This Danish town in North Zealand centers around the grand Frederiksborg Palace. The Frederiksværk Canal flows through its forest-lined streets, connecting Roskilde Fjord to Isefjord.
Hillerød, a town in northern Zealand, centers around Frederiksborg Castle, with its gold-decorated chapel and 1610 organ. You'll find cafés serving Danish waffles along Slotsgade street, while the baroque garden displays royal monograms in its hedges. The surrounding Gribskov forest has marked trails leading past herds of 800 fallow deer.
Exploring Frederiksborg Castle
The Renaissance castle spans three islets in Castle Lake, containing the Museum of National History across 70 rooms. You'll walk through 500 years of Danish history told through portraits, furniture, and decorative arts. The castle chapel, where Danish monarchs received their anointment, contains a gold and silver altarpiece from 1606 and Denmark's oldest functioning organ from 1610. A complete visit takes three to four hours.
Castle Gardens and Surroundings
The baroque garden contains hedges cut into royal monograms, water cascades, and terraced levels leading down to the lake. In the adjacent English-style garden, you'll find small lakes, curved paths, and Frederik II's Bath House from 1580. Local boat operators run 30-minute tours on Castle Lake from April through October.
Getting Around Town
Slotsgade and the pedestrian Helsingørsgade form the main shopping areas. SlotsArkaderne shopping center contains 50 stores, from Danish design boutiques to international brands. Between May and September, several cafés along these streets set up outdoor seating and serve homemade ice cream and fresh waffles.
Cultural Venues
Royal Stage, which opened in 2020, seats 4,000 people and schedules concerts, theater productions, and dance shows monthly. The venue coordinates with Støberihallen and Klaverfabrikken to schedule events throughout the year. The Town Museum displays artifacts and photographs documenting local life since the 1800s.
Forest Areas
Gribskov, Denmark's second-largest forest, contains 25 kilometers of marked hiking trails. You'll find approximately 800 fallow deer throughout the forest. Store Dyrehave forest to the south includes UNESCO-listed hunting paths from the 1600s. Both forests have dedicated cycling routes ranging from 5 to 15 kilometers.
Transportation
Take the A train from Copenhagen Central Station directly to Hillerød - the ride takes 45 minutes. A Copenhagen City Pass Large costs 80 DKK less than buying separate round-trip tickets. From Hillerød station, you can catch local trains to North Zealand coastal towns like Helsingør and Gilleleje.
