Roskilde, the former capital of Denmark, is located on the Island of Sjælland (Zealand) just 30 Km West of Copenhagen. It was founded in the 10th Century by the Viking King Harald Bluetooth. Kilde means spring and there were at most 24 active springs in the city. It is a beautiful destination and caters to those wishing to experience the Danish culture outside Copenhagen. This old city is famous for its cathedral, Viking ship museum, and annual music festival.
This day trip guide offers information about visiting Denmark’s famous Viking city and it provides you with a range of exciting attractions with plenty of interactions with their rich history. If you are interested in the Vikings, you can’t miss Roskilde.
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Roskilde Day Trip From Copenhagen
Table of Contents
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Roskilde is during the warmer months from May to October. During this time the days are long and there is minimal rainfall, making this season ideal for you to get the most out of the city.
How to Reach?
Train
You can board the regional trains (RE) from Copenhagen Central Station or København Hovedstaden, it is an almost 30-minute ride to reach the destination. Trains come every 10 minutes during the day, and the frequency of this train at night is much lower.
Road
There is no direct bus to reach Roskilde from Copenhagen Central Station. So, we don’t recommend taking the bus. Furthermore, the journey time is much longer via bus than the train. It takes around 30 minutes by car.
Roam Around
You are all set when you take your car. Almost all the main attractions in the city can be covered by walking. You need to board a bus to take part in the Roskilde music festival or to visit the land of legends.
Tip: To save money on transport during the summer, purchase the seasonal Rejsepas. Buying a Copenhagen Card will save you money on both transport and entrance to a few attractions such as Roskilde Cathedral, Roskilde Museum, Viking Ship Museum, and Sankt Laurentius Church.
Where to Eat?
A few recommendations include Restaurant Rådhuskælderen, located close to the cathedral, which offers Danish smørrebrød, steaks from the grill, lamb, rooster, fish, salads, and sandwiches. They also have vegetarian and vegan options. You can also try Groundsman which is located close to Restaurant Rådhuskælderen.
Things to do in Roskilde
Visit The Official Royal Burial Church, Roskilde Cathedral
The cathedral was built in the 12th and 13th centuries as is evident in its Gothic architectural style. It has been the final resting place of the Danish Monarchs through the last 1000 years. It is also a working church that holds 39 royal tombs, a royal chapel, a museum, and a gallery. It was the first brick cathedral in Scandinavia and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Given its historical and architectural significance, this place is a tourist hotspot. A very informative guidebook in English, Danish, or German is handed to you after you purchase the entrance ticket.
Ensure you visit the special tomb that was constructed in 1985 outside the cathedral for King Frederik IX, who died in 1972. Unlike the others, he wished to be buried with a view of the sea. He was affectionately called “The Sailor King”. His wife, Queen Ingrid was buried with him after she died in 2000.
- Cost: Free for children below 17 years, 60 DKK for adults, 40 DKK for students, senior citizens above 67 years, and also for groups of 10+ people.
- Time: Timings vary depending on the season you visit. You can check the timings here.
Take a Mental Snapshot of the Roskilde Palace
Adjacent to the cathedral is the Roskilde Palace, built in the Baroque style from 1733 to 1736. It was used by the members of the royal family when they were in the city. It is a four-winged complex, also called Roskilde Mansion or Yellow Mansion. It was once home to the country’s first Museum of Contemporary Art. Currently, his museum has no fixed locations, thereby, earning the name “Museum Without Walls”.
Note: Presently, the palace can only be viewed from the outside.
Delve Into the Ruins of the Sankt Laurentius Church
The Sankt Laurentius Church or St. Lawrence’s Church was built around 1125 AD and was dedicated to Lawrence of Rome, one of the more popular medieval saints. During its reformation, only the tower was spared and it became the city tower. Climb this old tower and feast your eyes on the best views of the city. The ruins are preserved under Stændertorvet Square. A visit to these ruins underground is sure to transport you to the Middle Ages.
- Cost: 40 DKK for adults and free for children.
- Time: Open from 11:00 to 15:00 on all days except during the winters from November to February
Learn History at Roskilde Museum
This museum walks you through the history of Roskilde from prehistoric times, through the Viking Age, the Middle Ages, and all the way through to modern times. It consists of two buildings, Sukkerhuset (the Sugar House), a former sugar refinery, and Liebes Gård (Liebe House), a merchant’s house. It has a ‘Museum of Tools’ which is a branch of the main museum. It also houses a museum shop that has a unique collection of gifts.
- Cost: 60 DKK for adults, free for children below 17 years, 50 DKK for groups of 15+ people.
- Time: Open on all days from 10:00 to 16:00 except on Mondays.
