Overlooking the Bay of Køge near Copenhagen, Køge is a historic seaport and market town clustered with half-timbered buildings. It provided the setting for one of the most famous witch trials in Danish history, the Køge Huskors, and was the scene of a fierce battle between British and Danish troops in 1807.
Things to do in Køge
Stroll through central Køge to admire its half-timbered buildings, the oldest of which dates back to 1527. See one of the best-preserved medieval town squares in Denmark, which is watched over by the Neoclassical Køge Town Hall. Not to miss is the Sankt Nicolai Church with its lighthouse tower, from where Christian IV kept watch on his naval fleet during the Battle of Køge Bay.
Housed within a centuries-old merchant’s house is the Køge Museum, which is renowned for its 10 portraits of Vølver by Jim Lyngvild. Take a journey back to the Viking Age as you explore the multimedia exhibits detailing Denmark’s transition to Christianity. A short walk away is the KØS Museum of Art in Public Spaces where you’ll find models and sketches of notable public artworks.
Want to see what Køge looked like in the 19th century? Pay a visit to Køge Miniby, which features a historically accurate recreation of the town at a scale of 1:10. Gaze down on Køge's most notable landmarks and visit the workshop to see the skilled craftspeople at work. The on-site cafe serves hot drinks and sweets.
Getting around Køge
Køge is around 40 minutes’ drive from the centre of Copenhagen and 30 minutes from Copenhagen Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect from the Danish capital to the Køge railway station while the town centre is small enough to explore on foot.