Museums and Attractions
The national park offers a wide variety of distinctive museums and attractions. Experience Viking history first hand, explore the majestic manors and estates, or shop at a 1920s old grocer's shop.
On this page you can read about some of the best places to visit in the national park.
Jump down in the text to the area of your interest:
Roskilde | Lejre | Frederikssund
Roskilde area
Roskilde Museum
Roskilde Museum is your portal to the long history of Roskilde, providing you with an understanding of the historic city you are visiting.
The exhibitions span from the pre-historic period up until today. The museum is located in in two protected, historical buildings; Sukkerhuset, The Sugar House, a sugar refinery built in 1761, and Liebes Gård, Liebe’s Grocery, built around 1800. All exhibitions are in Danish and English.
Lützhøfts Old Grocer's Shop
Step back in time in this merchant’s shop founded in 1892 and restored it to its 1920’s appearance. The Old Grocer’s Shop is fitted as it looked around the 1920s, and goods typical of this period are for sale here.
The Crafts Museum
This museum in central Roskilde exhibits a unique collection of woodworking tools dating back from about 1850-1950 then in use by carpenters, cobblers, woodcarvers, and lumberjacks. The museum is located on the first floor above Lützhøfts Old Grocer’s Shop. Both are free of charge.
Boserupgård Nature Centre
Boserupgård Nature Centre, located in the middle of Boserup Forest in an old cottage, is a hub for schools and learning about the area’s nature. There is a large, freely available area with firepits and other outdoor facilities.
Find the location on our mobile app and stop by and picnic here on your walk through the old forest roads and winding paths of Boserup Forest.
Sct. Hans Hospital Museum
Open to the public, the museum has a permanent exhibition on the history of the hospital. Established in 1816, Sct. Hans is Denmark’s oldest psychiatric hospital overlooking Roskilde Fjord.
The museum is located in the basement of a previous psychiatric patient ward in the western part of the hospital. Combine this visit with coffee at Sct. Hans Have Café.
Roskilde Palace and Roskilde Art Association
Roskilde Palace is a four wing yellow baroque building built in 1733 - 1736 on the location where the vicarage used to be. The Absalon Arch connects the palace with the Roskilde Cathedral. The palace was the residence of the Royal family when they were passing through the area or attending royal funerals.
Roskilde Palace houses the Roskilde Art Association that organizes changing exhibitions, cultural events, and supporting public art at the palace and throughout Roskilde town.
The Museum of Contemporary Art
This museum is a distributed, nomadic art museum aiming to create new ways of presenting contemporary art in the Roskilde area.
Artworks can unfold in apartments, workplaces, in public space, or in the digital realm depending on the context, artists and artworks. Read about current exhibitions and events here and stay on the lookout for artwork in the cityscape.
Viking Ship Museum
The Viking Ship Museum is built around the five original Viking ships found in Roskilde Fjord. These ships are part of a global story about ships, people, and the past - and how the Vikings changed the world with their ships.
Visit the boatyard and see the builders work on clinker-built boats and reconstructing historic ships. Join in the daily activities and tours for all ages and try out your sailing skills in a Viking ship on the fjord.
Roskilde Cathedral
Let the kings and queens of Denmark take you on a journey through 800 years of history. Since the 1400’s Roskilde Cathedral has been the preferred church of the Danish royal family.
As a result, the church’s four large chapels and choir contain the graves of 21 kings and 18 queens and the future funeral monument for Denmark's current queen Margrethe the 2nd.
The architecture of the Cathedral, brick-built Gothic-style basilica, put the cathedral on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1995.
Roskilde Monastery
Roskilde Monastery, Roskilde Kloster, was founded in 1699 as the first noble virgin monastery in Denmark. It is located on the historical site where the Dominican “Black” friars built their monastery in the 13th century.
Today, the monastery presents unique architecture, an art collection, a library, and an extraordinary knights hall decorated with 60 biblical figures painted on the ceiling and golden leather wallpaper.
Contact the monastery for current public and private tour options in English.
L.A. Ring’s Atelier
Drop in on this little art gem, a 100 years ago the cottage belonging to the local painter L.A. Ring (1854-1933). L.A. Ring was a naturalistic and realistic painter of landscapes, people and rural settings, with a touch of symbolism in some of his pictures.
Guided by a folder from the center, you can combine the museum visit with a walk around the Sankt Jørgensberg neighborhood, walking in L.A. Ring’s footsteps and standing in the midst of the motifs that inspired the painter.
Lejre area
Lejre Museum
Located in the scenic Gl. Lejre, Lejre Museum contains some of Denmark’s most exciting and significant archaeological finds.
The museum’s Mythical Kings of Lejre exhibition uses historic artefacts, sound, lighting and an interactive design to provide an in-depth look at the history of Lejre, the royal seat and center of power during the late Iron Age and the Viking Age.
A short and panoramic walk from the museum, you can visit a restored 300-year old farm, the excavation site of an original Viking hall, and an original stone ship construction from the Viking Ages.
Ledreborg Palace
At the end of Denmark’s longest linden avenue lies Ledreborg Palace beautifully hidden in the Ledreborg Forest. The palace hosts annual events and guided tours of Ledreborg Castle upon pre-booking.
The park is open to the public and worth a visit to experience the impressive Baroque garden reconstructed within the woods and in a steep river valley. Ledreborg Palace and Forest is privately-owned and may occasionally be closed.
Land of Legends
Land of Legends, Sagnlandet Lejre, is an atmospheric and immersive tourist destination for the whole family. Here, history is brought to life with houses and settings from the Stone Age, Iron Age, Viking Age and the 19th century including workshops in action and domestic animals.
Visit Denmark’s largest Viking King’s Hall and try fun, challenging activities that will engage all of your senses.
Tadre Mill
Open to the public, Tadre Mill is the last of 13 watermills that have been in use in the Elverdamsdal Valley since the Middle Ages. Run by the voluntary Friends of Tadre Mill, the old mill is often in operation grinding flour and the barn has a small exhibition on Elverdamsdal valley’s nature and watermills.
Behind the mill, there is a cabbage patch and well-assorted medicinal herb garden and from there you can walk the circular Travertine Trail along the brook, springs, and a travertine quarry.
Aastrup Abbey
The red-washed picturesque abbey comprises three wings, the oldest from 1588, and the Aastrup park forms part of the beautiful Elverdamsdal valley.
Burial mounds, sunken lanes and prehistoric fields testify that the landscape surrounding Aastrup Abbey has been inhabited since ancient times. Aastrup Abbey hosts various events and guided tours are available upon request beforehand.
Frederikssund area
Manor Museum Selsø Castle
This Baroque manor estate from 1576 is the national park’s northernmost sight. Explore the old houses, eerie basements, visit the beautiful Baroque hall and kitchen from the 1600s.
From medieval roots to baroque details, Selsø Castle tells a story of changing times and cultural influences. Historic events are held at Selsø throughout the year. The area around Selsø calls for a nature walk around Selsø lake or to the Selsø stream connecting the lake to a beautiful view over Roskilde Fjord.
Frederikssund Museum
This local museum is dedicated to fjord culture and cultural history around the northern part of the national park Frederikssund Municipality.
The museum is beautifully located in the old ferry building in Frederikssund from 1839. The exhibitions focus on the co-existence of humans with the fjord from ancient times to the present, including transport routes, resources and settlements.