The National Gallery of Denmark, commonly known as SMK, is the country’s largest art museum, offering a rich collection of Danish and international art. With nearly 9,000 paintings and sculptures and over 240,000 works on paper, SMK covers art from the 14th century to contemporary pieces. The museum also holds more than 2,600 plaster casts of sculptures from antiquity to the Renaissance.

Start your visit with European Art 1300–1800, a journey through 500 years of European masterpieces by artists like Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens, and Cranach. The collection reflects the development of European art, from religious iconography to the rise of portraiture and realism.

Next, explore the Danish and Nordic Art 1750–1900 section, which focuses on the Danish Golden Age and the emergence of Modernism. Discover works by Hammershøi, Købke, and Eckersberg, capturing Denmark’s landscapes and everyday life in vivid detail.

Don’t miss the French Art 1900–1930 gallery, where you can admire works by Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Georges Braque. This collection is one of the museum’s highlights and was originally donated by collector Johannes Rump in the 1920s.

For fans of contemporary art, the museum’s Danish and International Art After 1900 gallery showcases 20th and 21st-century pieces. The modern extension of the museum, built in 1998, offers a sleek and bright space to display these works, with large windows overlooking the Østre Anlæg park.

The Royal Collection of Graphic Art includes more than 240,000 works, ranging from copper prints to lithographs and etchings. Visitors can explore art on paper, dating from the 15th century to today, in the museum’s Print Room, available by appointment.