Quaint Roskilde is small, but contains a treasure trove of history. It is, after all, the town where Danish monarchs have been buried for centuries.
At a glance…
- Days To Spend: 1
- Get Around: Bus
- Get In and Out: By train
- Pay: Using a card in Danish Kroner
- Speak: Just use English
- See: Lejre: Land of Legends, Roskilde Cathedral
- Should you go?: Yes, as a day trip from Copenhagen
General Impressions
Roskilde is one of a few day trips that are easily doable from Copenhagen, and it’s the one we chose to do. We spent a good part of the day in the nearby Lejre: Land of Legends, a truly amazing experience.
We used the late afternoon to explore Roskilde itself, and it is a very pretty small town. It’s main draw is the UNESCO listed Roskilde Cathedral, the most important church in Denmark, and it doesn’t fail to impress.
Public Transport
Getting Around
Walking is mostly fine, but when you get tired there are also buses that will take you to the important sites.
Getting In and Out
Roskilde has a train station with a fast connection to Copenhagen, and some other Danish cities. This is the best way of getting into Roskilde.
Money
Card is the preferred payment method in Denmark as a whole, but you shouldn’t have problems using cash either. In any case, the Danish Kroner is the currency.
Language
Most Danes will speak English, and will switch to it, even if you try your hand at the somewhat difficult Danish.
Time
There’s not a huge lot to do in Roskilde, making it the perfect town for a day trip from Copenhagen.
My Favourite Spots
Lejre: Land of Legends
Lejre: Land of Legends is a theme park of sorts, that showcases life in rural Denmark from the Iron Age, all the way to the Industrial Revolution. You can find reconstructions of peasant homes, a Viking mead hall, and tribal ritual sites. You can also chat with the workers who’ll be more than happy to explain the history behind what you’re seeing.
Roskilde Cathedral
A truly stunning edifice that serves as the mausoleum to 49 Danish kings. Roskilde Cathedral is impressive both inside and out. Definitely worth a visit.
Spots That Might Be Good
Viking Ship Museum
Several wrecks of Viking longships were recovered from the sea by Roskilde, providing a great insight into how the Vikings built their famous ships. These can now be viewed in the Viking Ship, along with a view exhibits about Vikings in general. A nice stop if you’re interested in Viking history.
Conclusion
There’s little to say about Roskilde, save that it is a very worthy day trip from Copenhagen.
We May Roam 