Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen (must see)

Christiansborg Palace, located on the small island of Slotsholmen outside Copenhagen Harbor, is a multifunctional building serving as the seat of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget), the Prime Minister's Office, and the Supreme Court. Unique for housing all three branches of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—it is the only structure in the world to do so.

The current palace is the third on this site; the original castle built by the city's founder, Bishop Absalon, stood here since 1167. Its remains along with those of its successor – Copenhagen Castle – have been excavated and are now visible in the subterranean section at Christiansborg. After suffering two major fires in 1794 and 1884, the palace was rebuilt in a historicist Neo-baroque style by 1928.

Often called "the Castle of the Realm" (Rigsborgen) or simply "the Castle" (Borgen), Christiansborg is also used by the Danish monarchy, specifically the Royal Reception Rooms, the Palace Chapel, and the Royal Stables.

King Christian IX's equestrian statue at the Riding Ground Complex, unveiled in 1927, caused controversy, as the horse model for it was sourced from Hanover, Germany, causing discontent among Danish breeders.

Owned by the Danish Government, parts of Christiansborg are open to the public. If you have a Copenhagen Card for tourists, admission to the royal reception rooms (as well as the stables, kitchen, and underground ruins) is free. Highlights of the experience include the Queen's china collection; her ornate ceremonial library; and the Great Hall, which today is adorned with tapestries chronicling Denmark's history. The detail in the hand paintings that cover every square inch of some of the rooms is simply amazing.

If you don't have a Copenhagen Card (or don't want to pay to get in), it is still possible to walk around the courtyard and go up the Tower (Copenhagen's tallest), where a nice observation area looks over the city on all sides. There's even a small elevator that takes groups of 8ish at a time to the top, so definitely do this, if nothing else. Access to the viewing platform is free, though passing through a security check is required due to the official nature of the building.

Why You Should Visit:
The on-site library is the stuff of dreams, and one could easily spend an hour looking at the modern tapestries.

Tip:
Always look out for the free English one-hour tours included in your ticket (they run at 3 pm each day but also at different times during weekends: 12 pm or 2pm), unless you'd rather wander the rooms on your own, reading the descriptions.