Viking Ship Museum

Exhibition of world-famous ships

The Viking Ship Hall displays five original, world-famous Viking ships discovered at Skuldelev in Roskilde Fjord in 1962 that are over a thousand years old. The exhibition presents the historical role the ship played in war, commerce and journeys to far-off lands. Guided tours on the Viking Age are available, just as the museum always does special exhibitions.

Live life like a Viking

View a whole fleet of reconstructed ships or sail in a Viking ship on Roskilde Fjord. You’ll encounter artisans who practice the old maritime trades on Museum Island, where you can also give it a go with an axe, ropes and many other activities.

Meet the artisans

The Viking Ship Museum is a living museum with working artisans. The weaver demonstrates how sails are made, the ropemaker will let you try your hand on the rope walk and the woodcutter can teach you to make runes. In the summer boat builders work in the boatyard, where you can try your hand with an axe to experience what it’s like to handcraft planks of wood.

Summer games and sailing

Enjoy the summer sun at the Viking Ship Museum, walk along the harbour or cool off with an ice cream from Café Knarr. All summer long, children can build their own model boats and participate in Viking games. There are special activities and themes throughout the summer and special tours perfect for families.

Meet the artisans

The Viking Ship Museum is a living museum with working artisans. The weaver demonstrates how sails are made, the ropemaker will let you try your hand on the rope walk and the woodcutter can teach you to make runes. In the summer boat builders work in the boatyard, where you can try your hand with an axe to experience what it’s like to handcraft planks of wood.
Summer games and sailingEnjoy the summer sun at the Viking Ship Museum, walk along the harbour or cool off with an ice cream from Café Knarr. All summer long, children can build their own model boats and participate in Viking games. There are special activities and themes throughout the summer and special tours perfect for families.

Roskilde Fjord – the waters of the national park

Beautiful Roskilde Fjord, which makes up one-third of the national park, is a prime example of a fjord landscape. The water laps the land in bays and coves with salt marshes and coastal bluffs. The many protected islands and islets in the fjord are breeding ground for 10,000-20,000 pairs of birds annually. Roskilde Fjord is one of the 10 most popular outdoor recreational areas in Denmark.

The 99 km of coastline contain many small harbours and historic fishing villages.