When exploring a new location, we should always remember to look up. That’s true for Copenhagen as well, and it’s especially true for a visit to the Royal Theater.

The building is from 1874, and it’s full of surprising and fascinating details that I’m not going to spend time on here – you should book a guided tour or, even better, see a play! I will, however, implore that when you do enter the great hall and find your seat, look up.

The women above you are the nine muses from Greek mythology, infusing the theatre with inspiration and beauty. The ceiling was thoroughly cleaned and restored in 2016, and during that process, the hoisting mechanism was also cleaned of rust, making it possible to move the giant crystal chandelier again.

Notice the inscription above the stage, “Ei Blot til Lyst” – directly translated, it means something along the lines of Not Only for Fun, and it’s a reminder of the significance and that theatre is (also) to be taken seriously.

Whether it’s the changing sky, the moving treetops, or a magnificent ceiling, looking up is always a good idea.