Visiting Egeskov Castle, Denmark
Egeskov is a historic water castle on Funen Island.
Explore the beauty of Egeskov Castle with us, one of Funen's top attractions!
Ever since we picked up the Lonely Planet Denmark guide and saw Egeskov Castle on the front, it's been stuck in our heads as a place we've gotta visit. Back then, we had no clue what Egeskov Castle was (its name, its history, or that it's one of Europe's best-preserved moat castles). It was just another spot on our (very long) travel wishlist!
It didn't take long into our planning session to learn that this beautiful castle was Egeskov, a Renaissance gem and one of the most famous spots on Funen Island, sitting just a short drive from Odense. Odense was already on our radar since it was on our way to Copenhagen, and honestly, it looked way too interesting to pass up.
All that was left was making sure Egeskov Castle fit perfectly into our itinerary, but with its regular hours and our car ready to go, it was hardly a challenge. We showed up at Egeskov Castle knowing next to nothing about it, so we were in for quite the surprise! It turned out that Egeskov is way more than just a castle, and here's everything we discovered about it.
The inside of Egeskov was just as impressive as the outside, and definitely worth seeing!
Getting to Egeskov Castle
In this post, we're focusing on Egeskov Castle, located on Funen Island, just a quick 30-minute drive south of Odense. Note that there's also an Egeskov village in Jutland near Kolding, but that's a totally different place. We mention this because when we typed just 'Egeskov' into our GPS, it kept trying to send us there instead!
We had to double-check that we were actually searching for Egeskov Slot since we definitely didn't want to end up on a detour back to Jutland. Not that we'd complain about seeing Jutland again, but there was still so much to do on Funen!
It took us about half an hour to get to Egeskov from Odense.
Our trip to Egeskov Castle from Odense was surprisingly easy. Parking in the city center didn't cause any issues, and traffic was surprisingly light on the way out. Once we hit Road 9, the big motorway, things got even easier, and just like our navigation predicted, we arrived in about 30 minutes.
For anyone planning a longer excursion, Egeskov is also an easy day trip from Copenhagen or Aarhus, with both cities only two hours away! You can compare rental car prices in Denmark here.
Parking at Egeskov Castle
Let's start from the beginning. We made our way to Egeskov Castle on a quiet mid-September weekday, only to find the huge parking lot (Egeskov Castle Parkeringsplads) nearly empty. I'm not sure how many visitors Egeskov gets in the summer, but judging by the size of the parking lot, it seems like there's plenty of room for everyone.
The first section was just a standard gravel lot, but a bit farther from the entrance, there was a grassy/dirt area that looked big enough to hold a few extra hundred cars. The best part was that parking at Egeskov Castle was completely free.
It was a quiet day at Egeskov, so parking was as easy as it gets.
By the time we arrived at Egeskov Castle, the weather was looking questionable, like it could have gone either way. Since we hadn't had lunch yet, we took the opportunity to eat our evening-made sandwiches while keeping an eye on the rolling storm clouds.
Let's just say it wasn't beach weather anymore. It was cold and windy, and with the first raindrops starting to hit the windshield, it took some effort to drag ourselves out of the car and actually get moving.
Egeskov Tickets
The ticket office was the next stop, and little did we know, we were about to get a surprise. The standard adult ticket for Egeskov Castle was 265 DKK, which was much pricier than we thought!
After a few days in Denmark and several admission fees behind us (our favorites were Tirpitz Museum and Koldinghus), we knew Egeskov wouldn't be a budget-friendly stop (yes, museum and castle tickets here aren't cheap). There's no doubt that Egeskov is easily one of Denmark's most beautiful castles, still, the price caught us off guard. It was almost identical to what we paid for LEGO House, which definitely says something!
A Swedish Saab F-35 Draken model was the last thing we thought we'd see at Egeskov Castle.
We expected Egeskov to be a simple castle visit, maybe with a walk around the gardens, but there was way more included, some additional museums and attractions we hadn't anticipated. In the end, we enjoyed the extras, but we'd happily take a cheaper option without them.
For the record, we paid the full price for the ticket since we visited during the main season. Tickets do get cheaper in the off-season, but the catch is that the castle itself is closed. We'll dive into that later, so keep on reading!
Walking Around Egeskov Castle's Gardens
Right at the entrance, we glanced at the map to figure out where to go. That's when we noticed even more attractions, gardens, museums, and other points of interest, but honestly, we didn't really focus on them at the time.
