Vikingeskibsmuseet I Roskilde

This is a fascinating and incredibly well-​run museum. In addition to several Viking ships, there are many hands-​on activities outside for children with wonderfully kind, patient and knowledgeable docents. The museum café serves excellent food and the museum shop was easily the best we found in Denmark. We brought back so many gifts from this shop! The kids loved the Viking ship sailing lesson, too. Easily the highlight of our two weeks in Denmark.

The kids enjoyed the dress up area. Next time I’ll go without little ones and get the guided tour

What an amazing museum! The remains of 5 Viking ships were on display. As you read thorugh the descriptions of the exhibit and watch the videos, you get a better appreciation of the efforts that went into building up the exhibits. Outside the museum, there are replicas of Viking ships that you can touch. The museum staff were very friendly and eager to help while the museum facilities were well maintained. This museum is definitely worth anyone’s time.

I would say this museum definitely underwhelms in terms of what’s in there — basically a few chunks of wood from 1000 year Viking ships. It is a gorgeous space however and they try hard to make it interesting with the re-​created ships across the bridge. The whole thing fairly underwhelms however and I’m not sure it is worth a trip from CPH. It needed more of a kid-​friendly history of the Vikings, it completely lacks that. The shops look cool at first but then you realize it is just a way to sell you more junk and there’s no actual Viking history/​learning going on. I must say the café was surprisingly excellent. It would be worth a trip if closer to CPH but for a half-​day excursion on the train it’s definitely underwhelming.

So damn cool. If you love ships and are willing to take the time that is.
It’s a bit out there, but there’s an easy train line that takes you from Kobenhavn Central station to the Roskilde station. Rick Steves had a walking tour, but it was cold, windy, and rainy so we took a cab, cost about 80kroner. A bus runs a logical route every 30min or so I think as well.
So I LOVE ships, especially sunken ships. The place itself doesn’t look like much, but if you get into it.. . wowza. No it’s no Vasa in Stockholm (if you know what that is, then you should come here) but it’s still cool stuff.
Watch the video. Read most of the words to understand what happened. Try on the clothing and make stupid poses in the ships farther along on the tour. And read the last stories on the wall before the gift shop, the one where they talk about what they do for a rich man’s funeral. It’s super-​de-​duper f’d up, trust me.
Just a beautiful museum, well done exhibits that make this a destination if you’re into this sort of thing. And I am 100% into this sort of thing, so 5 stars.

Of all the museums I’ve visited so far in Copenhagen and surroundings, this is probably my least favorite — and also the most expensive. It’s not that it’s bad. But it didn’t enthrall me as much as Kronborg or Rosenborg did. There’s quite a bit less actual museum here as compared with the others as well, although it is on a different subject than just Danish royal history, etc.
I will say that the main exhibit of Viking ships was labelled in Danish, English, German, and French — the first thing I have seen so far that wasn’t in Danish and English only, or even Danish exclusively. And the reconstructed ships themselves are very cool, as well as the practical manner in which the museum has been applied to building reconstructions of the original sunken ships that the main exhibit celebrates. It’s clear the passion of the museum staff runs high. Sailing the reconstructed ship from Roskilde to Ireland and back? The coolest part of all this is that… they had to learn what worked in order to do. It’s actually fascinating to watch the slightly artsy video of the voyage, noticing that… they really don’t know what they’re doing initially. But did they learn? Yes. Science! It works!
I have to remember that at 115 kroner, it’s barely over $ 20. This doesn’t exactly break the bank. But as interesting as the smaller exhibits here are, there’s more to see at other places.

Five original Viking ships were sunk in the harbor off of Rosskilde during the 1000’s. 50 years ago– these ships were excavated and this museum built to house those 5 remains.
Be sure to start your visit by watching the movie as it explains a lot. Take a look at the actual ship remains but plan your time as you will want to spend as much time in the open air part of this museum where you can see actual floating Viking reproductions, and step on board of the Viking warship also outside.
There are also Viking workshops where you can watch craftsmen make rope, weave wool, and carve patterns in wood. My favorite exhibit was the guy who was actually building another boat and the huge stacked timbers that surround that workshop.
There are also activities for kids.
Restrooms are clean and located on the lower level of the main building or also outside but the café where you can grab a coffee and pastry.
All in all a really interesting look at the Viking life.
If you are in Copenhagen it’s about 30 minutes outside of town. There is a public bus stop located out front.

I looked this up before we went to Copenhagen and knew this was a must-​visit venue. It was easy to get here by train from the city, about a 30-​minute trip. We walked over to the Cathedral first for a tour and then we walked down to the museum (about a 15 minute leisurely walk). If you have any mobility problems, I don’t recommend the walk. If you’re in good health and don’t mind walking, it’s not bad at all and I rather enjoyed it. The staff at the museum are very helpful and friendly. There is an excellent video presentation at the beginning, in English. The exhibits are remarkable and interesting. There is a model of a ship that way it may have appeared in its heyday. There is a nice little souvenir area. The visit is well worth it particularly if you are interested in history and in Scandinavian and/​or Viking things.

The history of the 5 viking ships found at Roskilde and their discovery, excavation, and display are wonderfully told by the curators. The front end of the museum begins in the lower level and through a series of text and graphics you get the sense of the excitement the original discovery must have meant for the area. And also the amount of work to restore and display these boats. The actual ships are beautifully displayed in a minimal space with huge windows facing the water.
The museum also has working replicas of the ships in the docks next to the museum. Even though it was pouring rain, we clambered into the large war ship and played like giddy kids. And because it was pouring rain we had it all to ourselves.
One negative point is that the museum entrance seems designed for cars. And as a pedestrian, the access to the museum seems roundabout and long! Why isn’t there a more direct way from the bus stop?!
A great way to spend an afternoon. Bring a lunch and eat at the picnic tables by the docks while watching the carpenters work on the ships.