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Visiting the Viking Ship Museum in Denmark

On our last day in Copenhagen last summer, our two options to visit were Hamlet’s castle or a Viking Ship Museum.  Needless to  say, I was outvoted on this one, and we made a day trip to Roskilde to learn more about the Vikings and also ended up finding Denmark’s royal burial site at Roskilde Cathedral. It was a pleasant, 10-minute walk down a tree-lined path along a large park to reach the museum.

Viking Ship museum path from Roskilde cathedral

Located 35 minutes from Copenhagen and easily accessible by train, car or bus, the Viking Ship Museum or Vikingeskibsmuseet featured a unique learning experience, activities and exhibits. In general, Vikings were Scandinavian explorers, warriors and merchants who conquered and colonized many parts of Europe during the Viking Age(late eighth to the early eleventh century). The museum is located along the Roskilde fjord in a mostly residential area. Viking ship museum ship replica

The Viking Ship Museum was originally built to accommodate and reconstruct the remains of five Viking ships that were excavated  from the fjord in 1962. It was believed that the ships were deliberately sunk during the 1100s to protect the harbor against sea attacks and making the approach to land difficult. These five ships came to be known as the Skuldelev ships since they were found in a channel near Skuldelev, 12 miles (20 km) north of Roskilde.

Viking ship museum view

The main attraction and permanent exhibit is the Viking ship hall which displays the five reconstructed ships.  Since the ships were recovered in thousands of timber fragments, they were held together with long metal wires showing the various missing  pieces.

Viking ship museum Skuldelev ships

They did such a marvelous job reconstructing them it wasn’t hard to see the remarkable craftsmanship involved in building these ships.  It gave one a whole new appreciation for  shipbuilding in that era considering the tools available to them at that time.

Viking ship museum Skuldelev ship details

Each ship had a very informative sign in English and an image of what it may have looked like in its heyday.  It showed the  history of the ships, its construction and specific uses.

Viking Ship museum replica

It was an amazing feeling to walk among the remnants of these thousand year old ships.  It was astounding to realize how they sailed the seas and to see the workmanship and mastery involved to endure the distance and elements. Viking ship museum Skuldelev ship details

The ships on display were much like the two specialized types built by the Vikings for transportation in the 10th century –  warships and trader ships. They were further categorized into small and long ships.

Many of the ships were built with oak or pine and ranged from the smallest fishing vessel to the great longship used for wars accommodating up to 70 men. Who knew Viking ships could be so interesting?

Viking ship museum Skuldelev ships

The impressive ships revealed stories about their wars, trades, travels and life at sea. The highlight for my daughter here was the East Room filled with many costumes to dress up like a Viking.  My son didn’t care  too much for it and was more interested in the helmets and weapons.

Viking ship museum children dress-up activity

Yes, adults can dress up too and no, my husband and I decided not to dress up.  We actually saw more tourist adults dressing up and posing by the ships than kids.

My daughter was more than happy to try on the clothes and pose.  So, we present to you… a not-so-typical Viking child.

Viking ship museum children dress-up activity

This room also housed replicas of a warship and cargo trading ship for visitors to climb onboard filled with barrels, goods and  weapons. It was definitely a dream playground for many of the kids.

Viking ship museum trader boat in east Room

One of great things about this museum is the interactive experience and activities for the whole family on its outside complex. The five reconstructed Skuldelev ships are on display at the museum harbor to further convey their historical and maritime importance during the Viking age. It also gave us a better sense of how these ships looked during their glory days.

Viking ship museum ship replica

There were various workshops to hone in Viking skills, manned by friendly craftsmen, like wood carving, wood cutting, sail making, basket weaving and rope making.  Most were free but some were for a minimal fee that started from 10 DKK ($1.78 US). Roskilde Viking Ship museum activitiesfor kids

My kids loved participating in these exercises and learning about shipbuilding and Viking life. They could have spent hours here and not have gotten bored. Even something as simple as sailing a small boat around a round tub was a delight for many of the children.

Viking Ship Museum boat activity for kids
We saw many people boarding Viking boats for a 50-minute sailing along the fjord. It was an exercise and lesson in Viking sailing which meant rowing and other tasks to sail the ship. It was a little chilly and sprinkling so we decided not to do this exercise although it was very tempting.  Additional fees of 80 DKK ($14 US) apply.

Viking ship sailing in Roskilde

The outside area also had a Museum Island and an Archaeological Workshop that records and measures many ship finds around  Denmark. Viking ship builder in Roskilde

This is also an active boat yard so it was interesting to see the boat-builders in action.

Viking ship museum construction

The Viking Ship Museum was a wonderful learning experience for the whole family.  It was filled with history, cultural  activities and exhibitions that intrigued even some of us of who weren’t into Vikings or ships.

This was not a very big museum but the city of Roskilde and its other attractions were definitely worth the day trip from Copenhagen. I can’t articulate the museum experience any better than what their website says, which is – ‘Visitors are not led  back in  time – the cultural history is brought in to the present.”

