University of Copenhagen Zoological Museum

The University of Copenhagen Zoological Museum is a natural history institution that preserves more than 14 million objects across its collections. These include animal skins, skeletons, preserved creatures, insects, plants, and fossils gathered from around the world.

The museum's collections trace back to Ole Worm's cabinet of curiosities from the 17th century, which later provided the foundation for the institution established in 1862. Over the decades, holdings expanded steadily through expeditions and donations.

The museum displays animal specimens from Denmark and its former territories, spanning from Greenland to the West Indies, reflecting the country's historical connections across the globe. Visitors can see how these collections shaped scientific understanding of nature and the diversity of life.

The museum is centrally located in Copenhagen and easily accessible by public transportation. Plan to spend several hours exploring the extensive collections at your own pace.

The museum houses two of the last remaining skeletons of the great auk, an extinct flightless seabird that once inhabited the North Atlantic. Additionally, it holds the world's largest collection of barnacle specimens personally examined by Charles Darwin.

Location: Copenhagen Municipality

Inception: 1862

Part of: Natural History Museum of Denmark

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-16:00

Phone: +4535322222

Website: https://snm.ku.dk

GPS coordinates: 55.70252,12.55909

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:07