Go Wild in the Viking Ship Museum
One of the major attractions that make people flock to Roskilde is the Viking Ship Museum or Vikingeskibsmuseet which overlooks the Roskilde Fjord. It was built in 1969 primarily to display the five Viking ships called Skuldelev Ships or Skuldelevschepen (Skuldelev is a place close to where the ships were found) excavated from the fjord in 1962. To protect the former capital city from enemy attacks, these ships were purposely dumped in the 1070s. The ships don’t only make an eye-catching attraction, but they also serve as an actual slice of history that provides exemplary insights into the bold and glorious Vikings Age. Join the guided tour or listen to the free audio guide in “Useeum app” using your smartphone. There is also a cafe and a museum shop in the building.
Both kids and adults can participate in the boat-building workshop located in the yard. Here small boats can be built using wood, paper, and string with assistance from the museum’s guides. It is a fun and engaging recreational activity for kids. No separate/additional ticket is required for this activity.
In the boatyard, the craftsmen reconstructed the Viking ships and other traditional wooden boats. They are built in the old traditional way with the same materials. Even the technique they implement is identical to that used by the Vikings 1000 years ago. They also tell the visitors about their work.
During the summer months from May to September, Sailing Trips are organized in the traditional wooden boats where the participants take part in rowing. You will be provided with life jackets and also an introduction to the rowing technique. Kids below 4 years are not allowed aboard and the entire trip takes around 50 minutes. You can check the schedule for the sailing trips here.
- Timings for the museum:
- From May to October: The opening hours are between 10:00 and 17:00.
- Rest of the year: The museum closes by 16:00.
- Cost for the sailing trip:
- 300 DKK for adults and 140 for children between 4 and 17 years
- Cost for the museum:
- From May to October: 160 DKK for adults, 105 DKK for students, and 300 DKK for families.
- Rest of the year: 125 DKK for adults, 80 DKK for students, and 230 DKK for families.
Dine At The Sailing Restaurant M/S Sagafjord
Take a ferry on Roskilde Fjord on a newly renovated ship from the 1950s. It was initially built as a passenger ferry in Norway, and currently, it is and has been sailing in the Roskilde Fjord for many years hosting parties, and events, and serving meals as a sailing restaurant. The sail is set from the harbor and it takes you through the National Park, Skjoldungernes Land. You have the opportunity to enjoy great food with scenic views; a complete feast of the senses. Additionally, they also proffer venues for live music events on board at additional cost, but prior booking is required. To Book, visit https://sagafjord.dk/.
- Cost: 139 DKK for adults for both deck passengers and diners in the restaurants. Free for up to 2 children below 10 years of age accompanied by an adult.
Don’t Miss The Roskilde Music Festival
It is the largest Nordic music festival conducted for the majority of over 50 years. It is held in the South of Roskilde for 8 days, usually starting from the last week of June every year. It has large camping areas to host guests. It is run by the Roskilde Foundation, a non-profit organization for the development and support of music, culture, and humanism.
The festival lives up to its reputation of being the largest in Europe, and it features different music styles such as rock, metal, hip-hop, electronica, urban, and world music. Many popular artists have performed at this festival.
For tickets and more information, visit the official website.
Explore The Land of Legends
The Land of Legends or Sagnlandet is a popular archeological open-air museum located in Lejre about 12 km from Roskilde city center. It is a 106-acre site that encompasses the reconstruction of the Iron Age village and sacrificial bog (200 BC to 200 AD), a Viking marketplace (900 AD), a Stone Age campsite (5000 BC), an 18th-century farmstead, and various grave monuments. Here, you can find Denmark’s largest Viking king’s hall. This hall is open to the public and it can be used for hosting parties, team-building corporate retreats, or filming. It is a unique destination that offers so many daily activities.
Every summer, people spend a weekend or a whole week trying to roleplay the lives of the citizens of the Iron Age village. They reside at the farm cottages and the Stone Age campsites for an extra cost. They also offer various teaching courses at an additional cost. There is also a museum shop and a cafe.
- Entrance Fee: 185 DKK for adults, and 125 DKK for children between 3 and 11 years.
- Time: Open on all days from May to October from 10:00 to 17:00
If you still have some time, you can visit the Ragnarok Museum – Museum for Pop, Rock, and Youth Culture or get lost in the forests of National Park Skjoldungernes Land, which we due to time constraints had to unfortunately skip. But if you have visited, please do let us know about your experience in the comments below.
We hope this article was insightful and motivated you to visit the place. The place is unlike any other and it is truly a must-visit for history buffs and travelers everywhere. For more content travel, vacation hacks, and adventurous lifestyle tips, do stay connected with us through our newsletter.
