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Mention the name Hamlet and most everyone will think of William Shakespeare’s famous play of the same name. As a famous British playwright, it might be surprising to know that not all of Shakespeare’s plays take place in Great Britain. The entire play of Hamlet takes place inside a castle in the Danish town of Elsinore, in a castle named Elsinore Castle. What you might not know is that Elsinore is a real town in Denmark where the real Hamlet’s Castle still stands and is easy to visit.
Where is Hamlet’s Castle
Hamlet’s Castle is located in the town of Helsingør, Denmark. In English, Helsingør is commonly referred to as Elsinore, the same town that Shakespeare wrote about. Although there is no Elsinore Castle, there is a large castle in Helsingør that inspired the setting for the play Hamlet – Kronborg Castle.
Kronborg Castle History
Kronborg Castle was originally constructed as a fortress in the early 15th century. At that time the fortress was used for the Danes to control access to the Baltic Sea. Overtime it was expanded to become one of the largest Renaissance castles in Europe. Throughout history the castle has belonged to the army, served as a royal residence, and been controlled by the Swedes during the Swedish Conquest. Now it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site open to the public for tourism.
How to Get to Kronborg Castle
Kronborg Castle is easily reached from both Denmark and neighboring Sweden. From Copenhagen, it takes a short 45 – 50 minute train to reach the town of Helsingør. The Helsingør train station is an additional 1 mile away from Kronborg Castle. It’s a short walk to through the town or you can take a bus.
From Sweden, Helsingør is easily reached via ferry from the town of Helsingborg. These 2 cities are separated by just 4 km of water and can quickly be crossed by a 20 minute ferry ride. The ferry port in Helsingør is next to the train station. Once you arrive in Helsingør you can walk the additional mile to the Kronborg Castle or take a bus.
Visiting the Kronborg Castle
It is easy to visit Hamlet’s Castle while in Denmark. Kronborg Castle is open to the public year round. Opening times vary by season. It is recommended to visit the Kronborg Castle website before your visit to ensure you arrive while the castle is open. Admission costs 145 DKK (about 21 USD) per adult and children 18 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased upon arrival at the castle.
