Skip to content 
The Royal Danish Opera has become a landmark of Copenhagen and is regarded as a symbol of the city’s rich cultural life. At the same time, the building is renowned for its distinctive architecture and decoration.
One of the first things to catch the eye as you move around the Opera is the beautiful golden maple shell which, like an enormous floating dome, welcomes guests in the Opera’s foyer. Behind it, the stage is concealed. In addition, the Opera House offers an unparalleled view of Copenhagen, where you can look out over the harbour, the city’s towers and Amalienborg. In this way, the opera building forms a striking endpoint to the axis that runs from the Marble Church through Amalienborg and the Amalie Garden.
Behind the spectacular building is the architect Henning Larsen, who designed the Opera—and he considered every single detail of the 14-storey building. All elements in the auditorium, from the seat upholstery to the carvings on the rear wall, are carefully calibrated to provide the best possible acoustics. The Pavilion is designed to harmonise with its surroundings, and the roof is clad in copper which, over time, will age beautifully while creating architectural synergy with the beautiful listed bridge watchmen’s houses at Knippelsbro, Langebro and Sjællandsbro.
Behind the Opera’s magnificent decoration is a number of Denmark’s leading artists. In the foyer of the Opera House stand four bronze reliefs created by Per Kirkeby, one of our time’s great international sculptors. The Opera’s logo, found both in the foyer floor and on the stage curtain, was created by the artist Per Arnoldi, and then there are the glittering light domes that hang from the ceiling and create star-like reflections throughout the building. The light domes were created by the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson.
The restaurant itself, Almanak in the Opera, opened in August 2021 following an extensive renovation by Henning Larsen’s studio. Warm tones of saddle leather and oak are used throughout, complementing the Opera’s beautiful maple woodwork. The saddle-leather and oak furniture is from the sustainable brand Mater. The restaurant offers seating and lounge areas where you can enjoy the Opera’s beautiful interior, with views of the floating dome and Olafur Eliasson’s glittering light domes. The spectacular view over the harbour makes Almanak in the Opera perfect for dinner in Copenhagen or lunch with a view.
The Opera is one of Copenhagen’s most iconic buildings and is regarded as a symbol of the city’s rich cultural life. Whether you are an opera enthusiast or not, the building is well worth a visit. The architecture, the decoration and the magnificent view over Copenhagen’s harbour and Amalienborg make it a truly special experience. There is also much to enjoy gastronomically. Combine your visit with Almanak in the Opera’s modern Danish cuisine, where the season’s finest Danish ingredients are beautifully presented for lunch and dinner.
The Opera on Dokøen was inaugurated on 15 January 2005 and is a gift to the Danish people from the A.P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation. The building is home to Denmark’s largest opera and ballet productions and is part of the Royal Danish Theatre.
With more than 41,000 square metres and 1,000 rooms, the Opera is one of Denmark’s largest buildings. It was designed by the renowned architect Henning Larsen, who began construction in 2001. By the end of 2004, the spectacular structure was already complete.
However, the magnificent building did not come into being without conflict. Henning Larsen was close to withdrawing from the project in 2002 in protest at Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller’s involvement. Fortunately, it ended with Henning Larsen completing the magnificent building.
The decoration in the Opera is truly something special. A number of renowned Danish artists are behind it—for example the internationally acclaimed sculptor Per Kirkeby, whose four bronze reliefs adorn the base of the stage area. All four reliefs depict beams, earth, mud and feet peeking out, as if they were four people buried alive. Visual artist Per Arnoldi was responsible for the Opera’s colour scheme and the decoration of the stage curtain and foyer, both of which feature the Opera’s logo with two interwoven O’s. The Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson created the Opera’s three illuminated glass domes, which hang in the foyer. Each measures three metres in diameter and is fitted with 8,000 mirrors and 300 lamps.
