Hillerød Municipality: Castle, History and Nature

Frederiksborg Castle brings together a museum visit, architecture and gardens in Hillerød. The castle houses the Museum of National History and Denmark’s National Portrait Gallery. A visit includes the castle church, the Great Hall, the Audience Chamber, the state rooms and richly furnished rooms. Lakes and the castle park surround the castle; the park includes a Baroque garden, the Bath House Castle and an idyllic landscape garden. Historic interiors and different garden settings thus stand alongside each other as distinct parts of the visit.

Castle and Culture in Hillerød

A self-guided historic city walk follows a 1.5 km route through the historic old town. It includes 15 historic signs at selected buildings and squares near Frederiksborg Castle. The signs are available in Danish and English. The walk complements a visit to the castle with stops in the historic city centre and offers a separate way to explore Hillerød’s history.

Elværket Hillerød also combines history and archaeology: its turbine hall hosts exhibitions focusing on archaeology, as well as the culture and history of North Zealand. These include a family-friendly exhibition of historical finds and an archaeology activity where children can excavate a grave. Exhibition content may change; check which activities are available before your visit.

Forest Trails and Lake Scenery

Store Dyrehave can be explored on foot or by bicycle via its star-shaped trail system. It is part of the UNESCO-listed Par Force hunting landscape in North Zealand. The forest was royal property and was used for hunting and horse breeding. It was enclosed by a stone wall that kept red deer and horses inside. Its historic use and star-shaped trail network give the forest a distinct cultural and historical dimension alongside the opportunities to explore it on foot or by bicycle.

Store Dyrehave has three marked exercise routes measuring 6.2 km, 10 km and 21.1 km. The blue mountain bike trail is 23 km long and can be extended by a further 9 km in Tokkekøb Hegn to the south. A 10 km route has picnic, fire and barbecue areas, toilets, and paths suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Visitor facilities may change, so check the latest information before your visit. There is a National Park information point at the entrance to Store Dyrehave.

Kulsvierstien is a 3.5 km footpath near Hillerød. It passes through the varied landscape of North Zealand, with hills and small lakes, across a hilly dead-ice landscape, and offers views of Alsønderup Engsø. To plan your distance, you can compare this route with the marked exercise routes in Store Dyrehave, which range from 6.2 to 21.1 km.

The unsigned Søstien offers a different perspective on the water and the castle. The approximately 2.4 km circular route goes around Slotssøen, through the castle and castle garden, and offers views of Frederiksborg Castle along the way. At Posen, along Søstien, there is a children’s playground inspired by Hillerød’s history, as well as public toilets. At Teglgårdssøen, you will find a swimming area with a small sandy beach and bathing jetty. A footpath runs around the lake; there is also an access path to the UNESCO-listed Par Force hunting landscape in Store Dyrehave. If you plan to swim there, check the latest information about water quality and bathing facilities in advance.

The Gillelejestien cycle route, known as Route 33, also starts at Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød and runs 27 km to Gilleleje Station. It is marked as a cycle route. Esrum Sø is one of the large lakes in Hillerød Municipality and is another regional landmark in the lake landscape.

Getting There and the Regional Setting

The S-train runs directly from central stations in Copenhagen to Hillerød Station. From there, you can reach Frederiksborg Castle on foot or by bicycle via the path by Slotssøen or along Slotsgade; the walk takes about 15 minutes. Bus routes 301 and 302 also run from the station to a stop near the castle and museum. Check timetables and routes before travelling. The car park for Store Dyrehave is on Overdrevsvej, about 800 metres from Hillerød Station.

Hillerød Municipality is one of five municipalities in Kongernes Nordsjælland National Park. The southern parts of Gribskov and Store Dyrehave are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The connection between cultural history and landscape can be seen in Hillerød both at the castle and on the region’s paths and in its forests. The organic farm Mangholm has a café and farm shop; the restaurant is open at weekends. Opening arrangements may change, so check the hours in advance.

Discover more destinations: Skævinge Municipality, Gørløse, Furesø Municipality, Gladsaxe, Høje-Taastrup Municipality, Frederikssund, Vallensbæk, Helsingør.

For the overview of the wider region: Hovedstaden.