Carlsberg District
Carlsberg District features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Copenhagen. Give it roughly ~60 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- Copenhagen Copenhagen guide
About Carlsberg District
The former Carlsberg brewery in Valby, now redeveloping into a mixed-use quarter, where landmark gates, granite elephants and historic brewhouses stand among new housing, cafes and cultural venues.
The Carlsberg district in Valby is the former home of the Carlsberg brewery, founded by J.C. Jacobsen, who brewed his first batch on the site in 1847 and named it after his son Carl and the hill it stood on. Two landmark gateways survive: the Dipylon Gate of 1892, designed by Vilhelm Dahlerup and carved with Jacobsen's 'Golden Words', and the Elephant Gate of 1901, whose tower rests on four large granite elephants. Jacobsen's son Carl built the separate Ny Carlsberg brewery nearby.
Mass beer production at the Valby site continued until 2008, when it was consolidated at Fredericia in Jutland, though the small Jacobsen specialty brewhouse and the Carlsberg Group headquarters remain. Since then the grounds, more than thirty hectares, have been redeveloped into a mixed-use quarter, Carlsberg Byen, combining restored historic buildings with housing, cafes, hotels and cultural venues. A visitor experience, Home of Carlsberg, operates on the old brewery site.
Did you know? The Elephant Gate of 1901 carries its tower on four large granite elephants. It should not be confused with the older Dipylon Gate of 1892, designed by Vilhelm Dahlerup for the neighbouring Ny Carlsberg brewery.
How long is a visit to Carlsberg District?
Set aside roughly ~60 min for Carlsberg District. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Carlsberg District worth your time?
Carlsberg District is among the 24 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Copenhagen, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Copenhagen
Day 2 of the Copenhagen in 2 days itinerary →Day 3 of the Copenhagen in 3 days itinerary →
Updated:
Hear the story of Carlsberg District
Preview the Copenhagen tour free in the Gingerguide app.