The Palm House features a spiral staircase that leads to a narrow balcony near the glass ceiling for a canopy-level view.
The garden's herbarium holds approximately 2.5 million plant specimens, serving as a vital resource for global taxonomy.
The Palm House's wrought-iron architecture was designed by Albert Dietrich and completed in 1874.
The garden maintains a dedicated section for Danish native plant species, including many rare and endangered varieties.
The temperature inside the Arctic House is kept strictly controlled to mimic polar conditions for high-altitude plants.
The garden is built on the site of the former city fortifications, which is why the lake retains an irregular, defensive shape.
The site includes a 'cactarium' housing a specialized collection of succulent plants from arid climates.
The Copenhagen Botanical Garden is home to Denmark's largest living plant collection, managed by the Natural History Museum of Denmark. The site features a historic 19th-century Palm House, modeled after London's Crystal Palace, which houses exotic tropical and subtropical plants. The garden grounds span 10 hectares and contain over 13,000 species of plants arranged in specific thematic sections, including a rock garden and a rhododendron collection. A dedicated butterfly house is operational during the summer months. The garden serves as a site for botanical research, international seed exchange, and public conservation efforts. It houses a significant herbarium containing millions of dried plant specimens from around the world. The layout incorporates a large lake which follows the line of the old city ramparts. Public access is provided through multiple gates, including one directly across from the Rosenborg Castle gardens.
The elevated walkway inside the Palm House provides a symmetrical view of the tropical ferns below.
Visit the Palm House on a cooler day, as the interior temperature and humidity remain high year-round regardless of outside weather.
Check the official museum calendar for guided tours focusing on specific plant families if you have a scientific interest.
Explore the rock garden area during late spring for the best seasonal flowering displays.
Do not attempt to walk through the garden beds to get closer to the displays; the soil is frequently treated and easily compacted.
The Palm House typically closes earlier than the main garden gates; check museum updates for seasonal glasshouse maintenance closures.
Stay on marked paths to protect delicate ground-cover plants; climbing or picking specimens is strictly prohibited.
