Ultimate Guide To Apple Picking At Frydenlund Castle Orchard, Denmark 2026

If you’re craving crunchy apples, crisp air, and country charm, Frydenlund Castle Orchard is the ultimate autumn escape. Nestled just north of Copenhagen, this picturesque palace estate transforms into a fairytale apple haven each harvest season. Whether you’re on the hunt for the perfect apple pie filler or just looking for a wholesome escape from the rush of the city, this spot delivers Danish hygge feeling and fresh fruit in equal measure.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know for the perfect apple-picking day at Frydenlund Castle. From when to go and what to bring, to how it works and how to get there – let’s go!

1. Is Frydenlund Castle Orchard worth visiting?
2. History of Frydenlund Castle
3. Where is Frydenlund Castle Orchard?
4. How to get there
5. When is the apple picking season?
6. How it works & prices
7. Tips to know before you go

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Is Frydenlund Castle Orchard worth visiting?

Before we dive into the detail, if you’ve never been apple picking before or this is your first time visiting Copenhagen, you might be wondering if a visit to Frydenlund Castle is actually worth it. This blog may be a bit of a hint but in my opinion, it’s 100% worth it! Here’s why…

Firstly, nothing screams autumn (or fall depending on which side of the pond you come from) more than apple picking. This is just such a lovely way to spend an afternoon, strolling through the rows of fruit-laden trees and feeling all the hygge vibes. Which is why even if you’re only in Copenhagen for a weekend and don’t have room in your hand luggage for a kilo of apples, this is still a worthwhile stop for the experience.

Secondly, this is a great way to see what Danish life is like beyond the capital. While Frydenlund isn’t far from Copenhagen, you’ll still notice a difference. Say goodbye to the crowds and bike highways and hello to rolling countryside, leafy lanes and sleepy villages.

Lastly, of course the apples are delicious! The orchard team here put a lot of love, care and expertise into growing the precious varieties of apples and pears they have on site and it shows. The quality of the apples is brilliant and you can make so many delicious treats from your haul. For instance, the one bag I picked lasted all through winter. I made some into an apple pie, I used some to cook down with sausages, and I puréed a load with cinnamon to use as a granola topper.

History of Frydenlund Castle

Now let’s talk about Frydenlund Castle itself – or Frydenlund Slot as it’s known in Danish. Frydenlund started out as just a farm but soon developed royal ties as Grand Chancellor Conrad Reventlow began leasing the site and it only got more dramatic from there…

Just ten years before in 1712, Reventlow’s daughter, Anne Sofie Reventlow, had attracted the attention of King Frederick IV and the two had married. The tricky thing was, the king was already married to Queen Louise and so could not make his new bride his official wife until Louise died in 1721. At that point, Anne Sofie became queen and Frydenlund officially became part of the royal estate.

To honour his beloved new wife, King Frederick IV ordered a unique octagonal palace to be built at Frydenlund. Around the palace, a kitchen garden and orchard was planted to supply the residence with fresh fruit and vegetables. This idyllic setting became a popular country escape for Copenhagen royal couples until it became the scene of a scandal.

In 1766, Frydenlund was gifted to King Christian VII’s wife, Queen Caroline Mathilde. But as time went on, it became obvious she was using the palace as a love nest for her and the king’s personal physician, Johann F. Struensee. Their affair was well-known, even though they created a private path into Frydenlund where their horses couldn’t be seen. By 1772, the king had had enough and Caroline Mathilde and Struensee were captured and sent to prison and exile respectively.

After that, Frydenlund fell into disrepair until the 1790s when it was sold to a Swedish mystic and merchant, Carl Adolf Boheman. During his ownership, Boheman remodelled the main property and commissioned art for the palace – one piece being his portrait which still hangs in the castle today.

However, by the early 1800s, Boheman had fallen out of favour with the Danish court and fled the country leaving the palace abandoned for some time. It was not until the 1900s that Frydenlund was inhabited again, being bought and sold multiple times throughout the century by various buyers. Then in 1960, Frydenlund found its current owners, the Topsøe family who started the successful Danish engineering firm of the same name.

Frydenlund has been lovingly restored by the Topsøe family, making the most of the property’s historic orchards and opening it up to be enjoyed by the public.

Where is Frydenlund Castle Orchard?

As you can see from the map below, Frydenlund Castle is almost directly north of Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen. Which is why apple-picking here is such a brilliant and easy day trip from the city.

Leaving the hustle and bustle of the city behind, this area is much greener, peaceful and fertile for fruit growing. The orchard itself wraps around the main castle and is all contained on the same site.

How to get there

As Frydenlund Castle is so close to Copenhagen, getting there is pretty easy. Here are the three main options depending on your preferences…

By public transport: Like many places in Denmark, reaching Frydenlund Slot by public transport is pretty easy. There are two main routes – one that involves a slightly longer but pretty woodland walk and one that’s a lot shorter walk.

