cycling trail passes by or through many of the municipality’s green spaces and parks.
Charlottenlund Palace Park, laid out in the Romantic style, adds its own distinctive landscape. Charlottenlund Forest has large and small lawns connected by numerous little paths. Together with the lakeside paths and cycling routes, these offer various ways to explore Gentofte outdoors – on foot, by bike or with time to enjoy individual natural areas.
Forts, art and historic gardens
Charlottenlund Fort was built as part of Copenhagen’s coastal defences. At Charlottenlund Beach Park, history and summer activities go hand in hand: since 1932, it has been a public park used for sunbathing and summer visits. Facilities include public toilets and a kiosk; the bathing jetty provides wheelchair access to the water. Information about facilities and accessible access may change, so check before your visit.
At the Øregaard Museum, changing special exhibitions of Danish and international art sit alongside a collection of Danish art spanning 200 years, from 1750 to 1950. The building itself also tells a story: it was built between 1806 and 1808 as a country residence for the wholesale merchant and shipowner Johannes Søbøtker and his family. A visit to the museum can therefore also include a look at the building’s history.
The historic Garderhøj Fort has been renovated and is now open to everyone as an educational centre. Its interactive exhibitions let you try out how soldiers trained during the First World War, send Morse messages and operate a working twin turret. The visit thus combines the history of the fort with hands-on experiences.
Bernstorff Palace dates from 1765 and is one of Denmark’s earliest Neoclassical buildings. Bernstorff Palace Garden was laid out in the French Rococo style in the late 1760s. Today, expansive lawns surrounded by Danish woodland define the character of the publicly accessible garden. The palace and garden represent different historical layers: the early Neoclassical architecture on one hand, and the Rococo design of the grounds on the other.
Museums and contemporary culture
The Gentofte Fire Museum is housed in the municipality’s former fire station, built in 1909. Its collection traces the development of the fire service from the mid-19th century to the present day. Among the objects on display is Northern Europe’s oldest motorised fire engine built in Denmark, dating from 1919. Gentofte Cinema, meanwhile, is Gentofte’s oldest cinema.
Tranen, the municipality’s exhibition venue in Gentofte Main Library, is dedicated to contemporary art. It presents new, young and experimental artists from the Danish and international contemporary art scene. Exhibitions may include installations, virtual realities and images in innovative formats. In June, Culture & Festival Days offers another cultural event: the municipality’s annual festival lasts four days.
Discoveries nearby
Nearby, in Klampenborg, you’ll find Bellevue Theatre, designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1936. Guided tours introduce visitors to its history. Bellevue, a 700-metre-long sandy beach with opportunities for beach volleyball and water sports, is also in Klampenborg. The beach is a short walk from Klampenborg station and can be reached from central Copenhagen by S-train. If you plan to use this connection, check the current timetable.
Dyrehaven is also nearby. Since 2015, it has been part of the Par Force Hunting Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is home to more than 2,000 free-roaming deer and is well suited to picnics, jogging, cycling and horse riding. Art, cultural heritage and landscapes can thus be explored as distinct highlights in Gentofte and its surrounding area.
Discover more destinations: Gentofte, Charlottenlund, Hellerup, Klampenborg, Herlev Municipality, Tårnby Municipality, Gladsaxe, Furesø Municipality.
Back to the main travel overview: Capital Region.