We went in thinking the castle was the main event and everything else was just extra. But wow, were we wrong! While the castle was stunning, it was the other attractions that turned this into way more than just another 'castle visit,' and maybe, just maybe, even made the steep ticket price worth it.
After getting our tickets, we wandered into the Garden of Life, a small yet beautifully designed island framed by old beech hedges. True to European castle tradition, Egeskov features vast gardens, often ranked among Denmark's most beautiful.
We began our visit at the Garden of Life.
No surprise, the ideal time to see Egeskov Castle Gardens is late spring or early summer. When we visited in mid-September, the gardens were still full of greenery, but with fewer blooming flowers, they lacked some of their seasonal magic.
The main issue was that they were repairing the eastern bridge linking the castle to the Renaissance Garden, which meant a big chunk of the eastern wing of the gardens was off-limits, and we couldn't explore it at all.
We were a little bummed we couldn't explore all 17 themed gardens, but what we did see was more than enough. Plus, the dahlias were still blooming, and they were absolutely stunning!
Since we're on the topic, it's worth noting that the gardens close during the winter season, but honestly, there wouldn't be much to see anyway, so it's not a huge loss. We say this from experience!
Earlier that year, we visited Bavaria in spring, and while castles like Linderhof Palace and Wurzburg Residence were absolutely stunning, their gardens hadn't quite come to life yet.
Touring the Egeskov Castle
With that sorted, we finally made it to the castle entrance. Built by Frands Brockenhuus in 1554, Egeskov was originally designed as a fortified residence during Denmark's turbulent times. Unlike Ribe or Nyborg Castle, it has stood the test of time and is now one of the country's top attractions.
We could go on and on about Egeskov, but let's start here - it's absolutely gorgeous, even with the gloomy weather. Lucie moved ahead while I hung back at the moat, trying to capture its reflection. Unfortunately, the wind and lack of sunlight made that pretty much impossible.
Clouds, rain, and wind, Egeskov Castle sure knew how to greet us!
Later, with a bit of patience, I caught a few rare moments when the wind eased up, and the sun briefly made an appearance. In the end, I got some nice shots, though they still weren't quite perfect, but at this point, there was nothing more to do about it.
We didn't just rush to the castle for fun. The weather was only going downhill, not getting better. So, we figured the best move was to head indoors, check out the castle, and wait to see what the skies had in store for us later.
When we said earlier that the castle looked stunning from the outside, the next thing we noticed was how intimate it felt. Seeing it in person, it was actually smaller than we'd imagined, and that was even more apparent once we got inside, where just two rooms were available to explore on the ground floor.
The reason was simple. Egeskov is still a lived-in castle, meaning many rooms remain private for the owners. Since most of the off-limits rooms are on the ground floor, the initial impression felt a little underwhelming since there was not as much to explore as we'd hoped.
Our first stop was the Hunting Room, where we found a collection of hunting trophies (for us, a bit sad sight) as well as weapons Count Gregers had gathered during his travels through Africa and Asia. After that, we walked through the Yellow Room and made our way upstairs to the first floor.
Of course, the hunting room had trophies everywhere.
We arrived at the grand Banquet Hall (not as grand as the ballroom in Kronborg Castle, though), once a hub for festive celebrations. With rows of chairs set up for modern events like banquets and concerts, we took the perfect opportunity to sit down, take a breather, and catch up on the details we'd missed in the digital guide (they offer a free guide, which we checked out on our phone as we explored).
We climbed to the first floor and found ourselves in the banquet hall.
From the Banquet Hall, we had access to the rest of the rooms. While places like Klunk Room and Deer Passage stood out, the real attraction was Titania's Palace.
Titania's Palace
Up until now, Egeskov had been a fairly standard castle experience, aside from the hunting collection of exotic trophies. That changed the moment we climbed to the second floor and stumbled upon a palace inside the castle. It was called Titania's Palace and took up almost an entire room next to the Banquet Hall.
Over the years, we've encountered countless amazing castle exhibits, but this one had a charm of its own. The story behind it was just as compelling as the display itself.
We weren't the only ones blown away by the incredible details of Titania's Palace.
Titania's Palace is essentially a giant dollhouse crafted by British Army officer Sir Nevile Wilkinson. It all started when his daughter claimed to have seen elves in the garden and suggested they deserved a proper home, something much nicer than underground caves.
