Kongens Nytorv (pronounced approximately KOHNG-ens NYUH-torv, literally The King’s New Square) is probably the grandest square in Copenhagen. Usually not a tourist destination per se, but chances are that you cross it anyway when visiting the most acclaimed sights in the Danish capital.
I hope that, after reading this article, you’ll also include this magnificent square as a standalone stop on your Copenhagen itinerary, and stop at least for a minute to admire probably the most European-style snapshot of the city.
Where Is Kongens Nytorv Located?
You can find an interactive map below to locate Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen, but let’s see why I said that you’ll cross this square anyway when visiting the most famous tourist attractions.
Kongens Nytorv sits between two of Copenhagen’s most renowned sights: Strøget (a world-famous pedestrian street) and Nyhavn, the port with the acclaimed colorful houses. Just to find your way between these two, you’ll have to cross Kongens Nytorv anyway. Why not stop here for a moment and appreciate its beauty?
This square is also the main metro hub of Copenhagen, the only place where all current four lines meet. So if you’re using the metro, it is also probable that you “visit” Kongens Nytorv, even if just below ground. I suggest you come up to the surface and spend a couple of minutes to see this impressive square.
Amalienborg (the royal palace) and even the Little Mermaid are in walking distance from here.
The History of Kongens Nytorv
Kongens Nytorv was created in 1670 by King Christian V, at a time when the area lay just outside Copenhagen’s old city walls. What had been a muddy, cluttered stretch of ground was transformed into a grand royal square inspired by the elegant plazas of Paris.
The king had the land leveled and paved, and laid out a formal Baroque design with straight streets leading into the square. In 1688, he added an equestrian statue of himself at the center, surrounded by a landscaped oval garden called Krinsen. This was actually the first statue of its kind in Scandinavia.
Over the centuries, Kongens Nytorv shifted roles—from royal showpiece to military drill ground, and later to a major public transport hub with trams in the 20th century and eventually the metro beneath it. Today, it remains one of Copenhagen’s most iconic squares, framed by historic landmarks such as Charlottenborg Palace, the Royal Danish Theater, Hotel d’Angleterre, and Magasin du Nord.
What’s There at Kongens Nytorv?
Kongens Nytorv is one of the best places in Copenhagen to simply hang out and take in the atmosphere of the city. European, Scandinavian, and unmistakably Danish at the same time, filled with both wandering tourists and locals rushing to their destination on their bicycles, this grandiose square will definitely bring you closer to understanding why Copenhagen is one of the happiest cities on earth.
The square is surrounded by landmark buildings, each with its own character. On one side is Hotel d’Angleterre, the city’s most famous luxury hotel; on another, the grand Royal Danish Theater, home to ballet, opera, and drama. Just next door stands Charlottenborg Palace, now one of Denmark’s leading contemporary art spaces.
Across the square you’ll find Magasin du Nord, a historic department store that has been a shopping institution since the late 1800s. With its 7 floors, it is also our favorite shop to just hang out. Many of our friends visiting Copenhagen thanked us for showing them this store—not because of buying anything, but simply because absorbing the ambience that this place, with its superb inventory, offers. When you’re here, don’t forget to visit COFFEE CLUB CPH on the 5th floor, serving, in my opinion, some of the best coffee in town.
The central garden in Kongens Nytorv, known as Krinsen, is lined with trees and benches and offers a calm spot to rest while admiring the equestrian statue of King Christian V along with the big city life unfolding on and around the square.
Kongens Nytorv at Christmas
Kongens Nytorv changes clothes and takes on a different look before Christmas. The setting might be different each year, but if you’re visiting Copenhagen in November and December, it is even more highly recommended to visit the square.
Christmas Market
Around the 10th of November, a charming Christmas Market opens at Kongens Nytorv. Definitely not in the same ballpark as Europe’s largest and most famous markets, but it’s worth visiting in the holiday season. I especially appreciate the hand-made Danish Christmas ornaments and other winter goodies. But eating German sausage or Polish Bigos seems a bit out of character, though more and more typical of the international European ambience that you find across the continent.
Note that the Kongens Nytorv Christmas market has changed character over the past several years. Today it is more about food, and only a handful of stalls remain compared to what used to be here.
Ice-Skating Rink
In recent years, an O-shaped ice-skatinghas been set up around the equestrian statue of Christian V every winter. It takes away some of the space that had been dedicated to the Christmas market, but fills the square with even more life. If you have a spare hour and are up for fun, you might even put on a pair of rented skates and enjoy this very wintry attraction.
Hotel d’Angleterre Christmas Lights
The city’s most famous hotel, Hotel d’Angleterre (England Hotel in French), is dressed in a beautiful light robe every holiday season. It is a delight in itself to admire the lights on the magnificent facade of the building. But if you are here in mid-November, it is worth checking the hotel’s website in advance, as the first day of turning on the lights is always a sublime event in the city. In 2025 for example, the Copenhagen Boys Choir was singing from the balcony, attracting hundreds if not thousands of tourists and locals to the square.
