March marks the start of spring, which means it's the perfect time to get out and enjoy everything the city has to offer.

• 9,000 years of history under one roof
• Castles that speak
• Footsteps of the past: Explore the city streets
• March's specials

If you can't get enough of our recommendations for Copenhagen, you can always check out our Instagram or visitcopenhagen.com

My boyfriend and I recently visited The National Museum of Denmark. The museum houses thousands of artifacts that hold thousands of years of stories, spread over four floors. 

Photo: Mark Tanggaard

We arrived at the museum in the afternoon and started on the ground floor, where the history and ways of life of the first humans unfold, before moving on to the first floor, which focuses on the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. We took our time exploring, reflecting, and discussing what we saw. As closing time approached, we had to rush through the last two floors – so of course, we’ll be visiting the museum again to catch the rest and to enjoy a coffee and cake break in the museum café.

In my experience, you can easily set aside a whole day to visit the museum, because a big part of the experience lies in the peace that arises when you take the time to fully immerse yourself.

The Danish monarchy is one of the oldest in the world, and over time, the royal family has had a significant influence on how Denmark's capital city, Copenhagen, has taken shape. Particularly striking are the many castles located both inside and outside Copenhagen's city walls.

I'm going on a tour to visit the royals – not literally, and yet, because most of the magnificent castles are beautifully preserved and open to the public, even those that are still in use. I plan to visit Kronborg, Rosenborg, and Christiansborg Castle. I have visited them all before, but each time I go, I discover new, intricate details that make the visit different from the last.

Kronborg was built over 400 years ago and has witnessed countless extravagant royal parties, served as customs enforcement with its cannons aimed at ships in the Øresund, and defended the kingdom against its enemies. In addition, it has served as the setting for Shakespeare’s famous play, Hamlet.

Rosenborg was built by Christian IV in the early 1600s, as he felt he was missing a "country house". Today, the castle houses an impressive collection of treasures from former kings and queens.

The history of Christiansborg Palace dates back to the very first castle in Copenhagen – the palace was built on top of the ruins of Absalon's Castle. Today, the palace is still actively used as the seat of the Danish Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Prime Minister's Office, as well as for royal representations.

After making a New Year's resolution many years ago to look up more, I have learned that history does not only live on in museums and castles  – it is all around us. I would like to share some of my (still limited) knowledge with you about the small, curious details you can pay special attention to while walking around the streets of Copenhagen.

Photo: Mark Tanggaard

If you look closely, you can spot cannonballs in the walls of Copenhagen's buildings. The story goes that most of them date back to the English bombardment of the city in 1807. For example, you can see them on Sankt Gertruds Stræde in the inner city, but they are also found in many other places around Copenhagen, so be sure to look up!

On many of the buildings' facades, you can still find mason's marks, merchants' trademarks, and old coats of arms. These small details often reveal something about the houses' original function and former owners. Look for small engravings above doors or on the corners of the buildings – that's usually where they are hidden.

One place where you can always feel the whispers of the past is in Copenhagen’s historic pubs – Danes have always loved their beer, and some of these establishments, such as Hviids Vinstue, date back nearly 300 years!

If you can't get enough of Copenhagen's history, then The Museum of Copenhagen is the perfect place for your next museum visit. The museum brings together the city's most significant and dramatic stories, presenting them through, among other things, fascinating archaeological finds.

Remember that the city's many guided walks and city tours also offer exciting insights into Copenhagen – both past and present. I particularly recommend Gadens Stemmer (voices of the street). Here, guides share their own experiences of the harsh life on the streets of Copenhagen.

I hope that my plans for March will inspire you to explore the city's history, and who knows, maybe you will also discover curiosities from the past in the cityscape. 

But remember, these are just my recommendations. At the editorial office, we're just as interested in hearing yours, so please let us know if there's anything you feel that we've missed.

We’ll be back in a month with much more on all the best of Copenhagen. 

Emilie, Copenhagen Unfolded

Copenhagen Unfolded is published by VisitCopenhagen. Our goal is to tell the world about Copenhagen and the great experiences that are to be had here. This issue of Copenhagen Unfolded is put together by Kasper Syhler, Emil Kristensen, Emilie Bødker & Anna Hjørngaard.

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Copenhagen Card

Save money on your trip to Copenhagen. With a Copenhagen card you get free entry to the city's most popular attractions, free public transport and you can bring two children under 12 years old. 

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