While the exterior was crafted by a Dublin workshop, Sir Nevile Wilkinson personally handled much of the intricate decorations and tiny details. Titania's Palace, packed with 3,000 parts and artifacts, took an incredible 15 years to complete. In the 1970s, the LEGO Foundation acquired it, and since 2007, it has been displayed at Egeskov Castle.
With so much to take in, we spent a solid 20 minutes admiring every tiny detail we could spot in Titania's Palace (luckily, there were information panels in front of each section). The whole miniature house is simply astonishing, as was Wilkinson's incredible dedication, creativity, patience, and imagination.
I had a hard time getting good close-ups of Titania's Palace because of the irritating reflections.
Beside the dollhouse, there was a display showcasing H.C. Andersen's paper cut-outs. Since we spent our morning at the H.C. Andersen Museum, we weren't surprised. He wasn't just an incredible storyteller but also a passionate paper cutter!
Egeskov's Attic
By the time we reached the uppermost floor, it was obvious that Egeskov was no ordinary castle. After a quick stop at the mezzanine, where we picked up some fascinating dueling history, we found ourselves in the castle's attic. This area is home to a collection of glass-enclosed toys from the 1900s, including a few made by LEGO.
We definitely weren't expecting to see an exhibition like this, but it was undeniably cool! Just beside it, there was a display of kitchen tableware (some from Paris in the 1800s), which felt a little more in line with what we expected.
Up in the attic of Egeskov, we found Lego toys enclosed in glass.
Beyond its undeniable beauty and charm, one thing that made Egeskov Castle stand out was how much it reminded us of Czechia's own water castle, Cervena Lhota. The mix of Renaissance architectural elements, that distinct warm color palette and their picturesque water settings made the comparison feel natural.
Later in our Denmark trip, we made our way to Frederiksborg Castle, another stunning castle surrounded by water, though on a much grander scale. If you're looking for a bigger version of the same magic, we highly recommend checking it out!
Travel Insurance
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Museums at Egeskov Castle
Once we finished touring the castle, we decided to check out some of the museums we had noticed earlier on the map. What we didn't realize was just how much there was to see beyond the castle itself. Egeskov's collection was enormous, featuring cars, bikes, planes, dresses, and even camping gear, and that was only the museums!
Beyond the museums, there's even more to explore, like a massive maze, a kids' playground, and a treetop walkway. And honestly, who knows how much more we missed!
Egeskov even had a maze!
The Ladies' Attire
Right next to the castle, in the gate wing, we found a small exhibition dedicated to 19th-century fashion. It wasn't huge, but it featured everything from grand gowns and staff uniforms to ornate fans, hats, and shoes.
Egeskov gave us also a glimpse of 19th-century fashion.
The highlight was Marie Antoinette's dress, or rather, a carefully restored version of one she once wore in Versailles. Still, with such a small space, we didn't stick around for long and continued on.
Man and Mechanics
By this point, we had seen hunting trophies, dollhouses, kitchenware, toy models, paper cuttings, and dresses, so we were more than curious to see what kind of exhibition was waiting inside the beautiful half-timbered house ahead.
One minute, Egeskov was all about elegant gowns; the next, we were looking at cannons!
After seeing quite a few of these houses elsewhere, like in Ribe, it was a treat to finally explore one from the inside. It was surprisingly large, with an open layout that gave off more of a barn-like vibe, but it was still a fun experience.
Inside, we found everything from horse-drawn carriages and classic cars to motorcycles and cannons. It was an unexpected collection, but at this point, we were really eager to see what else the main museum had waiting for us.
Classic Cars and Airplanes
Next, we strolled over to the old thatched barn, now transformed into the Egeskov Classics Museum. During the main season, around 100 vintage cars fill the space, though the number shifts throughout the year since they're on loan from private collectors. We didn't actually count if all 100 cars were there, but there was definitely more than enough to see!
The museum's highlight is a restored 1933 Cadillac that once belonged to King Christian X, but I was more interested in the sleek design of the Ferrari 308 GT, while Lucie was fascinated by the time-traveling DeLorean DMC-12, which, of course, is much cooler.
Well, well, well, Ferrari 308 GT, what a beauty!
It wasn't just what was in front of us. Above, small planes hovered from the ceiling, with a helicopter thrown into the mix. We couldn't take everything in fast enough!
