One of the most exciting things to do in Copenhagen is to climb to the top of The Church of Our Saviour’s Tower. This is where you find the iconic golden spire with the spiral staircase twisting around it, which you’ve probably seen in pictures of Copenhagen. If you’ve never heard of it before – then you’re in for a treat!
Climbing to the top of Our Saviour’s Church Tower is not for the faint-hearted, but the incredible views you get at the top are among the best ones in Copenhagen.
It’s one of our favorite things to do in the city, and we hope to show you just how great this experience is. In this guide, we’ll share all the things you need to know about climbing Our Saviour’s Church Tower such as the history, how to get there, ticket prices, opening hours, and other things to notice.
We hope you’ll enjoy this blog post and go climb the spiral tower yourself on your visit to Copenhagen!
Please note: Dear Reader, this blog post contains affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase, we will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read more about it here: Affiliate Disclaimer.
History of Our Saviour’s Church Tower & Spire
The Church of Our Saviour, also known in Danish as “Vor Frelsers Kirke”, is one of the most interesting landmarks in Copenhagen. The church itself was consecrated in 1696, but its iconic spire wasn’t added until more than 50 years later.
The spire was designed by Danish architect Lauritz de Thurah, who was known for his strong focus on the baroque style. Thurah was inspired by Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza, which is a university chapel in Rome that also has a beautiful twisting spire. The project was approved and paid for by the Danish king.
In 1752, the church tower finally got its incredible crown as the spire was ready. Out of the total 90 meters height of Our Saviour’s Church, the spire itself is 67 meters tall. That’s why walking the spiral staircase is not for the faint-hearted.
You can read more about the history of the church tower here: Our Saviour’s Church official website.
6 fun facts about Our Saviour’s Church Tower
- There are 400 steps from the bottom of the tower to the top of the spire. 150 of these steps are found at the spiral staircase on the outside of the church tower.
- The globe on top of the spire is 2,5 meters in diameter and is said to be able to contain 12 grown men.
- Due to its frightening height with a staircase that gets narrower by the step, climbing to the top to touch the globe has long been seen as a manhood test.
- There are 6 big bells and a carillon with 48 bells inside of the church tower.
- During World War II, the resistance used the church tower as a hiding place for weapons and explosives.
- The weather sometimes close the tower. Strong wind and rain can create dangerous situations on the exterior staircase. The staircase is made of copper and can be very slippery during bad weather.
About visiting Our Saviour’s Church Tower
How to get there
It’s easy to get to the Church of Our Saviour since it’s only a short stroll out of the city center. Just walk over the bridge “Knippelsbro” and follow the spire – it’ll lead the way. You can also take the metro line M1 or M2 directly to “Christianshavn”, and then walk the remaining 200 meters from here.
Address: Sankt Annæ Gade 29 in Christianshavn, Copenhagen.
Opening hours 2023
Our Saviour’s Church Tower is open every day from 9 AM – 8 PM with the last admission at 7:30 PM. However, opening hours may change on weekends and public holidays.
Ticket prices 2023
The tickets to Our Saviour’s Church Tower can easily be purchased at billetto.dk where you can book a time slot. Here are the ticket prices of 2023:
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | 69 kr. |
| Students & 65+ years old | 53 kr. |
| Children (5-14 years old) | 20 kr. |
| Small children (0-4 years old) | FREE! |
Please note: You also have free entrance to the church tower if you hold a valid Copenhagen Card. The Copenhagen Card grants you access to a lot of museums and attractions in Copenhagen, so it’s worth looking into if you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing. You can also ride the public transportation in Copenhagen for free with the card.
Why you should climb Our Saviour’s Church Tower
Like we stated in the beginning of this blog post, we think that climbing the church tower is one of the best things you can do in Copenhagen.
Unlike the Round Tower, which is known for its wide spiral rampart and big view platform at the top, Our Saviour’s Church Tower is kind of… the opposite. The wooden stairs inside of the tower (before you reach the spire) will get smaller and narrower the further up you go, which makes it difficult for people to pass each other.
And once you reach the incredible exterior staircase, you stand pretty close to the railings without any safety net around you. Then, when you proceed up the exterior staircase, you will experience how the staircase gets narrower, and the railings also get lower. To be honest, it’s quite eerie if you’re afraid of heights like me (Cecilie).
So in a way, it’s kind of a raw and exciting experience compared to the Round Tower.
But most importantly, it’s where you get the most amazing views of Copenhagen! We recommend you to climb the tower after you’ve spent some time in Copenhagen as you can easier spot the places you’ve already been to. Climbing the tower at sunset is also incredible!
Anyways, it’s time for us to leave you to it. Enjoy the beautiful tower and remember that you can also visit The Church of Our Saviour, which has daily opening hours from 11 AM to 3:30 PM.
Don’t hesitate to leave us any questions you may have in the comment section below. Happy exploring!
Want to see more of Copenhagen? Then check out: 35 Things to do in Copenhagen