Viking ship museum outside complex

Visiting Viking Ship Museum Tips and Basics

  • Tickets: Adults 16.50 euro ($22US) May-Sept; 11.50 Euro($15.25US) Oct.-April; Kids under 18 years old are FREE
  • Hours: 10AM – 5PM (late June to August); 10AM – 4PM (Sept. to late June)
  • Most trains from Copenhagen stop at Roskilde station which is a 20-25 minute walk to the museum. Bus 607 travels from the  station to the museum.
  • Don’t miss the 15-minute movie inside that showed the excavation and reconstruction of the Viking ships.
  • Free guided tours in English are available for 45-minutes from May to Sept. No advance booking needed.
  • Kids will enjoy the model exhibition of the fictitious naval attack on Roskilde.
  • Cafe and restaurant on premises.
  • Small gift shop inside the museum for the special Viking souvenirs.
  • Visit the Viking Ship Museum website for more information on special exhibits and  activities and updated information.

*Have you visited Denmark’s Viking Ship Museum or any other Viking museum? 

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Viking Ship Museum Denmark

49 thoughts on “Visiting the Viking Ship Museum in Denmark”

  1. I have never seen a viking ship, but would like to. We watched a boat being built
    in Hoi An in Vietnam. It would be such a satisfying experience. The Vikings ruled
    the seas in theirs. This would be a fun outing.

  2. What a splendid way to spend a day. Ship building is still popular in Nova
    Scotia (my home), and it always fascinates me to watch.

    Your daughter looks cute in her Viking outfit.

    1. Thanks Nancie! I didn’t know that about Nova Scotia. My daughter loves dressing up and this was just another thing to cross off her list. Where else can she dress up like a Viking child?

  3. I think my family vote would have gone the same way as yours. It’s nice that they have both the excavated ships plus replicas that you can climb on. The price for the additional activities is so low that I’m sure we’d end up doing them. Sounds like a fun day.

    1. It’s always the case with local attractions :) Visitors always find the more interesting things we take for granted close to home. It happens all the time with me in San Diego and its attractions.

  4. I don’t know anything about Hamlet’s castle, but this had to be the right choice. What a cool museum, and getting the chance to sail in one of those ships would have been awesome. Even if I did have to row a little bit. Your daughter does make a cute Viking, and I’m not surprised your son just wanted a hat and weapons. That’s exactly what my son would have done too. Imagine how wrong that could have gone at Hamlet’s castle!

    1. I know..it was the right choice. They still owe me a visit to Hamlet’s castle one of these days :) Boys just gravitate towards weapons, don’t they? I wasn’t too sure about rowing in the cold and rain but it would have been a cool experience to sail on them.

  5. Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista

    I would be very interested in learning more about the Vikings and their ships! Sailing in one would only make it more interesting.

  6. Viking ships are sooo cool to see! And since I am Norweigian I find it interesting to learn some of my heritage. I watched a small boat being built by a native Hawaiian when we were in Hawaii which was cool to see. Hand built boats are somewhat of a lost art at least in the US I think. It would be fun to sail in one :).

    1. How cool for you to see these Viking ships in person one of these days, Sere. I’ve seen those proa boats being buit in Hawaii. I love seeing these boatbuilders in action – such skill and talent.

    1. Thanks Salika! It was unbelievable how they managed to build these ships with what they had back in the days. I’m glad they found those remnants and did the replica ships to show us the Vikings’ mastery.

  7. I’ve been there! It brought back fond memories reading your post and looking at your pictures. When we were there, the adults were also really into the dress-up area. My kids loved the knot-tying area. They also tried archery, if I remember correctly. We didn’t have time to do the Viking ship cruise either.

  8. Very, very cool Mary! As much as I would have liked to see the castle, the Viking Museum definitely would have been on my list to see too. It was interesting you mentioned the Vikings craftmanship, because I just learned the other day about the Ulfberht, and how impressive it was that they discovered how to make strengthened steel.

  9. Love this post! When we went on our Baltic cruise we spent a couple of days in Copenhagen beforehand and then another day at the end. We had intended to go to Roskilde to see the Viking Ship Museum on the day that we disembarked from the cruise but everyone was so tired that we opted to just spend the day in Copenhagen. I still regret not having gone to the museum! I would love to go back to Denmark and this museum would be at the top of my list – as would Hamlet’s Castle!

  10. We just eliminated Scandinavia from our top three places to go on our next family vacation, darn it. Looks very interesting and very kid-friendly. Should we reconsider?

    1. Scandinavia is definitely a place to reconsider :) We loved Copenhagen and Iceland. I wish we had more time to explore Sweden and the Norwegian fjords. I’m sure your other choices are also great destinations.

  11. Looks like a fun place! An very different kind of attraction. Loved the captures. Lovely free destinations of Malmo too, loved the park and the cathedral as also the art :) Have a lovely day Mary :)

  12. I would have had a hard time choosing between Hamlet’s castle or viking ships! Looking at your photos and reading about it though, it definitely sounds like a fantastic family day out. So many unique, educational and fun activities.

  13. Some years ago I visited an exhibition here in Austria about those viking ships. The museum was also mentioned in this exhibition. Thanks for your photos showing me the museum in more details now.

    1. I’m glad you got to see the inside of the Viking Ship museum (even if it’s just in pictures). It’s such a wonderful place and surprisingly enjoyable. I’m sure that exhibition was great. Thanks for stopping by.

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