DIS Blog
A budget friendly guide to museums in Copenhagen
Published
March 26, 2023
Copenhagen
Study Abroad Tips
Visiting museums is a great way to experience the city and learn about local culture while studying abroad. Luckily, many museums in Copenhagen offer student discounts or have days when admission is free.
Whether you’re looking to learn about Denmark’s history, immerse yourself in Danish design, or get your art fix, there’s something for everyone.
Don’t forget to bring your DIS student ID to take advantage of ticket discounts!
Tip! If you love museums, consider getting a Parkmuseerne ticket. It is a ticket which is 295 DKK and grants a one-time entrance to six specified museums in Copenhagen within a year-long period. Read more information here.
Art Museums
Arken Museum of Modern Art
Student Ticket: 119 DKK
Inaugurated in 1996, Arken is one of Denmark’s newest contemporary art museums. Explore the museum’s many works of art inside the iconic main building–designed to resemble a ship–or enjoy their newest outdoor expansion, the Art Island!
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Student Ticket: 125 DKK
One of Denmark’s most popular museums, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, is famous for good reason: browse through their expansive collection of modern art, spend time shopping in the museum’s boutique, or utilize their incredible outdoor space to picnic and relax while overlooking the ocean.
Tip! If you are under 29, you can get a membership card for 165 DKK – a one-time payment that allows you to go as many times as you wish.
Nikolaj Kunsthal (Nikolaj Art Hall)
Admission on Wednesdays: Free Student Ticket: 95 DKK (this ticket also includes access to Thorvaldsens Museum and the Museum of Copenhagen within 48 hours)
Located in the center of Strøget, Nikolaj Kunsthal offers visitors the chance to view Danish and international contemporary art in a beautiful and unique historical setting.
Ny Carlsberg Glyptoteket
Student Ticket: 95 DKK (or an annual pass for students at 150 DKK)
Artistic masterpieces, marble statues, and even mummies can all be found within the beautiful Glyptoteket! Beyond holding over 10,000 works of art, Glyptoteket also has a fantastic indoor courtyard, café, and a hidden garden.
Statens Museum for Kunst (National Gallery of Denmark)
Under 27 Ticket: 95 DKK
The art displayed at Denmark’s national art museum originally belonged solely to the Danish royal family as a part of their royal collection. Over time, the collection was gifted to the people of Denmark and has since grown into the museum that exists today.
The David Collection
Free Admission
The David Collection consists of three main collections all preserved by museum founder Christian Ludvig David. The collections include: the Collection of Islamic Art, the Collection of European Art, and the Collection of Danish Early Modern Art.
Thorvaldsens Museum
Admission on Wednesdays: Free
Student Ticket: 95 DKK (this ticket also includes access to Nikolaj Kunsthal and the Museum of Copenhagen within 48 hours)
Thorvaldsens Museum opened in 1848 as Denmark’s first public museum building. The museum is dedicated to the art of Danish neoclassicist sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, and highlights his life work.
Science and history museums
Arbejdermuseet (The Workers Museum)
Student Ticket: 90 DKK (buy your tickets online and save 10%)
Step back in time by visiting the Workers Museum. Located in the original Workers Assembly Building, visitors can experience what everyday life was like for Danes working in the 1950s.
Tip! Alternatively, buy a Parkmuseerne ticket (295 DKK), and get access to six museums in Copenhagen, including this one. This ticket can be bought here, online, or at another one of the six museums.
Botanisk Have (Botanical Gardens)
Free General Admission to Gardens Student Ticket to the Palm House: 50 DKK (includes entrance to Butterfly House)
Escape from the busy Copenhagen city streets into a botanical oasis. Enjoy the sunshine while walking through the gardens, or visit the picturesque Palm House (40 DKK for a Student Ticket) and Butterfly House.
Tip! Alternatively, buy a Parkmuseerne ticket (295 DKK), and get access to six museums in Copenhagen, including this one. This ticket can be bought here, online, or at another one of the six museums.
Statens Naturhistoriske Museum (Natural History Museum of Denmark)
Student Ticket: 50 DKK
Denmark’s Natural History Museum holds approximately 14 million items collected over a span of 400 years including fossils, skeletons, and minerals.
Tip! Alternatively, buy a Parkmuseerne ticket (295 DKK), and get access to six museums in Copenhagen, including this one. This ticket can be bought here, online, or at another one of the six museums.
Tekniske Museum (Danish Museum of Science and Technology)
Ticket: 110 DKK
Browse through inventions of the past, present, and future as you explore this museum’s collection of machines and technology.
Student Ticket: 150 SEK
Learn about the history of Nordic lifestyle at the Nordic Museum! With exhibitions exploring fashion trends, jewelry, furniture pieces, interior styles, and glass and porcelain, there’s an exhibit everyone will find interesting.