Motorcycles
At this point, the sheer number of cars we'd seen was overwhelming, and we had to remind ourselves we were still touring castle grounds, not strolling through Hangar 7 in Salzburg or the BMW Museum. But our journey wasn't over yet, and the next section was dedicated to motorcycles.
If Harry Potter were Danish, he'd probably be riding this Nimbus Type A (sorry about Martin's joke).
I have to admit, we stayed here mostly because the bikes were hung from the ceiling, which made the whole exhibition feel really cool and quite unconventional.
Then, we found ourselves in yet another attic, surrounded by countless dusty old cars. At this point, Lucie pointed out that we hadn't seen anyone else in a while.
It just added to the overall experience, making us wonder if we had taken the wrong path and wound up in the private attic of a passionate collector instead of a famous Danish site.
Well, here it was, a dusty attic filled with classic cars.
Falck Museum
After strolling past the Grocery Store Museum and Dracula's Crypt (which looked way too eerie to enter alone), we arrived at the hall dedicated to Falck, which is Denmark's emergency response service. It wasn't a massive space, but it was packed to the brim with ambulances, fire trucks, and various rescue vehicles.
Those red rescue trucks were pretty cool.
Camping Outdoor Museum
Normally, we love anything outdoorsy, but by the time we arrived at the camping section, we were so drained from the past hour of exploring that we barely had the energy to take it all in, and we ended up just wandering around without much thought.
Yet another museum area, and this one was dedicated to everything outdoor-related.
Finally stepping into daylight, we couldn't help but feel relieved. The whole experience reminded us of roaming through the endless Munich Residence, only instead of antique furniture, there were rows and rows of cars and other stuff.
Since we really do love the outdoors, we made sure to set aside time for exploring Denmark's natural beauty. If you're looking for inspiration, we absolutely loved Wadden Sea NP, Thy NP, and the incredible Mons Klint.
Opening Hours at Egeskov Castle
We showed up at Egeskov Castle in mid-September without a second thought about opening hours. Despite summer being officially over, we figured everything would stay open, and, to our relief, it did.
While grabbing our tickets, we learned that Egeskov Castle is actually a living castle, so it only welcomes visitors from mid-April to mid-October, with minor changes to the dates each year.
The official site refers to it as the summer season, but as you can see, it stretches beyond that. Egeskov Castle's grounds are open from 10 AM to 5 PM, while the castle itself is accessible between 11 AM and 5 PM.
Even in September the gardens were just as beautiful
Egeskov Castle may close during the winter months, but that doesn't mean the whole place is off-limits. You can still visit, as the museums, playgrounds, and parts of the gardens remain open.
Since we haven't visited in the off-season, we can't say for sure, but we think you should still be able to see the castle from the outside. In the end, it just comes down to whether that's enough or if exploring the interior matters to you.
For anyone visiting between seasons, it's best to head to the castle's official site and check their online ticket system - everything that's open on your chosen date will be listed there.
How Much Time to Spend at Egeskov Castle
With the castle fully open for touring, our visit stretched to almost three hours. We hadn't expected to stay that long, but given the ticket prices and the sheer number of attractions, we figured it was worth taking our time. More than an hour went into exploring the castle, and we spent even more time in the museums.
The weather turned around just in time, and I finally managed to capture Egeskov's reflection.
We obviously didn't get to see everything this place has to offer, and with the weather being a bit unpredictable, we didn't spend as much time wandering through the castle gardens as we would have on a sunny day. All in all, you could easily spend even more time here, especially if you visit with family.
Hotels Near Egeskov Castle
Once we got back to our car, there was still one thing left to figure out. We still didn't know where we were going to spend the night. A quick search confirmed that Egeskov Castle doesn't offer accommodation (not that it would fit our budget anyway), and the few nearby holiday homes seemed more suited for families rather than a couple like us.
After checking our itinerary, we realized Svendborg was still an option, but only if we could find a decent place to stay. Luckily, we did and ended up at the charming Hotel Christiansminde.
We had the option to return to Odense, packed with solid hotel choices like a beatiful First Hotel Grand or budget-friendly Cabinn Odense, or settle anywhere between here and Zealand. But honestly, Svendborg seemed like the most practical way to spend the rest of the day.
For those visiting Egeskov by motorhome, there's an option to park overnight in a designated section of the parking lot, but only for a single night and only during the main season, and for a fee.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
