Hillerød is a town in the Capital Region of Denmark (in Danish, Region Hovedstaden), in Denmark (in Danish, Danmark). Located in the northeast of the country, it’s most known for Frederiksborg Castle (in Danish, Frederiksborg Slot), now home to the Danish Museum of National History!

Considered the largest Renaissance residence in Scandinavia, Frederiksborg Castle is one of the best castles in Europe. Due to its proximity to Copenhagen (in Danish, København), Hillerød is a popular day trip from the capital city and one of the best places to visit in Denmark!

So, do you want to know more about 1 Day In Hillerød: The Perfect Hillerød Itinerary? Keep reading!

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Brief History of Hillerød

Founded in the early Middle Ages, the town of Hillerød saw its small islets purchased by the future King Frederik II of Denmark and Norway in 1550. His successor, King Christian IV demolished the majority of the original structures and built Frederiksborg Castle between 1602 and 1625.

Not many people know this fun fact but Hillerød was named Frederiksborg from 1772 until 1908, after the renowned royal residence. Nowadays, the town is the administrative seat of the Capital Region of Denmark and a prosperous commercial center, all of this with less than 40,000 inhabitants!

Visiting Hillerød

In my opinion, the best way to visit Hillerød is on a day trip from Copenhagen. To get there from the Danish capital, you have two options: travel by car (around 38 km) or public transport (53 minutes by train).

However, Hillerød is also an excellent stop on a road trip through the Capital Region of Denmark! In that case, I suggest exploring other destinations in the vicinity: Allerød (9 km), Fredensborg (10 km), Hørsholm (18 km), Rudersdal (18km), Gribskov (21 km), Egedal (22 km), Frederikssund (22 km), Furesø (22 km), Halsnæs (23 km), or Helsingør (24 km).

Hillerød Itinerary

Vibekevej

This Hillerød itinerary begins at Vibekevej, a street in front of Hillerød Station. This train station is the terminus of four railway lines: Nordbanen (from/to Copenhagen), Frederiksværkbanen (from/to Hundested), Gribskovbanen (from/to Tisvildeleje and Gilleleje), and Lille Nord (from/to Helsingør).

Vibekevej is a dead-end residential street that allows you to walk from Hillerød Station to the town center in total quiet. At the end, a pedestrian-only path with colorful street art passes under an apartment building and joins the much busier Søndre Jernbanevej street.

Torvet

The next stop in this Hillerød itinerary is Torvet, a town square that serves as a meeting place for both tourists and locals. Overlooking the stunning Castle Lake (in Danish, Slotssøen), it has been the stage of weekly markets and seasonal events to this day.

One of the most celebrated sights of Torvet is the imposing statue of King Frederik VII of Denmark, erected in 1880. Surrounding the town square are several cafés and restaurants, where you can either stop for a quick drink or a full meal.

Slotsgade

This Hillerød itinerary continues in Slotsgade, a street of about 550 meters that connects Torvet to the first of three small islets where Frederiksborg Castle stands. Between the two locations, there’s a green park called Posen with walking paths and a children’s playground area.

Slotsgade is one of the two main shopping streets in Hillerød – the other being the pedestrianized Helsingørsgade, that goes in the opposite direction from Torvet. Along both streets, you can find several national and international brand shops, as well as cafés and restaurants.

Frederiksborg Slot

This Hillerød itinerary ends at Frederiksborg Castle (in Danish, Frederiksborg Slot), a famous palatial complex. Built as a royal residence for King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway in the early 1800s, it’s the largest Renaissance residence in Scandinavia and one of the best castles in Europe!

Adjoined by a large formal garden in the Baroque style, Frederiksborg Castle is situated on three small islets in Castle Lake (in Danish, Slotssøen). Since 1878, the monument has housed the Danish Museum of National History, presenting the country’s largest collection of portrait paintings!

Read my complete guide to Frederiksborg Castle, a must-see tourist attraction on any Hillerød itinerary!

Map of the Hillerød Itinerary

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Where Do I Make My Reservations?

• Hotels and Accommodation: Booking.com
• Tours and Activities: GetYourGuide

What Photography Gear Do I Use?

• Camera Body: Fujifilm X-T4 Mirrorless
• Camera Lens: Fujinon XF 18-55 mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS
• Tripod: Manfrotto Compact Action
• Small Tripod: Manfrotto PIXI Mini
• Smartphone Adaptor: Manfrotto PIXI Clamp
• Memory Card: SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC