One of the first things I search for when visiting a new city is where to discover the best views. The Rundetaarn or ‘Round Tower’ of Copenhagen was one of the places that came back when I searched for best Copenhagen views, so it was on my list for my day sightseeing.

Depending on where you’re staying the tower is easy to find, located on Koebmagergade, right in the centre of the city you can walk there or get the metro or a taxi. It was built back in the 1600’s, and is a combination of a church, library and an observatory in the same structure.

The entrance is directly off the street, and there is a small kiosk taking a small £2.50ish payment for entry. The winding footpath snakes around a hollow centre of the tower, over three times around the white interior walls.

I’m not the fittest anyway, but everyone was taking the uphill walk pretty slowly. My favourite bit about the climb were all the little windows the whole way up. They offered small glimpses of the full view that was waiting at the top as you got higher and higher.

On the way up I just wanted to reach the top, so I didn’t stop at any of the side rooms or little nooks in the walls to see what they were. The final part of the climb is a really narrow spiral staircase, that they say is wide enough for people to go up and down at the same time but I’m not so sure.

Emerging out onto the top of the tower, you find yourself about 35m above street level, with sprawling views of Copenhagen before you.

You can walk the entire way around at the top, with the little plaques attached to the fencing providing you with information on the various buildings and spires you can see in the distance.

Even on a cold January day the colours of the city and the red rooftops made for a beautiful sight.

It was absolutely freezing though, and just one slow walk around the full 360 degrees left my hands numb. Moving under the shelter of the tower away from the edge, I found the entrance to the observatory, that sits at the top of the tower.

It was closed to enter, but you could climb the stairs to see inside where the giant telescope is stood, surrounded by astronomy and maps for those who wish to stargaze. The observatory is the oldest one that is still in use in Europe, and was originally used by the University of Copenhagen.

On my way back down the tower, I saw the entrance to the bell room which was sadly closed off so I couldn’t go inside, but I also found the little nook that allows you to see directly into the hollow centre that the path winds around.

I found one of two original privy’s, that have connected passageways in the tower walls right down into a pit underneath. Thankfully they aren’t in use today!

I also caught a glimpse of the church too, both from inside looking directly into it, and from above out of one of the little tower windows. The Church is known as Trinitatis Church, and was provided alongside the library for university students.

Overall the Rundetaarn is well worth a visit, and the small entrance fee that keeps the place running. Even if you aren’t interested in the church or library, or the observatory at the top, it’s worth the fee and more importantly the steady climb to the top just simply for the views.

Definitely one for your Copenhagen bucket list!

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Incredible views from The Rundetaarn, Copenhagen

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