Things to do in Roskilde
Roskilde is popular for both its ancient atmosphere and its lively young population, with visitors finding plenty of historical and modern attractions. Probably the most famous attraction in Roskilde is the UNESCO-listed Roskilde Cathedral, the burial site for Danish royalty.
Other great favourites include the Viking Ship Museum, with its enthralling collection of Viking artefacts and fun boat-building and sailing activities, and the Roskilde Museum, which has an interesting variety of displays detailing the city's long history.
For a more hands-on experience of Danish history, try a visit to the Lejre Research Centre. It's an interactive outdoor museum featuring reconstructions of living conditions from various eras of Roskilde's past. Built in 1733, Roskilde Palace is also definitely worth a visit: it is a striking yellow Baroque mansion which now houses the Roskilde Museum of Contemporary Art and the Palace Collections.
There is a pedestrian street running down the centre of Roskilde providing a good starting point for exploration of the city, crammed with restaurants, bars and shops. The city benefits from being conveniently close to Copenhagen, giving visitors easy access to all the wonders of the capital city too.
Lejre Research Centre
Also known as the Land of Legends, the Lejre Research Centre is one of the most popular attractions in Roskilde. The centre is a 106 acre (43 hectare) archaeological open-air museu…
Lejre Research Centre
Also known as the Land of Legends, the Lejre Research Centre is one of the most popular attractions in Roskilde. The centre is a 106 acre (43 hectare) archaeological open-air museum situated just outside the city. It consists of amazingly lifelike reconstructions of an Iron Age village and sacrificial bog (200 BC to 200 AD), a Viking marketplace (900 AD), a Stone Age campsite (5,000 BC) and 19th century farm cottages. The Lejre Research Centre is high on the list of things to see and do with kids in Roskilde, as there are so many fun and educational activities.
Website www.sagnlandet.dk
Roskilde Cathedral
The Roskilde Cathedral was the first Gothic cathedral built out of brick during the 12th and 13th centuries, and has been the burial site for Danish monarchs since the 15th century…
Roskilde Cathedral
The Roskilde Cathedral was the first Gothic cathedral built out of brick during the 12th and 13th centuries, and has been the burial site for Danish monarchs since the 15th century. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cathedral's twin spires dominate the Roskilde skyline, and the ornately gilded interior gives visitors a sense of the royal history of Denmark. Visitors are asked to be respectful of the fact that the cathedral is an active church, meaning it will sometimes be closed to tourists during ceremonies and services. There is a Cathedral Museum in the Great Hall of the Chapel of the Magi, containing illustrations and artefacts detailing the history of the cathedral from the early Middle Ages to the present day.
Address Domkirkepladsen 3, 4000 Roskilde
Website www.roskildedomkirke.dk
Viking Ship Museum
The Viking Ship Museum is home to five Viking ships dating back to the 11th century. Deliberately sunk in the channel to prevent an attack on the city around 1070, they were excava…
Viking Ship Museum
The Viking Ship Museum is home to five Viking ships dating back to the 11th century. Deliberately sunk in the channel to prevent an attack on the city around 1070, they were excavated in 1962. The ships range from cargo vessels to war raiders, and are displayed in the museum overlooking Roskilde Fjord replete with weapons and other artefacts. Visitors can also watch shipwrights at work and see examples of traditional Nordic wooden boats. There are lots of reconstructed Viking boats in the museum harbour and visitors can take a ride in some of them with a guide. According to tourist votes, the museum is generally the top-rated attraction in Roskilde.
Website www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk