Copenhagen: Amalienborg & Christiansborg Palace Skip-the-Line

Two Royal Palaces in One Morning, Without the Queue

You skip the ticket lines at two of Copenhagen's most visited royal sites and watch the Changing of the Guards at noon without fighting for a view. The tour includes a licensed guide, skip-the-line access to both palaces, and optional pickup from your hotel. Depending on which package you choose, you spend 2 to 5 hours total, with the longer options adding Christiansborg's reception rooms and royal kitchens plus transport to and from your accommodation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Amalienborg and Christiansborg Palaces Tour

• Meet guide at Outpost, Store Kongensgade 75
• Walk to Amalienborg Slotsplads
• Watch Changing of the Guards ceremony
• Enter Amalienborg Palace Museum with skip-the-line
• Explore Danish Royal Collections inside palace
• Walk through Old Town to King's New Square
• Visit Christiansborg Palace with licensed guide
• See Royal Reception Rooms and Royal Stables

The Experience

The guard changes at noon at Amalienborg, and if you're standing in the ticket line when it happens, you'll miss it. That's the thing about Copenhagen's royal palaces — the best moments are timed, and the crowds know it. You meet your guide in front of Outpost on Store Kongensgade, a few minutes' walk from Marmorkirken station, and from there it's straight into the 18th-century rococo complex where the Queen spends her winters. With skip-the-line tickets already in hand, you bypass the queue and step directly into rooms that hold centuries of Danish royal life — the Queen's jewel collection, Christian X's study, the dining room where state dinners happen. The Changing of the Guards ceremony unfolds at noon in the square outside, and you're positioned to see it without jostling for space.

If you book the 4- or 5-hour option, the tour extends to Christiansborg Palace, which sits across the city and holds a different kind of weight. It's been the seat of Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Ministry of State for 800 years, and the Royal Reception Rooms — especially The Great Hall with its tapestries — feel less like a museum and more like a working palace that happens to let visitors in. You walk through the Old Town between the two, passing King's New Square, which gives the day a rhythm instead of a blur. The Royal Kitchen and Royal Stables round it out, though the stables usually open after 1:30 p.m., so timing matters if that's on your list.

The 3- and 5-hour packages include a round-trip transfer from your accommodation, which saves the logistics of finding the meeting point or timing the subway. A private driver picks you up, drops you at the guide, and collects you afterward — useful if you're traveling with luggage or just want one less thing to navigate. The guide is licensed and speaks your language, and groups stay under 23 people, so it doesn't feel like a school trip. Time slots for Amalienborg entry are fixed, so punctuality matters, but that's also what keeps the palace from feeling crowded.

What’s included

• A 5-star licensed guide fluent in your chosen language.
• skip-the-line tickets to Amalienborg Palace Museum (all options).
• skip-the-line tickets to Christiansborg Palace (4- and 5-hour options only).
• access to the Royal Reception Rooms, Royal Kitchen, Royal Stables, and palace ruins at Christiansborg (4- and 5-hour options).
• a round-trip transfer from your accommodation by private car (3- and 5-hour options only, with vehicle size matched to group size).

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Rosotravel - Denmark City Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see both royal palaces without spending your morning in queues or figuring out transfers between sites — the skip-the-line access and fixed time slots are what make two palaces fit into a single morning.

Top questions

What's the difference between the 2-hour and 4-hour tours?

The 2-hour tour covers Amalienborg Palace only. The 4-hour tour adds Christiansborg Palace and a walk through King's New Square. Both include skip-the-line tickets and a licensed guide.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Hotel pickup is included in the 3-hour and 5-hour options only, as a round-trip transfer from your accommodation. The 2-hour and 4-hour tours require you to meet the guide at Outpost on Store Kongensgade.

When does the Changing of the Guards happen?

The ceremony takes place daily at noon in Amalienborg Slotsplads. Your guide will position the group to see it as part of the tour.

Can I visit the Royal Stables?

Yes, the Royal Stables are included in the Christiansborg Palace tour (4- and 5-hour options). They typically open after 1:30 p.m., so timing depends on when your tour reaches that part of the palace.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces at both palaces are wheelchair accessible, and infants can travel in a pram or stroller. Transportation options are also wheelchair accessible.

How large are the groups?

Private groups are limited to a maximum of 23 people per guide. Larger groups can be arranged with additional guides.

What if I'm late to the meeting point?

Amalienborg has assigned time slots for entry, so arriving late may mean missing your slot. If you book a transfer (3- or 5-hour option), the driver coordinates timing to get you there on schedule.

Are meals included?

No meals are included in any of the tour options.