Rundetaarn, the Round Tower, stands in the heart of Copenhagen at 52A Købmagergade, close to the city's busy shopping streets. It is one of the Danish capital's best-known landmarks, and a visit gives a clear sense of the older city around it.
The tower was built in 1642 on the orders of King Christian IV. Its most striking feature is the spiral ramp that winds upward around a hollow core. The ramp is wide and gently sloped, so you climb on foot rather than by stairs, and it is said to have been designed for horses and carriages to reach the top. Walking it is the heart of the experience: the curving walls and the open well in the middle make the climb unlike most other tower visits.
What to expect at the top
The ramp leads to a rooftop observatory and an observation deck. From the top you look out over the rooftops and streets of central Copenhagen, which makes it a good place to get your bearings in the city.
- The ramp: a spiral climb around the hollow core, rewarding in itself.
- The observation deck: an open view across the city centre.
- The observatory: the rooftop setting that gives the tower its name and purpose.
Planning your visit
Because the tower sits in the centre, it is easy to combine with a walk through the old streets, the nearby shops and the wider historic core of the city. Allow time for the climb at a relaxed pace, and take a moment at the top before heading back down the same gentle spiral.