For less walking, take the train from Copenhagen Central Station (København H) to Vedbæk Station and then take the 195 bus towards Holte Station to Frydenlund Park stop. From there it’s just a five minute walk around to the castle and the whole journey should take just under an hour.

For less time on the bus and more out in nature, take the train from Copenhagen Central Station (København H) to Skodsborg Station and then walk for around 30 minutes through the woodland until you reach the road the castle is on. While it might sound like a relatively long walk, I’d really recommend this option as you’ll see more of the lovely landscapes around the castle on the way. This route also takes the same amount of time, just under one hour.

You can buy public transport tickets in advance on the DOT transport app.

TOP TIP: If you’ve bought a Copenhagen DISCOVER Card for your stay in the city, your public transport to Frydenlund Slot will be included for free. Learn more and buy yours here.

By car: If you have your own car or plan to rent one, the drive to Frydenlund Castle is really straightforward. Just pick up Route 19 to head north and you’ll arrive at the castle in under 30 minutes.

Find the best prices for car rental in Copenhagen here.

By bike: If you fancy a bit more of an adventure, you can actually also cycle to Frydenlund. The ride follows the pretty coastal roads north through some of the loveliest scenery. For instance, you could stop at Charlottelund Castle to admire another regal palace, swim and relax at Bellevue Beach or spot rutting deer in Jægersborg Dyrehave.

The ride is just over 20km each way and would take just over an hour to reach at a decent cycling pace.

If you don’t have your own bike with you, you can easily rent one at so many spots around Copenhagen. Pick up a Donkey Republic bike using the app for a decent city bike or if you want something a little faster head to a rental store like Baisikeli. You could also break up the journey by getting the train to Klampenborg, renting a bike there from One Way Bike Tours and then just cycling the last half of the journey to Frydenlund.

When is the apple picking season 2026?

The apples and pears are generally ready for picking in early autumn – from September and into October. This year, the specific apple-picking season at Frydenlund Castle is from 24th August to 18th October 2026.

However, each variety of apple and pear ripens at slightly different times so you’ll find which varieties are available to be picked changes throughout that period. But don’t worry, there will always be at least a few varieties to choose from during that time.

If you’ve never been to a pick your own apple orchard, you might be wondering how it actually works. As least, that was the case for me before I visited Frydenlund Castle!

Essentially, when you arrive, you’ll be told which apple and pear varieties are available for picking that day as this changes throughout the season. At Frydenlund there are over 20 different varieties within the orchard, you can find each of their names and harvest periods here.

To harvest your apples and pears, you’ll need a bag. For that you can use a bag you’ve brought with you or make the most of Frydenlund’s traditional harvesting bags as you can see modelled by my husband opposite. These open again at the bottom for easy access and weighing at the end. The bags are free to use for your harvest, just grab one by the entrance and return it once you’re finished.

You’ll then follow the designated path around the orchard, stopping at the well-marked areas where the apples are ready to be picked. Then it’s just a case of getting stuck in and picking as many apples and pears as you like! Of course, along the way you can also stop to relax in the grounds and take it all in.

Once you’re happy with your haul, head back to the orchard shop to have your fruit weighed (be sure to do this without a heavy bag!). You’ll then pay 28 DKK per kg of fruit, regardless of which variety it is. That works out to around £3.50 or €3.75 per kg if you’re travelling from outside the country. It’s as easy as that!

Tips to know before you go

Of course, as with a first-time visit to any new spot, there are always tips and tricks it’s helpful to know in advance. Here are mine…

Bring your own bag for apples: This is the main mistake we made on our first visit – if you don’t bring your own bag or bags you’ll have to buy one to take your apples home. As someone who has a whole stock pile of canvas bags and reusable carrier bags sitting in a cupboard, buying more bags just feels extra painful (for your wallet and the environment). So make sure you pack at least a couple of decent sized bags to carry your apple haul home!

Sample the varieties available for picking first: To help you decide which apple varieties you want to pick, be sure to taste the samples at the entrance. There’ll usually be a stand detailing which varieties are available for picking that day with some cut up to try. This will give you a better idea of which to aim for and also what each is best used for – from cakes and sweet bakes to savoury cooking or even homemade cider.

Stay for a coffee, slice of apple cake or glass of apple juice: Besides rows and rows of apple trees, you’ll also find a brilliant shop and mobile café at Frydenlund Castle. The shop sells delicious wine, spirits, juices and sweet treats made on-site with the Castle’s apples while the café offers barista quality coffee and cake. So if you’re feeling a bit peckish or in need of a caffeine hit after all that apple-picking, look no further. The produce in the shop also makes for great gifts so consider stocking up!

Wear comfy shoes: As you might expect, the ground throughout the orchard can be quite uneven with long grass in places so choose comfy shoes for easier picking!

That’s a wrap! That’s my tried and tested guide to picking apples this year at Frydenlund Slot. I hope you enjoy your experience here as much as I did and if you have any questions, comments or tips of your own please add them in the comments box below. Happy travelling!

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