It takes its name after Marienlyst House, a neighboring former royal summer retreat, which was part of it from its foundation in 1859 until 1896.

The Denmark national team stays at the hotel in connection with home matches and training sessions.

In the second half of the 19th century, the Øresund coast became a popular summer destination for wealthy citizens from Copenhagen.

Nathansen also charged the architect Niels Peder Christian Holsøe with the design of a new hotel building but went bankrupt before it had been completed and the project was there taken over by Helsingør Municipality.

When Sarah Benhard was in Copenhagen in the summer of 1880 to perform in Adrienne Lecouvreur at the Royal Theatre, she visuted Hotel Marienlyst to see the Tomb of Hamlet and Ophelia's Spring.

Since 2008, the Denmark national team has stayed at Hotel Marienlyst in connection with home matches and during training sessions.

It was acquired by an investor group led by Borris Tangaa Nielsen[5] in 2014 and a plan for a comprehensive refurbishment and extension of the hotel was presented shortly thereafter.

Facilities include two restaurants, two bars, a lounge, cafés and a shop, 19 conference rooms, a spa with swimming pool, a yoga and wellness section, a beach sauna and a sun terrace.